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We previously reported that Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) exhibits anti-inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the active compound in NJ is unknown. Therefore, here, we examined the effects of desoxo-narchinol-A (DN) isolated from NJ against LPS-induced inflammation. To demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of DN against LPS, we used two models; murine endotoxin shock model for in vivo model, and peritoneal macrophage responses for in vitro. In endotoxin shock model, DN was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h before LPS challenge, then we evaluated mice survival rates and organ damages. Pretreatment with DN (0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, or 0.5 mg/kg) dramatically reduced mortality in a murine LPS-induced endotoxin shock model. Furthermore, DN inhibited tissue injury and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), in the liver and lung. In in vitro macrophage model, we examined the inflammatory mediators and regulatory mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). DN inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and its derivative nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and H3 protein acetylation in murine peritoneal macrophages. DN also inhibited p38 activation, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-κB. These results suggest that DN from NJ exhibits protective effects against LPS-induced endotoxin shock and inflammation through p38 deactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]