The effect of natural polyphenols on three isoforms of NO-synthase was investigated. Among the compounds tested, tannin was the most potent, inhibiting endothelial constitutive NO synthase (eNOS) with an IC50 of 2.2 microM. Other NOS isoforms (i.e. neuronal constitutive NOS and smooth muscle inducible NOS) were also inhibited but at much higher concentrations (selectivity ratio of approx. 20-30). Quercetin was also an effective but less potent inhibitor of eNOS (IC50 = 220 microM). The kinetics of tannin inhibition were investigated to gather information on the mechanism of action. Tannin did not interfere with the interaction of the enzyme with the co-substrates L-arginine and NADPH nor with the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin. The inhibition level was also independent of free Ca2+ concentration as well as of the presence of high exogenous calmodulin concentrations.