Concurrent suppression of NF‐κB, p38 MAPK and reactive oxygen species formation underlies the effect of a novel compound isolated from Curcuma comosa Roxb. in LPS‐activated microglia

Objective We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of (3S)‐1‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐7‐phenyl‐(6E)‐6‐hepten‐3‐ol, also known as compound 092, isolated from Curcuma comosa Roxb on the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated highly aggressive proliferating immortalized (HAPI) microglial cell lines. Method Nitric oxide (NO) production was determined using the Griess reaction, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA. Western blotting was used to determine the levels of pro‐inflammatory mediators and their related upstream proteins. Key finding Compound 092 suppressed NO production and iNOS expression in LPS‐stimulated HAPI cells. These effects originated from the ability of compound 092 to attenuate the activation of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB as determined by the reduction in p‐NF‐κB and p‐IκB kinase (IKK) protein levels. Compound 092 also significantly lowered LPS‐activated intracellular reactive oxygen species production and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Conclusion Compound 092 suppresses microglial activation through attenuation of p38 MAPK and NF‐κB activation. Compound 092 thus holds the potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders associated with neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.