Aculebiphenyl A–B, new biphenyl derivatives from Ruscus aculeatus

Abstract

The investigation of chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus resulted in the isolation of two new biphenyl derivatives, aculebiphenyls A and B (1-2), together with two known analogs (3-4). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic interpretation and HR-ESI-MS analysis. Compounds 3-4 were isolated from the Ruscus genus for the first time. The isolated compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activities and antibacterial activities. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production and COX-2 with IC₅₀ values of 10.8 µM and 0.4 µM. Compound 1 also significantly down-regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activities.

Keywords:

• Liliaceae
• Ruscus aculeatus
• biphenyl
• anti-inflammatory activity
• antibacterial activity

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr. Jing-Chao Liu and Mr. Zi-Shuang Liu (Analytical Testing Center, Northeast University, Shenyang, China) for their measurements of the NMR data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Science Research Fund Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (Grant No. LJKZ0667 and No. LJKZ1140), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Shenyang Agricultural University (No. 880415026).