Abstract: Objective:To investigate the influence of Prunus tomentosa thunb total flavonoids (PTTTF) in the inflammatory factors in the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced cellular inflammation model, and to clarify its mechanism. Methods:The cellular inflammation models of the RAW264.7 cells and human neutrophils (PMN) induced by LPS were established. The cells were divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone group (DXM), and different doses (0.4,4.0, and 40.0 mg·L^-1) of PTTTF groups. The expression levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1)mRNA in the RAW264.7 cells were detected by RT-PCR. The expression levels of NF-κB, and signal pathway key molecules ERK1/2 and p-JNK proteins in the RAW264.7 cells were determined by Western blotting method. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of RAW264.7 cells in different cell cycles and the apoptotic rates of PMN. Results:Compared with control group, the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, TNF-α, and HMGB1 mRNA in the RAW264.7 cells in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the expression levels of NF-κB,ERK1/2, and p-JNK proteins were also significantly increased (P<0.01);the percentage of RAW264.7 cells in S phase was increased (P<0.05);the apoptotic rate of PMN was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group,the expression levels of IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, and HMGB1 mRNA in the RAW264.7 cells in 4.0 and 40.0 mg·L^-1 PTTTF groups and DXM group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01), the expression levels of NF-κB,ERK1/2, and p-JNK proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.05), and the percentages of RAW264.7 cells in S phase were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the apoptotic rates of PMN were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:PTTTF can down-regulate the expression levels of inflammatory factors in the RAW264.7 cell inflammation models induced by LPS. This effect may be related to decreasing the percentage of inflammatory cells in S phase, promoting the apoptosis, and down-regulating the expressions of NF-κB, ERK1/2, and p-JNK proteins.

Key words: prunus tomentosa thunb total flavonoids, inflammatory factors, signaling pathway, apoptosis