title: Inhibition of neuroinflammation by cinnamon and its main components.
abstract: Uncontrolled activation of microglia contributes to neuroinflammation, which is highly involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Although cinnamon has neuro-protective properties, its capacity to inhibit neuroinflammation has not been investigated and its active compounds remain unclear. Therefore, the composition of cinnamon extract was analysed by LC-MS and the ability of cinnamon and its main constituents to inhibit neuroinflammation was evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV2 microglia culture system. In total, 50 μg/mL cinnamon extract decreased significantly the production and expression of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-activated BV2 microglia. Blocking of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was the most likely mechanism responsible for inhibition by cinnamon of neuroinflammation. Among the eight tested compounds, cinnamaldehyde had the greatest anti-neuroinflammatory capacity. Experimental results suggest that cinnamon may have a potential therapeutic effect against neurodegenerative diseases and its potent anti-neuroinflammatory capacity was primarily attributed to cinnamaldehyde.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC. sche@mail.ypu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Su-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ku-Shang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Pei-Wen
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II