Neuroinflammation is known as the main mechanism implicated in the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The main feature of neuroinflammation is associated with the activation of microglia. The activated microglia increase proinflammatory cytokine production and induce progressive neuronal cell death. Citrus flavonoids show neuroprotective effects that are associated with the anti-inflammatory action of flavonoids in neurodegenerative diseases. Among these citrus flavonoids, kaempferol, naringin, and nobiletin show inhibitory effects on nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways that can modulate inflammatory conditions in microglial cells. In the present review, we present the anti-inflammatory activities of citrus flavonoids and therapeutic potential of flavonoids as neuroprotective agents.

본 연구진은 신규 미생물인 Nocardia sp. CS682 균주에서 항균물질인 nargenicin을 확보하고, 그 유도체 5종을 확보하여 그람양성, 음성 및 다약제 내성균에 대한 항균 효능 및 LPS로 자극된 대식세포에서의 nitric oxide 생성 억제능을 확인하였다. Nargenicin 유도체들은 nargenicin 및 vancomycin에 비교하여 우수한 항균 활성을 보여주었으며, compound 4 및 5는 광범위한 항균 효능 외에 nitric oxide 생성 억제능을 보여 항균-항염효과를 가지는 dual effector로써 감염, 면역 질환에 응용 가능성을 시사하였다. Nargenicin 유도체들은 향후 염증반응에서의 면역 조절 기작에 대한 추가 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.