Planta Med 1998; 64(6): 546-550
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957511
Papers
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Vitexicarpin, a Flavonoid from the Fruits of Vitex rotundifolia, Inhibits Mouse Lymphocyte Proliferation and Growth of Cell Lines in Vitro

Keun Man You1 , Kun Ho Son2 , Hyeun Wook Chang3 , Sam Sik Kang4 , Hyun Pyo Kim1
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, Korea
  • 2Department of Food and Nutrition, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
  • 3College of Pharmacy, Yeongnam University, Gyongsan, Korea
  • 4Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

1997

1998

Publication Date:
01 February 2007 (online)

Abstract

Certain flavonoids having a C-2,3-double bond were reported to show an inhibitory activity against T-lymphocyte proliferation, but not against B-lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. In the course of these studies, vitexicarpin (3′,5-dihydroxy-3,4′,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone) isolated from the fruits of Vitex rotundifolia was found to show potent inhibition against lymphocyte proliferation. Vitexicarpin inhibited T-lymphocyte proliferation as well as B-lymphocyte proliferation at > 0.1 µM. IC50's were approximately 0.7 µM both for T- and B-cell proliferation. The inhibitory activity of vitexicarpin was reversible. Vitexicarpin also inhibited the growth of certain cancer cell lines, EL-4 and P815.9 (IC50 = 0.25-0.3 µM). These results suggest that vitexicarpin may be a potential therapeutic agent involved in inflammatory/immunoregulatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lymphomas.

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