HERB HAS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES
Researchers at Yale University have found that a component of the medicinal herb feverfew halts the action of an enzyme involved in the inflammatory process. "The results pave the way for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs for a variety of illnesses and symptoms, such as headache, swelling, redness, and inflammation," says Dr. Craig Crews, one of the investigators. Commonly used to treat migraine headaches, feverfew is rich in a compound called parthenolide, which is thought to fight inflammation. Crews and his colleagues found that parthenolide binds up an enzyme that normally plays a role in inflammation. Once it is bound, the enzyme no longer can function. "Now that we have identified one inhibitor of this [enzyme], that information can be used to develop additional inhibitors," says Crews. "This is important because a single inhibitor may not always make a successful drug due to side effects, so it's always useful to have a series of inhibitors."