This study aims to select the most effective anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) component of flavonoids from Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. by anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in vitro, and to elucidate the mechanism.The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of total flavonoids (TF) and four flavonoid components (genkwanin, hydroxygenkwanin, luteolin and apigenin) were determined by pharmacological approach in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and ConA-induced T lymphocytes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain the optimal anti-RA component in vitro. Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) were used to explore the mechanisms. Finally, the in vitro anti-RA effect was verified by human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs).TF and four flavonoids significantly reduced the expressions of NO, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-2. PCA showed that genkwanin was the most effective anti-RA component in vitro. Genkwanin inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway by decreasing the phosphorylation levels of IKK, IκB and NF-κB, and down-regulated the expressions of iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 mRNA. Genkwanin also inhibited the abnormal proliferation of FLSs and down-regulated the secretions of NO and IL-6.The most effective anti-RA component was genkwanin. Genkwanin exerts anti-RA effect through down-regulating the activation of NF-κB pathway and mRNA expressions of inflammatory mediators, and also by inhibiting the abnormal proliferation of FLSs and its NO and IL-6 secretion levels.
