Metabolomic Investigation of Synergistic Mechanism for Fangfeng Extract Preventing LPS Induced Neuroinflammation in BV-2 Microglia Cells

Abstract

The root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fangfeng) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for headache and neuroinflammation-related disease treatment. The mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly inhibited after Fangfeng extract (FFE) treatment in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Metatolome profiling indicated that dopamine, palmitic acid, corticosterone, and eicosapentaenoic acid metabolites could be regulated by FFE for LPS stimulated inflammation responses in BV-2 cells. The disturbed metabolic pathways include caffeine metabolism, mannose type O-glycan biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis. This study will enable us to identify potential protein targets and metabolite intermediates for FFE exerting its protective function in BV-2 cells, and it also provided a potential application of Fangfeng in neuroinflammation-related disease treatment.