Saikogenin A

Saikogenin A, extracted from a Chinese herbal plant called Tsai-Fu, is a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor. IC50 & Target: DPP-IV^[1] In Vitro: Saikogenin A has certain inhibitory effect on the enzyme DPP-IV. At a concentration of 20 μg/mL DPP-IV inhibition is 47.6%. DPP-IV is a non-classical serine aminopeptidase from its amino terminus of polypeptides and proteins (N-terminus) removing Xaa-Pro dipeptide^[1]. In Vivo: Saikogenin A, an anti-inflammatory drug, is present in the crude extract of a Chinese herbal plant called Tsai-Fu. Saikogenin A is less effective in adrenalectomized rats than in normal rats in reducing the carrageenin-induced edema. The anti-inflammatory action of Saikogenin A are due to an increase in corticosterone caused by the release of arenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and a direct effect on the process of inflammation^[2].