Abstract
Matricine and its transformation product chamazulene are constituents of chamomile
extracts. Both have been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Since preparations from chamomile are used for the treatment of inflammatory skin
and bowel diseases, we studied the effects of these compounds on the leukotriene production
in neutrophilic granulocytes. Chamazulene inhibited the formation of leukotriene B4 in intact cells and in the 105,000 × g supernatant fraction in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 values were 15 and 10 µM, respectively. Matricine showed no effect up to 200 µM.
Chamazulene (IC50: 2 µM), but not matricine, blocked the chemical peroxidation of arachidonic acid.
Additionally, matricine (up to 200 µM) had no effects on the cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase
activities in human platelets. Therefore, it is concluded that chamazulene, but not
matricine, may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of chamomile extracts
by inhibiting the leukotriene synthesis and additional antioxidative effects.
Key words
Chamomile - matricine - chamazulene - anti-inflammatory activity - leukotriene synthesis
