Research Article Constituents of French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.) Flowers Protect Jurkat T-Cells against Oxidative Stress Irakli Chkhikvishvili, 1 Tamar Sanikidze, 1 Nunu Gogia, 1 Maia Enukidze, 1 Marine Machavariani, 1 Nana Kipiani, 1 Yakov Vinokur, 2 and Victor Rodov 2 1 Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Tbilisi State Medical University, 33 Vazha Pshavela Avenue, 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia 2 Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Te Volcani Center, HaMaccabim Road 68, P.O. Box 15159, 7528809 Rishon LeZion, Israel Correspondence should be addressed to Victor Rodov; vrodov@agri.gov.il Received 12 January 2016; Revised 3 April 2016; Accepted 27 April 2016 Academic Editor: Rodrigo Franco Copyright © 2016 Irakli Chkhikvishvili et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Te fowers of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) are widely used in folk medicine, in particular for treating infammation-related disorders. However, cellular mechanisms of this activity demand further investigation. In the present work, we studied the potential of T. patula compounds to alleviate the oxidative stress in hydrogen peroxide-challenged human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T-cells. Crude extracts of marigold fowers and purifed fractions containing favonoids patuletin, quercetagetin, and quercetin and their derivatives, as well as the carotenoid lutein, were brought in contact with Jurkat cells challenged with 25 or 50 MH 2 O 2 . Hydrogen peroxide caused oxidative stress in the cells, manifested as generation of superoxide and peroxyl radicals, reduced viability, arrested cell cycle, and enhanced apoptosis. Te stress was alleviated by marigold ingredients that demonstrated high radical-scavenging capacity and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes involved in neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Flavonoid fraction rich in quercetin and quercetagetin showed the highest cytoprotective activity, while patuletin in high dose exerted a cytotoxic efect associated with its anticancer potential. T. patula compounds enhanced the production of anti-infammatory and antioxidant interleukin-10 (IL-10) in Jurkat cells. Both direct radical-scavenging capacity and stimulation of protective cellular mechanisms can underlay the anti-infammatory properties of marigold fowers. 1. Introduction Te genus Tagetes (Asteraceae) is native to Americas but some of its members (in particular T. erecta and T. patula) com- monly known as marigolds were naturalized in the Old World (India, North Africa, and Europe) as early as in 16th century [1]. Moreover, some researchers suggest that both species reached India anciently through pre-Columbian transoceanic voyages [2]. Marigold was introduced to Georgia from India, and its ground dried petals became one of the most popular local spices [3]. Both T. erecta and T. patula are grown in Georgia as spice and dye plants [4] recognized for their health-benefcial properties [5]. Tagetes is a multipurpose plant having ornamental, ritual, medicinal, anthelmintic, insecticidal, colorant, food, and for- age applications [6, 7]. Healing properties of Tagetes species have been implemented by folk medicine for centuries [8]. In particular, fowers and entire herb of T. patula (French marigold) are used for preparing ethnobotanical remedies against rheumatism, stomach and intestinal problems, kidney and hepatic disorders, fever, and pneumonia [6, 9]. Te infusion of T. patula fowers is also implemented as eyewash [6]. Te efcacy of orally administered methanolic extracts of T. patula forets against acute and chronic infammation was confrmed in experiments with animal models [10]. Similar results were obtained for T. erecta (African marigold) extracts [11]. Furthermore, a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial showed efectiveness of marigold therapy using T. patula preparations in treating human infammation-associated dis- orders such as bunion [12]. Te anti-infammatory efect of T. patula extracts could be reproduced in animal model by oral administration of its favonoid constituents, patuletin and Hindawi Publishing Corporation Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Volume 2016, Article ID 4216285, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4216285