Abstract
A screening of extracts from seven Lamiaceae plants for their effects on xanthine oxidase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of uric acid, was performed. Among the plants tested, peppermint (dried leaves of Mentha piperita) showed the potent inhibitory activity. Inhibitory activity guided purification of the active constituent led us to obtain pratensein and apigenin. This is the first report on the inhibitory activity of pratensein on xanthine oxidase.
