Ethanol Extract of Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Inflammatory Response in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

• Published in: Journal of medicinal food Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 511
• Main Authors: Joo, Hee Kyoung, Choi, Sunga, Lee, Yu Ran, Lee, Eun Ok, Park, Myoung Soo, Lim, Yong Pyo, Park, Jong-Tae, Jeon, Byeong Hwa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Brassica rapa - chemistry; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - immunology; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - immunology; endothelial cells; polyphenol; adhesion molecules; inflammation; Chinese cabbage
• ISSN: 1557-7600
• DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3869

Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis, commonly known as Chinese cabbage, is a cruciferous vegetable traditionally consumed in east Asia. Although its habitual consumption could account for the low incidence of chronic vascular inflammation, the therapeutic and protective potential of phytochemicals derived from Chinese cabbage has been poorly studied. In this study, we identified the phenolic compounds, kaempferol and quercetin, from the ethanol extract of Chinese cabbage (EtCC). We show for the first time that EtCC contains effective phytochemicals that suppress tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced inflammatory response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The EtCC inhibited TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antiadhesive activity of EtCC directly correlated with downregulation of expression and transcription of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). It was caused by an Nrf-2-dependent mechanism, leading to activation of antioxidant responsive element-driven promoter. Taken together, these results suggest that EtCC inhibits the expression of TNF-α-induced adhesion molecules through the indirect transcriptional modulation of VCAM-1 in endothelial cells. In conclusion, regular consumption of vegetables containing dietary phytochemicals might be a potential therapeutic strategy to protect against various stresses, to prevent several pathological conditions, and to treat chronic vascular inflammation, such as atherosclerosis.