Trichosanhemiketal A and B: Two 13,14-seco-13,14-epoxyporiferastanes from the root of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim

Bioorg Chem. 2019 Mar:83:105-110. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2018.10.019. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Abstract

Of the 32 Trichosanthes species in China, T. kirilowii Maxim. is the most renowned species used in traditional Chinese medicine and has diverse pharmacological properties. However, most of the phytochemical studies of T. kirilowii have focused on the fruits and seeds. In our investigation of the chemical constituents of T. kirilowii roots, two previously undescribed sterols [trichosanhemiketal A and B (1 and 2)], together with 13 known compounds, were isolated and their structures were elucidated. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first isolation of compounds with a 13,14-seco-13,14-epoxyporiferastane (1-2) skeleton from the Cucurbitaceae family. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds was determined through an analysis of their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Of the compounds, 4, 5, 6, and 8 showed significant inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 8.5, 15.1, 25.4, and 28.5 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 4 inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner.

Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Cucurbitaceae; NO production; Trichosanhemiketal; Trichosanthes kirilowii.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Trichosanthes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nitric Oxide
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2