In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of rosmarinosin A in (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cells were pretreated with various concentrations of rosmarinosin A, and then stimulated with LPS. Rosmarinosin A reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), possibly through the modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, respectively. Additionally, it inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) 1β, and IL-6. The molecular mechanisms of rosmarinosin A involved the suppression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 translocation into the nucleus. Furthermore, rosmarinosin A exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. These findings suggest that rosmarinosin A may exert its anti-inflammatory effects, at least in part, through the modulation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways in LPS-activated macrophages, offering the potential for therapeutic development.

Rotenone, isolated from Derris, Lonchocarpus, and Tephrosia from the family Fabaceae, has been shown to have a variety of biological properties and is used in various agricultural industries as a potent biopesticide. However, recent reports have demonstrated that rotenone has the potential to cause several adverse effects such as a neurodegenerative disease. This study aimed to induce thermolysis of the biopesticide rotenone and enhance the functionality of the degraded products. Rotenone (1) was degraded after autoclaving for 12 h, and the thermolytic reactants showed enhanced anti-inflammatory capacity against nitric oxide (NO) production. The structures of the newly modified products were spectroscopically determined. The thermal reaction products included various isoflavonoid derivatives 2–6, whose structures were characterized as being produced via chemical reactions in rotenone at the C-12 positions. Among the degraded products, (−)-tubaic acid (6) exhibited significantly improved anti-inflammatory effects compared to the original rotenone. Quantitative LC-MS analysis of the major thermolysis products generated in Derris extract containing rotenone was performed using isolate 2–5 purified from autoclaved rotenone. These results suggest that the thermal transformation of rotenone can improve the functionality of anti-inflammatory agents.