Planta Med 2006; 72(1): 68-71
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-873176
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Suppression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression by Diarylheptanoids from Alpinia officinarum

Hwa Jin Lee1 , Ji Sun Kim1 , Jae-Ha Ryu1
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Received: March 1, 2005

Accepted: June 22, 2005

Publication Date:
10 November 2005 (online)

Abstract

Six diarylheptanoids were isolated from the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum (Zingiberaceae) as inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) production in the lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. A double bond at C-4 of the linker between two aromatic rings was found to be essential for activity. Furthermore, the active diarylheptanoids suppressed expression of the inducible NO synthase protein and mRNA. These results imply that the traditional use of Alpinia officinarum rhizome as anti-inflammatory drug may be explained, at least in part, by the inhibition of NO production in activated macrophages.

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Jae-Ha Ryu

College of Pharmacy

Sookmyung Women’s University

52 Hyochangwon-Gil

Yongsan-Gu

Seoul 140-742

Korea

Phone: +82-2-710-9568

Fax: +82-2-714-0745

Email: ryuha@sookmyung.ac.kr