The isolation, absolute configuration and activities of 18(4 → 3)-abeo-abietane lactones from Tripterygium wilfordii

Abstract Phytochemical studies on the leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii led to the isolation of seven new 18(4 → 3)- abeo -abietane lactones, triptergulides E – K ( 1 – 7 ). The structure of the new compounds was elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of compounds were confirmed by ECD, calculated ECD, and X-ray crystallographic analysis using anomalous scattering of Cu Kα radiation. Some compounds showed moderate inhibitory activities against NO, IL-6, and TNF- α production in LPS RAW 264.7 macrophage in vitro .