Planta Med 2010; 76 - P193
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264491

New furoquinoline derivative and anti-inflammatory constituents from Zanthoxylum avicennae

JJ Chen 1, TY Wang 2, JB Wu 2, TL Hwang 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, No. 20, Weishin Rd., Yanpu Shiang, Pingtung 907, Taiwan
  • 2Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
  • 3Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan

Zanthoxylum avicennae (Lam.) DC (Rutaceae) is an evergreen shrub distributed in Vietnam, Philippines, southern China, and Taiwan [1]. A decoction of its stems is used as a stomach tonic and as a counter-poison to snake bite [2]. Previous studies of this plant have reported the isolation of flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and terpenoids. In our studies on the anti-inflammatory constituents of Formosan plants, many species have been screened for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, and Z. avicennae has been found to be one of the active species. The MeOH extract of Z. avicennae inhibited fMLP/CB-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 6.34 and 15.32µg/mL, respectively. In our previous study, 8 new compounds and 18 known compounds have been isolated and identified from the stem wood of Z. avicennae. Further investigation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction has led to the isolation of a new furoquinoline derivative, zanthoavicenine (1) and 7 known compounds. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined through spectral analyses including extensive 2D NMR. This report describes the structural elucidation of the new compound 1 and the anti-inflammatory activities of the isolates.

References: 1. Ho, T.C. (2007) Endemic Species Research 9: 29–52.

2. Perry, L.M. (1980) Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. The MIT Press: Cambridge, p.370.