Anti-inflammatory constituents of Sappan Lignum.

We performed an in vitro assay for seven compounds from methanolic extract of Sappan Lignum (CSE) that inhibit the chemical mediators of inflammation using the J774.1 cell line: brazilin (1), sappanchalcone (2), protosappanin A (3), protosappanin B (4), protosappanin C (5), protosappanin D (6), and protosappanin E (7). Those compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production and their suppressive effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression. As a result, we clarified that 1 inhibited NO production, and almost no inhibition in PGE(2). On the contrary, 2, 6, and 7 inhibited both NO and PGE(2) production and suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS mRNA expression. An examination of carrageenin-induced mouse paw edema suggested that the CSE contained active compounds other than 1, the main constituent in CSE. It was thus revealed that several compounds and mechanisms contributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of CSE.