Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of N-((3,4-Dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-2-yl)methyl)-4-methoxyaniline in LPS-Induced BV2 Microglial Cells

Microglial activation is known to cause inflammation resulting in neurotoxicity in several neurological diseases. N-((3,4-Dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-2-yl)methyl)-4-methoxyaniline (BL-M), a chromene derivative, was originally synthesized with the perspective of inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), a key regulator of inflammation. The present study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of BL-M in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Our results demonstrated that BL-M significantly inhibited the formation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, as well as lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, it suppressed the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Western blotting analyses revealed the inhibition of inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation by BL-M in LPS-activated cells. Therefore, our study highlights marked antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of BL-M, and suggests that this compound may have a beneficial impact on various neurodegenerative diseases associated with inflammation.