Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) is a kind of transcription factor which resides in cytoplasm of each cell and on activation, it translocates to the nucleus. It is activated by a many inducible agents including endotoxins, inflammatory stimuli, carcinogens, pathogens, nicotine, and tumour promoters, etc. NF-kB is activated by canonical and non-canonical signalling pathways which has different signalling compounds and its biological functions. It controls the expression of 400 different genes including various enzymes, cytokines, viral proteins, regulatory molecules involved in the cell cycle etc. This pathway is linked with various ailments including respiratory diseases, inflammatory diseases, auto immune diseases, cancer and diabetes. NF-kB factor and signalling pathway are the mainstream of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Human subjects have been able to curb inflammation through inflammaging with the help of the phytomolecules interacting with the NF-κB pathway by adjusting the inflammation processes and alleviating aging stresses in cells. They successfully inhibit the activation of NF-κB, thereby curtailing chronic low-grade inflammation underlying both ageing and age-related disease processes. These phytocompounds discussed herewith not only down-regulate NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory pathways but also help build resilience at cellular levels, therefore, offering enhanced healthspan with late commencement of inflammaging pathogenesis. This review describes what stimulation and regulation of the Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kB) Pathway and its roles in the pathogenesis of human age related diseases. We also review the recent progress in attenuating the molecular mechanisms of the NF-kB Pathway by phytochemicals, which may open up novel therapeutic avenues.
Keywords: Cancer; Inflammaging; Inflammation; NF-kB; Phytocompounds.
© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.