N-(p-Coumaroyl) Serotonin, a polyphenol isolated from the seeds of safflower, exhibits antioxidant, cardioprotective effects after ischemia, and antitumor activity. It may improve vascular distensibility and reduce cardiovascular risk. N-(p-Coumaroyl) Serotonin ameliorates atherosclerosis and distensibility of the aortic wall in vivo, and is commonly used in atherosclerosis research.

As reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the signaling of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we examined whether CS has a suppressive effect on inflammatory cytokine generation from human monocytes in vitro. CS at 50-200 microM reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 activities in the culture supernatants from LPS-stimulated human blood monocytes without cytotoxicity. ELISA assay revealed that the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 was inhibited by CS. Northern blot analysis showed that LPS-induced expression of these cytokine mRNA in monocytes was suppressed by CS. NF-kappaB activation was also inhibited by CS[1]