Chemical constituents from Notopterygium incisum and their anti-neuroinflammatory activity

Phytochemical research on an extract of Notopterygium incisum yielded fifteen compounds ( 1 - 15 ), including four previously undescribed compounds ( 10-13 ). The structures of the unreported compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric data analysis such as 1D and 2D NMR, IR and HR -ESI -MS. Compounds 1 -5 and 10 -14 were isolated from N. incisum for the first time. 7 S * ,8 R * -Phenethyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 10 ), 7 S * ,8 R * - p -hydroxyphenethyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 11 ), 7 S * ,8 R * -benzyl-(7-methoxy-8-iso- eugenol)-ferulate ( 12 ) and p -hydroxyphenethyl-(4-benzoy-3-methoxy)-cinnamate ( 13 ) are the undescribed ferulic acid derivatives. Additionly, the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of compounds were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells. The pharmacological results showed that 6 beta ,10 beta -epoxy-4 alpha -hydroxy- guaiane ( 6 ), teuclatriol ( 7 ) and 7 S * ,8 R * - p -hydroxyphenethyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 11 ) inhibited the production and expression of nitric oxide (NO) in the LPS-induced BV2 cells in a concentration -dependent manner. Acorusnol ( 4 ), teucladiol ( 9 ), 7 S * ,8 R * -benzyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 12 ) and p -hydrox- yphenethyl-(4-benzoy-3-methoxy)-cinnamate ( 13 ) only inhibited the release of NO at concentration of 20 mu M. Moreover, 7 S * ,8 R * - p -hydroxyphenethyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 11 ) reduced the level of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF- alpha ) and interleukin-6 (IL -6) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. The results demonstrated 7 S * ,8 R * - p - hydroxyphenethyl-(7-methoxy-8-isoeugenol)-ferulate ( 11 ) could be a potential anti-neuroinflammatory agent and is worthy of further study.