Tenuigenin is a triterpenoid sapogenin that has been found in P. tenuifolia and has diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. It inhibits IL-1β and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from LPS-induced mouse BV2 microglia at a concentration of 4 μM. Tenuigenin (25 mg/kg per day) decreases NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and prevents dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the mouse substantia nigra pars compacta in an MPTP-induced model of Parkinson''s disease. Tenuigenin (2 mg/kg) also reduces increases in lung edema and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a mouse model of intranasal S. aureus-induced pneumonia.
