Inhibition of hemolysate-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression by genistein through suppression of NF-кB activation in primary astrocytes

Genistein is a major isoflavone compound from soybean. We investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of genistein in primary astrocytes treated with hemolysate. The results indicated that genistein inhibited the expression of hemolysate induced iNOS and COX-2 mRNA on astrocytes. Furthermore, this compound inhibited the level of hemolysate-stimulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-кB). Therefore, we suggested that the effect of genistein-mediated inhibition of the expression hemolysate-induced iNOS and COX-2 genes is due to under the suppression of NF-кB activation in the transcriptional level.