title: Hydroalcoholic plant extracts with anti-inflammatory activity.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate if standardized hydroalcoholic plant extracts such as Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra can suppress in cell-free systems the activities of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), key enzymes in the formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids from arachidonic acid (AA). Studies were undertaken to compare the above mentioned plant extracts to a known NSAID (nimesulide) in their ability to inhibit both cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (5-LO) activities in cell-free systems. We report on 2 vegetal extracts (Hypericum perforatum and Glycyrrhiza glabra) that inhibit 5-LO activity and 2 vegetal extracts (Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra) that inhibit COX-2 activity. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that Glycyrrhiza glabra extract efficiently suppresses both eicosanoids and leukotrienes formation in cell-free systems, implying that this extract directly acts as a dual inhibitor of 5-LO and COX-2 activities. With regard to the properties of dual COX-2/5-LO inhibitors, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract might be a potential drug possessing anti-inflammatory activity devoid of the most troublesome (gastric) side effects seen for drugs used as COX-2 and 5-LO inhibitors. Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts can be added to an already impressive list of these species that have anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Research-Developmentfor Microbiology and Immunology Cantacuzino, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Călugaru
authors.forename: Viorica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tamaş
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: St
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manea
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szegli
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007527:Isoenzymes; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013449:Sulfonamides; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C012655:nimesulide