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Planta Med 2004; 70(6): 496-501
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-827147
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anti-Inflammatory Isoflavonoids from the Stems of Derris scandens

Pisamai Laupattarakasem1 , 2 , Peter J. Houghton1 , J. Robin S. Hoult3 , 4
  • 1Department of Pharmacy, King’s College London, London, U.K.
  • 2Current address: Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  • 3Messengers and Signalling Research Group, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King’s College London, London, U.K.
  • 4Deceased 24th April 2001
Our grateful thanks to Faculty of Medicine, Khon Khaen University, Thailand for a PhD scholarship for Dr Laupattarakasem.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 11, 2003

Accepted: February 15, 2004

Publication Date:
01 July 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Fractionation of the aqueous extract of Derris scandens stems extract using tests for eicosanoid inhibition resulted in the isolation of three isoflavonoids, genistein, its 7-O-α-rhamno(1→6)-β-glucosyl glycoside, a new compound, and two known isoprenyl derivatives 3′-γ,γ-dimethylallylweighteone and scandenin. The isoprenylated compounds showed a high inhibitory effect on eicosanoid production in vitro but HPLC analysis showed that the genistein accounted for most of the activity of the total extract. Antioxidant studies showed that genistein and the isoprenylated compounds showed activity comparable to standard antioxidants. Genistein and its glycoside demonstrated no cytotoxicity in the MTT test but the prenylated compounds showed some toxicity and also increased LDH release from polymorphonucleocytes, at concentrations much greater than would be encountered in an aqueous extract of D. scandens.

Key words

Derris scandens - Leguminosae - isoflavonoids - eicosanoid inhibition - antioxidant - anti-inflammatory

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Prof. Peter J. Houghton

Department of Pharmacy

King’s College London

Franklin-Wilkins Building

150 Stamford Street

London, SE1 9NN

U.K.

Fax: +44-20-7848-4800

Email: peter.houghton@kcl.ac.uk