Functions of prostaglandins, Biochemistry

1. •The prostaglandins are a group of lipids mainly
produce at sites of tissue damage or infection that
are involved in dealing with injury and illness.
•They control processes such as inflammation,
blood flow, the formation of blood clots and the
induction of labour.

2. REGULATION OF BLOOD
PRESSURE
 Acts as vasodilator.
 Lower blood pressure by increasing blood flow.
 Agents for treatment of hypertension.

3. ROLE IN INJURY AND
INFLAMMATION
 Causes inflammation at the site of injury and tissue
damage.
 Initiate healing process by action of thromboxane
and prostacyclin.
 Control the amount of blood flow and regulate
response to injury and inflammation.

4. ROLE IN GUT
 Regulate contraction and relaxation of muscles in gut.
 Regulate gastric secretion.
 Stimulates pancreatic secretion and increase the motility
of intestine.
 Used to treat gastric ulcers.

5. EFFECT ON RESPIRATORY
FUNCTIONS
 Regulate air passage ways by acting as
bronchodilator and constrictor of bronchial smooth
muscles.
 Used in the treatment of Asthama.

6. INFLUENCE ON IMMUNE
SYSTEM
 Secreted by macrophages.
 Decreases immunological functions of B and T
lymphocytes.

7. INFLUENCE ON RENAL
FUNCTION
 Increases rate of glomerular filtration and seretion of
potassium under decreased circulating volume.
 Regulate sodium and water reabsorption .
 Useful to treat diabetes inspidus.

8. EFFECTS ON METABOLISM
 Influence certain metabolic reactions by mediation
of cAMP.
Prostaglandins:
 decreases lipolysis
 increases glycogen formation and
 promotes calcium mobilization

9. ROLE IN REPRODUCTION
 Regulate female reproductive system.
 Involved in :
 ovulation
 Menstural cycle
 Induction of labour by utrine contraction.

10. EFFECT OF LOW
PRSTAGLANDINS LEVEL
 POSITIVE EFFECT:
Low level deals with less inflammation.
 NEGTIVE EFFECT:
Low level causes :
 Damage to the gut
 Heart rhythm disturbances
 Diabetic retinopathy(high blood sugar level causes
damage in blood vessels of retina)
To increase the level of prostaglandins, estrogen
hormone is required.

11. EFFECT OF HIGH
PROSTAGLANDIN LEVEL
High prostaglandin level causes :
 Increase in allergies.
 Decreases the ability to fight cancer.
 Migraines and headaches.
 Menstural cramps.
 Deformation of nails and fingers(clubbing).
 Depression.
 Alzhemeimer’s disease.
 Kidney failure.

12. HOW TO DECREASE
LEVEL OF
PROSTAGLANDINS
 Herbs like green and black tea, ginger etc help to
decrease the level of prostaglandins.
 Drugs like Aspirin etc. also decrease its level.