Therapeutic methods for treating inflammation and immune system disorders
The subject invention provides novel and advantageous materials and methods for treating neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative disease, and cerebrovascular disease by modulating TNF-α and/or nitric oxide production. Specifically exemplified herein is the therapeutic use of senkyunolide A (Sen A) and Z-ligustilide (Z-Lig), compounds isolated from traditional Chinese medicinal material Ligusticum chuanxiong (LCX).
1. A method for treating stroke, wherein said method comprises: administering, to a subject in need of such treatment, an effective amount of an isolated compound that is senkyunolide A or a salt thereof, wherein senkyunolide A has the following formula:
and determining the presence and/or level of nitric oxide in the subject, wherein the determination is made at multiple times to monitor changes in the presence and/or level over time, and wherein the effective amount of senkyunolide A is at or above 10 μg/mL and the administration of said senkyunolide A causes a reduction in nitric oxide production in the subject.
2. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.