Planta Med 2004; 70(2): 104-107
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815484
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Two Flavanones, Sigmoidin A and Sigmoidin B, from Erythrina sigmoidea

Dieudonné Njamen1 , Joseph Tanyi Mbafor2 , Zacharias Tanee Fomum2 , Albert Kamanyi3 , Jean-Claude Mbanya4 , M. Carmen Recio5 , Rosa M. Giner5 , Salvador Máñez5 , José Luis Ríos5
  • 1Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • 2Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • 3Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon
  • 5Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

Received: August 5, 2003

Accepted: November 8, 2003

Publication Date:
02 March 2004 (online)

Preview

Abstract

Two prenylated flavanones isolated from Erythrina sigmoidea Hua (sigmoidin A and sigmoidin B) were studied for their ability to inhibit the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and arachidonic acid metabolism. In addition, the compounds were studied in two experimental models of inflammation induced in mouse ears by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and the phospholipase A2-induced mouse paw oedema. Both sigmoidins A and B proved to be potent scavengers of the DPPH radical, while the study of the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism demonstrated that these same compounds were selective inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase, with no effect on cyclooxygenase-1 activity. Dose-response inhibitor potency was established for sigmoidin A (IC50 = 31 μM). In the assay of phospholipase A2-induced mouse paw oedema, only the sigmoidin B derivative inhibited oedema formation at 60 min, showing a percentage of inhibition below that obtained with cyproheptadine (59 % vs. 74 %). In the TPA test, sigmoidins A and B decreased the induced oedema by 89 % and 83 %, respectively. This is the first time that the anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant properties of these prenylflavanones have been reported. The results indicate that the compounds have different mechanisms of action depending on whether one or two prenyl groups are present in ring B.

References

Prof. Dr. José Luis Ríos

Departament de Farmacologia

Facultat de Farmàcia

Universitat de València

Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n

46100 Burjassot

Valencia

Spain

Phone: +34-963-544-973

Fax: +34-963-544-973

Email: riosjl@uv.es