Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) leaves have been used as traditional medicine for chemoprevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases although the evidence supporting their functions is still poor. This study aims to clarify the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of loquat tea extract (LTE), in both cell and animal models. LTE, especially C fraction, inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory factors including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, RANTES and TNF-alpha. Cellular signaling data revealed that the downregulation of TGF-beta-activated kinase (TAK1)-mediated both mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-kappa B pathways were involved in the inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors by C fraction. Mouse paws edema model further confirmed the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of LTE. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.