title: Effects of apocynin, a drug isolated from the roots of Picrorhiza kurroa, on arachidonic acid metabolism.
abstract: Apocynin is a constituent of root extracts of the medicinal herb Picrorhiza kurroa and has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the effects of apocynin on the production of arachidonic acid-derived inflammatory mediators by guinea pig pulmonary macrophages. Apocynin concentration-dependently inhibited the formation of thromboxane A2, whereas the release of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha was stimulated. Apocynin potently inhibited arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of bovine platelets, possibly through inhibition of thromboxane formation. The present results suggest that apocynin might, beside its therapeutic effects in inflammatory conditions when given in a root extract of P. kurroa, also be a valuable tool in the development of new anti-inflammatory or anti-thrombic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Renirie
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nijkamp
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011453:Prostaglandins; D013931:Thromboxanes; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C008033:12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid; C056165:acetovanillone