EP_076. Aqueous extract of Ziziphus jujuba (red dates) modulates inflammatory markers in RAW264.7 macrophages

Nor Malia Abd Warif^1*, Nur Alia Yasmin Mohd Nizam²

1. Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Biomedical Sciences Programme, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: Nor Malia Abd Warif. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Ziziphus jujuba (red dates) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine, and its extract is known to contain bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins, which are believed to have immunomodulatory potential. Little is known about Z. jujuba's immunomodulatory properties, especially in macrophages. RAW 264.7 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) offer a useful in vitro model to investigate its potential in regulating immune and inflammatory responses.

OBJECTIVE(S): This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Z. jujuba aqueous extract on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, focusing on its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for modulating immune and inflammatory responses.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine cell viability and the Griess assay was used to measure nitric oxide (NO) production, which is an indicator of inflammatory response. RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were treated with jujube aqueous extract at doses ranging from 31.25 to 1000 μg/mL, both with and without LPS stimulation.

RESULTS: The extract did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 cells at the tested concentrations, as cell viability remained above 80%. Additionally, treatment with jujube aqueous extract significantly reduced the production of NO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.05). The lowest NO levels were recorded at 1000 μg/mL of the extract, indicating that this reduction was dose-dependent.

CONCLUSION: Z. jujuba aqueous extract shows promise as a safe, natural immunomodulator with anti-inflammatory properties, indicating its potential use in the development of alternative therapies for immune-related disorders.

KEYWORDS: Ziziphus jujuba, RAW 264.7 Macrophages, Lipopolysaccharide, Immunomodulator, Anti-inflammatory