Immunosuppressive lignans isolated from Saururus chinensis

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. 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