Inhibitory effect of macabarterin, a polyoxygenated ellagitannin from Macaranga barteri, on human neutrophil respiratory burst activity.

An ellagitannin with a 2,4-acyl group, named macabarterin (1), and a new ellagic acid glycoside, 3-O-methylellagic acid 4-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (2), were isolated from the stem bark extract of Macaranga barteri along with five known phenolic compounds, ellagic acid (3), 3-O-methylellagic acid (4), gallic acid (5), methyl gallate (6), and scopoletin (7). The structures of 1 and 2, as well as those of the known compounds, were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and by comparison with reported data. Compounds 1-5 and 7 were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential in a cell-based respiratory burst assay, compound 1 being found an inhibitor of the superoxides produced in the cellular system.