Lithospermic acid is a polyphenol that has been found in S. miltiorrhiza and has diverse biological activities.1,2 It inhibits xanthine oxidase (IC50 = 5.2 ?g/ml) and scavenges DPPH radicals in cell-free assays (IC50 = 23.2 ?g/ml). It also inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in isolated human neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner.1 Lithospermic acid inhibits 3'-processing and 3'-joining to target DNA by HIV-1 integrase in cell-free assays (IC50s = 0.83 and 0.48 ?M, respectively).3 It also inhibits acute HIV-1 infection of H9 human lymphoma cells (IC50 = 2 ?M) without inducing cytotoxicity. Lithospermic acid (100 mg/kg) prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic necrosis in mice.2
1.Liu, X., Chen, R., Shang, Y., et al.Lithospermic acid as a novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor has anti-inflammatory and hypouricemic effects in ratsChem. Biol. Interact.176(2-3)137-142(2008) 2.Chan, K.W.K., and Ho, W.S.Anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects of lithospermic acid against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver oxidative damage in vitro and in vivoOncol. Rep.34(2)673-680(2015) 3.Abd-Elazem, I.S., Chen, H.S., Bates, R.B., et al.Isolation of two highly potent and non-toxic inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase from Salvia miltiorrhizaAntiviral Res.55(1)91-106(2002)