Influence of Navisporus floccosus (Higher Basidiomycetes) n-Hexane Extract on Arachidonate Metabolism in Vitro.

In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of 4 extracts with different polarity from the basidiomycete Navisporus floccosus was evaluated by determination of the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 formation catalyzed by purified cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 enzymes, and of the inhibition of leukotriene (LT) B4 formation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The n-hexane extract showed the highest activity in all 3 assays. Through analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 9 fatty acids and fatty acid esters were identified as the major constituents of this extract. As several of them also showed inhibitory activity in the COX and LTB4 formation assays, it can be assumed that the unsaturated as well as the saturated fatty acids, and maybe also the fatty acid esters, present in the extract synergistically contribute to its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.