The health benefits of Scopoletin August
2008

Scopoletin, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, a
naturally occurring component in cotton leaf and citrus peel is
a fluorescent substrate for peroxidase which has been used
by many investigators for the determination of hydrogen
peroxide concentration. [1]
Scopoletin is believed to have health benefits of blood
pressure lowering effect. In a study, scopoletin inhibited the
indirect electrical stimulation-evoked contractions of the cat
nictitating membrane ( IN VIVO); and also the contractions of
isolated perfused central ear artery of rabbit, induced by
electrical stimulation or intraluminal noradrenaline
administration. [2] Scopoletin also relaxed the smooth
muscles and inhibited the spasmogenic activities of a wide
variety of agonists on guinea-pig isolated ileum. [2]
Scopoletin may also have benefit on people at risk of certain
types of cancer. Scopoletin inhibited proliferation of certain
cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. [4,5]
Scopoletin was found to inhibit hepatic lipid peroxidation and
increased the activity of antioxidants, superoxide dismutase
and catalase. A few studies suggested that scopoletin might
benefit those at risk of high cholesterol, triglyceride and
glucose levels. [6]
Its major unwanted side effect of scopoletin probably is
increased bleeding time. [3]
[1] Corbett JT. The scopoletin assay for hydrogen peroxide. A review and a better
method. J Biochem Biophys Methods. 1989 Jun;18(4):297-307. [2] Ojewole JA and
Adesina SK, Mechanism of the Hypotensive Effect of Scopoletin Isolated from the Fruit
of Tetrapleura tetraptera. Planta Med. 1983 Sep;49(9):46-50. [3] Obasi SC et al, Effects
of single oral doses of scopoletin and aflatoxin B1 on the clotting time, serum
cholesterol and phospholipid levels of chicks. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1994
Apr;38(2):89-94 [4] Liu XL et al, Effect of scopoletin on PC3 cell proliferation and
apoptosis. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2001 Oct;22(10):929-33. [5] Manuele MG, et al,
Comparative immunomodulatory effect of scopoletin on tumoral and normal
lymphocytes. Life Sci. 2006 Oct 19;79(21):2043-8. Epub 2006 Jul 6. [6] Panda S, Kar A.
Evaluation of the antithyroid, antioxidative and antihyperglycemic activity of scopoletin
from Aegle marmelos leaves in hyperthyroid rats. Phytother Res. 2006
Dec;20(12):1103-5. [7] Yang JY, et al, Effect of scopoletin on lipoprotein lipase activity
in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Int J Mol Med. 2007 Oct;20(4):527-31.
This article can not be used as medical advice. Please, consult with your
medical doctor for any question or before taking any drug products and
supplements. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED zhion 2008
Reference
[1] US Patent Application 20080020078 [2] Yu SG et al, Geraniol, an inhibitor of
mevalonate biosynthesis, suppresses the growth of hepatomas and melanomas
transplanted to rats and mice. J Nutr. 1995 Nov;125(11):2763-7. [3] Burke YD Inhibition
of pancreatic cancer growth by the dietary isoprenoids farnesol and geraniol. Lipids.
1997 Feb;32(2):151-6. [4] Yu SG et al Geraniol, an inhibitor of mevalonate biosynthesis,
suppresses the growth of hepatomas and melanomas transplanted to rats and mice. J
Nutr. 1995 Nov;125(11):2763-7. [5] Carnesecchi S, et al, Geraniol, a component of plant
essential oils, inhibits growth and polyamine biosynthesis in human colon cancer cells. J
Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Jul;298(1):197-200.