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Paeonol is a phenolic compound found in peonies such as Paeonia suffruticosa (moutan cortex), in Arisaema erubescens, and in Dioscorea japonica. It is a component found in some Traditional Chinese medicine remedies.
Biological effects
A number of biological effects of paeonol in vitro or in animal models have been observed. Paeonol increases levels of cortical cytochrome oxidase and vascular actin and improves behavior in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Paeonol also reduced cerebral infarction involving the superoxide anion and microglia activation in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats.
Paeonol shows antimutagenic activities. It also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in carrageenan-evoked thermal hyperalgesia. Paeonol inhibits anaphylactic reaction by regulating histamine and TNF-α.
Paeonol has MAO-A and MAO-B inhibiting effects with IC50 values of 54.6 μM and 42.5 μM respectively.