A biochemical assessment of the anti-inflammation activity of compounds from Philippine Medicinal plants.

The prostaglandins (PG's), leukotrienes (LT's) and platelet activating factor (PAF) are potent inflammatory mediators. The PG's and LT's are derived from the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, respectively. Anti-inflammatory agents prevent the formation of these mediators. The selective inhibition of the cyclooxygenase pathway by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID's) explain the anti-inflammatory action. The biochemical assessment of compounds for anti-inflammatory activity is based on the ability of very small amount of pure compounds to inhibit the formation of the inflammatory mediators in isolated Ca- ionosphere stimulated rat peritoneal leukocytes. Of the eight pure compounds tested, scandenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone from Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) BL Robinson , showed potential anti-inflammatory activity.