A sesquiterpenol extract potently suppresses inflammation in macrophages and mice skin and prevents chronic liver damage in mice through JNK-dependent HO-1 expression

► A bioactive sesquiterpenol (BSL) was isolated from a Cryptomeria japonica wood extract. ► BSL inhibits expression or production of NO, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6, and also suppresses mouse skin inflammation induced by TPA. ► A BSL-enriched extract (BSL-E) markedly inhibited chronic liver injury induced by CCl4, and BSL-E prevented liver injury by a JNK pathway-dependent up-regulation of HO-1 protein.