Work

Essential oil from seven homologous Zingiberaceae alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation: Integrated assessment of molecular mechanisms, gene regulation, and metabolite control

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Excessive neuroinflammation may contribute to central nervous system disorders including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Zingiberaceae plants demonstrate documented sedative, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study systematically investigated the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of essential oils (EOs) derived from seven Zingiberaceae species: Amomum tsaoko Crevost & Lem. (Amo), Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zin), Alpinia officinarum Hance (AoH), Curcuma longa L. (Cur), Kaempferia galanga L. (Kae), Amomum villosum Lour. (AmV), and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (AoM). The findings provide scientific evidence for developing novel therapeutics targeting neuroinflammatory disorders. Primary phytochemical characterization was performed using microwave-assisted hydrodistillation coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for qualitative and quantitative analysis. An LPS-induced neuroinflammation model was established in mice. Mechanistic investigations employed multimodal approaches including: Morris water maze experiment, immunohistochemistry, neuronal Nissl staining, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. The results revealed that all seven Zingiberaceae EOs significantly enhanced cognitive performance in mice with LPS-induced neuroinflammation, preserved neuronal architecture, upregulated Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic protein expression, and attenuated neuroinflammatory responses. Transcriptomic and metabolomic results indicated that the seven Zingiberaceae essential oils may have therapeutic effects on neuroinflammation by regulating signaling pathways such as MAPK, histidine metabolism, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism and other metabolic pathways.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121257

Authors: Hui Li, Jiarun Li, Yuanhao Kou, Shanshan Luo, Shuanghe Wang, Lanyue Zhang

Institutions: Jinan University, Guangdong University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Ginger and Zingiberaceae research

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,720