Naringin is a natural flavanone glycoside found in Chinese herbs and citrus fruits, which has a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. In terms of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, naringin’s mechanism of action includes regulating signaling pathways and interacting with signaling molecules to exert its wide range of pharmacological activities. The following are the specific mechanisms of action of naringin in these areas:
1. Anti-inflammatory effect:
Naringin can reduce inflammatory responses by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. It can reduce the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
It may also work by inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which play a key role in the inflammatory process.
Naringin showed anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse colitis model by inhibiting TLR4 protein and NF-kB activity, downregulating the expression of inflammatory mediators (such as iNOS, ICAM-1. MCP-1. Cox2. TNF-α, IL-6), and inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α and IL-6).
2. Antioxidant effect:
Naringin has a strong antioxidant capacity and can scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
It can act by directly scavenging free radicals or by enhancing the activity of intracellular antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase SOD).
Naringin can also chelate transition metal ions such as copper and iron, thereby reducing the generation of free radicals catalyzed by these metal ions.