Bioactive coumarins from Notopterygium incisum root: A step toward natural ant-infammatory candidates

Five novel coumarins (1-5) were isolated from the root of Notopterygium incisum, and their chemical structures were elucidated based on HRESIMS and NMR spectral data. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1-5 were evaluated in a lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cell model by measuring the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). The results demonstrated that all five compounds exhibited significant anti-inflammatory potential. Further studies showed that compound 5 (at a concentration of 7.5-30 μM) displayed potent anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, iNOS) and reducing nitric oxide (NO) production. Mechanistic studies revealed that compound 5 exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings highlight the potential of coumarins as anti-inflammatory agents and provide a foundation for their further exploration as therapeutic candidates.