Modulation of Macrophage Functions by Compounds Isolated fromZingiber officinale

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) led us to isolate 14 compounds, [ 4 ]-gingerol ( 1 ), [ 6 ]-gingerol ( 2 ), [ 8 ]-gingerol ( 3 ), [ 10 ]-gingerol ( 4 ), [ 6 ]-paradol ( 5 ), [ 4 ]-shogaol ( 6 ), [ 6 ]-shogaol ( 7 ), 1-dehydro-[ 10 ]-gingerdione ( 8 ), [ 10 ]-gingerdione ( 9 ), hexahydrocurcumin ( 10 ), tetrahydrocurcumin ( 11 ), gingerenone A ( 12 ), 1,7-bis-(4’ hydroxyl-3’ methoxyphenyl)-5-methoxyhepthan-3-one ( 13 ), and methoxy-[ 10 ]-gingerol ( 14 ). Using the RAW 264.7 cell line, the inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide and the stimulatory effects on phagocytosis of these compounds were evaluated. Compounds 7 , 8 , and 9 significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production, and compounds 7 and 8 significantly reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Among them, compound 8 also showed significant stimulatory effects on phagocytosis. Abbreviations Con A:concanavalin A DMEM:Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium FBS:fetal bovine serum iNOS:inducible nitric oxide synthase LPS:lipopolysaccharide NO:nitric oxide TTBS:Tween tris buffered saline