Phytochemical investigation of Erythropalum scandens Blume stems: Discovery of erythropalumins A-J and mechanistic insights into the traditional 'clear-heat' effects.

Forty-one constituents, including ten previously undescribed erythropalumins A-J (1, 3-11) were obtained from Erythropalum scandens stems. Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses combined with computational methods. Compounds 1, 7, 14-17, 23, 25, 26, 32-35, and 39 exhibited moderate antioxidant effects, while compounds 1, 6, 11-16, 22, 23, and 27 showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, in some cases exceeding that of the positive control. No significant antibacterial activity was observed. Structure-activity relationship of antioxidant was analyzed. Network pharmacology, pathway enrichment, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, indicated that the observed activities are associated with modulation of inflammation-related pathways. Overall, these findings expand the known chemical diversity of E. scandens and offer preliminary insights into the possible pharmacological basis of its traditional "clear-heat" use.