Cyclolanostane triterpenoids from Souliea vaginata and insights into their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.

Two new cyclolanostane triterpene glycosides, (20S⁎,24S⁎)-16β, 24;20,24-diepoxy-9,19-cycloanostane -3β,12α,15α,25-tetraol- 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (1) and (20S)-15β,16β-diacetoxy-18,20-epoxy-3β,12β,25-triol-9,19-cyclolanostan-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (2), together with nine known compounds 26-deoxyactein (3), cimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (1 → 3) β-D-xylopyranoside (4), beesioside IV(5), cimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (6), cimifoside B (7), beesioside J (8), beesioside III (9), 26(S)-actein (10) and (20S*, 24S*)-16β, 24; 20,24-diepoxy-9, 19-cyclolanostane-3β, 12β, 15α, 25-tetraol-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (11) were isolated from the rhizome of Souliea vaginata. The inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds on LPS-triggered NO productions in RAW264.7 cells were determined, followed by an analysis of structure-activity relationships. Compound 2 showed strong NO production inhibitory activity near that of the positive control, 1, 8 and 9 showed moderate activities respectively. Further study indicated that 1 and 2 significantly ameliorates the physiological damage to the joints of AIA mice with lower toxicity than the positive control MTX. Despite the requirement for further research to uncover the detailed anti-inflammatory mechanisms, this study reveals that compounds 1 and 2 represent promising anti-inflammatory lead compounds.