Caffeic acid phenethyl ester as a lipoxygenase inhibitor with antioxidant properties.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an active component of propolis extract, inhibits 5-lipoxygenase in the micromolar concentration range. The inhibition is of an uncompetitive type, i.e. the inhibitor binds to the enzyme-substrate complex but not to the free enzyme. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester also exhibits antioxidant properties. At a concentration of 10 microM, it completely blocks production of reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils and the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system.