Chemical constituents from Vietnamese mangrove Calophyllum inophyllum and their anti-inflammatory effects

In a search for anti-inflammatory activity in resources from Vietnamese mangroves, we found that a methanolic extract from the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum (CIL) showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Using various chromatographic techniques, we subsequently isolated 12 compounds (1-12) from a methanolic extract of CIL, including two novel compounds (1-2). The inhibitory effects of these compounds on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells were also evaluated. Compound 1 significantly suppressed NO production (IC50 = 2.44 +/- 0.88 mu M), the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha), and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase through downregulation of nuclear factor-kappa-B signaling cascades. These results suggest that C. inophyllum leaves might be a useful resource for the development of drugs for the treatment of inflammation.