Screening Brazilian plant species for in vitro inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 447 - 452
• Main Authors: Braga, Fernão Castro, Wagner, H., Lombardi, Júlio Antônio, de Oliveira, Alaíde Braga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 2000
• Subjects: 5-lipoxygenase inhibition; Enzyme Inhibitors - isolation & purification; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hedychium coronarium; Hymenaea courbaril; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants - chemistry; Species Specificity; Xylopia frutessens; Xylopia frutessens; Hedychium coronarium; Hymenaea courbaril; 5-lipoxygenase inhibition
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80073-2

Plants from the Brazilian flora were evaluated for the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. The species were selected based on their traditional use and on a chemosystematic approach. In total, 19 species belonging to 13 families have been investigated. Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig ( Zingiber aceae), Xylopia frutescens Aubl. (Annonaceae) and Hymenaea courbaril L. (Leguminosae) presented a high 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. Some hypothesis about the nature of the active compounds are discussed, based on reports of the chemical constitution of these species or other species from the same botanical family.