Inhibitory constituents of Nardostachys chinensis on nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

The activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the rhizomes and roots of Nardostachys chinensis led to the isolation of two new sesquiterpenoids, narchinol B (8) and narchinol C (9), along with 10 known compounds, ursolic acid (1), nardosinone (2), pinoresinol (3), desoxo-narchinol A (4), kanshone B (5), epoxyconiferyl alcohol (6), debilon (7), 4α,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxo-1,2,3,4,4α,5,6,7-octahydronaphthalene (10), p-coumaric acid (11), and isoferulic acid (12). Their structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques, which included 1D- and 2D-NMR. Among the isolates, compounds 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 showed inhibitory activity against LPS-induced NO production with IC(50) values of 4.6-21.6 µM.

Pyrrolidinone diterpenoid from Isodon excisus and inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage RAW264.7 cells.

A new pyrrolidinone diterpenoid, excisusin F (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon excisus (Lamiaceae), together with four known compounds, and their structures were determined mainly by NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry. Excisusin F (1) and inflexarabdonin E (3) showed potent inhibitory effects of LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells with the IC(50) value of 10.4 and 3.8 µM, respectively.

Phenanthrenes from Dendrobium nobile and their inhibition of the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of the methanol extract of the stems of Dendrobium nobile yielded a new phenanthrene together with nine known phenanthrenes and three known bibenzyls. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of the spectroscopic data including 2D-NMR. All of the isolates were evaluated for their potential to inhibit the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1-4, 7-13 inhibited nitric oxide production with the IC(50) values ranging from 9.6 microM to 35.7 microM.

ent-Kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon japonicus.

Five ent-kaurane diterpenoids, 6beta,7beta,14beta-trihydroxy-1alpha,19-diacetoxy-7alpha,20-epoxy- ent-kaur-16-en-15-one (1), 1alpha,6beta,7beta-trihydroxy-11alpha,19-diacetoxy-7alpha,20-epoxy-ent-kaur-16-en-15-one (2), 6-hydroxy-1alpha,19-diacetoxy-6,7-seco-ent-kaur-16-en-15-one-7,20-olide (3), 19-hydroxy-1alpha,6-diacetoxy-6,7-seco- ent-kaur-16-en-15-one-7,20-olide (4), and 6-aldehyde-1alpha,19-diacetoxy-6,7-seco- ent-kaur-16-en-15-one-7,20-olide (5), along with 10 known ent-kaurane diterpenoids, pseurata C (6), longikaurin C (7), effusanin C (8), longikaurin B (9), longikaurin D (10), effusanin D (11), excisanin B (12), lasiokaurin (13), megathyrin A (14), and loxothyrin A (15), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon japonicus. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic (1D-, 2D-NMR and MS) and chemical evidence. The isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on LPS-induced production of nitric oxide in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells.

Methylpiperate derivatives from Piper longum and their inhibition of monoamine oxidase.

We have previously reported that piperine, a known piperidine alkaloid from Piper longum, competitively inhibited mouse brain MAO-A and MAO-B activities. Piperine also showed in vivo antidepressant-like activity against the tail suspension test. In the present study, we further expanded on the identification of MAO inhibitors from the fruit of P. longum. Activity-guided fractionation of a methylene chloride soluble extract led to the isolation of three known piperine-related compounds, methylpiperate (1), guineensine (2), and piperlonguminine (3). Of these, methylpiperate (1) and guineensine (2) showed significant MAO inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 3.6 and 139.2 microM, respectively. Furthermore, methylpiperate (1) exhibited a selective inhibitory effect against MAO-B (IC50 value: 1.6 microM) than MAO-A (IC50 value: 27.1 microM). The kinetic study using the Lineweaver-Burk plots analysis suggested that methylpiperate (1) competitively inhibits MAO-A and MAO-B activities with the Ki values of 23.5 and 1.3 microM, respectively.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitory components from Cayratia japonica.

Seven flavonoids were isolated from the whole plants and fruits of Cayratia japonica through the activity-guided isolation of a methanol extract using a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition assay as a monitor. The chemical structures of the isolates were assigned as apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (1), apigenin (2), luteolin (3), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), (+)-dihydroquercetin (taxifolin) (5), (+)-dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin) (6) and quercetin (7). Among the isolated compounds, flavones such as apigenin (2) and luteolin (3), as well as the flavonol, quercetin (7) showed potent inhibitory effects against the MAO activity with IC50 values of 6.5, 22.6, and 31.6 microM, respectively. However, the flavone glycosides, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (1) and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), showed mild MAO inhibition (IC50 values: 81.7 and 118.6 microM, respectively). The flavanonol derivatives, taxifolin (5) and aromadendrin (6), also showed weak inhibition (IC50 values: 154.7 and 153.1 microM, respectively). Furthermore, quercetin (7) had a more potent inhibitory effect on MAO-A (IC50 value: 2.8 microM) than MAO-B (IC50 value: 90.0 microM). Apigenin (2) and luteolin (3) also preferentially inhibited MAO-A (IC50 values: 1.7 and 4.9 microM, respectively) compared with MAO-B (IC50 values: 12.8 and 59.7 microM, respectively).

Monoamine oxidase inhibitory coumarins from the aerial parts of Dictamnus albus.

The methanol extract from the aerial parts of Dictamnus albus was active in inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO) from the mouse brain. Activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of four known coumarins, 7-(6'R-hydroxy-3', 7'-dimethyl-2'E, 7'-octadienyloxy) coumarin (1), auraptene (2), umbelliferone (3), and xanthotoxin (4), as active compounds along with an inactive alkaloid, skimmianine (5). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited MAO activity in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.7 and 1.7 microM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 showed a slight and potently selective inhibitory effect against MAO-B (IC50 0.5 and 0.6 microM, respectively) compared to MAO-A (IC50 1.3 and 34.6 microM, respectively). According to kinetic analyses derived by Lineweaver-Burk reciprocal plots, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited a competitive inhibition to MAO-B.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitory components from the roots of Sophora flavescens.

In our search for monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors from natural resources, we found that the methanol extract of the roots of Sophora flavescens showed an inhibitory effect on mouse brain monoamine oxidase (MAO). Bioactivity-guided isolation of the extract yielded two known flavonoids, formononetin (1) and kushenol F (2), as active compounds along with three inactive compounds, oxymatrine (3), trifolirhizin (4), and beta-sitosterol (5). Formononetin (1) and kushenol F (2) showed significant inhibitory effects on MAO in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 13.2 and 69.9 microM, respectively. Formononetin (1) showed a slightly more potent inhibitory effect against MAO-B (IC50: 11.0 microM) than MAO-A (IC50: 21.2 microM). Kushenol F (2) also preferentially inhibited the MAO-B activity than MAO-A activity with the IC50 values of 63.1 and 103.7 microM, respectively.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitory constituents from the fruits of Cudrania tricuspidata.

A methylene chloride soluble fraction of the fruits of Cudrania tricuspidata significantly inhibited the mouse brain monoamine oxidase (MAO). Three known prenylated isoflavones were isolated and identified by activity-guided fractionation. Gancaonin A (1), 4'-O-methylalpinumisoflavone (2), and alpinumisoflavone (3) inhibited MAO activity in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 19.4, 23.9, and 25.8 microM, respectively. Of these, gancaonin A (1) showed a selective and potent inhibitory effect against MAO-B (IC50 0.8 microM) than MAO-A (IC50 >800 microM). The kinetic analysis using Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated that gancaonin A (1) competitively inhibited MAO-B.

Melampolides from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius and their inhibitory activity of lps-induced nitric oxide production.

Two new melampolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, 8beta-epoxyangeloyloxy-9alpha-ethoxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (1) and 8beta-angeloyloxy-9alpha-ethoxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (2), were isolated from the leaves of yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolia (POEPP. et ENDL.) H. Robinson] along with eleven known melampolides, allo-schkuhriolide (3), enhydrin (4), polymatin A (5), fluctuanin (6), 8beta-angeloyloxy-9alpha-acetoxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (7), 8beta-angeloyloxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (8), 8beta-methacryloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester (9), uvedalin (10), polymatin B (11), 8beta-tigloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester (12), and sonchifolin (13). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. All isolates were evaluated for inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

Lignans from Arctium lappa and their inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production.

A new butyrolactone sesquilignan, isolappaol C (1), together with four known lignans, lappaol C (2), lappaol D (3), lappaol F (4), and diarctigenin (5), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the seeds from the Arctium lappa plant. The structure of isolappaol C (1) was determined by spectral analysis including 1D- and 2D-NMR. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the LPS-induced nitric oxide production using murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Lappaol F (4) and diarctigenin (5) strongly inhibited NO production in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC(50) values of 9.5 and 9.6 microM, respectively.

Prenylated xanthones from the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata.

Four new prenylated xanthones, cudratricusxanthones J-M (1-4), were isolated from the CH2Cl2-soluble extract of the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata, along with four known prenylated xanthones, isocudraxanthone K (5), cudraxanthone C (6), cudratricusxanthone A (7), and cudraxanthone L (8), and three known prenylated flavonoids, cudraflavone A (9), cudraflavanone A (10), and cudraflavone B (11). The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. Cudratricusxanthone A (7), cudraflavanone A (10), and cudraflavone B (11) showed moderate inhibitory effects on mouse brain monoamine oxidase (MAO) with IC50 values of 88.3, 89.7, and 80.0 microM, respectively.

Piperine from the fruits of Piper longum with inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase and antidepressant-like activity.

A bioassay-guided isolation of the ethanol extract from the fruits of Piper longum yielded a known piperidine alkaloid, piperine, as a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Piperine showed an inhibitory effect against MAO-A (IC50 value: 20.9 microM) and MAO-B (IC50 value: 7.0 microM). Kinetic analyses by a Lineweaver-Burk plot clearly indicated that piperine competitively inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B with Ki values of 19.0+/-0.9 microM and 3.19+/-0.5 microM, respectively. The inhibition by piperine was found to be reversible by dialysis of the incubation mixture. In addition, the immobility times in the tail suspension test were significantly reduced by piperine, similar to that of the reference antidepressant fluoxetine, without accompanying changes in ambulation when assessed in an open-field. These results suggest that piperine possesses potent antidepressant-like properties that are mediated in part through the inhibition of MAO activity, and therefore represent a promising pharmacotherapeutic candidate as an antidepressant agent.