title: Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory effects and composition of the volatile oil from the dried roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon.
abstract: The composition of the volatile oil from Lithospermi Radix, the dried roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Boraginaceae), has been investigated by capillary GC and GC-MS. To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the oil, in-vitro inhibition of ovine cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) activity by the oil was studied. Fifty-four components of the oil were identified, representing 92.74% of the oil. The main components were 2-methylbutanoic acid (21.50%), 3-methylbutanoic acid (12.61%), 2-methylpropanoic acid (8.99%), methyl linoleate (8.76%), methyl oleate (6.27%), methyl palmitate (6.06%), and 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid (5.74%). Highly selective COX-2 inhibition was observed; at 50 microg/ml the oil inhibited 38.8% of COX-2 activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Jyunichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Munekazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kameda
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000737:chemistry; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000737:chemistry; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D029684:Lithospermum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2