Vestitol drives LPS-activated macrophages into M2 phenotype through modulation of NF-κB pathway

•Vestitol was isolated from Brazilian red propolis.•Vestitol reduced IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, IL-4 and TGF-β levels.•Vestitol down-regulated genes of NF-κB and Erk 1/2 pathways. Previously, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of vestitol in a neutrophil model. Here, we show the effects of vestitol on macrophage activation and function. Vestitol was obtained from Brazilian red propolis after bioguided fractionation and tested at different concentrations in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages for nitric oxide (NO) production and cell viability. The levels of TNF-α, IL1-β, TGF-β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, GM-CSF, IFN-ɣ and gene expression related to cytokines, NO, PI3K-AKT and signal transduction pathways were assayed by ELISA and RT-qPCR, respectively. Differences were determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer. Vestitol inhibited NO production by 83% at 0.55 μM without affecting cell viability when compared to the vehicle control (P