Effective suppression of pro-inflammatory molecules by DHCA via IKK-NF-κB pathway, in vitro and in vivo

Background and Purpose Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (DHCA), a lignan compound isolated from Cucurbita moschata, has previously been shown to contain anti-adipogenic and antilipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. As some of phytochemicals derived from natural plants show anti-inflammatory or antioxidative activities, we determined whether DHCA affects the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and also investigated its underlying mechanisms.