Halimane-type diterpenoids from Vitex rotundifolia and their anti-hyperlipidemia activities.

Vitex rotundifolia is the variant of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Vitex trifolia. Diterpenoids from V. trifolia have shown anti-hyperlipidemia activity. As part of a continuous research program of searching for anti-hyperlipidemia constituents from TCM, 95% alcohol extract of the fruits of V. rotundifolia was fully studied, and 18 diterpenoids were isolated, including eight previously undescribed compounds (viterofolins A-H). Among them, viterofolins A-B were previously undescribed rearranged halimane-type diterpenoids, viterofolins CH were previously undescribed halimane-type diterpenoids. These compounds were then firstly evaluated in lipid (Dil-LDL) uptake assay in HepG2 cells. Viterofolin H, (5S, 6R, 8R, 9R, 10S)-6-acetoxy-9-hydroxy-13 (14)-labden-16,15-olide and previtexilactone showed moderate activities in promoting LDL uptake (1.27-1.35 fold). This work laid the foundation for searching anti-hyperlipidemia natural products.