Sesquiterpenoids from Chloranthus henryi and their anti-neuroinflammatory activities.

Five new and seven known mono-sesquiterpenoids (1-5 and 6-12, resp.) together with five known lindenane-type disesquiterpenoids, 13-17, were isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus henryi. Based on spectroscopic methods, the new structures were established to be (5S,6R,8S,10R)-6-hydroxyeudesma-4(15), 7(11)-diene-12,8-olide (1), 6 alpha-hydroxyeudesma-4(15), 7(11), 8(9)-triene-12,8-olide (2), 8,12-epoxy-1 beta-hydroxyeudesma-4(15), 7,11-trien-6-one (3), 12-oxochloraniolide A (4), and (4 alpha)-8-hydroxy-12-norcardina-6,8,10-trien-11-one (5), respectively. Among the isolates, compound 2, zederone epoxide (8), spicachlorantin G (13), chloramultilide A (14), shizukaol B (15), and spicachlorantin B (17) showed significant anti-neuroinflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric-oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV-2 microglial cells with relatively low cytotoxicity.