Fucosterol isolated from Undaria pinnatifida inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines via the inactivation of nuclear factor-κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in RAW264.7 macrophages

► No report has previously been published on the anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages. ► Fucosterol inhibited NO production, iNOS expression, and iNOS promoter activity. ► Fucosterol suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation. ► Fucosterol coordinately suppressed the activities of IKK-β and MKK3/6/p38 MAPK/MK2 pathway. ► Fucosterol appears to have the potential to prevent inflammatory diseases.