An herbal clue to inflammation

An herb commonly used to treat migraines inhibits a protein that causes inflammation, Yale pharmacologists have found. In an article published in the August issue of Chemistry & Biology, a team led by Craig Crews, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, pharmacology, and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, showed that a component of the herb feverfew targets a protein called IkappaB Kinase, which is responsible for inflammation. “Now that we have identified an inhibitor of this protein,” said Crews, “that information can be used to develop additional inhibitors.”