Polyphenol-enriched extract from Tagetes erecta L. attenuates LPS-induced inflammation and toxicity by targeting the TLR4/MD2 signaling pathway

The study investigates the medicinal properties of Tagetes erecta L. (marigold) in combating inflammation and toxicity induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The polyphenol-enriched extract from T. erecta L. petals (TE) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects by targeting the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex, as evidenced in cellular and animal models. In vitro, TE effectively inhibited LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators and key genes associated with inflammation. Molecular docking analyses suggested that constituents of TE, such as patulitrin, quercetagetin, kaempferol, patuletin, and isorhamnetin, have the potential to bind to the TLR4/MD2 complex, therefore supporting its anti-inflammatory effects. Experiments on zebrafish larvae revealed that TE mitigates LPS-induced abnormalities and mortality, as well as attenuates the expression of proinflammatory genes, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Overall, the study underscores the promising medicinal value of T. erecta L., particularly TE, in addressing LPS-induced inflammation and associated disorders, thus warranting further exploration in clinical applications.