Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of clam worm extract in macrophage RAW264.7 cells

Abstract

Earth worm (Eisenia andrei) and clam worm (Perinereis linea) have been used as anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is unclear how they exerted their physiological effects in macrophages. In this experiment, the antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects of clam worm extract (CWE) and earth worm extract (EWE) in RAW264.7 cells were examined by measuring MDA, catalase, SOD, GSH-Px and inflammatory cytokines (nitric oxide, iNOS, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α). Treatment with CWE significantly increased the activities of catalase, SOD and GSH-Px in RAW264.7 cells and decreased the level of MDA. Interestingly, treatment with CWE induced more activities of SOD than EWE. In addition, CWE decreased NO production, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β in RAW264.7. The EWE also decreased NO production and iNOS, but increased COX-2 and IL-1β suggesting that CWE could be better resources for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent than EWE. Taken together, these results indicate that CWE has the potential as a natural antioxidant and a therapeutic for inflammation-related diseases. ? 2016, Korean Society of Pharmacognosy. All rights reserved.