Abstract
Previously undescribed guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the chloroform fraction of the natural hybrid mangrove Rhizophora annamalayana, and were characterised as (Z)-3α,4,5,6-tetrahydro-5α-isobutyl-2β-(methoxymethyl)-7-methyl-3H-cyclohepta[b]carbolactone (1) and (7Z)-isopentyl 3α,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-2β-((E)-11-methylbut-10-enyl)-1-oxo-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-6-carboxylate (2). Compound 2 displayed greater antioxidative activities {1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2′-azino-bis-3 ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt (ABTS), IC50 0.65 and 0.62 mg/mL, respectively)} compared to 1 (IC50 0.83 and 1.14 mg/mL, respectively) (p < 0.05). Compound 2 recorded no significant difference in DPPH. scavenging activities (IC50 0.65 mg/mL) compared to α-tocopherol (IC50 0.63 mg/mL). Pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of 2 was found to be comparable (IC50 0.98 mg/mL) to that displayed by synthetic anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IC50 0.93 mg/mL). Compound 2 showed significantly greater selectivity index (anti-cyclooxygenase-1/anti-cyclooxygenase-2 = 2.15) than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ibuprofen (<0.5) (p < 0.05), and therefore, might be used as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. The hitherto undescribed guaianolide lactones might be used as potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidative pharmacophore leads.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute for his valuable guidance and support. Thanks are due to the Head, Marine Biotechnology Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute for facilitating the research activity. V.R. acknowledges ICAR for the award of a scholarship.