title: Flavocoxid, a nutraceutical approach to blunt inflammatory conditions.
abstract: Flavonoids, from Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap) and Acacia catechu (black catechu), have been shown to exert a variety of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. Flavocoxid is a mixed extract containing baicalin and catechin and it acts as a dual balanced inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 peroxidase enzyme activities with a significant inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme activity in vitro. Flavocoxid downregulates gene or protein expression of several inflammatory markers and exerts also strong antioxidant activity in several experimental models. Controlled clinical trials and a postmarketing study have clearly shown that flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen in managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and it has better upper gastrointestinal, renal, and respiratory safety profile than naproxen. Flavocoxid may therefore provide a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9300-7532
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1134-7080
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7806-435X
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4187-2265
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pallio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mecchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, AOU Policlinico "G. Martino", Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8786-8042
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galfo
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Gynaecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1033-0527
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
mesh_terms: D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; C544478:flavocoxid; D002392:Catechin; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase