Figure 4

Expression of TNF-α gene of Caco-2 cells. The expression was analyzed after treatment with Echinacea suspension (ES) (1-50 μg/ml) for 16 (A), 24 (B), and 48 h (C), as determined by RT-PCR. ES fermented for 24 h at 30°C with Lactobacillus plantarum 1MR20 (1MR20-ES), C2 (C2-ES) and POM1 (POM1-ES), and with the association between strains 1MR20 and C2 (1MR20/C2-ES) were assayed. ES-CT, chemically acidified ES, without bacterial inoculum, and incubated for 24 h at 30°C, was the control. Results were expressed as percent ratio to lipopolysaccharide (5 μg/ml) (LPS)-treated cells (LPS). Data are the means of three independent experiments twice analysed.