The Standardized Extract of Ziziphus jujuba Fruit (Jujube) Regulates Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Cultured Murine Macrophages: Suppression of Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated NF-κB Activity

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill., known as jujube or Chinese date, is commonly consumed as a health supplement or herbal medicine worldwide. To study the beneficial role of jujube in regulating immune response, we investigated its roles on the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cultured macrophages. Application of chemically standardized jujube water extract for 24 h stimulated the transcriptional expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages. In contrast, the pretreatment with jujube water extract suppressed the expression of IL-1β and IL-6, but not for TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines in LPS-induced macrophages were suppressed by jujube water extract in both mRNA and protein levels. In parallel, the inhibition of jujube water extract on the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-kappa B was revealed in LPS-induced macrophages. These results verified the bidirectional immune-modulatory roles of jujube by regulating the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.