Inhibitory Perspectives of Natural Chalcones as Nitric Oxide Inhibitors

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived, small, highly diffusible, reactive, free radical gas, ubiquitous bioactive molecule, and derived from L-arginine (a well-known amino acid). This constituent was discovered 30 years back as an "endothelium-derived relaxing factor". In mammalian cells, NO acts as a mediator and is believed to play a crucial function in several biological processes. The current review article comprehensively highlighted the emerging perspectives of natural chalcone-based nitric acid inhibitors such as sofa chalcone, brussochalcone A, cardamon, flavokawain B, dimethyl cardamon in (2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′, 5′-dimethyl chalcone), mallotophilippens, Hidabeni chalcone, okanin, sappan chalcone, 3-deoxysappanchalcone (3-DSC), 2′,4′,6′-tris(methoxy ethoxy) chalcone (TMMC), butein, and licochalcone A which selectively inhibited the production of NO (iNOS, nNOS, eNOS), cytokine, interleukin, TNF-α, MCP-1, and prostaglandins by preventing the phosphorylated IκBα-induced translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit at nuclear milieu, inhibition of NF-κB functions, inhibiting LPS-induced translocation by Erk-1/2 MAP-kinase phosphorylation, restricting the STAT1 expression, and inducing the expression of HO-1 by activation of AKT/mTOR pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and 3T3-F442A adipocytes.