The present study describes for the first time the in vitro properties of Iris pseudopumila flowers and rhizomes extracts and their constituents. The methanolic extract of rhizomes showed significant anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO production in the murine monocytic macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Among the isolated compounds, those which most effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO production were irisolidone and 7-methyl-tectorigenin-4'-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside], with IC50 values of 23.6 mu M and 29.4 mu M respectively. Isoorientin and isovitexin exhibited the most promising activity against AChE with IC50 of 26.8 mu M and 36.4 mu M, respectively. The same compounds exhibited also the higher activity against BChE. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.