Two new furanoditerpenes from Saururus chinenesis and their effects on the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Two new acyclic furanoditerpene compounds, saurufuran A (1) and B (2), were obtained from the root of Saururus chinensis, and their structures were elucidated by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Saurufuran A (1) is effective on the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) with an EC(50) value of 16.7 microM; however, saurufuran B (2), with an EC(50) value of >100 microM, weakly activated the PPARgamma.