Cited by 120Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated ReceptorsInflammatory mediators and NSAID effectsNatural Products and Biological Research

Citral, a component of lemongrass oil, activates PPARα and γ and suppresses COX-2 expression

Katsukawa, Michiko, Nakata, Rieko, Takizawa, Yoshie, Hori, Kazuyuki, Takahashi, Saori, Inoue, Hiroyasu·2010·Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids

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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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbalip.2010.07.004

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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].”
  • 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].”

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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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