Anti-inflammatory effects of Punica granatum Linne in LPS-induced primary human chondrocytes

Arthritic patients frequently used complementary medicine to alleviate their joint discomfort or to maintain the health of their joints. Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linne, Pomegrancace) was a functional fruit and widely used for antioxidation, depressing the blood pressure and decreasing heart disease. Peels of pomegranate was also applied as an astringent, for eliminating parasites and as an antipyretic in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In our previously studies, 70% acetone extract of pomegranate peel was rich in polyphenols (471.0±32.0mg/g as gallic acid equivalents). The pomegranate extract (100mg/kg) was given orally, inhibited the paw swelling of carrageenan-induced mice and reduced the PGE₂ production in the serum level. In this study, different parts of pomegranate fruit (peel, seed and juice) were extracted with 70% acetone and investigated for the anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced RAW cells, while the peel part (100µg/ml) displayed the stronger NO inhibitory effects than the other parts. Moreover, peel of pomegranate (100µg/ml) was investigated for the anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced primary human chondrocytes (PHC) and displayed the strong PGE₂ inhibitory effects. Therefore, active components of the P. granatum were isolated through column chromatography combined with the decreased PGE₂ bioassay-guided fractionation and 6 compounds were obtained. Punicalagin showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. In the summary, we suggested pomegranate was a potential natural resource for anti-inflammatory to development as anti-inflammatory drug to treat arthritic dietary supplement.