Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms in Natural Products
Summary
Natural products have long been recognised for their capacity to modulate inflammatory responses through diverse biochemical pathways. Many plant-derived compounds, notably polyphenols and terpenoids, exert anti-inflammatory effects by scavenging reactive oxygen species and attenuating pro-inflammatory enzyme activity, such as cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases. Others act at the level of gene regulation, inhibiting transcription factors like nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or activating the antioxidant response element via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Flavonoids often stabilise cell membranes and down-regulate cytokine production (for example interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α), while some alkaloids and terpenes suppress inflammasome assembly. Emerging evidence also highlights modulation of intracellular signalling cascades—including mitogen-activated protein kinases—and regulation of immune cell activation, such as reduced calcium influx in T lymphocytes. Collectively, these mechanisms confer protection in experimental models of colitis, dermatitis and arthritis and suggest practical applications in dietary supplements, topical formulations and adjuvant therapies for chronic inflammatory conditions.
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Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms in Natural Products publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory mechanisms in natural products across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Polyphenols: A class of plant secondary metabolites characterised by multiple phenolic units; known for antioxidant and enzyme-modulating activities.
Flavonoids: A subgroup of polyphenols with a common flavone backbone; they stabilise cell membranes, inhibit enzymes and regulate signalling pathways.
Cytokines: Small proteins secreted by immune cells that mediate and regulate inflammation and immune responses.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage cellular components and trigger inflammatory cascades.
NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells): A transcription factor whose activation by dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation drives cytokine gene expression in T lymphocytes.
References
- Phytochemical and Biological Screening of Oenothera biennis L. Hydroalcoholic Extract. Biomolecules (2020).
- Polyphenol extract from evening primrose pomace alleviates experimental colitis after intracolonic and oral administration in mice. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (2014).
- Aromadendrin Inhibits T Cell Activation via Regulation of Calcium Influx and NFAT Activity. Molecules (2020).
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