The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Tenebrio molitor. Macrophage cell response by outside stimulation leads expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and trigger expression of genes which are affected by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in formation of inflammatory factors like nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. In order to investigate anti-inflammatory agents, the inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO in RAW 264.7 cells were examined. T. Molitor significantly decreased the production of NO in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced the expression of iNOS, a COX-2 protein. As a result, the levels of protein such as PGE2, iNOS, COX-2 and MARKs were significantly reduced compared to non-treated group in T. Molitor water extract (TDW) treated group. Also, antioxidant effect of T. Molitor were investigated using DPPH, ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests in cell-free system. Antioxidant activity of T. molitor was found low in the DPPH radical scavenging test while high in the ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests. These results show that TDW could be an effective anti-pro-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent.

적하수오 추출물의 추출용매별 항염증 작용을 알아보기 위해 LPS로 자극된 RAW 264.7 세포를 이용하여 실험을 진행 한 결과 열수 추출물 및 70% 에탄올 추출물 모두 100μg/mL에서 60%이상의 NO 생성 억제 율을 보이는 것을 확인 하였다. 또한 사이토 카인들에 대하여 적하수오 추출물은 TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2 생성량은 농도 의존적으로 감소하였고, 이는 적하수오 추출물이 염증성 사이토 카인의 발현을 억제 하여 염증 발생을 억제 할 수 있다고 할 수 있다. PMW는 100μg/mL의 농도에서 iNOS 단백질 발현량이 89%, COX-2는 54%의 효과를 나타내었으며, PME는 100μg/mL의 농도에서 iNOS 91%, COX-2는 57%의 단백질 발현 저해효과가 있음을 확인 할 결과로 보아 적하수오는 대식세포에서 NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2 iNOS, COX-2 발현을 억제 하며, 특히 적하수오 70% 에탄올 추출물의 경우 저 농도에서부터 효과를 나타내어 우수한 항염증 소재임을 확인 할 수 있었다.