Planta Med 1994; 60(5): 410-413
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959520
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Chamazulene: An Antioxidant-Type Inhibitor of Leukotriene B4 Formation

H. Safayhi, J. Sabieraj, E.-R. Sailer, H. P. T. Ammon
  • Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1993

1994

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Matricine and its transformation product chamazulene are constituents of chamomile extracts. Both have been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Since preparations from chamomile are used for the treatment of inflammatory skin and bowel diseases, we studied the effects of these compounds on the leukotriene production in neutrophilic granulocytes. Chamazulene inhibited the formation of leukotriene B4 in intact cells and in the 105,000 × g supernatant fraction in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 values were 15 and 10 µM, respectively. Matricine showed no effect up to 200 µM. Chamazulene (IC50: 2 µM), but not matricine, blocked the chemical peroxidation of arachidonic acid. Additionally, matricine (up to 200 µM) had no effects on the cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase activities in human platelets. Therefore, it is concluded that chamazulene, but not matricine, may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of chamomile extracts by inhibiting the leukotriene synthesis and additional antioxidative effects.

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