Effect of Bakuchiol on Leukocyte Functions and Some Inflammatory Responses in Mice

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 1996-09, Vol.48 (9), p.975-980
• Main Authors: Ferrándiz, María Luisa, Gil, Blanca, Sanz, María Jesús, Ubeda, Amalia, Erazo, Silvia, González, Ernesto, Negrete, Rosa, Pacheco, Sergio, Payáa, Miguel, Alcaraz, Maráa José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Survival - drug effects; Dinoprostone - metabolism; Edema - enzymology; Edema - metabolism; General pharmacology; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - enzymology; Inflammation - pathology; Leukocyte Elastase - metabolism; Leukocytes - drug effects; Leukotriene B4 - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - enzymology; Peroxidase - metabolism; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenols - pharmacology; Phospholipases A - antagonists & inhibitors; Phospholipases A2; Superoxides - metabolism; Thromboxane B2 - metabolism; Zymosan
• ISSN: 0022-3573; 2042-7158
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1996.tb06016.x

The effects of bakuchiol, a meroterpenoid isolated from the leaves of Psoralea glandulosa L., on phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity from different sources, human neutrophil responses, zymosan air pouch and topical inflammation in mice, were investigated. This natural product was a weak inhibitor of secretory and intracellular PLA2 but dose‐dependently reduced the formation of LTB4 and TXB2 by human neutrophils and platelet microsomes, respectively. In addition, bakuchiol inhibited degranulation in human neutrophils, whereas superoxide generation was not affected. In mice, bakuchiol decreased cell migration, myeloperoxidase activity and eicosanoid levels in the air pouch inflammation induced by zymosan. After topical administration, this compound was effective as an inhibitor of oedema and myeloperoxidase activity in the 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA)‐induced ear oedema and significantly reduced the PGE2 content and ear oedema in the arachidonic acid‐induced response. Bakuchiol is a natural anti‐inflammatory agent able to control leukocytic functions such as eicosanoid production, migration and degranulation in the inflammatory site.