Pharmacological applications of lucidone: A naturally occurring cyclopentenedione

Abstract

Lindera erythrocarpa, commonly known as spicewood or spicebush, has a long history of use as a traditional remedy and culinary spice. Recent studies have reported that lucidone, an active constituent of fruits and leaves of Lindera erythrocarpa, has various beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, dermatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and skin-whitening effects. The pleiotropic activities of lucidone derive from its unique chemistry as well as its ability to modulate multiple signaling pathways, such as inflammatory signaling pathways regulated by NF-κB and MAPKs; cytoprotective pathway that depends on Nrf2 activation and inhibition of apoptosis; hypolipidemic pathway regulated by PPRγ and C/EBPα and anti-melanogenic pathway modulated by MITF. Also, lucidone is remarkably low cytotoxic and exhibits limited bioavailability. These findings suggest that lucidone is a promising agent for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative diseases.