Two neolignans from Perilla frutescens and their inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.

Two neolignans were isolated from leaves of Perilla frutescens (Labiatae) as inhibitors of nitric oxide syntheses (IC50 5.9 microM and 53.5 microM, respectively) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Their structures were identified as 1beta,2alpha,3beta,4alpha-1,2-dimethyl-3,4-bis-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-cyclobutane (magnosalin), and 1alpha,2beta,3beta,4alpha-1,2-dimethyl-3,4-bis-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-cyclobutane (andamanicin), and their activities were confirmed as resulted from the suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase enzyme and from the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha from activated macrophages.