Horsfielenigans A and B, Two Rearranged Lignans with Anti-Inflammatory Effects from Horsfieldia kingii

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Horsfieldia kingii is a plant source of bioactive compounds.
• Lignans are a class of natural products with diverse biological activities.
• Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in inflammatory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize lignans from Horsfieldia kingii.
• To evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of isolated lignans against nitric oxide production.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of plant material using 70% aqueous acetone.
• Isolation and purification of compounds using spectroscopic techniques.
• In vitro bioactivity assay using LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages to measure NO production.

Main Results:

• Seven lignans were isolated, including three new compounds.
• Horsfielenigans A (1) and B (2) possess a rare β-benzylnaphthalene skeleton.
• Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated significant inhibition of nitric oxide production with IC50 values of 7.3 μM and 9.7 μM, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Horsfieldia kingii yielded novel lignans with a unique chemical structure.
• Horsfielenigans A and B exhibit promising anti-inflammatory potential by inhibiting NO production.
• These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for these lignans in managing inflammation.