Inhibitory effect of sofalcone on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta production in human monocytes stimulated by Helicobacter pylori water extract.

We investigated the effect of sofalcone, a synthetic flavonoid derivative of sophoradin, on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 beta production in human monocytes stimulated by Helicobacter pylori water extract. H. pylori water extract significantly stimulated TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production by monocytes while incubation with sofalcone (10 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml) significantly inhibited this increase in TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production. These results suggest that sofalcone could be used to improve H. pylori-associated gastric mucosal inflammation through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production.