Demethyltorosaflavone C from Cassia nomame inhibits nitric oxide production.

In RAW264 macrophages, demethyltorosaflavone C (DTFC)-luteolin derivative from Cassia nomame-suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production without cytotoxicity. DTFC exhibited no nitric oxide radical scavenging activity but downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 at protein and mRNA levels, indicating anti-inflammatory effects through pathways similar to those of luteolin. These results suggest that DTFC appears to have potential comparable to luteolin.