Inhibition of cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 expression in mouse macrophages by 4‐(3‐methyl‐but‐1‐enyl)‐3,5,3′,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene, a resveratrol derivative from peanuts

Resveratrol derivatives are of interest as inhibitors of cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 and as antiinflammatory agents. The prenylated resveratrol derivative 4‐(3‐methyl‐but‐1‐enyl)‐3,5,3′,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene was purified from fungally infected peanuts by thin layer chromatography and its structure was confirmed by mass spectrometry. 4‐(3‐Methyl‐but‐1‐enyl)‐3,5,3′,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene inhibited lipopolysaccharide‐induced expression of cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 protein and cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 mRNA in mouse macrophages at concentrations that were non‐cytotoxic. 4‐(3‐Methyl‐but‐1‐enyl)‐3,5,3′,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene warrants further evaluation as an antiinflammatory agent. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.