Anti-inflammatory Activity of Tanshinone-Related Diterpenes from Perovskia artemisioides Roots

J Nat Prod. 2023 Apr 28;86(4):812-821. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c01004. Epub 2023 Apr 11.

Abstract

Perovskia artemisioides is a perennial and aromatic plant widely distributed in the Baluchestan region of Iran. Phytochemical analysis of a n-hexane extract of P. artemisioides roots, guided by an analytical approach based on LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MS, yielded six previously undescribed diterpenoid compounds (2, 9-11, 16, and 20), and 19 known diterpenoids, for which the structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Some of the isolated compounds showed significant anti-inflammatory activity using J774A.1 macrophage cells stimulated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. In particular, compounds 6, 8, 17, 18, 20, and 22 significantly inhibited the release of nitric oxide and the expression of related pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cycloxygenase-2. Moreover, two compounds that showed the highest activity in reducing nitric oxide release (6 and 18) were tested to evaluate their effects on nitrotyrosine formation and reactive oxygen species release. Both compounds inhibited ROS release and, in particular, compound 6 also inhibited nitrotyrosine formation at all tested concentrations, thus indicating a significant antioxidant potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Diterpenes* / chemistry
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitric Oxide*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • tanshinone
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Diterpenes
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Lipopolysaccharides