I. Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of polyphenolics. II. Polyphenolics in natural soils

Phenolic compounds are known for their epidemiological association with reduced risks for certain diseases. We used rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to examine anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of nine polyphenolics, representing several classes of tannins. The results from a sandwich ELISA assay for TNF-α showed that anti-inflammatory activity was only observed with apigenin (EC50 1.0 µg/mL), while other compounds either had no affect on TNF-α or increased its production. Our study also showed that tannins interfered with the MTT cell viability assay and that chemical reactivity of tannins was changed upon spontaneous oxidation. In addition to ELISA, we began to use real-time RT-PCR to quantify cytokine mRNAs in lysates of cells that were treated with phenolics. Polyphenolic compounds are also of interest in the management of soils. We have begun developing a new method using a resin trap to quantify the input of polyphenolics into soil.