Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) extract improves glucose uptake in LPS-induced inflammation in Caco-2/macrophages co-culture model

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have increased intestinal glucose absorption associated with hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. Thus, IBD treatment might minimize diabetic mellitus risk. Eggplant extract is frequently prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine and is effective against various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory infections. It contains active compounds; chlorogenic acid (CGA) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, the effect of eggplant extract (EPE) on intestinal glucose uptake in IBD is unknown. Thus, this study uses LPS-induced inflammation in a co-culture model to mimic IBD. This work determined the impact of EPE glucose transport in the inflammatory co-culture model—the caco-2 cells in a transwell insert plate on LPS-induced inflammatory THP-1-derived macrophages. Caco-2 cells were treated with various doses of EPE. Inflammatory parameters and intestinal glucose transport function of Caco-2 cells were studied. It was observed that EPE inhibited proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and production. Furthermore, EPE inhibited intestinal glucose absorption under inflammatory conditions. These data suggested that EPE may attenuate inflammatory conditions and glucose absorption in the inflammatory co-cultures model; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of EPE must be evaluated through further investigation.