COX-2 inhibitory activity of homoisoflavanones and xanthones from the bulbs of the Southern African Ledebouria socialis and Ledebouria ovatifolia (Hyacinthaceae: Hyacinthoideae).

The bulbs of Ledebouria socialis (Hyacinthaceae) yielded the benzocyclobutene homoisoflavonoid, (R)-2',5-dihydroxy-3',4',7-trimethoxyspiro{2H-1-benzopyran-3-(4H)-9-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa[1,3,5]triene}-4-one, socialinone (1). Ledebouria ovatifolia yielded (2ε,3R)-2,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyspiro[2H-1-benzopyran-3(4H), 5'(6'H)-cyclobuta[f][1,3]benzodioxol]-4-one (2) and the homoisoflavanone, (E)-3-(3',4'-dihydroxybenzylidene)-5,7-dihydroxychroman-4-one, ovatifolionone (5), the dihydrochalcone, 4,4'-dihydroxy-2',6'-dimethoxydihydrochalcone (3), and xanthone, 1,6-dihydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxy-8-methyl-9H-xanthen-9-one (4) along with 21 known compounds. Structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques. The anti-inflammatory activities of the homoisoflavonoids and xanthones isolated were evaluated against cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 isoenzymes. (R)-3-(3',4'-Dihydroxybenzyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxychroman-4-one (7), (E)-3-(3',4'-dihydroxybenzylidene)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxychroman-4-one (10), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-methoxy-8-methylxanthen-9-one (6) and ovatifolionone acetate (5Ac) exhibited significant activity against cyclooxygenase-2 at <10μM.