For example, an ex vivo study found that the flavonoids fisetin and tricetin greatly attenuated LPS-induced increases in concentrations of TNF-α in COPD patient blood and IL-6 in type 2 diabetes patient blood by targeting poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, an essential element in upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines [27]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.