Crucifer plant compound blocks brain immune overreaction to viral triggers
Lan YC, Xiao YR, Hsieh YW, Cheng YD, Peng SF
Medicinal Plants
Watercress and horseradish growing in your garden concentrate PEITC, the compound shown here to prevent the runaway brain inflammation linked to some viral neurological diseases.
When viruses reach the brain, immune cells called microglia can overreact and cause lasting damage. Researchers found that PEITC, a natural compound concentrated in garden plants like watercress and horseradish, puts the brakes on that overreaction. In lab cells and in mice, it lowered harmful inflammatory signals and flipped microglial cells from a damaging, attacking mode into a calming, repair-oriented one.
Key Findings
PEITC pre-treatment significantly reduced pro-inflammatory markers including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and nitric oxide in microglial cells stimulated with a viral mimic (poly I:C)
PEITC suppressed TLR3, NF-κB (p65), MAPK, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways while boosting TRAF3, a key promoter of antiviral defense
In mice with induced neuroinflammation, PEITC reduced Iba1 expression and shifted microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype
chevron_right Technical Summary
PEITC, a natural compound found in cruciferous plants like watercress and horseradish, blocks a key inflammatory chain reaction in brain immune cells activated by viral-like signals. In both cell cultures and mice, it reduced damaging inflammation and guided immune cells toward a protective, healing state.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Targeting microglial TLR3-NF-κB/MAPK and JAK/STAT Axis: PEITC as a suppressor of poly (I:C)-induced neuroinflammation.
Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation triggered by viral infections plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. Microglia, as the resident immune cells of the CNS...
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