Polyacetylenes from angelica gigas and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide synthesis in activated macrophages.

In activated macrophages the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) generates high amounts of the toxic mediator, nitric oxide (NO) which contributes to the circulatory failure associated with septic shock. Two polyacetylenes were isolated from the medicinal plant Angelica gigas and their structures were elucidated as octadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3,8,18-triol (1) and 18-acetoxy-octadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3,8-diol (2) by spectroscopic method. These polyacetylenes and their peracetate, 3, 8, 18-triacetoxy-octadeca-1, 9-dien-4, 6-diyn (3) inhibited the production of NO in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells by suppressing the i-NOS enzyme expression. These new inhibitors of i-NOS expression may have potential in the treatment of endotoxemia and inflammation accompanied by the overproduction of NO.