Anti-inflammatory properties of potato glycoalkaloids in stimulated Jurkat and Raw 264.7 mouse macrophages

Aims: The potato glycoalkaloids, alpha-chaconine, alpha-solanine and solanidine, along with potato peel extracts were investigated for potential anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Their potential to reduce two biomarkers of inflammation, cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) productions, were assessed in the stimulated Jurkat and macrophage models, respectively. Main methods: Cytokine and nitric oxide productions were stimulated in Jurkat and Raw 264.7 macrophages with Concanavalin A (Con A; 25 mu g/ml) and lipopolysaccaride (LPS; 1 mu g/ml), respectively. Selective concentrations of glycoalkaloids and potato peel extracts were added simultaneously with Con A or LPS for 24 h to investigate their potential to reduce inflammatory activity. Key findings: alpha-Chaconine and solanidine significantly reduced interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) productions in Con A-induced Jurkat cells. The potato peel extracts did not influence cytokine production. In LPS-stimulated Raw macrophages, alpha-solanine, solanidine and two potato peel extracts significantly reduced induced NO production. Significance: Our findings suggest that sub-cytotoxic concentrations of potato glycoalkaloids and potato peel extracts possess anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and with further investigation may be useful in the prevention of anti-inflammatory diseases. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.