Abstract
In an attempt to search for bioactive natural products, two new prenylflavonols, 2′′-hydroxy-3′′-en-anhydroicaritin
(1) and 2′′-hydroxy-β-anhydroicaritin (2), were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Epimedium brevicornum. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The effects
of compounds 1 and 2 on cytokine production in vitro were investigated. Compound 1 could significantly downregulate tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production and increase interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. These results suggested
that compound 1 may have anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse
macrophages. In addition, the biogenetic relationships among compounds 1 and 2 are discussed.
Key words
Epimedium brevicornum
- Berberidaceae - prenylflavonol - anti‐inflammatory - biogenetic relationship
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Prof. Rong-Tao Li
Xu-Ming Deng
College of Life Science and Technology
Kunming University of Science and Technology
Kunming
Yunnan 650224
People's Republic of China
Phone: + 86 8 71 38 01 01 82 01
Fax: + 86 87 13 80 11 91
Email: rongtaolikm@yahoo.cn
