Zerumbone is a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene first isolated from rhizomes of the wild ginger Z. zerumbet.It has also been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, contributing to immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective effects.

Pretreatment with zerumbone not only reduced leukocytes infiltration into the alveolar space but also inhibited lung edema in LPS-induced ALI. Decreased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-6 caused by LPS were reversed by zerumbone. LPS-induced expressions of proinflammatory mediators, iNOS and COX-2, were inhibited by zerumbone. In addition, NFκB activation and Akt phosphorylation were inhibited by zerumbone in LPS-induced ALI. Suggested that the protective mechanisms of zerumbone on endotoxin-induced ALI were via inhibition of Akt-NFκB activation.

Mice were pretreated with zerumbone at various concentrations for 30 min followed by intratracheal administration of LPS for 6 h.Pretreatment with zerumbone not only reduced leukocytes infiltration into the alveolar space but also inhibited lung edema in LPS-induced ALI. Decreased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-6 caused by LPS were reversed by zerumbone.