Potential anti-neuroinflammatory triterpenoids isolated from Chinese acorns (Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata)

Chinese acorns are served as a healthy food supplementary and cuisine in the local residents. The anti-neuroinflammatory phytochemicals of Chinese acorns have been investigated in this study. Four new triterpenoids (1, 8, 16 and 17), together with thirteen known congeners (2–7, 9–15), were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradation. The isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-neuroinflammatory activity. Some triterpenoids showed obvious inhibitory effects on the production of nitric oxide (NO) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in microglia cells (BV-2). Compounds 1, 2, and 16 could dose-dependently reduce the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediator iNOS, while compounds 1, 2, 8 and 16 could dose-dependently reduce the COX-2 expression induced by LPS in BV-2 cells. This study suggested that Chinese acorns could be served as healthy product for neuroinflammatory related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.