Isolation of two new prenylflavonols from Epimedium brevicornum and their effects on cytokine production in vitro.
Schlüsselwörter
Abstrakt
In an attempt to search for bioactive natural products, two new prenylflavonols, 2''-hydroxy-3''-en-anhydroicaritin (1) and 2''-hydroxy-beta-anhydroicaritin (2), were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Epimedium brevicornum. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The effects of compounds 1 and 2 on cytokine production in vitro were investigated. Compound 1 could significantly downregulate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and increase interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. These results suggested that compound 1 may have anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophages. In addition, the biogenetic relationships among compounds 1 and 2 are discussed.