Terpenoids from Daphne aurantiaca and their potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Phytochemical examination of the methanolic extract from the stem bark of Daphne aurantiaca led to the isolation of six new sesquiterpenoids, dauca-3,11-dien-2alpha,15-diol (1), 3-oxoguai-4-ene-11,12-diol (2), 4alpha,5alpha,8alpha,11alphaH-3-oxoguai-1(10)-en-12,8-olide-7alpha-diol (3), 4alpha,5alpha,8alpha,11betaH-3-oxoguai-1(10)-en-12,8-olide-7beta-diol (4), 4alpha,5betaH-guai-9,7(11)-dien-12,8-olide-1alpha,8alpha-diol (5), 4alpha,5alphaH-guai-9,7(11)-dien-12,8-olide-1alpha,8alpha-diol (6), and a new diterpenoid, 12-O-benzoylphorbol 13-nonanoate (7), together with 10 known terpenoids. All compounds were tested for inhibitory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compounds 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 showed potent inhibitory activities against NO production with IC(50) values of 0.01, 0.01, 0.06, 0.07, and 0.03 microM, respectively.