Two new cassane diterpenoids, sucupiranin MN (1) and sucupiranin ML (2), together with two known compounds sucutinirane C (3) and deacetylsucutinirane C (4) were isolated from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia sinensis. Their structures were elucidated by means of analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data, especially HRESIMS and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-4 are typical furan-type cassane derivatives with an aromatized C ring. Biological evaluation revealed that compounds 1-4 at the concentration of 10 μM could inhibit the overproduction of NO in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.
Keywords: C ring aromatized; Caesalpinia sinensis; Leguminosae; anti-inflammatory activity; cassane diterpenoids.