Capillarisin is a naturally isolated
chromone, which is one of the major bioactive constituents of Artemisia capillaries.
Capillarisin has
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-
tumor potential, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate that the
transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is activated by
capillarisin in
neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and microglial BV2 cells.
Capillarisin leads to Nrf2 phosphorylation, subsequent activation of antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcription, and up-regulation of downstream molecules, such as
heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and
NAD(P)H:
quinone oxidoreductase 1.
Capillarisin protects SH-SY5Y cells from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative stress and attenuates inflammatory responses in
lipopolysaccharide-treated BV2 cells. The cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of
capillarisin are significantly abolished in cells transfected with specific Nrf2 or HO-1
siRNA, suggesting that these pharmacological properties of
capillarisin are primarily due to increased HO-1 activity.
Capillarisin induces the activation of
c-Jun N-terminal kinase in SH-SY5Y and BV2 cells, which is responsible for Nrf2 phosphorylation and HO-1 upregulation. Together, this study demonstrates that
capillarisin is a potential activator of the Nrf2/ARE-dependent pathway and could be an attractive candidate for the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the brain.