title: Elucidation of anti-allergic activities of curcumin-related compounds with a special reference to their anti-oxidative activities.
abstract: The anti-allergic and anti-oxidative activities of curcumin-related compounds (glycosides, reductants and bis-demethoxy analogs) were investigated to elucidate the underlying active mechanisms and structural features of curcumin in exerting these activities. The anti-allergic activities were assessed by measurement of histamine release from rat basophilic leukemia cells, RBL-2H3. Curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) caused a marked decrease in histamine release. Glycosides of curcumin, bis-demethoxycurcumin and THC also inhibited the release of histamine, though less potently than curcumin did. The anti-oxidative activities were assessed by measurement of cell-free or cellular radical scavenging. All compounds but diglycosides or bis-demethoxycurcumin analogs distinctly exerted anti-oxidative effects. The relationship between both of these activities revealed that all compounds with potent radical scavenging activities caused a definite decrease in histamine release, but some compounds with non-potent radical scavenging activities also inhibited the histamine release. These results suggest that the hydroxy groups of curcumin play a significant role in exerting both the anti-oxidative and anti-allergic activities, and that most of the compounds develop the anti-allergic activities through mechanisms related to anti-oxidative activities, but some through mechanisms unrelated to anti-oxidation activity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Sachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iyoki
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Yuhya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Kimiaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Kageyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000001:Calcimycin; D003474:Curcumin