Vitexicarpin, a flavonoid from the fruits of Vitex rotundifolia, inhibits mouse lymphocyte proliferation and growth of cell lines in vitro

초록

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-dihydroxy3,4',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. IC<inf>50</inf>'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 (IC<inf>50</inf> = 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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