Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Extract from <i>Fragaria ananassa</i> Duch. Calyx via MAPK and NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Currently, Fragaria ananassa Duch. are discarded as by-products except for the fruit part, so we developed a natural material using the top (= calyx), one of the by-products, and prepared an extract using 70% ethanol to investigate its effects on anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The polyphenol content of 70% ethanol extracts from Fragaria ananassa Duch. calyx was measured to be 265.86 ± 0.85 mg TAE/100 g, respectively. The antioxidant activity was confirmed through the electron donating ability and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability measurements. When extracts from Fragaria ananassa Duch. calyx was treated to LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, it was confirmed that the production of inflammation-related factors, NO, PGE₂, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-a, and IL-6, was inhibited. In addition, it was confirmed that extracts from Fragaria ananassa Duch. calyx affected the MAPK signaling pathway by reducing the protein expression of p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38, which are the upper signaling pathways. In addition, it was confirmed to reduce the protein expression of p-p65 and p-IκB, which are NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, this study suggests that extracts from Fragaria ananassa Duch. calyx affect the regulation of the production of major inflammation-related factors by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway. These results confirmed that extracts from Fragaria ananassa Duch. calyx have the potential to be developed as a new natural material with anti-inflammatory activity.