Abstract:
The anti-inflammatory phytochemical investigation of the leaves of
Illicium dunnianum (
I. dunnianum) resulted in the isolation of five pairs of new lignans (
1–
5), and 7 known analogs (
6–
12). The separation of enantiomer mixtures
1–
5 to
1a/
1b–
5a/
5b was achieved using a chiral column with acetonitrile−water mixtures as eluents. The planar structures of
1–
2 were previously undescribed, and the chiral separation and absolute configurations of
3–
5 were reported for the first time. Their structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass (HR-ESI-MS), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) and quantum chemistry calculations (ECD). The new isolates were evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effect on NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells. Compounds
1a,
3a,
3b, and
5a demonstrated partial inhibition of NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays revealed that
1a down-regulated the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of tumor necrosis factor α (
TNF-α), interleukin-6 (
IL-6),
COX-2, and
iNOS and the protein expressions of COX-2 and iNOS. This research provides guidance and evidence for the further development and utilization of
I. dunnianum.