Fuente: PubMed "rice" Nat Prod Res. 2026 Jun 21:1-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2026.2691377. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTProtopanaxadiol (PPD) is a bioactive ginsenoside with significant anti-inflammatory potential; however, its low natural abundance and dependence on inefficient intestinal microbial bioconversion hinder pharmaceutical development. To overcome these supply and bioavailability constraints, we developed a metabolically engineered rice variety, DJ-PPD, capable of directly biosynthesizing the aglycone PPD. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms of DJ-PPD extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells. DJ-PPD treatment significantly reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Its efficacy surpassed conventional ginseng extract and was comparable to synthetic PPD (S-PPD). Mechanistically, DJ-PPD inhibited NF-κB, MAPKs, and Akt phosphorylation while activating the NRF2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. These findings demonstrate that DJ-PPD simultaneously inhibits pro-inflammatory cascades and reinforces intrinsic antioxidant defences. By effectively bypassing the need for gut microbiota metabolism, this genetically engineered rice represents a sustainable, bioavailable, and commercially viable multi-target therapeutic candidate for neuroinflammatory conditions.PMID:42323912 | DOI:10.1080/14786419.2026.2691377