The peel of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim is clinically used to treat cardiovascular diseases in China. In this study, the NF-κB inhibitory activity of the peel of T. kirilowii Maxim extracts was determined by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System, and the results showed 70% ethanol extract could significantly inhibit the activation of NF-κB (p < 0.001). Further, 21 compounds were isolated from 70% ethanol extract. One new compound, namely (2 R)-(2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-3-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoyl)-O-]-propanoic acid (1), and 20 known compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The isolated compounds were tested in the anti-inflammatory assay, and the results indicated compounds 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17 and 21 could inhibit the activation of NF-κB (p <0 .05, p < 0.001) at concentration of 1 μM.
Keywords: NF-κB; Trichosanthes Pericarpium; Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim; anti-inflammatory; component identification; dual-luciferase reporter assay system.