6,4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone

Eur J Pharmacol. 2012 Jan 15;674(2-3):153-62.

Involvement of heme oxygenase-1 induction in the cytoprotective and immunomodulatory activities of 6,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone in murine hippocampal and microglia cells.[Pubmed: 22119385]

6,4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (DMF), a biologically active compound, was isolated from the heartwood of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen (Leguminosae).
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present study proposed to examine the role of DMF as an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inducer in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells and BV2 microglia cells. The effect of DMF on cell viability was determined by MTT assay and the effects of DMF on pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines were analyzed by western blot and ELISA. Parameters such as DMF induced HO-1 protein immunocontents, HO activity and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation were also measured. DMF increased cellular resistance to oxidative injury caused by glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 cells, via JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway dependent HO-1 expression. Furthermore, DMF suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes and inflammatory mediators in BV2 microglia. DMF suppressed production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway dependent HO-1 expression.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study indicates that DMF effectively modulates the regulation of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory action, via up-regulation of HO-1 in HT22 cells and BV2 microglia. These results suggest that DMF possesses therapeutic potentials against neurodegenerative diseases that are induced by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2013;36(5):796-801.

6,4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone inhibits osteoclast differentiation and function.[Pubmed: 23420617]

6,4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (DMF) is a flavonoid isolated from Heartwood Dalbergia odorifera. It has been known that DMF has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. DMF, however, the efficacy of bone related diseases has not been reported.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, we determined DMF's efficacy on osteoclasts differentiation and function using in vitro bone marrow macrophage osteoclast differentiation culture system. DMF inhibited receptor activators of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) induced osteoclastogenesis dose dependently. In addition, DMF decreased osteoclast function through disruption of actin ring formation and consequently suppression of the pit-forming activity of mature osteoclasts. Mechanistically, DMF inhibited RANKL-induced expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1) and c-Fos via inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway.
CONCLUSIONS:
Collectively, the inhibition of osteoclasts differentiation and function by DMF suggests that DMF can be a potential therapeutic molecule for osteoclastogenic bone diseases such osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal diseases.