Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Litsea japonica leaves

We investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of an 80% ethanol extract and solvent fractions of Litsea japonica leaves. The extract and the CH2Cl2, EtOAc, and BuOH fractions showed antioxidant potential, based on radical-scavenging activity. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the CH2Cl2 fractions inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Additionally, the CH2Cl2 fractions inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. These results show that the CH2Cl2 fractions of L. japonica strongly inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 and the induction of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated cells. Thus, we propose that CH2Cl2 fractions may inhibit NO and PGE2 production primarily through the regulation of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression. This study suggests the L. japonica may be a natural source of effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.