Background:

Isovanillin is an aldehyde oxidase inhibitor[1]. Antispasmodic activities[2]. Antidiarrheal activities[3].

Isovanillin is not a substrate for aldehyde oxidase and therefore it is metabolized to isovanillic acid predominantly by aldehyde dehydrogenase[1].Isovanillin is relaxant of ileum contractions induced by 5-HT (IC50=356±50μM) [2].

Isovanillin (2 mg/kg & 5 mg/kg) and iso-acetovanillon (2 mg/kg & 5 mg/kg) both have antidiarrheal and anti-motility effect on gastrointestinal tract[3].

[1]. Panoutsopoulos GI, et al. Enzymatic oxidation of vanillin, isovanillin and protocatechuic aldehyde with freshly prepared Guinea pig liver slices. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2005;15(1-4):89-98. [2]. Sadraei H, et al. Antispasmodic activity of isovanillin and isoacetovanillon in comparison with Pycnocycla spinosa Decne.exBoiss extract on rat ileum. Res Pharm Sci. 2014 May-Jun;9(3):187-92. [3]. Sadraei H, et al. Antidiarrheal activities of isovanillin, iso-acetovanillon and Pycnocycla spinosa Decne ex.Boiss extract in mice. Res Pharm Sci. 2014 Mar-Apr;9(2):83-9.