Myristicin

Myristicin is a natural product found in spices and umbelliferous plants. Myristicin has anti-cholinergic, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects, it also has anti-inflammatory properties related with its inhibition of NO, cytokines,chemokines, and growth factors in dsRNA-stimulated macrophages via the calcium pathway. Myristicin may antagonize the anxiolytic effects of midazolam, increase anxiety, and affect motor movements. Myristicin can induce apoptosis as characterised by alterations in the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, PARP-cleavage and DNA fragmentation. Myristicin (1-allyl-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene) is an active aromatic compound found in nutmeg (the seed of Myristica fragrans), carrot, basil,cinnamon, and parsley. Myristicin has been known to have anti-cholinergic, antibacterial,and hepatoprotective effects, however, the effects of Myristicin on virus-stimulated macrophages are not fully reported. METHODS AND RESULTS:In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of Myristicin on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-stimulated macrophages was examined. Myristicin did not reduce the cell viability of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages at concentrations of up to 50 μM. Myristicin significantly inhibited the production of calcium, nitric oxide (NO),interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, interferon inducible protein-10, monocyte chemotactic protein(MCP)-1, MCP-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, and leukemia inhibitory factor in dsRNA[polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid]-induced RAW 264.7 cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:In conclusion,Myristicin has anti-inflammatory properties related with its inhibition of NO, cytokines,chemokines, and growth factors in dsRNA-stimulated macrophages via the calcium pathway.