INFLUENCE OF SOME TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL-PLANTS OF SENEGAL ON PROSTAGLANDIN BIOSYNTHESIS

Aqueous extracts of Combretum micranthum G. Don, Euphorbia hirta L., G uiera a senegalensis Lam. and Melaleuca leucadendron L. were investiga ted for their influence on prostaglandin biosynthesis (PG I-2, PG E(2) , PG D-2). Only the extract of Euphorbia hirta strongly reduced the re lease of prostaglandins I-2, E(2) and D-2. Additionally Euphorbia hirt a extracts exerted an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and de pressed the formation of carrageenin induced rat paw oedema. The chemi cal nature of the active principle of Euphorbia hirta could be charact erized as (a) compound(s) of medium polarity in the molecular weight r ange of 1000 to 3000 Da.