title: Inhibition of trypsin and chymotrypsin by anti-inflammatory triterpenoids from Compositae flowers.
abstract: Taraxastane, oleanane, ursane, lupane, taraxane, cycloartane, dammarane and tirucallane triterpenoids isolated from flowers of Compositae plants have been previously reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and are variously competitive and non-competitive inhibitors of the serine proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin. The general features of those triterpenoids found to be protease inhibitors are having a hydroxy group and an appropriate side chain in the region of the molecule distal to the 3-hydroxy group. However, fatty acid esterification of the triterpenoid 3-hydroxy group can have a marked effect on inhibitor effectiveness. This suggests a possible means of rapid alteration of the plant defensive complement in vivo and of the bioactivity of these anti-inflammatory compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akihisa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ukiya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sandeman
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Polya
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000187:drug effects*; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin