Structurally Diverse Sesquiterpenoids from Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis and Their Anti‐inflammatory Activities

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryIn this study, 27 new sesquiterpenoids: twenty monomers and seven dimers, with diverse structures, along with one known chlorajaponilide F (25) were isolated from the aerial parts of Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis. Structurally, chlorahupetolides A (1) and B (2), two eudesmane‐type merosesquiterpenoids with an undescribed C18 carbon framework, and chlorahupetene E (18) are the first example of dimers comprising two eudesmane sesquiterpenoids bridged by a four‐membered ring in the Chloranthus. Their structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and X‐ray diffraction analysis. In the RAW264.7 macrophages model of inflammation induced by LPS, compounds 12, 18, and 25 significantly reduced NO production in a dose dependent manner and without cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression of COX‐2 was considerably inhibited by treatments with compounds 12, 18, and 25.