Yangonin

Yangonin exhibits affinity for the human recombinant cannabinoid CB1 receptor with an IC50 and a Ki of 1.79 ± 0.53 μM and 0.72±0.21 μM, respectively.

Yangonin is one of the six major kavalactones found in Piper methysticum.Yangonin potently inhibits NF-κB activation through suppression of the transcriptional activity of the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-κB. Yangonin significantly inhibits the induced expression of the NF-κB-reporter gene. However, Yangonin does not interfere with TNF-α-induced inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) degradation, p65 nuclear translocation, and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB. Yangonin inhibits not only the induced NF-κB activation by overexpression of RelA/p65, but also transactivation activity of RelA/p65. Yangonin does not inhibit TNF-α-induced activation of p38, but it significantly impairs activation of ERK 1/2 and stress-activated protein kinase/JNK[2].

[1]. Ligresti A, et al. Kavalactones and the endocannabinoid system: the plant-derived yangonin is a novel CB1 receptor ligand. Pharmacol Res. 2012 Aug;66(2):163-9. [2]. Ma J, et al. Yangonin blocks tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor-κB-dependent transcription by inhibiting the transactivation potential of the RelA/p65 subunit. J Pharmacol Sci. 2012;118(4):447-54. [3]. Wruck CJ, et al. Kavalactones protect neural cells against amyloid beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 activation. Mol Pharmacol. 2008 Jun;73(6):1785-95.