Abstract
Coniferaldehyde, scopoletin, sinapaldehyde, and syringaldehyde were isolated from
an aqueous extract of Senra incana. All four compounds inhibited prostaglandin synthetase in a dose-dependent way. Compared
to aspirin, the potency of coniferaldehyde and scopoletin was about five times higher,
whereas syringaldehyde and sinapaldehyde had about half the potency of this reference
compound. On topical application, sinapaldehyde and scopoletin dose-dependently inhibited
ethyl phenylpropiolate-induced edema of the rat ear. The active dose range was 1-10
µg/ear. Higher doses had a lower effect. Syringaldehyde was active in the range 20-100
µg/ear, whereas the effect of coniferaldehyde was inconclusive. Coniferaldehyde and
sinapaldehyde inhibited electrically induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum
in a dose-dependent way. Syringaldehyde showed a weak inhibition at a concentration
of 550 µM.
Key words
Senra incana
- phenylpropanoids - coniferaldehyde - scopoletin - sinapaldehyde - syringaldehyde
- prostaglandin synthetase inhibition
