Anti-inflammatory activity of c-phycocyanin in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages
Abstract
C-phycocyanin (C-PC), found in blue green algae, is often used as a dietary nutritional supplement. C-PC has been found to have an anti-inflammatory activity and exert beneficial effect in various diseases. However, little is known about its mechanism of action. Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether C-PC inhibits production of nitrite, an index of NO, and iNOS expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results indicated that C-PC significantly inhibited the LPS-induced nitrite production and iNOS protein expression accompanied by an attenuation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) formation but had no effect on interleukin-10 production in macrophages. Furthermore, C-PC also suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) through preventing degradation of cytosolic IkappaB-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Thus, the inhibitory activity of C-PC on LPS-induced NO release and iNOS expression is probably associated with suppressing TNF-alpha formation and nuclear NF-kappaB activation, which may provide an additional explanation for its anti-inflammatory activity and therapeutic effect.
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C-phycocyanin strongly inhibits inflammation in macrophages and animal models.
“In particular, C-PC, a natural blue pigment (~14% of SP dry weight) [40, 43, 44], has shown to have a strong inhibitory property against inflammation in macrophages [45, 46] and in animal models [47, 48].”
From Edible blue-green algae reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting NF-κB pathway in macrophages and splenocytes (2013) · cites this paper as [45]
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References 32 · Cited by 136
- Authors
- Cherng, S.-C., Cheng, S.-N., Tarn, A., & Chou, T.-C.
- Affiliations
- Tri-Service General Hospital (TW)
- National Defense Medical Center (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Chou, Tz-Chong
- Venue
- Life Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 19-20
- Pages
- 1431-1435
- ISSN
- 0024-3205 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2022343152
- Cited by
- 136
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Life Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Natural Compounds in Disease Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects
- Keywords
- C-phycocyanin, anti-inflammatory activity, lipopolysaccharide, RAW 264.7 macrophages, nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, TNF-α, IL-10, NF-κB activation, IκBα degradation, cyanobacteria, dietary supplements
- MeSH terms
- NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Cell Line, Cell Survival, Cytosol, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Lipopolysaccharides, Macrophages, Nitrites, Phycocyanin, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Blotting, Western, NF-kappa B, I-kappa B Proteins, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
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