In vitro and In vivo inhibition of LPS-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-α secretion by the gallotannin β- -pentagalloylglucose

The naturally occurring gallotannin β- -pentagalloylglucose (β-PGG) decreases tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) output from human peripheral blood mononucleocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by as much as 90% (vs control) at 5 μM concentration. A qualitatively similar but less pronounced effect ( 50% decrease) was observed in the serum of rats dosed with both LPS and β-PGG. These results may have relevance to therapies that target disease states characterized by an overproduction of TNF-α.