Abstract
In vitro studies and animal studies have shown that chemical compounds contained in carrots, such as falcarinol and falcarindiol, can prevent inflammation. The present study was designed to test whether the oral intake of carrot juice containing falcarinol and falcarindiol affects the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human blood. Carrot juice (500 mL) was administered orally to healthy volunteers, and blood samples were drawn before and 1 h after juice intake at the time point when peak concentrations of falcarinol and falcariondiol have been shown in the blood. The blood samples were divided, and one sample was allowed to coagulate for 1 h at room temperature before analyzing the synthesis of thromboxane B2 (TBX2) by the COX1 enzyme using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The other blood samples were stimulated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The ELISA and cytokine multiplex analysis assessed the levels of COX-2-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and inflammatory markers interleukin (IL) 1α, IL1β, IL6, IL16, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Inflammatory cytokines such as IL1α and IL16 were significantly reduced in the LPS stimulated blood samples with higher concentrations of falcarinol and falcariondiol compared to the control samples taken before the intake of carrot juice. The levels of TBX2, PGE2, IL1β, IL6, and TNFα were not affected by the carrot juice intake blood samples not stimulated with LPS. In conclusion, carrot juice rich in the polyacetylens falcarinol and falcarindiol affects blood leukocytes, priming them to better cope with inflammatory conditions, evident by the reduced secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL1α and IL16.