Summary
19 flavonoids of different structure added to an in vitro system remarkably inhibited the catechol-O-methyltransferase of human liver, the most potent inhibitors being compouns with catechol structure of the side ring B. 50% inhibition is achieved by rutin in a molar ratio of 1:4 (flavonoid to norepinephrine), by quercetin of 1:20. Flavonoids lacking a double bond between C2 and C3 or a keto group at position 4 show reduced inhibitory effects. Flavonoid glycosides inhibit the catechol-O-methyltransferase to a lesser extent than the genines do. The inhibition by quercetin and rutin is competitive, the inhibition by isorhamnetin is of mixed type. The k m value for norepinephrine is 3.3×10−4 M, the inhibitor constant k i for quercetin is 5.3×10−6 M, and for rutin 10.8×10−6 M. The inhibition is more pronounced at lower pH values.
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This paper was already prepared for publication, when another study about this object was published [K.-P. Schwabe, L. Flohé: Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 353, 478 (1972)] showing similar results in some aspects.
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Gugler, R., Dengler, H.J. Inhibition of human liver catechol-O-methyltransferase by flavonoids. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 276, 223–233 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501194
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501194