Lactones from the pericarps of Litsea japonica and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Five new lactones, litsenolide F1 (1), lisealactone H1 (10), lisealactone H2 (11), akolactone D (13), and akolactone E (14), along with thirteen known compounds were isolated from the pericarps of Litsea japonica (Thunb.) Jussieu. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, and chemical methods. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among them, 2-alkylidene-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolide derivatives (compounds 1-9) exhibited the most potent activity, with IC50 values in the range of 2.9-12.8 μM. In additon, compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 showed inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression in concentration-dependent manner. Compound 3 suppresses mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Based on these evidence, the isolated lactones from L. japonica could be promissing candidates for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.