Neolignans, a Coumarinolignan, Lignan Derivatives, and a Chromene: Anti-inflammatory Constituents from <i>Zanthoxylum avicennae</i>

Eight new compounds, including four new neolignans, (7′S,8′S)-bilagrewin (1), (7′S,8′S)-5-demethoxybilagrewin (2), (7′S,8′S)-5-O-demethyl-4′-O-methylbilagrewin (3), and (7′S,8′S)-nocomtal (4), a new coumarinolignan, (7′S,8′S)-4′-O-methylcleomiscosin D (5), two new lignan derivatives, (+)-9′-O-(Z)-feruloyl-5,5′-dimethoxylariciresinol (6) and (+)-9′-O-(E)-feruloyl-5,5′-dimethoxylariciresinol (7), and a new chromene, (E)-3-(2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-6-yl)prop-2-enal (8), have been isolated from the stem wood of Zanthoxylum avicennae, together with 18 known compounds (9–26). The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. (7′S,8′S)-4′-O-Methylcleomiscosin D (5), cleomiscosin D (9), skimmianine (18), robustine (19), and integrifoliolin (23) exhibited inhibition (IC50 ≤ 18.19 µM) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (FMLP/CB). In addition, skimmianine (18) inhibited FMLP/CB-induced elastase release with an IC50 value of 19.15 ± 0.66 µM

Effect of astringinin treatment on hepatic ICAM-1 levels in rats after sham operation (Sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T-H).

<p>Animals were treated with vehicle (Veh), astringinin (Ast), astringinin in combination with wortmannin (Ast+W), wortmannin (W), astringinin in combination with chromium-mesoporphyrin (Ast+C), or chromium-mesoporphyrin (C). Data are shown as mean ± SEM; n = 8 rats in each group. ^*<i>p</i><0.05 compared with sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared with T-H+Veh, T-H+Ast+W, T-H+W, T-H+Ast+C, and T-H+C.</p

Anti-inflammatory Principles from <i>Cordyceps sinensis</i>

In order to explore the anti-inflammatory principles of the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis, the crude extract and partially purified fractions were examined for their inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release. Further chemical investigation of the bioactive fractions has resulted in the identification of 50 compounds, including five constituents, cordysinins A–E (1–5), reported from a natural source for the first time. In addition, compounds were examined for their anti-inflammatory activity. 1-(5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)-β-carboline displayed the most significant inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC50 values of 0.45 ± 0.15 and 1.68 ± 0.32 μM, respectively

Effect of osthole treatment on plasma AST (A) and ALT (B) in rats at 24 hours after sham operation (Sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T-H).

<p>Animals were treated with either vehicle (Veh), osthole (Ost), osthole in combination with SB-203580 (Ost+SB) or SB-203580 (SB). Data are shown as mean ± SEM of 8 rats in each group. ^*<i>p</i><0.05 compared to Sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared to T-H+Veh, T-H+Ost+SB and T-H+SB.</p

Effect of tropisetron treatment on hepatic CINC- 1 (A) and CINC-3 (B) levels in rats after sham operation (Sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T–H).

<p>Animals were treated with vehicle (Veh), tropisetron (TP), tropisetron in combination with SB-203580 (TP+S), SB-203580 (S), tropisetron in combination with chromium-mesoporphyrin (TP+C), or chromium-mesoporphyrin (C). Data are shown as the mean ± SEM; n = 8 rats in each group. *<i>p</i><0.05 compared with sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared with T–H+Veh, T–H+TP+S, T–H+S, T–H+TP+C, and T–H+C.</p

Effect of tropisetron treatment on plasma AST (A) and ALT (B) in rats after sham operation (Sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T–H).

<p>Animals were treated with vehicle (Veh), tropisetron (TP), tropisetron in combination with SB-203580 (TP+S), SB-203580 (S), tropisetron in combination with chromium-mesoporphyrin (TP+C), or chromium-mesoporphyrin (C). Data are shown as the mean ± SEM; n = 8 rats in each group. *<i>p</i><0.05 compared with sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared with T–H+Veh, T–H+TP+S, T–H+S, T–H+TP+C, and T–H+C. (SB-203580: a p38 MAPK inhibitor and chromium-mesoporphyrin: a HO antagonist).</p

Dose-dependent responses to tropisetron treatment of plasma AST (A) and ALT (B) in rats at 24 h after sham operation (sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T–H).

<p>Animals were treated with tropisetron (TP) at doses of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1 or 3 mg/kg. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM. n = 6 rats in each group. *<i>p</i><0.05 compared with sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared with T–H+TP (0 mg/kg).</p

Dose-dependent responses to osthole treatment of plasma AST (A) and ALT (B) in rats at 24 hours after sham operation (sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T-H).

<p>Animals were treated with osthole (Ost) at doses of 0, 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM. n = 6 rats in each group. ^*<i>p</i><0.05 compared with sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared with T-H + Ost (0 mg/kg).</p

Thymol, Benzofuranoid, and Phenylpropanoid Derivatives: Anti-inflammatory Constituents from <i>Eupatorium cannabinum</i>

Five new compounds, 9-O-angeloyl-8,10-dehydrothymol (1), 9-(3-methylbutanoyl)-8,10-dehydrothymol (2), eupatobenzofuran (3), 2-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylbenzofuran-3(2H)-one (4), and 1-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)propan-1,2-dione (5), have been isolated from the aerial part of Eupatorium cannabinum subsp. asiaticum, together with 16 known compounds (6−21). Compounds 6−8, 11, 13, and 15 exhibited inhibition (IC50 values ≤ 18.4 μM) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Compounds 2, 3, 10, 13, and 15 inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC50 values ≤ 18.3 μM

Effect of osthole treatment on hepatic IL-6 levels in rats at 24 hours after sham operation (Sham) or trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation (T-H).

<p>Animals were treated with either vehicle (Veh), osthole (Ost), osthole in combination with SB-203580 (Ost+SB) or SB-203580 (SB). Data are shown as mean ± SEM of 6 rats in each group. ^*<i>p</i><0.05 compared to Sham; ^#<i>p</i><0.05 compared to T-H+Veh, T-H+Ost+SB, and T-H+SB.</p