Butylphthalide (3-''n''-butylphthalide or NBP) is one of the chemical constituents in celery oil, along with
sedanolide, which is primarily responsible for the aroma and taste of
celery
Celery (''Apium graveolens'' Dulce Group or ''Apium graveolens'' var. ''dulce'') is a cultivated plant belonging to the species ''Apium graveolens'' in the family Apiaceae that has been used as a vegetable since ancient times.
The original wild ...
.
Studies in animal models suggest that butylphthalide may be useful for the treatment of
hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...
and may have
neuroprotective effects. In 2002, NBP was approved in China for the treatment of
cerebral ischemia.
NBP undergoes extensive metabolism in humans. The major metabolites in human plasma were 3-OH-NBP, 10-OH-NBP, 10-CO-NBP, 11-COOH-NBP. The
AUC of metabolites was much larger than that of NBP.
Minor side effects were observed in preclinical and clinical studies. The minor bioactivation pathway of NBP was proved to be mediated via sulfation of 3-OH-NBP.
[Diao X, Pang X, Xie C, Guo Z, Zhong D, Chen X. Bioactivation of 3-n-butylphthalide via sulfation of its major metabolite 3-hydroxy-NBP: mediated mainly by sulfotransferase 1A1. Drug Metab Dispos 2014;42:774-781.]
References
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Phthalides
Flavors
Celery