Effects of three dietary phytochemicals from tea, rosemary and turmeric on inflammation-induced nitrite production

In chronic inflammation, cytokines induce the production of nitric oxide (NO.) that is converted to DNA damaging and carcinogenic peroxynitrite and nitrite. The compounds epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), carnosol, and curcumin are non-vitamin phytochemicals contained in commonly consumed dietary plants. They are known to be anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive. Therefore, we studied their effect on the generation of peroxynitrite radicals and nitrite. They inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFNγ) induced nitrite production by mouse peritoneal cells by more than 50% at 2.5–10 μM. Cell viability assays verified that the inhibition was not due to general cellular toxicity.