Abstract:
Two novel skeleton sesquiterpenoids (
1 and
6), along with four new iphionane-type sesquiterpenes (
2−
5) and six new cyperane-type sesquiterpenes (
7−
11), were isolated from the whole plant of
Artemisia hedinii (
A. hedinii). The two novel skeleton compounds (
1 and
6) were derived from the decarbonization of iphionane and cyperane-type sesquiterpenes, respectively. Their structures were elucidated through a comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data, including high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The absolute configurations were determined using electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analyses, time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) ECD calculation, density functional theory (DFT) NMR calculations, and biomimetic syntheses. The biomimetic syntheses of the two novel skeletons (
1 and
6) were inspired by potential biogenetic pathways, utilizing a predominant eudesmane-type sesquiterpene (
A) in
A. hedinii as the substrate. All compounds were evaluated in LX-2 cells for their anti-hepatic fibrosis activity. Compounds
2,
8, and
10 exhibited significant activity in downregulating the expression of
α-smooth muscle actin (
α-SMA), a protein involved in hepatic fibrosis.