Undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya selectively modulate inflammatory markers in RAW 264.7 cells.

Aphanapolystachones A-C (1-3), three undescribed sesquiterpene-diterpene heterodimers, were obtained from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures and absolute configurations were identified by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. The biosynthetic pathway of them was also proposed, which is produced by key intermolecular Diels-Alder [4 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction between a guaiane sesquiterpene and an acyclic diterpene. Compounds 1-3 inhibited NO production in LPS activated RAW 264.7 cells with the IC50 values of 1.7 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.3, 5.3 ± 0.3 µM, respectively, lower than that of the positive control L-NMMA (31.5 ± 2.6 µM). In addition, compounds 1-3 significantly reduced IL-6 secretion at diluted concentration of 0.4 µM.

New diterpene lactone derivatives from Aphanamixis polystachya leaves inhibit nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells.

Phytochemical studies on Aphanamixis plants have attracted considerable attention over the past few decades due to the structural diversities and significant biological activities of terpenoids produced by these plants. In the present study, five new acyclic diterpene lactone derivatives, aphanamixionolides A-E (1-5), and three known tirucallane-type triterpenes, namely, piscidinol A (6), hispidone (7), and bourjotinolone A (8), were isolated from the leaves of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data and by comparison with those reported in the literature. Absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. Compounds 1-8 inhibited NO production with IC50 values of 10.2-37.7 µM, which are comparable to positive control l-NMMA (IC50: 31.5 µM).

Undescribed 2,9-deoxyflavonoids and flavonol-diamide [3+2] adduct from the leaves of Aglaia odorata Lour. Inhibit nitric oxide production.

Phytochemical study on the methanol extract of Aglaia odorata leaves resulted in the isolation of four previously undescribed compounds, including three 2,9-deoxyflavonoids and one flavonol-diamide [3 + 2] adduct, and 13 known compounds. The chemical structures of the four undescribed compounds were elucidated on the basis of their IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD spectra. The results revealed an unprecedented 2,9-deoxyflavonoid framework, which was confirmed by TD-DFT, ECD, and GIAO 13C-NMR calculations using sorted training set methods. The 17 compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit NO production activity in cultured lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 cells with aglaodoratas A-C, odorine, and epi-odorine inhibiting NO production, with IC50 values in the range of 16.2-24.3 µM. The other investigated compounds had either weak or no activity.

Guaianolide sesquiterpenes and benzoate esters from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. and their xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity.

Five undescribed (four guaianolide sesquiterpenes and a benzoate ester derivative) and seven known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of S. orientalis L. Their chemical structures were determined by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. Absolute configurations were elucidated by experimental and TD-DFT calculated ECD spectra. Twelve isolated compounds exhibited potential xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.76 ± 0.17 µM to 31.80 ± 0.97 µM. Molecular docking studies predicted that the binding energies of all isolated compounds with xanthine oxidase were lower than that of the positive control allopurinol. Benzyl 2-hydroxy-6-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate and benzyl 2-methoxy-6-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate displayed not only the best docking score but also the highest in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.76 ± 0.17 µM and 0.98 ± 0.26 µM, respectively.