two matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors from scrophularia striata boiss

many species belonging to the scrophularia genus have been used since ancient times as folk remedies for many medical conditions such as scrofulas, scabies, tumors, eczema, psoriasis, inflammations. the aim of this study was to characterize the matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) inhibitor compounds of the scrophularia striata extract by bio-guide fractionation. the aerial parts of s. striata were collected and different extracts were sequentially prepared with increasingly polar solvents. the mmps inhibitory activity of the crude extract and its fractions were evaluated by the zymoanalysis method. the pure compounds were purified from the active fraction by chromatography methods. chemical structures were deduced by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. two active compounds (acteoside and nepitrin) were identified by bio-guide fractionation. the inhibitory effects of nepitrin and acteoside at 20 µg/ml were about 56 and 18 percent, respectivly. the inhibitory effects of acteoside at 80 µg/ml were increased to about 73 percent. in summary, the results suggest that nepitrin effectively inhibited mmps inhibitory activity at low concentrations, whereas acteoside showed inhibition at high concentrations.