Inhibitors of Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase in Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Hot aqueous extracts of medicinal plants used in oriental medicine were tested for their inhibitory effect on beef heart phosphodiesterase to detect biologically active compounds present therein. Of 222 samples tested 22 showed reproducible inhibition. cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors contained in Anemarrhena asphodeloides were identified as norlignans and their structure activity relationship was investigated; cis-hinokiresinol, the main inhibitor exhibited a prolongation effect on hexobarbital sleeping time in mice.