Paeonol is a phenolic compound found in peonies such as Paeonia suffruticosa (moutan cortex), in Arisaema erubescens, and in Dioscorea japonica. It is a chemical compound found in some traditional Chinese medicines.
A number of biological effects of paeonol in vitro or in animal models have been observed. Paeonol increases levels of cortical cytochrome oxidase and vascular actin and improves behavior in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Paeonol also reduced cerebral infarction involving the superoxide anion and microglia activation in ischemia-reperfusion injured rats.
Paeonol shows antimutagenic activities. It also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in carrageenan-evoked thermal hyperalgesia. Paeonol inhibits anaphylactic reaction by regulating histamine and TNF-ñ.
Paeonol has weak MAO-A and MAO-B inhibiting effects with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 54.6 üM and 42.5 üM respectively.
Metal complexes of paeonol shows tetrahedral and octahedral coordination geometry in the absence and presence of solvent pyridine respectively.