Quinic acid derivatives from Pimpinella brachycarpa

In our continuing search for bioactive constituents from Korean medicinal plants, we performed a phytochemical investigation on the MeOH extract of the aerial parts from Pimpinella brachycarpa (Umbelliferae). P. brachycarpa are widely distributed in Europe, Africa, and Asia (China and Korea). This species has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disturbances, bronchial asthma, insomnia, and persistent cough. In previous phytochomical studies, phenylpropanoids, polyacetylenes, and flavonoids were isolated from this source and some of them exhibited antifungal, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. A combination of preparative column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract of the plant furnished five new quinic acid derivatives (1-5), together with nine known quinic acid compounds (6-14). Their structures have been established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including extensive 2D NMR studies. We are studying the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of isolates (1-14) for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells.