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Aspalathin and Nothofagin from Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Inflammation In Vitro and In Vivo

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Abstract

Vascular inflammation plays a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Aspalathin (Asp) and nothofagin (Not) are two major active dihydrochalcones found in green rooibos, which have been reported for their antioxidant activity. In this study, we assessed whether Asp or Not can suppress vascular inflammation induced by high glucose (HG) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. We monitored the effects of Asp or Not on HG-induced vascular hyperpermeability, expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate that HG markedly increased vascular permeability, monocyte adhesion, expression of CAMs, formation of ROS, and activation of NF-κB. Remarkably, treatment of Asp or Not inhibited HG-mediated vascular hyperpermeability, adhesion of monocytes toward HUVECs, and expression of CAMs. In addition, Asp or Not suppressed the formation of ROS and the activation of NF-κB. Since vascular inflammation induced by HG is critical in the development of diabetic complications, our results suggest that Asp or Not may have significant benefits in the treatment of diabetic complications.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Korea government [MSIP] (Grant Nos. 2013-067053).

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None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, 712-715, Republic of Korea

    Sae-Kwang Ku

  2. College of Pharmacy, CMRI, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 80 Dahak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Soyoung Kwak, Yaesol Kim & Jong-Sup Bae

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  1. Sae-Kwang Ku
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Correspondence to Jong-Sup Bae.

Additional information

Sae-Kwang Ku and Soyoung Kwak contributed equally to this work.

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Ku, SK., Kwak, S., Kim, Y. et al. Aspalathin and Nothofagin from Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Inflammation In Vitro and In Vivo . Inflammation 38, 445–455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-014-0049-1

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