Secondary metabolites and their anti-inflammatory activity from the root of Machilus zuihoensis

Most of the time, inflammation is a short and protective response. However, prolonged inflammation might lead to tissue destruction, organ dysfunction, or even death. Continuous inflammation may cause chronic human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and so on. There are many side effects on current medication of inflammation, which limit the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore developing new anti-inflammatory drugs is an urgent issue. Approximately sixty indigenous Formosan Lauraceous plants have been screened for anti-inflammatory activity. Among them, the methanolic extract of the root of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata showed potent anti-inflammatory effect. This study aims to investigate the isolates of the root of M. zuihoensis and to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity.

The methanolic extract of the root of M. zuihoensis was partitioned into the ethyl acetate layer and water layer. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active ethyl acetate layer of the root of M. zuihoensis led to the isolation of three new compounds, including one new butanolide, machizuihonol (1), two new lignans, machilolinol (2) and marphenol L (3), together with nineteen known compounds, including four benzenoids, two butanolides, one coumarin, one flavonoid, six lignans, three sesquiterpenoids and two steroids. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis. Anti-inflammatory activity of some isolates have been evaluated, and the isolation of the active subfractions of this plant is still in progress.