Flavan-3-ols isolated from some medicinal plants inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis

Extracts from the four plant species Atuna racemosa Raf. ssp. racemosa, Syzygium corynocarpum (A. Gray) C. Muell., Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & Perry and Vantanea peruviana Macbr., traditionally used for inflammatory conditions, were fractionated using a cyclooxygenase-1 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis in vitro assay. The flavan-3-ol derivatives (+)-catechin, (+)-gallocatechin, 4'-O-Me-ent-gallocatechin, ouratea-catechin and ouratea-proanthocynidin A were isolated as active principles. The IC50 values ranged from 3.3 mu M to 138 mu M whilst indomethacin under the same test conditions had an IC50 value of 1.1 mu M. The flavonol rhamnosides mearnsitrin, myricitrin and quercitrin were also isolated. When further tested for inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase-2 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis, the five flavan-3-ol derivatives exhibited from equal to weaker inhibitory potencies, as compared to their cyclooxygenase-l inhibitory effects. The flavonol rhamnosides were inactive towards both enzymes.