Gastrodin (Gastrodine), an anti-inflammatory polyphenol, is extracted from Chinese natural herbal Gastrodia elata Blume. and benefits neurodegenerative diseases.

In mice, the LD50 of Gastrodin is greater than 1000 mg/kg (i.v.). In rats, Gastrodin at a dose of 5 mg/kg is effective in alleviating memory deficits induced by cycloheximide and apomorphine but is ineffective against scopolamine-induced acquisition impairments. Therefore, Gastrodin enhances memory consolidation and retrieval but does not facilitate memory acquisition.

In microglial cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, Gastrodin at concentrations of 30, 40, and 60 mM inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway and phosphorylation of MAPKs, significantly reducing the levels of neurotoxic inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Furthermore, in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, Gastrodin upregulates the PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway, consequently inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs.