An oxidative coupling product of luteolin with cysteine ester and its enhanced inhibitory activity for xanthine oxidase.

Oxidative coupling reactions of several flavonoids with a cysteine ester (a radicalic and nucleophilic biochemical) were carried out and the abilities of the coupling products against xanthine oxidase (XO) were screened. One of the products, derived from luteolin, showed a notable inhibitory effect. A potent XO inhibitory compound was isolated from the complex mixture of the product of the coupling of luteolin and cysteine ethyl ester, and its structure was determined by NMR and MS analysis. The compound has a unique 1,4-thiazine ring unit on the luteolin B-ring and is inhibited XO 4.5 times more strongly than it did luteolin.