Benzoylmesaconine mitigates NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases by reducing intracellular K+ efflux and disrupting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly.

Background: Benzoylmesaconine (BMA), a major alkaloid derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Aconitum carmichaeli Debx, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, the precise mechanism underlying its action remains unclear.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of BMA on the NLRP3 inflammasome and assess its therapeutic efficacy in NLRP3-related metabolic diseases.

Methods: A classic NLRP3 inflammasome-activated bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) model was established to evaluate BMA's effects on NLRP3 upstream and downstream protein expression, as well as pyroptosis. Two distinct animal disease models, MSU-induced gouty arthritis and DSS-induced colitis, were utilized to validate BMA's anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Results: In vitro findings revealed that BMA can suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation by inhibiting interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion and GSDMD-N protein expression. This mechanism involved blocking intracellular K⁺ efflux and interfering with the formation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. In vivo studies demonstrated that BMA significantly alleviated inflammatory symptoms in MSU-induced acute gout and DSS-induced colitis models.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that BMA effectively inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 signaling pathway through dual mechanisms: reducing intracellular K⁺ efflux and disrupting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. This multifaceted action highlights the therapeutic potential of BMA for NLRP3-related diseases.