Flavonoids hyaluronidase inhibition

Flavonoids are well known as inhibitors of hyaluronidase. Li 1950 Rodney et al, reported the effect of several flavonoids on hyaluronidase using in vitro and in vivo methods [79], Knppusamy et al. investigated the structure-activity relationship of die flavonoids as inhibitors of testicular hyaluronidase [80] and hyaluronidase from snake, scorpion, and bee venom [81]. They showed that flavones. flavanols. and chalcones possess the general ability to inhibit hyaluronidase Kinetic investigations showed that these compounds acted as competitive inhibitors [80]. Several hyaluronidase inhibitors were shown to be able to delay the action of snake venom when injected into mice [8ll One caimnt rule out the possible interaction of the flavonoids with other components of the venom, as the inhibitory effects of flavonoids are not specific to hyaluronidase... 

Li, M.W. et al., Inhibition of monkey sperm hyaluronidase activity and heterologous cumulus penetration by flavonoids, Biol. Reprod., 56, 1383, 1997. 

Figure 3 Inhibition properties of some flavonoids (250 mM) on hyaluronidase from several venom sources and from bovine testes. (From Refs. 80,81.)...

The balance between the anabolism and catabolism of HA is maintained by the inhibitors of hyaluronidases. Heparin is a known and well-characterized inhibitor of hyaluronidase [132]. Chitosan inhibits HA degradation by venom and bovine testicular hyaluronidases [133]. Cis-unsaturated fatty acids can also inhibit the hyaluronidase activity [134]. Certain anti-inflammatory drugs including saly-cylates, indomethacin and dexamethasone are also known to exert anti-hyaluronidase activity [133, 135]. Ascorbic acid [136], as well as plant derived bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins, pectins, curcumins, cou-marins, gylcyrrhizin are used to block hyaluronidase activity [100]. 

It has been demonstrated in vitro that flavonoids inhibit a number of enzymes (elastase, hyaluronidase, cAMP phosphodiesterase, 5-Iipooxygenase, cyclooxygenase, etc.). Quercetin, rutin, myricetin, kaanpferol and morin inhibit the 5-Iipooxygenase enzyme. Quercetin also inhibits the 12-Upooxygenase and the cyclooxygenase enzymes. Flavones inhibit the phospholipase A2 enzyme and can be used as anti-inflammatory and antiirritant agent. 

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