macelignan

Macelignan is a bioactive lignan isolated primarily from the nutmeg plant (*Myristica fragrans*). It exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (free radical scavenging), anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects[1][2][3][4]. Mechanistically, its neuroprotective action is associated with activation of PPARγ and arginase‑1 expression; it also inhibits LPS-induced production of nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL‑1β in microglia[3]. In metabolic disease models (e.g., db/db mice), macelignan improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by increasing adiponectin expression while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL‑6. It activates AMP‑activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle and reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver/adipose tissue[3]. In Alzheimer's disease models it reduces tau phosphorylation via increased autophagy/PP2A activity and suppresses amyloid-beta deposition by activating the PERK/eIF2α pathway to reduce BACE1 translation[6]. Macelignan also demonstrates protective effects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury through inhibition of inflammation/apoptosis pathways[8].

Other names

(8R,8'S)-7-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7'-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-8,8'-dimethylbutane4-((2S,3R)-4-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-2,3-dimethylbutyl)-2-methoxyphenolphenol, 4-((2S,3R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2,3-dimethylbutyl)-2-methoxy-