ABSTRACT
Inflammation is the body's immune response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, and irritants. Inflammation is a generic immunovascular response and has been considered a mechanism of innate immunity, the first line of defense against any damaging condition. Acute inflammation is a normal physiological response that includes a resolution phase dominated by anti-inflammatory mediators and tissue repair through generation of appropriate growth factors and cytokines. Flavonoids are well-known anti-inflammatory agents, but their mechanism of action is unclear. They usually manifest antiphlogistic activity by modulating pro-inflammatory gene expression and intervening in multiple signaling pathways, chiefly NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). The anti-inflammatory effects of artemisinins are owed to the inhibition of different signaling pathways. Scopoletinwas one of the first anti-inflammatory compounds identified in Artemisia annua and the glucoside, scopolin, was also identified in A. annua infusion.
