Abstract
The benzophenanthridine alkaloids sanguinarine and chelerythrine of Chelidonium majus, L. (Papaveraceae), are potent inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase in polymorphonuclear
leukocytes and 12-lipoxygenase in mouse epidermis, while the activity of soybean lipoxygenase
is not influenced. The extract of the herb of Ch. majus also inhibits the 5-LO enzyme. Chelidonine, which cannot form pseudobases, is inactive
against LO enzymes. Pro-and antioxidant actions of benzophenanthridine alkaloids can
be excluded from the lack of deoxyribose degradation, reactivity against free radicals
and inhibition of lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the inhibitory effects against
LO enzymes appear to be due to specific enzyme interaction rather than a nonspecific
redox mechanism.
Key words
Anti-inflammatory activity - chelerythrine - chelidonine -
Chelidonium majus L. - Papaveraceae - 5-lipoxygenase - 12-lipoxygenase - sanguinarine
