Anti-Inflammatory Compounds from Nauclea Species
Summary
The genus Nauclea encompasses a range of tropical trees and shrubs whose traditional use in Asia and Africa for inflammatory conditions has motivated extensive phytochemical and pharmacological research. These studies have revealed three principal classes of anti-inflammatory agents: indole alkaloids, phenolic acids and iridoids. Indole alkaloids such as strictosamide, naucline and subditine have been shown to inhibit nitric oxide production and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated macrophages. Phenolic acids contribute potent free-radical scavenging that mitigates oxidative stress–induced inflammatory signalling. Iridoids further modulate key signalling pathways, offering additional anti-inflammatory efficacy. Certain extracts also demonstrate immunosuppressive effects via suppression of T cell proliferation, indicating a capacity to regulate adaptive immune responses. Quality control analyses of commercial Danmu preparations derived from N. officinalis have established reproducible chemical profiles, laying the groundwork for consistent pharmacological evaluation and potential development of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics targeting respiratory, dermatological and systemic inflammatory disorders.
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Anti-Inflammatory Compounds from Nauclea Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory compounds from nauclea species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Indole alkaloid: A nitrogenous natural product derived from the indole moiety, often exhibiting potent biological activities.
Phenolic acid: An aromatic secondary metabolite containing one or more hydroxyl groups, known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Iridoid: A class of monoterpenoid lactones that modulate inflammatory signalling pathways.
DPPH assay: A method for assessing free-radical scavenging activity by measuring reduction of the stable DPPH radical.
References
- Naucline, a New Indole Alkaloid from the Bark of Nauclea officinalis †. Molecules (2012).
- Subditine, a New Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid from Bark of Nauclea subdita (Korth.) Steud. Induces Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. PLOS ONE (2014).
- Chromatographic fingerprints analysis and determination of seven components in Danmu preparations by HPLC–DAD/QTOF-MS. Chinese Medicine (2020).
- In Vitro Study on the Antioxidant Potentials of the Leaves and Fruits of Nauclea latifolia. The Scientific World JOURNAL (2014).
- Anti-hyperglycemic effects of three medicinal plants in diabetic pregnancy: modulation of T cell proliferation. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2013).
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