A new coumarin isolated from root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory components from the root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. The anti-inf1ammatory activity was evaluated by the levels of NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 tested by Griess reagent. Results: Four coumarins, namely zantholin A (1), 7-methoxycoumarin (2), isoscopoletin (3), and esculetin (4), were isolated from the root barks of Z. schinifolium. Compounds 1-4 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities on inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of (0.21 ± 0.03), (0.92 ± 0.16), (0.15 ± 0.02), and (0.26 ± 0.04) μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound, a rare terpenylated coumarin named zantholin A, and compounds 3 is obtained from this plant for the first time. All compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activities.