*Article* **Dietary Cameroonian Plants Exhibit Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Human Gastric Epithelial Cells**

**Achille Parfait Atchan Nwakiban 1,2, Marco Fumagalli 2, Stefano Piazza 2, Andrea Magnavacca 2, Giulia Martinelli 2, Giangiacomo Beretta 3, Paolo Magni 2,4, Armelle Deutou Tchamgoue 5, Gabriel Agbor Agbor 5, Jules-Roger Kuiaté 1, Mario Dell'Agli 2,\* and Enrico Sangiovanni 2**


Received: 17 November 2020; Accepted: 8 December 2020; Published: 10 December 2020

**Abstract:** In Cameroon, local plants are traditionally used as remedies for a variety of ailments. In this regard, several papers report health benefits of Cameroonian spices, which include antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, whereas gastric anti-inflammatory activities have never been previously considered. The present study investigates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of hydro-alcoholic extracts of eleven Cameroonian spices in gastric epithelial cells (AGS and GES-1 cells). The extracts showed antioxidant properties in a cell-free system and reduced H2O2-induced ROS generation in gastric epithelial cells. After preliminary screening on TNF α-induced NF-κB driven transcription, six extracts from *Xylopia parviflora*, *Xylopia aethiopica*, *Tetrapleura tetraptera*, *Dichrostachys glomerata*, *Aframomum melegueta*, and *Aframomum citratum* were selected for further studies focusing on the anti-inflammatory activity. The extracts reduced the expression of some NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory mediators strictly involved in the gastric inflammatory process, such as IL-8, IL-6, and enzymes such as PTGS2 (COX-2), without a ffecting PTGS1 (COX-1). In conclusion, the selected extracts decreased pro-inflammatory markers by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling in gastric cells, justifying, in part, the traditional use of these spices. Other molecular mechanisms cannot be excluded, and further studies are needed to better clarify their biological activities at the gastric level.

**Keywords:** gastric inflammation; ethnopharmacology; Cameroonian plants; interleukin 8; interleukin 6; NF-κB; COX-2; antioxidant
