A new isocoumarin (1) named fraxicoumarin was isolated from the bark of Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla along with three known compounds (2-4). The structure of the new compound was established by extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. The anti-inflammatory effects of the isolated compounds (1-4) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were evaluated in vitro. Of the compounds tested, compounds 1 and 3 inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Consistent with these findings, they also suppressed LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the protein level in RAW 264.7 cells.
Keywords: Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla; anti-inflammation; cyclooxygenase-2; inducible nitric oxide synthase; isocoumarins; nitric oxide.