Molecular basis of the anti-inflammatory potential of a diarylheptanoid in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells

Abstract

Natural products play a significant role in human health in relation to the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders. In this study, we examined the molecular basis of the anti-inflammatory potential of a diarylheptonoid (DAH) isolated from Alp-inia officinarum hexane extract (AOHE) with special emphasis on their ability to modulate the nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-кB) signaling involved in the inflam-matory response. Measurement of Nitrite by Griess reaction which revealed the effect of DAH in RAW 264.7 macrophages showed an inhibition in the nitric oxide production through the suppression of induc-ible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene level expression. NF-кB reporter gene assay suggests inhibition of NF-кB transcriptional activity, thus inhibiting LPS-induced phosphorylation and degradation of IкBα and a downregulation of NF-кB protein expression confirms the immunomodulatory effect of DAH. Furthermore , downregulation in the gene level expression of NF-кB signaling markers such as IL-1β, TNF-α and COX-2 suggests the anti-inflammatory potential of DAH via inhibition of NF-кB activation.