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Twelve known triterpenoids (1–12) and two steroids (13 and 14) have been isolated from the spike of the plant Prunella vulgaris. Among them, 2α,3α,23-trihydroxyursa-12,20(30)-dien-28-oic acid (10) was isolated for the first time from this plant. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and release of histamine in human mast cells. β-Amyrin (5), 10, and euscaphic acid (12) showed suppression of histamine release with percentage inhibitions of 46.7, 57.9, and 54.2%, respectively. In addition, 5 and 10 showed strong inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 in the test for pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our results suggest that compounds 5 and 10 largely contribute to the anti-allergic inflammatory effect of P. vulgaris.

In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of the soluble ethyl acetate fraction and chemical components of the stem bark of Passiflora foetida (Passifloraceae). Ten flavonoids (1-10) were isolated by various chromatographic techniques, and their structures were determined based on spectroscopic analyses by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Luteolin (2) and chrysoeriol (3) showed the most potent inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, with half maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) values of 1.2 and 3.1 μM, respectively. These compounds suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression at the transcription level. Our research indicates that the stem bark of P. foetida has significant anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that its flavonoids may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Activity-guided isolation of compounds from the fruits of Amomum xanthioides resulted in the purification of fourteen phenolic compounds, 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (1), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde (3), syringic aldehyde (4), benzoic acid (5), 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid (6), vanillic acid (7), 3-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzoic acid (8), o-vanillic acid (9), phenylacetic acid (10), tyrosol (11), pyrocatechol (12), 1,2,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene (13), and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-4,4′-diol (14). To evaluate the anti-allergic inflammatory activities of these compounds, we examined the inhibitory effects of the isolates (1-14) on histamine release and on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)–6 genes by using human mast cells. Of the tested compounds, 9, 11, and 13 suppressed histamine release from mast cells, and all isolates attenuated the expressions of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6 genes in human mast cells.

Many natural products have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO), and are used as chemotherapy agents for inflammation disease. The current study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of chemical components from the leaves of Ampelopsis cantoniensis. Sixteen compounds (1-16) were isolated and identified. Phloretin (5) and 5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone (16) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production with IC50 values of 5.2, and 18.5 μM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of compounds 5 and 16 were accompanied by dose-dependent decreases in LPS-induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. This study investigated the significant anti-inflammatory properties of isolated compounds from the leaves of A. cantoniensis for the first time. The findings demonstrate that A. cantoniensis could be used beneficially in the treatment of inflammation disease.

Ten sesquiterpenoids (1-10) and six phenylpropanoid derivatives (11-16) were isolated from the flower buds of Magnolia biondii Pamp. Their structures were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation. To evaluate their anti-allergic properties, the inhibitory effect of each isolate (1-16) on interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression was examined in Jurkat T cells. Among the isolated compounds, three sesquiterpenoids (2, 5, and 7) and two monoterpenoids (12 and 13) strongly inhibited IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells. Four compounds, (-)-parthenolide (2), eudesm-4(15)-eno-1β,6α-diol (5), biondinin D (12), and tiliroside (16), showed cytotoxicity against Jurkat T cells. In addition, (-)-parthenolide (2) exhibited cytotoxicity against the human cervical cancer HeLa cell line, the human breast cancer MCF-7, and human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell lines.

Cancer is a major public health burden in both developed and developing countries. Plant-derived compounds have played an important role in the development of useful anti-cancer agents. The current study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of chemical compounds from the stem bark of Styrax obassia. Seven known compounds (1–7) were isolated and identified. Compound 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with an IC50 of 27.9 μM, followed by the human cervical cancer cell line Hela with an IC50 of 23.3 μM, and the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 with an IC50 of 47.8 μM. Compound 7 exhibited cytotoxicity against Hela cells with an IC50 of 16.8 μM, followed by MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 53.5 μM. This is the first study to investigate the significant anti-tumor properties of isolated compounds from the stem bark of S. obassia.

The anti-cholinesterase activity was evaluated of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt (Myristicaceae) seeds and of compounds isolated from it by various chromatographic techniques. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined from spectroscopic analyses (NMR data). Thirteen compounds (1-13) were isolated and identified. Compound 8 { [(7S)-8'-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-7-hydroxypropyl]benzene-2,4-diol) showed the most effective activity with an IC50 value of 35.1 microM, followed by compounds 2 [(8R,8'S)-7'-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-8,8'-dimethyl-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-butane] and 11 (malabaricone C) with IC50 values of 42.1 and 44.0 pM, respectively. This is the first report of significant anticholinesterase properties of M. fragrans seeds. The findings demonstrate that M. fragrans could be used beneficially in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

A methanol extract of the seed of Prunus persica (Rosaceae) was found to inhibit histamine release in human mast cells. Activity-guided fractionation of the methanol extract yielded three cyanogenic glycosides (1–3) and other phenolic compounds (4–8). To evaluate their anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities, the isolates (1–8) were tested for their inhibitory effects on histamine release and on the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)–6 in human mast cells. Of these, phenolic glycosides 7 and 8 suppressed histamine release and inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. These results suggest that isolates from P. persica are among the anti-allergic inflammatory principles in this medicinal plant.

Eight phenolic glycosides, tachioside (1), isotachioside (2), koaburaside (3), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-1- O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), 4,6-dihydroxy-2- methoxyphenyl-1- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), a mixture of erigeside C (6a) and salidroside (6b), and 6-hydroxyphenyl)-1- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) were isolated from the stems of Lindera obtusiloba Blume. The structures of the isolates were determined by 1H-, 13C-NMR, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC spectroscopy. To evaluate their anti-allergic inflammatory activities, the inhibitory effects of isolates (1-7) on histamine release and on the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were examined using human mast cells; previous studies have reported that TNF-α and IL-6 release from mast cells is positively related to the severity of allergic symptoms. Of the tested compounds, koaburaside (3), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-1- O-ß-D- glucopyranoside (4), and (6-hydroxyphenyl)-1- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) suppressed histamine release from mast cells as compared with gallic acid (positive control). In particular, 6-hydroxyphenyl)-1- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) attenuated the gene expressions of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in human mast cells. Our results support the notion that phenolic glycosides isolated from L. obtusiloba inhibit mast-cell-derived allergic inflammation, histamine, and proinflammatory cytokines.

A new homomonoterpene, l,3,3-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[3.1.1]hexa-9-en-10-oic acid, named madhusic acid A (1), together with ten known compounds (2-11) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the dried leaves of Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard) H. J. Lam. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of ID, 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and mass spectral analyses. We examined the effects of the isolated compounds against LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells and compound 2 showed effective activity with an IC50 value of 14.5 μM.

In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of the soluble ethyl acetate fraction and chemical components of the stem bark of Passiflora foetida (Passifloraceae). Ten flavonoids (1–10) were isolated by various chromatographic techniques, and their structures were determined based on spectroscopic analyses by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Luteolin (2) and chrysoeriol (3) showed the most potent inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, with half maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) values of 1.2 and 3.1 μM, respectively. These compounds suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression at the transcription level. Our research indicates that the stem bark of P. foetida has significant anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that its flavonoids may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Many natural products have been shown to have an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO), and are used as chemotherapy agents for inflammation disease. The current study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of chemical components from the leaves of Ampelopsis cantoniensis. Sixteen compounds (1–16) were isolated and identified. Phloretin (5) and 5,7,3′,5′-tetrahydroxyflavanone (16) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production with IC50 values of 5.2, and 18.5 μM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of compounds 5 and 16 were accompanied by dose-dependent decreases in LPS-induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. This study investigated the significant anti-inflammatory properties of isolated compounds from the leaves of A. cantoniensis for the first time. The findings demonstrate that A. cantoniensis could be used beneficially in the treatment of inflammation disease.

Three ent-kaurane diterpenes (1-3), four lupane-triterpene glycosides (4-7), and an oleanane-triterpene glycoside (8) were isolated from the ethyl acetate and water extracts of the steamed leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum using a combination of various column chromatographies. The structures of the isolates were determined by 1H-, 13C-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. To investigate the biological effects of the eight compounds (1-8) on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), luciferase reporter assays were used. Among the tested compounds, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (1), 16α-hydroxy- ent-kauran-19-oic acid (2), and 17-hydroxy- ent-kaur-15-en-19-oic acid (3) showed considerable effects on PPARγ activity, compared with the positive control, troglitazone. To evaluate specificity and sensitivity of the active compounds (1-3) in the regulation of transactivation of PPARs, Gal4-PPARs-LBD luciferase reporter assays were examined. In this study, the three ent-kaurane diterpenes (1-3) were found to up-regulate PPARβ/δ and PPARγ activities, whereas they did not activate PPARα activity.

The methanol extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa was found to inhibit tyrosinase activity. After partition, various column chromatographic and preparative HPLC procedures were used for bioassay guided isolation from the active ethyl acetate-soluble fraction. Various spectroscopic (1D-, 2D-NMR) and mass spectrometric techniques, and Mosher's esterification were applied to elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds. The isolates were tested using an in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay. Inhibition of melanin formation by the active compounds was further evaluated using B16 mouse melanoma cells. Eleven compounds (1 – 11) were isolated from the rhizomes of C. longa by bioassay guided fractionation. The configuration at the C-4 position of 4-hydroxy-1,3(15),10-bisabolatrien-9-one (11) was confirmed by Mosher's method. Of the isolates, curcuminoids 5 - 7 showed potent inhibitory activity in the tyrosinase assay. Melanin formation of the active compounds in the B16 mouse melanoma cells corresponded with the tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The findings support the view that either curcuminoids or the extract of C. longa rhizomes containing them may be useful for the treatment of hyperpigmentation.