Cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression and antioxidant activity of <i>Acmella oleracea</i> extract treated with active charcoal

This work reports for the first time the evaluation of the cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential of <i>Acmella oleracea</i> extract treated with active charcoal in THP-1 monocytes. <i>A. oleracea</i> flower ethanolic extract was treated with 4% activated charcoal (TCEE). Later, THP-1 human monocyte cytotoxicity assay was performed using resazurin fluorometric method. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells were evaluated through RT-PCR by ΔΔCt method using IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF genes primers. Finally, antioxidant assay was carried out with DPPH radical scavenging method. TCEE had a LD₅₀ of 592.5 µg/mL and did not induce pro-inflammatory gene expression in THP-1 cells after 6 h of treatment. Lastly, TCEE (AA% of 69.4 ± 1.4%) and CEE (AA% of 63.0 ± 0.9%) showed moderate antioxidant activity. <i>A. oleracea</i> treated flower extract showed low cytotoxicity in THP-1 monocytes and does not induce inflammation in THP-1 cells, in addition to presenting antioxidant potential.