Vanillic acid inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Vanillic acid is a benzoic acid derivative that is used as a flavoring agent. It is an oxidized form of vanillin. At present, the mechanisms by which vanillic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects are incompletely understood. In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of vanillic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Our findings indicate that vanillic acid inhibits LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. During the inflammatory process, the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide (NO) increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages, but vanillic acid suppressed both the enhanced levels of COX-2 and the production of prostaglandin E(2) and NO. Moreover, vanillic acid suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and caspase-1. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of vanillic acid and are indicative of the potential use of this molecule in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.