Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression by resveratrol derivatives from peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.)

A wide variety of plant phenolic substances possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities, and for many of these substances inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) appears to be an important mechanism of action (Surh et al., 2001). The stilbene resveratrol (trans-3, 4’, 5-trihydroxystilbene) is an inhibitor of the transcriptional activation of COX-2 (Subbaramaiah et al., 1999). Peanuts have been shown to produce several stilbenes structurally related to resveratrol (Aguamah et al., 1981). Hence it is of interest to evaluate these substances as inhibitors of COX-2 expression.