Background: Inflammation plays an important role in various diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Behcet's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Morus alba L. extracts obtained using different extraction methods (water extraction or high temperature extraction) on RAW264.7 cells.
Methods and Results: Extracts from the central part (including the heartwood, sapwood, cambiun, and phloem) and bark (including the periderm and cortex) of Morus alba L. were obtained using either water or high temperature extraction. The following extract were obtained: MA1, water extract from the central part of Morus alba L., MA2, high temperature extract from the central part of Morus alba L., MA3, water extract from the bark of Morus alba L., and MA4, high temperature extract from the bark of Morus alba L. None of these extracts was observed to be cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cells. The MA2 extract reduced the production of LPS-induced NO (nitric oxide), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.
Conclusions: These results indicated that the inflammatory response was moderated by MA2. Treatment with MA2 could be used as a natural medicine for treating diseases involving inflammation. However, further experiments are required to determine how the high temperature extraction method alters the active ingredients in the extract and influences the anti-inflammatory effects of Morus alba L..