α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

Abstract On the basis of previous studies, the low-polar part of Achyranthes aspera L. (A. aspera) had strong anti-inflammatory activity. Three compounds were isolated from the low polarity fraction of A. aspera, and their structures were identified as α-spinasterol (1), 7,8-dihydrospinasterol (2),...

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Main Authors: Qiongli Zeng, Weiting Xiao, Heng Zhang, Wei Liu, Xionglong Wang, Zhen Li, Yue Han, Zhi Wang, Shunxiang Li, Jinwei Yang, Wen Ouyang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90022-2
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author Qiongli Zeng
Weiting Xiao
Heng Zhang
Wei Liu
Xionglong Wang
Zhen Li
Yue Han
Zhi Wang
Shunxiang Li
Jinwei Yang
Wen Ouyang
author_facet Qiongli Zeng
Weiting Xiao
Heng Zhang
Wei Liu
Xionglong Wang
Zhen Li
Yue Han
Zhi Wang
Shunxiang Li
Jinwei Yang
Wen Ouyang
author_sort Qiongli Zeng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract On the basis of previous studies, the low-polar part of Achyranthes aspera L. (A. aspera) had strong anti-inflammatory activity. Three compounds were isolated from the low polarity fraction of A. aspera, and their structures were identified as α-spinasterol (1), 7,8-dihydrospinasterol (2), 22,23-dihydrospinasterol (3). Among them, the content of α-spinasterol (1) in A. aspera was higher in the spring and winter seasons through HPLC methods, ranging from 0.0085 to 0.0157%. Futhermore, in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells inflammation model, α-spinasterol significantly reduced the levels of cytokines such as IL-6, PGE2 and TNF-α, inhibited the expression of COX-2, 5-LOX, p-IKKβ, p-NFκB and p-IkBα proteins, and promoted the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 proteins. Therefore, this study showed that α-spinasterol can inhibit LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells inflammation, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB pathway, activation of Nrf2 pathway, and reduction of excessive release of inflammatory factors.
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spelling doaj-art-acc2d59cb1354ca1b7a2fe6fd1f9aa752025-08-20T03:10:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-90022-2α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathwaysQiongli Zeng0Weiting Xiao1Heng Zhang2Wei Liu3Xionglong Wang4Zhen Li5Yue Han6Zhi Wang7Shunxiang Li8Jinwei Yang9Wen Ouyang10School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineAnalysis of Complex Effects of Proprietary Chinese Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key LaboratoryAnalysis of Complex Effects of Proprietary Chinese Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key LaboratorySchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineAbstract On the basis of previous studies, the low-polar part of Achyranthes aspera L. (A. aspera) had strong anti-inflammatory activity. Three compounds were isolated from the low polarity fraction of A. aspera, and their structures were identified as α-spinasterol (1), 7,8-dihydrospinasterol (2), 22,23-dihydrospinasterol (3). Among them, the content of α-spinasterol (1) in A. aspera was higher in the spring and winter seasons through HPLC methods, ranging from 0.0085 to 0.0157%. Futhermore, in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells inflammation model, α-spinasterol significantly reduced the levels of cytokines such as IL-6, PGE2 and TNF-α, inhibited the expression of COX-2, 5-LOX, p-IKKβ, p-NFκB and p-IkBα proteins, and promoted the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 proteins. Therefore, this study showed that α-spinasterol can inhibit LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells inflammation, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB pathway, activation of Nrf2 pathway, and reduction of excessive release of inflammatory factors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90022-2α-SpinasterolContent determinationNF-κBAnti-inflammatoryNrf2
spellingShingle Qiongli Zeng
Weiting Xiao
Heng Zhang
Wei Liu
Xionglong Wang
Zhen Li
Yue Han
Zhi Wang
Shunxiang Li
Jinwei Yang
Wen Ouyang
α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
Scientific Reports
α-Spinasterol
Content determination
NF-κB
Anti-inflammatory
Nrf2
title α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
title_full α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
title_fullStr α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
title_full_unstemmed α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
title_short α-spinasterol isolated from Achyranthes aspera L. ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways
title_sort α spinasterol isolated from achyranthes aspera l ameliorates inflammation via nf κb and nrf2 ho 1 pathways
topic α-Spinasterol
Content determination
NF-κB
Anti-inflammatory
Nrf2
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90022-2
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