Meliasendanins E-J, Nor-neolignan Constituents from Melia toosendan and their Anti-inflammatory Activity

ABSTRACT

A phytochemical investigation of the fruits extract of Melia toosendan afforded the isolation of two new nor-neolignans, meliasendanins E (1) and F (2), as well as twelve known compounds (3 - 14) using various separation technique such as Diaion HP20, silica, RP-18 gel column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic data including 2D-NMR, and HR-ESI-MS as well as ECD data. Among the twelve known compounds, the absolute structures of 3 - 6 were determined first, and given the trivial names as meliasendanins G-J (3 - 6). Based on the evaluation of antiinflammatory activity, compounds 7 - 8 exhibited inhibitory effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC 50 values of 34.6 and 39.5 µM, respectively.