Flavonoids reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced release of inflammatory mediators in human bronchial epithelial cells: Structure-activity relationship.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that are widely present in food and Chinese medicine. The aim of the present study was to identify the flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects in the airway; and to determine the role of anti-oxidant and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the anti-inflammatory effect. Human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells were exposed to bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the absence or presence of different flavonoids, which are categorized according to their chemical structures in seven subclasses [anthocyanidins, chalcones, flavanes, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, isoflavones].