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In the course of our search for bioactive metabolites from a sponge-derived fungus Acremonium sp., new sesquiterpenoids (1-4) were isolated along with known derivatives by bioactivity-guided fractionation. The unique cyclic skeleton of compounds 2 and 3 is unprecedented. The absolute configurations were determined by modified Mosher's method and CD spectroscopy, along with comparison of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic data and specific optical rotation values with those reported. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds (1, 5, 7-13) was evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Among the compounds tested, compounds 7 and 9 significantly inhibited the production of NO and TNF-alpha at the concentration of 100 microM, while compounds 11 and 12 showed selective inhibition of NO production at the same concentration.

Total methanol extract of Saussurea lappa radix (Compositae) showed potent inhibitory effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a proinflammatory cytokine, in murine macrophage-like cell (RAW264.7 cells) in our previous screening studies on 120 Korean medicinal plants. The activity-guided purification of the plant resulted in the isolation of three components. The chemical structures of the components isolated were established by spectroscopic analyses as sesquiterpene lactones [cynaropicrin (1), reynosin (2), and santamarine (3)]. These three compounds inhibited TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner. The molar concentrations of cynaropicrin, reynosin, and santamarine producing 50% inhibition (IC50) of TNF-alpha production were 2.86 micrograms/ml (8.24 microM), 21.7 micrograms/ml (87.4 microM), and 26.2 micrograms/ml (105 microM), respectively. However, treatment with sulphydryl (SH) compounds such as L-cysteine, dithiothreitol, and 2-mercaptoethanol abrogated the inhibitory effect of cynaropicrin on TNF-alpha production. Therefore, we conclude that the principal inhibitory component of Saussurea lappa is cynaropicrin and its inhibitory effect is mediated through conjugation with SH-groups of target proteins.

A chemical study on the anti-inflammatory components of the red alga Gracilaria verrucosa led to the isolation of new 11-deoxyprostaglandins ( 1- 4), a ceramide ( 5), and a C 16 keto fatty acid ( 6), along with known oxygenated fatty acids ( 7- 14). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1- 5 were determined by Mosher's method. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds ( 1- 14) was evaluated by determining their inhibitory effects on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Compounds 9 and 10 exhibited the most potent activity. In the evaluation of these two compounds and derivatized analogues ( 15- 40), the anti-inflammatory activity was enhanced in some synthetic analogues. These enone fatty acids were investigated as potential anti-inflammatory leads for the first time.

Ginsenosides are the major principles of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) used as a mild oriental folk medicine. In this report, we have examined the inhibitory potency of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides (PPDGs) such as Rb1, Rb2 and Rc, and their co-treatment effect with known tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonists on TNF-alpha production in either murine (RAW264.7) or human (U937) macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rb1, and Rb2 strongly suppressed TNF-alpha production in RAW264.7 cells with an IC50 of 56.5 and 27.5 microM, respectively, and in differentiated U937 cells with an IC50 of 51.3, and 26.8 microM, respectively. The inhibitory activity of Rb1 and Rb2 was significantly increased by pharmacological agents against protein kinase C, protein tyrosine kinase, and protein kinase A, and anti-rheumatoid arthritis drugs, such as chloroquine and steroid drugs. In contrast, only cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE) inhibitors among cAMP-elevating agents did not change the inhibitory potency of PPDGs. These data suggest that PPDGs may possess potential therapeutic efficacy against TNF-alpha mediated disease and the therapeutic potency of PPDGs may be enhanced when co-treated with various kinds of known TNF-alpha antagonists but not with cAMP PDE inhibitors.