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    The Potential of Xanthones as a Therapeutic Option in Macrophage‑Associated Inflammatory Diseases

    Ida May Jen Ng1, Caroline Lin Lin Chua1★★ Corresponding author

    1. 1School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    Caroline Lin Lin Chua

    School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA.

    linlin.chua@taylors.edu.my

    Volume 13, Issue 25 · pp. 28–33 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.4103/phrev.phrev_25_18

    View on Pharmacogn. Rev. original site ↗

    ABSTRACT

    Xanthones are well known for their significant biological activities and can be found in many herbal medicines. These compounds have the ability to regulate various inflammatory activities and signaling pathways in immune cells, especially macrophages. Macrophages are innate immune cells that can either fuel or dampen an inflammatory response depending on their activation states and play an active role in the development of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. Many traditional medicines used as a remedy for these diseases contain xanthones, and their bioactivities may be partially attributed to their ability in regulating macrophage responses. In this review, we discuss the in vitro and in vivo findings on the effects of xanthones on different macrophage immune functions including nitric oxide and cytokine production, migration, polarization, and phagocytosis. Their specific modes of action are highlighted whenever known. We also discuss the potential and challenges in using xanthones as a therapeutic option in various inflammatory diseases. It is hoped that this review can pave the way for future research that focuses on developing xanthones as specific macrophage‑targeted therapeutics.

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      Ng, I. M. J., & Chua, C. L. L. (). The Potential of Xanthones as a Therapeutic Option in Macrophage‑Associated Inflammatory Diseases. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 13(25), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.4103/phrev.phrev_25_18