A new dibenzofuran derivative from the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities.

The phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) extract of the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa, led to the isolation of one new dibenzofuran derivative, named scyphocephalione A (1), along with three other compounds, including epicatechin (2), gentisic acid (3) and myo-inositol (4). The structures of all the compounds were established with help of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, MS, 1 D- and 2 D-NMR, as well as by comparison with previously reported data in literature, and chemical modification. All the compounds were obtained from the genus Scyphocephalium for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity (using chemiluminescence technique) of the crude extract and compound 1, together with NO inhibition (using ELISA), TNF-α (using ELISA) and MCF-7 cells cytotoxicity effects (using MTT assay) of compound 1 were assessed. From the results obtained, compound 1 could be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.