AUTHOR=Yuan Mengqin , Hu Jinda , Gao Lichen , Long Wei , Wang Sirui , Tan Xinyue , Hu Jinyue 

TITLE=Isoliensinine confers neuroprotection and alleviates LPS-induced neuroinflammation in microglia by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB signaling

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1675865

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2025.1675865

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThe increasing aged population poses issues in the management of age-related disorders, notably Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which significantly affects the health and quality of life of seniors. Neuroinflammation is a significant factor in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. Isoliensinine (ISO), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from lotus seed embryos, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Nonetheless, its function in neuroinflammation has yet to be investigated.MethodsWe examined the impact of ISO on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV2 microglial cells by using biological tests. Western blotting confirmed ISO’s influence on MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. In addition, oxidative stress markers and JC-1 staining were employed to assess the impact of ISO on LPS-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in BV2 cells.ResultsISO markedly diminished LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV2 cells through the modulation of the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Conditioned media derived from ISO-treated BV2 cells enhanced the vitality of HT-22 cells. ISO also alleviated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.ConclusionOur findings indicate that ISO mitigates neuroinflammation by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signaling and provides neuroprotection by diminishing oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment. These effects collectively enhance its neuroprotective capacity, indicating that ISO may represent a potential candidate for further investigation in AD.