Abstract
Biflavonoid is one of unique classes of naturally-occurring bioflavonoids. Certain biflavonoids including amentoflavone were previously reported to have inhibitory effect on the group II phospholipase A2 activity. Amentoflavone was also found to inhibit cyclooxygenase from guinea-pig epidermis without affecting lipoxygenase. In this study, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of amentoflavone were evaluated. When amentoflavone was administered intraperitoneally, it showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity as determined by amelioration of croton-oil induced mouse ear edema. It also showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity in the rat carrageenan paw edema model (ED50=42 mg/kg) compared to the activity of prednisolone (35 mg/kg) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg). However, amentoflavone did not show a significant inhibitory activity against rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, a chronic inflammatory model. In addition, amentoflavone was found to possess a potent analgesic activity in the acetic acid writhing test (ED50=9.6 mg/kg) compared to the activity of indomethacin (3.8 mg/kg). These results suggest that amentoflavone may be a potential lead for a new type of anti-inflammatory agents having dual inhibitory activity of group II phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Amella, M., Bronner, F., Haag, M., Anton, R. and Landry, Y., Inhibition of mast cell histamins release by flavonoids and biflavonoids.Planta Med., 16–20 (1985).
Bentley, G. A., Newton, S. H. and Star, J. Studies on the antinociceptive action of α-agonist drugs.Brit. J. Pharmacol. 79, 125–137 (1983).
Chang, H. W., Baek, S. H., Chung, K. W., Son, K. H., Kim, H. P. and Kang, S. S., Inactivation of phospholipase A2 by naturally occurring biflavonoid, ochnaflavone.Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 205, 843–849 (1994).
Della Loggia, R., Sosa, S., Tubaro, A., Morazzoni, P., Bombardelli, E. and Criffini, A., Anti-inflammatory activity of someGinkgo biloba constituents and their phospholipid-complexes.Fitoterapia, 67, 257–263 (1996).
Felicio, J. D., Goncalez, E., Braggio, M. M., Costantino, L., Albasini, A. and Lins, A. P., Inhibition of lens aldose reductase by biflavones fromOuratea spectabilis.Planta Med., 61, 217–220 (1995).
Gabor, M., Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of flavonoids in.Plant flavonoids in biology and medicine: Biochemical, pharmacological, and structure-activity relationships, Cody et al. (eds), 1986, Alan R. Liss, New York, pp 471–480.
Gil, B., Sanz, M. J., Terencio, M. C., Ferrandiz, M. L., Paya, M., Gunasegaran, R. and Alcaraz, M. J., Effects of flavonoids onNaja naja and human recombinant synovial phospholipase A2 and inflammatory responses in mice.Life Sci., 54, PL333–338 (1994).
Gil, B., Sanz, M. J., Terencio, M. C., Gunasegaran, R., Paya, M. and Alcaraz, M. J., Morelloflavone, a novel biflavonoid inhibitor of human secretary phospholipase A2 with anti-inflammatory activity.Biochem. Pharmacol., 53, 733–740 (1997).
Havsteen, B., Flavonoids, A class of natural products of high pharmacological potency.Biochem. Pharmacol., 32, 1141–1148 (1982).
Iwu, M. M., Igboko, O. A., Okunji, C. O. and Tempesta, M. S., Antidiabetic and aldose reductase activities of biflavanones ofGarcinia kola.J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 42, 290–292 (1990).
Kang, S. S., Kim, J. S., Kawk, W. J. and Kim, K. H., Flavonoids fromGingko biloba leaves.Kor. J. Pharmacogn., 21, 111–120 (1990).
Kim, H. K., Namgoong, S. Y. and Kim, H. P., Anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids: Mouse ear edema inhibition.Arch. Pharm. Res., 16, 18–24 (1993).
Kim, S. Y., Son, K. H., Chang, H. W., Kang, S. S. and Kim, H. P., Inhibitory effects of twenty seven plant extracts on adjuvant-induced arthritis.Arch. Pharm. Res., 20, 313–317 (1997).
Kim, H. P., Indu, M., Iversen, L. and Ziboh, V. A., Effects of naturally-occurring flavonoids and biflavonoids on epidermal cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase from guinea-pigs.Prostag. Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids, 58, 17–24 (1998).
Lee, S. J., Choi, S. H., Son, K. H., Chang, H. W., Kang, S. S. and Kim, H. P., Suppression of mouse lymphocyte proliferationin vitro by naturally-occurring biflavonoids.Life Sci., 57, 551–558 (1995).
Lee, S. J., Son, K.H., Chang, H. W., Do, J. C., Jung, K. Y., Kang, S. S. and Kim, H. P., Anti-inflammatory activity of naturally occurring flavone and flavonol glycosides.Arch. Pharm. Res., 16, 25–28 (1993).
Lewis, D. A., Flavonoids. Agents and Actions, suppl. 27, Lewis (ed), 1989, Berhauser Verlag, Basel, pp 137–165.
Panthong, A., Kanjanapothi, D., Tuntiwachwuttkul, P., Pancharoen, O. and Reutrakul, V., Antiinflammatory activity of flavonoids.Phytomedicine, 1, 141–144 (1994).
Ruckstuhl, M., Berez, A., Anton, R. and Landry, Y., Flavonoids are selective cyclic phosphodiesterase inhibitors.Biochem. Pharmacol., 28, 535–538 (1979).
Shin, D. I. And Kim, J., Flavonoid constituents ofSelaginella tamariscina.Kor. J. Pharmacogn., 22, 207–210 (1991).
Winter, C. A., Risley, E. A. and Nuss, G. W., Carrageenan-induced edema in the hindpaw of the rat as an assay for anti-inflammatory drugs.Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 111, 544–547 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, H.K., Son, K.H., Chang, H.W. et al. Amentoflavone, a plant biflavone: A new potential anti-inflammatory agent. Arch. Pharm. Res. 21, 406–410 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974634
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974634