Citral, a component of lemongrass oil, activates PPARα and γ and suppresses COX-2 expression
Abstract
Lemongrass is a widely used herb as a food flavoring, as a perfume, and for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory purposes; however, the molecular mechanisms of these effects have not been elucidated. Previously, we identified carvacrol from the essential oil of thyme as a suppressor of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a key enzyme for prostaglandin synthesis, and also an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), a molecular target for "lifestyle-related" diseases. In this study, we evaluated the essential oil of lemongrass using our established assays for COX-2 and PPARs. We found that COX-2 promoter activity was suppressed by lemongrass oil in cell-based transfection assays, and we identified citral as a major component in the suppression of COX-2 expression and as an activator of PPARα and γ. PPARγ-dependent suppression of COX-2 promoter activity was observed in response to citral treatment. In human macrophage-like U937 cells, citral suppressed both LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, dose-dependently. Moreover, citral induced the mRNA expression of the PPARα-responsive carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 gene and the PPARγ-responsive fatty acid binding protein 4 gene, suggesting that citral activates PPARα and γ, and regulates COX-2 expression. These results are important for understanding the anti-inflammatory and anti-lifestyle-related disease properties of lemongrass.
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Carvacrol's property of regulating COX-2 was not as remarkable as that of citral.
“However, this property of carvacrol was not as remarkable as was that of citral [147].”
From Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils: A Short Review (2010) · cites this paper as [147]
Citral suppresses LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression dose-dependently in human U937 cells and induces PPARα and PPARγ mRNA, suggesting that citral activates PPARα and PPARγ and regulates COX-2 expression.
“In another study, it was reported that in human macrophage-like U937 cells, citral suppressed both LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, dose-dependently. Moreover, citral induced the mRNA expression of the PPARα and the PPARγ, suggesting that citral activates PPARα andγ, and regulates COX-2 expression [147].”
From Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils: A Short Review (2010) · cites this paper as [147]
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Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils: A Short Review
Miguel, M. G. (2010) · Molecules · doi:10.3390/molecules15129252 · Cited by 933 · see citing works
“However, this property of carvacrol was not as remarkable as was that of citral [147].”
Background
- Authors
- Katsukawa, M., Nakata, R., Takizawa, Y., Hori, K., Takahashi, S., & Inoue, H.
- Affiliations
- Nara Women's University (JP)
- Akita Research Institute for Food and Brewing (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Inoue, Hiroyasu
- Venue
- Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-11
- Volume
- 1801
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1214-1220
- ISSN
- 1388-1981 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2086525067
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Natural Products and Biological Research
- Keywords
- citral, lemongrass essential oil, PPARα, PPARγ, cyclooxygenase-2, anti-inflammatory activity, U937 macrophages, lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, FABP4, prostaglandin synthesis, carvacrol
- MeSH terms
- Acyclic Monoterpenes, Animals, Cattle, Cell Line, Humans, Ligands, Models, Chemical, Plant Oils, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA, Messenger, Terpenes, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors, U937 Cells, Monoterpenes, PPAR alpha, PPAR gamma, Cyclooxygenase 2
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