Terpenoids from Citrus unshiu Peels and Their Effects on NO Production

Two new compounds, 3-methyl-but-2-en-1-yl-1-O-β-xylopyranosyl-(1ʺ→2ʹ)-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and 1-O-β-glucopyranosyl-6-hydroxy-2-methyl-hep-2-enoic acid (2), along with sixteen known terpenoids were isolated from the peels ofCitrus unshiu Markov. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive NMR analyses ( 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, all isolates (1 - 18) were tested their effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. Limonin (15) showed to inhibit LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity.

Chemical Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and Their Anti-allergic and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Compositae) is a traditional medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities. To elucidate new anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory constituents, the aerial parts of A. capillaries were investigated to afford a new compound, (6E,8E)-6-methylundeca-6,8-diene-2,5,10-trione (17) together with 19 known compounds (1 - 16, 18 - 20). The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D, 2D NMR, HREIMS, and optical rotation [α]D. The absolute configuration of compound 2 was determined to be S form for the first time. All isolates (1 - 20) were tested their inhibitory effects on interleukin 2 (IL-2) expression in T cells and NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW246.7. Among them, compounds 10, 11, 19, and 20 reduced IL-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound 10 also inhibited NO production with an IC50 value of 37.3 ± 0.4 μM.