Resveratrol was irradiated at various doses of 15, 30, 50, and 70 kGy for the development of physiological functionalities through modification of the structural properties. Gamma irradiation induced a decrease in the resveratrol peak, and the appearance of several new peaks by gamma irradiation was gradually increased up to 70 kGy. Gamma-irradiated resveratrol did not exert cytotoxicity to macrophages in dose ranges from 15 to 70 kGy; therefore, 70 kGy gamma-irradiated resveratrol was used as the maximum dose throughout subsequent experiments. Treatment of LPS-stimulated macrophages with 70 kGy gamma-irradiated resveratrol resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in iNOS-mediated NO, PGE(2), and pro-inflammatory cytokine level, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1 beta. 70 kGy gamma-irradiated resveratrol significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 levels, as well as the expression of cell surface molecules, such as CD80 and CD86, in LPS-induced macrophages. Furthermore, the inhibitory action of these pro-inflammatory mediators occurred through an inhibition of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38 and JNK) and NF-kappa B signaling pathways based on a toll-like receptor 4 in macrophages, which may be closely mediated with the radiolysis products of resveratrol transformed by gamma-irradiation. From these findings, it seems likely that gamma irradiation can be an effective tool for a reduction of the toxicity and play a potent role in the treatment of inflammatory disease. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.