Anti-inflammatory activities of red curry paste extract on lipopolysaccharide-activated murine macrophage cell line.

Objective: This study investigated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of an ethanol extract from Thai red curry paste.

Methods: The RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line was incubated with the extract (65-260 μg/mL) with or without lipopolysaccharide. The anti-inflammatory activities of the extract were examined by measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Nitric oxide production and intracellular reactive oxygen species generation were determined by the Griess method and fluorescence intensity. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and inhibitor κB were determined by western blot.

Results: Exposure of cells with the extract significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 expressions (P < 0.05) by dose-dependently without cytotoxic effect. Intracellular reactive oxygen species significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. The inhibitory effect was mediated partly by inhibiting activation of inhibitor κB-α and mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Thai red curry paste stem from bioactive compounds present in the spice and herb constituents. The health benefits of Thai red curry paste warrant further investigations in vivo.