Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of auraptene on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced inflammation in human lymphocytes.

Background: Inflammation is characterized as a defensive response of our body against endogenous or exogenous stimuli. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of various disorders such as asthma, cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Recently, diverse pharmacological activities of auraptene, a natural prenyloxycoumarin, were reported. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of auraptene on human isolated lymphocytes.

Method: The effects of auraptene (10, 30 and 90 μM) and dexamethasone (0.1 mM) were evaluated on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and total glutathione content (GSH) as well as the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Results: Auraptene (10-90 μM) did not affect lymphocytes' viability after 48 h incubation. PHA markedly elevated ROS, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, while diminished the GSH content, and CAT and SOD activities in human lymphocytes (p < 0.001 for all cases). Treatment with auraptene (10-90 µM) significantly ameliorated ROS, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and markedly increased GSH content, and CAT and SOD activities (p <  0.5-0.001).

Conclusion: Auraptene may possess promising healing effects in the different inflammatory disorders associated with activation of the acquired immune system such as multiple sclerosis and asthma.