Chalcones as NF-κβ Inhibitors: Upcoming Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Abstract

Inflammation remained a key concern among human civilization for centuries. Inflammation can be both external as well as internal in response to immunological and nonimmunological stimuli. It is a process in which white blood cells and some important chemical mediators are produced which protect us from pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and virus. It is a vital part of the body's immune response which is caused by a number of physical reactions triggered by the immune system in response to a physical injury or an infection. It's generally seen as the body's way of protecting itself by getting rid of potentially damaging stimuli and getting the healing process under way. Two primary enzymes, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, play a large role in mediating inflammation, a crucial function in the human body. The former plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of prostanoids like Thromboxanes and prostacyclins; while the later play a vital role in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes. Attenuating inflammatory responses by the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and its symptoms may have an insightful role towards the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The suppression of inflammation based on the molecular targets remained an emerging perspective. NF-κB is a pro-inflammatory target, its activation, NF-κB-luciferase activity, NF-κB target genes, κBα, κB kinase-α/β, NF-κB p65, etc. aggravates serious inflammatory conditions. Chalcones of both natural (hesperidin, isoliquiritigenin, butein, and xanthohumol) and synthetic (dihydrotriazine-chalcones, carboxamide linked chalcone, E-α-p-OMe-C6H4-TMC, and L6H9) origin have been found to profoundly inhibit the above targets associated with the NF-κB pathway.