Serotonins of safflower seeds play a key role in anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds are wellknown traditional oriental medicines that have long been used for the remedies of blood stasis and bone formation in east Asia. In this study, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) was used for extraction of the main chemical compounds from C. tinctorius seeds. Four major compounds were identified, acacetin, cosmosiin, N-feruloyl serotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin. Each compound was evaluated for its inhibitory activity against the inflammatory process of macrophages. All compounds significantly inhibited production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were dramatically decreased by serotonins in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that serotonin derivatives from safflower seeds may reduce inflammationrelated diseases.