Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Persian shallot (Allium stipitatum) is a bulbous plant native to Turkey, Iran and Central Asia. It is frequently used in folk medicine for the treatment of a variety of disorders, including inflammation and stress. Antiinflammatory and neurological activities of pyrithione and four related sulfur-containing pyridine N-oxides which are prominent constituents of Allium stipitatum were tested.
METHODS: The antiinflammatory activity was tested by the ability of the compounds to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), whereas the neurological activities were evaluated by assessing the compounds ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The compounds׳ affinity for the serotonin transport protein (SERT) and the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor were also investigated.
RESULTS: 2-[(Methylthio)methyldithio]pyridine N-oxide showed very high antiinflammatory effects which are comparable with those of common pharmaceuticals (IC50 of 7.8 and 15.4µM for COX-1 and COX-2, respectively). On the other hand, neurological activities of the compounds were rather modest. Some compounds moderately inhibited AChE (IC50 of 104-1041µM) and MAO-A (IC50 of 98-241µM) and exhibited an affinity for the SERT and GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may help to rationalize the wide use of Persian shallot for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Ethnopharmacology |
| Volume | 154 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 176-182 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISSN | 0378-8741 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 May 2014 |