New cycloartane triterpenes from the roots of Cimicifuga foetida

Four new cimiacerol-type triterpenoids (1-4), together with three unreported tetranor-cycloartane derivatives (5–7), were isolated from the roots of Cimicifuga foetida. Their structures were elucidated via analysis of spectroscopic and chemical reaction data. The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on the mRNA expression of atherosclerosis-related factors CD147 (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, EMMPRIN), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were evaluated by using quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced human monocytic THP-1 cells. All tested compounds were inactive, except the aglycone, compound 4, which dose-dependently (10 μM to 50 μM) suppressed the mRNA expression of CD147, MMP-2, and MMP-9. In addition, the migration of the induced THP-1 cells was also strongly and dose-dependently inhibited by 4.