Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Monoterpene and Sesquiterpene Glycosides from the Aqueous Extract of Artemisia annua L.

Abstract Artemisia annua L. is a Chinese medicinal herb, but the origin of its pharmacological properties, including its anti‐inflammatory activity, remain unknown. In this study, five new monoterpene glycosides ( 1 – 5 ) and two new sesquiterpene glycosides ( 6 and 7 ) were isolated from the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of A. annua . The structures of these glycosides were determined using high‐resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and chemical hydrolysis methods. The anti‐inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated by down‐regulating interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Notably, all the new compounds significantly inhibited the expression of IL‐6 in a dose‐dependent manner.