Lathyrane Diterpenoids From the Roots and Stems of Euphorbia prolifera and Their Anti-inflammatory Activity

Euphorbia prolifera, classified under the genus Euphorbia within the Euphorbiaceae family, is a perennial herbaceous plant. This plant exhibits a distinct biogeographical preference, with its natural populations predominantly located in the eastern and southeastern territories of the Asian continent. The roots and stems of E. prolifera have been investigated as a rich source of diterpenoids, and 12 lathyrane diterpenoids, including three previously undescribed ones, were isolated. Their structures were determined by analysing spectroscopic data (one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance), and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and by comparing them with previously published data. Meanwhile, all the compounds were evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory bioactivities. The findings indicated that compound 8 exhibited superior inhibitory effects compared with the positive control drug (dexamethasone) on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 3.95 ± 0.49 µM. Using target screening and molecular docking technology, it is hypothesized that compound 8 may play an anti-inflammatory role by combining with human Filamin-B.