Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses

Background: Neuroinflammation is a key pathological feature in many neurodegenerative diseases, and the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is a central mediator of this response. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a functional food with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory prope...

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Main Authors: Junjun Meng, Chengquan Wen, Xiaofan Fan, Jinxiu Guo, Shiyuan Zhao, Wenxue Sun, Wenxiu Han, Pei Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Swedish Nutrition Foundation 2025-07-01
Series:Food & Nutrition Research
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Online Access:https://foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/11923/19678
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author Junjun Meng
Chengquan Wen
Xiaofan Fan
Jinxiu Guo
Shiyuan Zhao
Wenxue Sun
Wenxiu Han
Pei Jiang
author_facet Junjun Meng
Chengquan Wen
Xiaofan Fan
Jinxiu Guo
Shiyuan Zhao
Wenxue Sun
Wenxiu Han
Pei Jiang
author_sort Junjun Meng
collection DOAJ
description Background: Neuroinflammation is a key pathological feature in many neurodegenerative diseases, and the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is a central mediator of this response. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a functional food with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its role in mitigating neuroinflammation remains unclear. Objective: This study investigates the effects of AGE on neuroinflammation by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway using multi-omics analyses and experimental validation. Design: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells and LPS-treated C57BL/6 mice were used to assess the effects of AGE. Transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network pharmacology approaches identified potential targets and pathways, focusing on NF-κB signaling. In vitro and in vivo models were employed to evaluate behavioral, biochemical, and histological outcomes. Results: AGE reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells and suppressed microglial activation and neuronal damage in LPS-induced mice. Transcriptomic analysis showed that NF-κB pathway inhibition mediated these effects, with molecular docking confirming interactions between aged garlic compounds and NF-κB targets (NF-κB2 and NF-κB3). Conclusion: AGE attenuates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, improving cognitive and motor functions, and reducing neuronal injury in experimental models. These findings suggest aged garlic as a promising neuroprotective agent against neuroinflammation.
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spelling doaj-art-92467e653c334a5ebf78ca9cce8f37ad2025-08-20T03:44:01ZengSwedish Nutrition FoundationFood & Nutrition Research1654-661X2025-07-016911710.29219/fnr.v69.1192311923Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analysesJunjun Meng0Chengquan Wen1Xiaofan Fan2Jinxiu Guo3Shiyuan Zhao4Wenxue Sun5Wenxiu Han6Pei Jiang7Translational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Qingdao Eighth People’s Hospital, Qingdao, ChinaInstitute of Translational Pharmacy, Jining Medical Research Academy, Jining, ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, ChinaBackground: Neuroinflammation is a key pathological feature in many neurodegenerative diseases, and the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is a central mediator of this response. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a functional food with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its role in mitigating neuroinflammation remains unclear. Objective: This study investigates the effects of AGE on neuroinflammation by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway using multi-omics analyses and experimental validation. Design: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells and LPS-treated C57BL/6 mice were used to assess the effects of AGE. Transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network pharmacology approaches identified potential targets and pathways, focusing on NF-κB signaling. In vitro and in vivo models were employed to evaluate behavioral, biochemical, and histological outcomes. Results: AGE reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells and suppressed microglial activation and neuronal damage in LPS-induced mice. Transcriptomic analysis showed that NF-κB pathway inhibition mediated these effects, with molecular docking confirming interactions between aged garlic compounds and NF-κB targets (NF-κB2 and NF-κB3). Conclusion: AGE attenuates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, improving cognitive and motor functions, and reducing neuronal injury in experimental models. These findings suggest aged garlic as a promising neuroprotective agent against neuroinflammation.https://foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/11923/19678aged garlicneuroinflammationomics analysisnetwork pharmacologynf-κb pathway
spellingShingle Junjun Meng
Chengquan Wen
Xiaofan Fan
Jinxiu Guo
Shiyuan Zhao
Wenxue Sun
Wenxiu Han
Pei Jiang
Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
Food & Nutrition Research
aged garlic
neuroinflammation
omics analysis
network pharmacology
nf-κb pathway
title Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
title_full Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
title_fullStr Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
title_full_unstemmed Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
title_short Aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the NF-κB pathway: Insights from multi-omics analyses
title_sort aged garlic attenuates neuroinflammation via modulating the nf κb pathway insights from multi omics analyses
topic aged garlic
neuroinflammation
omics analysis
network pharmacology
nf-κb pathway
url https://foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/11923/19678
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