Total flavonoids of Bidens bipinnata L. a traditional Chinese medicine inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines of vessel endothelial cells stimulated by sera from Henoch–Schönlein purpura patients

Abstract Objectives Bidens bipinnata L. is well known as a traditional antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic medicine in China. This study was designed to evaluate the role of total extracted flavonoids from B. bipinnata (TFB) in inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to examine the effect of TFB on the production of inflammatory cytokines. The supernatant interleukin (IL)-8, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO) levels of HUVEC were measured with ELISA methods. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and fractalkine expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot methods, respectively. Key findings We observed that IL-8, TNF-α and NO release of HUVEC incubated with sera from active Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) was significantly increased. TFB intervention may significantly suppressed the supernatant IL-8, TNF-α and NO levels of HUVEC. Similarly, TFB obviously suppressed the NF-κB and fractalkine mRNA and protein expression. Conclusions These results suggested that TFB may be useful for improving microvascular inflammation in HSP patients.