Anti-Inflammatory Natural Products and Their Chemical Characterization
Summary
Natural products have long provided a rich source of anti-inflammatory agents, encompassing diverse chemical classes such as terpenoids, polyphenols, alkaloids and saponins. Advances in chromatographic separation and spectroscopic elucidation—particularly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry—have enabled comprehensive profiling of plant-derived secondary metabolites. Detailed chemical characterisation reveals structural motifs responsible for modulation of key inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistic studies implicate inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling as primary modes of action. Global interest in these natural scaffolds has spurred the development of new extraction techniques, bioassays and in silico docking approaches to accelerate lead discovery. The integration of phytochemical analysis with cellular and animal models underscores the translational potential of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals for the management of chronic inflammatory disorders and as templates for novel therapeutic agents.
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Anti-Inflammatory Natural Products and Their Chemical Characterization publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory natural products and their chemical characterization across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Secondary metabolites: Bioactive small molecules produced by plants, including alkaloids, saponins and phenolics, which often mediate defence responses.
NMR spectroscopy: Analytical technique that employs nuclear magnetic resonance to elucidate detailed molecular structures.
Mass spectrometry (MS): Technique for determining molecular mass and fragmentation patterns, aiding compound identification.
Nitric oxide (NO): Reactive nitrogen species generated by immune cells that serves as a mediator of inflammation.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS): Enzyme upregulated during inflammation, responsible for high-output NO production.
Molecular docking: Computational method predicting the preferred orientation and binding affinity of small molecules to protein targets.
References
- Two New Steroidal Saponins with Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects from the Aerial Parts of Gnetum formosum Markgr.. Plants (2024).
- Phanerosides A–X, Phenylpropanoid Esters of Sucrose from the Rattans of Phanera championii Benth. Molecules (2023).
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