Centaurein is a flavonoid compound and an IFN-γ promoter enhancer. It increases the activity of NFAT and NF-κB enhancers. Centaurein significantly elevates IFN-γ expression levels in T cells and NK cells and raises IFN-γ concentration in mouse serum. Centaureidin fully relaxes contractions of rat intact aortic rings. Additionally, Centaurein effectively protects mice against Listeria infection.

Centaurein (5-100 μg/mL, 24-72 h) enhances IFN-γ transcription and activates NFAT and NF-κB enhancers in Jurkat T cells and splenocytes. At 100 μg/mL for 24 hours, it promotes T-bet and IFN-γ transcription in T cells, yet has no impact on GATA-3 and IL-4. Pre-treating macrophages with Centaurein for 6 hours reduces Listeria infection rates from 46% to 15%, an effect partially reversed by IFN-γ neutralizing antibodies (infection rate rises to 34%). Centaureidin (10-100 μM) induces a concentration-dependent relaxation of norepinephrine (NA) (IC 50 = 16.7 μM) or high potassium-induced rat aorta rings contractions (IC 50 = 16.1 μM).

Centaurein (20 μg/mouse, administered via intraperitoneal injection, single dose) increases serum IFN-γ levels in mice, reaching peak levels 24 hours post-injection. Additionally, Centaurein (20 μg/mouse, intraperitoneal injection, single dose) provides both preventive and therapeutic effects against Listeria infection in mice by upregulating IFN-γ and activating macrophages.