Inactivation of human pleural fluid phospholipase $A_2$ by dioscin

The natural product, spirostanol glycoside dioscin, was shown to directly inactivate human pleural fluid phospholipase $A_2{\;}(PLA_2)$ Inactivation was dose, and time dependent. The $IC_{50}$ was estimated at 18 .mu.M and virtually complete inactivation of the enzyme occurred at 50 .mu.M. Using Michaelis-Menten kinetics, dioscin inactivated the enzyme by a competitive inhibitory manner, the apparent Ki value was $6.9{\times}10_{-4}$. Reversibility was studied directly by dialysis method, the inhibition was reversible. Additioin of excess $Ca^{2+}$ concentration up to 8 mM did not antagonize the inhibitory activity of dioscin. Inactivation of several kinds of $PLA_2$ by dioscin is due to interaction with the active site of $PLA_2$ and may be a useful adjunt in the theraphy of inflammatory diseases.