Reviews: 2010 Vol: 2 Issue: 1
Leucotrienes and Its Biological Activities: A Review
Abstract
Leucotrienes have attracted the attention of physic ian, medicinal chemist and pharmacist for its versatile biological activities.The present review highlights physiological and pathophysiological aspects of Leucotrienes. Leukotrienes, together wit h the prostaglandins and other related compounds, are derived from 20 carbon (eicosa) fatt y acids that contain double bonds (enoic). They are formed from the breakdown of arachidonic a cid, a polyunsaturated 20 carbon fatty acid. In its esterified form, arachidonic acid is bound t o the phospholipids of the cell membranes. Both immunological and non-immunological stimuli can rel ease arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids by activating phospholipase A 2 .There is wide scope of Leukotrienes in therapeutic efficacy against many diseases, hence in this regar d the review is outlined to collect the data of history of Leukotrienes releated to its molecular s tudy, structure, pathophysiology and application. it is very interesting and note worthy to develop Leukotrienes for its medicinal values.