Planta Med 1989; 55(3): 235-241
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-961992
Review

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Search for New Plant Constituents with Potential Antiphlogistic and Antiallergic Activity

H. Wagner
  • Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Munich, Karlstr. 29, D-8000 München, Federal Republic of Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1988

Publication Date:
24 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Structure-activity relationships obtained from in vitro screening results obviously indicate that the highest inhibition effects on cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase are found amongst the class of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, polyphenols, coumestans, phenolcarboxylic acids) and arachidonic acid analogous (alkylamides, retinoids, arylheptanoids, thiosulfinates, sulfinyldisulfides). The antiinflammatory activities of some triterpenenic acids, sesquiterpene lactones, and polysaccharides may be due to their immunomodulating activities on the complement and/or T-lymphocyte populations, respectively. In the search for potential antiallergic and antiasthmatic compounds, the thiosulfinates of onion were found to be active principles of the drug. The mechanism of action of some other antiallergic plant drugs (i.e. Tylophora asthmatica, Adhatoda vasica, etc.) has not yet been clarified.

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