Antipruritic effects of 1,4-naphthoquinones and related compounds

Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Jan;25(1):137-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb.25.137.

Abstract

The antipruritic effects of orally administered 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives and related compounds on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice were studied. 2-Hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone, ferulic acid, 2,2'-methylenebis(3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), and 2,2'-ethylidenebis(3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) (impatienol) all exhibited significant antipruritic activity. However, 2-methoxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (balsaquinone), which was isolated from a natural source for the first time, did not show any activity. The present results indicate that these compounds are promising for treating allergic diseases with chronic and severe pruritus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipruritics*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Naphthoquinones / chemical synthesis
  • Naphthoquinones / isolation & purification
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Pruritus / chemically induced
  • Pruritus / prevention & control*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine

Substances

  • Antipruritics
  • Naphthoquinones
  • p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine