(−)‐Nyasol, isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides suppresses neuroinflammatory response through the inhibition of I‐[kappa]B[alpha]degradation in LPS‐stimulated BV‐2 microglial cells

Abstract

Activation of microglia has been associated with pathological hallmarks of several neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of microglial activation by inhibiting the production of pro‐inflammatory molecules can be useful therapeutic approach against neurodegenerative disorders.Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Liliaceae) has been used as an anti‐pyretic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐diabetic agent in traditional medicine in Korea, China and Japan. (−)‐Nyasol, a norlignan isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides, showed anti‐inflammatory potential in LPS‐activated BV‐2 microglial cells. (−)‐Nyasol suppressed the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and Interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) in activated microglial cells. It also inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by down‐regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (i‐NOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), respectively. These inhibitory effects were correlated with the suppression of LPS‐induced nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) nuclear translocation through the inactivation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK). These results suggest that (−)‐nyasol can be a modulator in neuro‐inflammatory conditions induced by microglial activation.