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Tocotrienols Suppress Proinflammatory Markers and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in RAW264.7 Macrophages

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Lipids

Abstract

Tocotrienols are powerful chain breaking antioxidant. Moreover, they are now known to exhibit various non-antioxidant properties such as anti-cancer, neuroprotective and hypocholesterolemic functions. This study was undertaken to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) and individual tocotrienol isoforms namely δ-, γ-, and α-tocotrienol on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The widely studied vitamin E form, α-tocopherol, was used as comparison. Stimulation of RAW264.7 with lipopolysaccharide induced the release of various inflammatory markers. 10 μg/ml of TRF and all tocotrienol isoforms significantly inhibited the production of interleukin-6 and nitric oxide. However, only α-tocotrienol demonstrated a significant effect in lowering tumor necrosis factor-α production. Besides, TRF and all tocotrienol isoforms except γ-tocotrienol reduced prostaglandin E2 release. It was accompanied by the down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression by all vitamin E forms except α-tocopherol. Collectively, the data suggested that tocotrienols are better anti-inflammatory agents than α-tocopherol and the most effective form is δ-tocotrienol.

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Abbreviations

COX-1:

Cyclooxygenase-1

COX-2:

Cyclooxygenase-2

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

NO:

Nitric oxide

PGE2 :

Prostaglandin E2

TNF- α:

Tumor necrosis factor

TRF:

Tocotrienol-rich fraction

αT:

Alpha-tocopherol

αT3 :

Alpha-tocotrienol

γT3 :

Gamma-tocotrienol

δT3 :

Delta-tocotrienol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Mun-Li Yam, Sitti Rahma Abdul Hafid & Kalanithi Nesaretnam

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mun-Li Yam & Hwee-Ming Cheng

Authors
  1. Mun-Li Yam
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  2. Sitti Rahma Abdul Hafid
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  3. Hwee-Ming Cheng
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  4. Kalanithi Nesaretnam
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Correspondence to Kalanithi Nesaretnam.

Additional information

This study was supported by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

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Yam, ML., Abdul Hafid, S.R., Cheng, HM. et al. Tocotrienols Suppress Proinflammatory Markers and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in RAW264.7 Macrophages. Lipids 44, 787–797 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-009-3326-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-009-3326-2

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