Tryptanthrin is a pharmacologically active compound in the anti-inflammatory herb
Isatis tinctoria, with potent inhibitory activity on prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis and on
inducible NO synthase. The tryptanthrin content of five defined woad strains was analyzed
in dependence of the time of harvest and post-harvest treatment. Tryptanthrin was
determined by a validated ESI-LC-MS isotope dilution assay with d
8-tryptanthrin as internal standard. The tryptanthrin concentration in freeze-dried
leaf samples was low. Drying at ambient temperature led to a significant increase
of tryptanthrin concentration, but the highest concentrations were found when leaves
were dried at 40 °C. Tryptanthrin content in fermented woad leaves was below the limit
of quantification. Tryptanthrin appears thus to be a product of post-harvest processes,
but details of its formation remain to be elucidated.
Isatis tinctoria
- Brassicaceae - woad - tryptanthrin - anti-inflammatory - ESI LC-MS - isotope dilution
- post-harvest modification
