Abstract

Kumquat is one kind of citrus fruits, belonging to the genus Fortunella. The •OH scavenging capacity (IC50=20.02±1.18μg dry wt. extract/ml) of the ethyl acetate extract of freeze-dried peel of kumquat was higher than that of scavenging O2•(superscript -) (IC50=144±1.24μg dry wt. extract/ml). The extract was also effective on inducing quinone reductase in murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cells, and CD value (concentration of an inducer that doubles specific activity of quinone reductase in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells) was 50μg dry wt. extract/ml. The inhibitory effects of the kumquat extract on inflammation were evaluated using the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated mouse ears. Topical application of kumquat extract from 400 and 600 mg freeze-dried peels inhibited TPA-induced edema by 41.57 and 71.72%, respectively. The same treatment also inhibited TPA-induced increase of the TNF-α level by 68.96 and 82.76%, of the IL-1β level by 67.28 and 83.27%, and of the IL-6 level by 60.50 and 71.50%, respectively. In addition, the levels of biomarkers associated with cardiovascular, such as E-Selectin, P-Selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1 and MMP-9, were all significantly inhibited. The kumquat extract also influenced arachidonic acid metabolism. This observation was substantiated by decreased amounts of arachidonic acid metabolites prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 levels.

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