Immunosuppressive Lignans Isolated from Saururus chinensis

Abstract

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Saururus chinensis (Saururaceae) using a lymphoproliferation assay led us to isolate 5 lignans (compounds 1 - 5). Compounds 1 - 5 were identified as sauchinone, (-)-saucerneol, saucerneol C, manassantin A, and manassantin B, respectively, by spectroscopic analyses. The immunosuppressive activities of the active compounds were evaluated using lymphoproliferation, mixed leukocyte response, and Th1/Th2 cytokine assays. The relative potency was in the order: manassantin A, B > (-)-saucerneol > saucerneol C > sauchinone.

Abbreviations

Con A: concanavalin A

EBSS: Earle’s balanced salt solution

ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

IL-2: interleukin-2

INFγ: interferon gamma

LPS: lipopolysaccharide

MLR: mixed lymphocyte response

RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute

TNFα: tumor necrosis factor alpha

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