Kaempferol Is an Anti-Inflammatory Compound with Activity towards NF-κB Pathway Proteins

The nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway is critical in inflammation, proliferation and carcinogenesis. There exist three main players in this pathway. The inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), IκB kinase (IκK)- NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) complex and NF-κB. The IkK-NEMO complex activates NF-κB via phosphorylation of Iκβ and, eventually, leads to its proteasomal degradation. This leads to nuclear translocation of NF-κB and activation of target genes, such as cyclooxygenases and interleukins. The identification of anti-inflammatory compounds might be an effective strategy to target inflammatory disorders and cancer.

In the present investigation, kaempferol was investigated in terms of its effect on NF-κB activity with a SEAP-driven reporter cell line, NF-κB DNA binding with electromobility shift assay (EMSA) and translocation of NF-κB-p65 from cytosol to the nucleus with western blot in Jurkat cells.

Kaempferol revealed anti-inflammatory activity, as shown in vitro and in silico. Molecular docking studies of kaempferol revealed comparable binding energies and similar docking poses on target proteins such as MG-132, a known NF-κB inhibitor.

We conclude that kaempferol possesses anti-inflammatory activity.