Anti–Inflammatory Activity in Human Skin: It Prevents Edema Formation in vitro

Antiasthmatic effects of gamma linolenic acid -high dose Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Oil stimulate allergen tachyphylaxis of sensitized guinea pigs and prevent allergen sensitization

Summary Evening primose oil (EPO) and borage oil (BO), which contain high amounts of gamma linolenic acid (10% or 20%) and are described to stimulate prostaglandin E biosynthesis, were investigated in guinea pigs for their ability to stimulate an important active self protecting mechanism against allergens (“allergen tachyphylaxis”). Groups of 12 guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin were fed over five days with either EPO or BO (100mg/kg/day or 1 g/kg/day) prior to sequential allergen inhalation challenges (time 0′, 10′, 20′, 60′, 70′ and 80′). Bronchial obstruction was measured by whole body plethysmography. 100 mg/kg EPO did not alter the bronchial reactions of the animals; 100 mg and 1 g/…

Antiasthmatic effects of onions: Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase in vitro by thiosulfinates and “Cepaenes”

Nine thiosulfinates (TS) and four "Cepaenes" (CS) isolated from onions and/or synthetized by us showed dose dependent (0.25 to 100 microM) marked inhibitory effects on both cyclooxygenase (CA, tested on sheep seminal vesicle microsomes) and 5-lipoxygenase activity (LO, tested on porcine leukocytes). The following rank order of activity was observed: saturated aliphatic TS less than aromatic TS approximately alpha, beta-unsaturated TS less than CS. CS inhibited both CA and LO by more than 75% at 10 and 1 microM concentrations respectively. Most likely, these in vitro effects are responsible for antiinflammatory and antiasthmatic properties of onion extracts observed in vivo, at least in part.

Development of New Antiasthmatic Drugs from Traditional Medicine?

Several plants are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of bronchial asthma. We are trying to identify the active compound(s) and their mode of action.

New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional medicine?

Several plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma. We are trying to identify the active compound(s) and their mode of action. For the isolation and identification of the active principles, different chromatographic methods, HPLC, MPLC, elementary analysis, UV, mass, <sup>1</sup>H- and <sup>13</sup>C-NMR spectroscopy are used. Whole plant extracts, fractionated extracts and pure compounds are tested in the following pharmacological systems: cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, bronchial obstruction of guinea pigs after inhalation of allergens, platelet-activating factor (PAF), histamine or acetylch…

Antiasthmatic Effects of <i>Picrorhiza kurroa</i>: Androsin Prevents Allergen- and PAF-induced Bronchial Obstruction in Guinea Pigs

In the Ayurvedic medicine, <i>Picrorhiza kurroa </i>Royle ex Benth. is used for the treatment of liver and lung diseases. Using different chemical and pharmacological methods, we could identify the phenol glycoside androsin as active compound preventing allergen and platelet-activating factor induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs in vivo (10 mg/kg p.o.; 1 h prior to the inhalation challenge). Histamine release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro was inhibited by other compounds yet to be identified.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Onions: Inhibition of Chemotaxis of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes by Thiosulfinates and Cepaenes

Seven different synthetic thiosulfinates, and cepaene- and/or thiosulfinate-rich onion extracts were found to inhibit in vitro the chemotaxis of human granulocytes induced by formyl-methionine-leucinephenylalanine in a dose-dependent manner and at a concentration range of 0.1–100 μ<i>M</i>. Diphenylthiosulfinate showed the highest activity and was found to be more active than prednisolone. The anti-inflammatory properties of onion extracts are related, at least in part, to the inhibition of inflammatory cell influx by thiosulfinates and cepaenes.

Antiasthmatic Effects of <i>Galphimia glauca</i>, Gallic Acid, and Related Compounds Prevent Allergen- and Platelet-Activating Factor-Induced Bronchial Obstruction as well as Bronchial Hyperreactivity in Guinea Pigs

A methanolic extract from Galphimia glauca (320 mg/kg, orally) inhibited acute bronchial reactions to allergen (ovalbumin, 10 mg/ml) and platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1 microgram/ml) inhalation challenges, but not to histamine or acetylcholine in spontaneously breathing guinea pigs. Furthermore, the PAF-induced bronchial hyperreactivity was markedly reduced. Gallic acid and related compounds as well as the flavonoid, quercetin, were identified as active compounds. Gallic acid, methyl gallate and quercetin showed significant effects after a single oral dose of 45 mg/kg, tetragalloyl quinic acid after 5 mg/kg. Continuous treatment of the animals with one certain fraction (GG II, 3 days, 3 …

Antiasthmatic acetophenones - an in vivo study on structure activity relationship.

The recently isolated acetophenone glucoside androsin, as the major antiasthmatic principle of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae), was used as a lead compound for detailed structure-activity relationship studies. More than 25 synthesized or commercially available acetophenones with modified substitution patterns were screened in the Plethysmographic guinea pig model using PAF and/or ovalbumin as challenging agents for the generation of bronchial constriction. Whereas the aglycones in most cases were more effective than the corresponding glycosides, substitution patterns in position 3 and 4 of the phenyl ring and the keto function attached to the phenyl ring were found to b…