High impact information on Isatis

• Different amounts of isatan B were produced under red and far red light in the two Isatis species [1].
• 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 [2].
• Quantitative determination of the dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitor tryptanthrin in Isatis tinctoria by ESI-LC-MS [3].
• Isatis tinctoria L. is an old European and Chinese dye plant and anti-inflammatory herb from which the potent cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor tryptanthrin (1) (indolo-[2,1-b]-quinazoline-6,12-dione) was recently isolated as one of the active principles [3].
• A new indigoid derivative, bisindigotin (1), with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-antagonistic activity was isolated from the ethanol extract of the Chinese medicinal herb Isatis indigotica [4].

Associations of Isatis with chemical compounds

• Indole is presumably a product of indole-3-glycerol phosphate catabolism in Isatis tinctoria [5].
• We recently clarified the nature of indigo precursors in woad (Isatis tinctoria L.), by identifying the major indoxyl glycoside as isatan A (indoxyl-3-O-(6'-O-malonyl-beta-D-ribohexo-3-ulopyranoside)), and by correcting the structure of the related isatan B (indoxyl-3-O-beta-D-ribohexo-3-ulopyranoside) [6].
• Four alkaloids, previously identified in Isatis species, were tested for their inhibitory effect on histamine release [7].
• The activity in the lipophilic fractions of the Isatis extract could be linked to an unsaturated fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid [8].
• The results showed that Isatis indigotica root extract significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the writhing responses of mice and decreased the licking time in both the early and late phases of the formalin test [9].

Gene context of Isatis

• Identification and isolation of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory principle in Isatis tinctoria [10].
• HPLC based activity profiling for 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity in Isatis tinctoria leaf extracts [8].
• Several nutrients and botanicals have been studied for use in CML, including vitamin A and all-trans retinoic acid (Retin-A), vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin B12, indirubin (found in herbs including Indigofera tinctoria and Isatis tinctoria), and Curcuma longa [11].

References