Sesquiterpene lactone

Sesquiterpene lactones are natural Sesquiterpenderivate having a lactone function. There are over 4000 members of this group are known which are found as secondary metabolites in many plants, especially representatives of the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). They act there mainly as defensive substances. This function is performed on the one hand by its bitter taste and on the other hand by modification of the metabolism of other organisms. The various sesquiterpene lactones are toxic among other bacteria, fungi, worms and other parasites but also to mammals. However, some representatives also have properties that make them an interesting object for pharmacological research, such as a migraine or anti-inflammatory effect. Some of these effects makes you look in traditional medicine for centuries advantage. For example, the anti-inflammatory effect of Arnica montana, also known as a medicinal plant in Europe since the Middle Ages, due to sesquiterpene lactones. Similarly, the effects of Mikania micrantha, which is native to Central and South America, and the Saussurea lappa, which occurs in Asia. The anti-inflammatory effect of sesquiterpene lactones is due to an inhibition of transcription factors such as NF -kB and AP-1.