DPPH Radical Scavenging and Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities of the Constituents from the Wood of Taxus yunnanensis

Abstract

The H₂O, H₂O/MeOH (1 : 1) and MeOH extracts of the wood of Taxus yunnanensis possessed significant DPPH radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. Chemical investigation of these extracts led us to isolation of nineteen compounds, i. e., five lignans, two simple phenolics, and twelve taxane-type diterpenes. Isotaxiresinol and seco-isolariciresinol, two major lignans of the wood, possessed potent DPPH radical scavenging activities with IC₅₀ values of 21.7 and 28.9 μM, respectively. Similarly, coniferyl aldehyde, taxusin, 10-deacetyltaxuyunnanine C, hongdoushan A, and 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-[(S)-2-methylbutyryloxy]-4(20),11-taxadiene showed potent NO inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 18.0, 22.1, 28.5, 15.0 and 26.4 μM, respectively, which were either equal or lower than the positive control N ^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L -NMMA) with an IC₅₀ value of 28.5 μM.

Key words

Taxus yunnanensis - Taxaceae - DPPH free radical - nitric oxide - lignan - taxane diterpenoids - antiproliferative activity

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