Anti-inflammatory ligustilides from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.

Abstract Four new ligustilides chuanxiongnolide R1 ( 1 ), chuanxiongnolide R2 ( 2 ), chuanxiongdiolide R1 ( 3 ) and chuanxiongdiolide R2 ( 4 ) together with eight known derivatives ( 5 – 12 ) were isolated from the root of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1 H– 1 H COSY, NOESY) methods. The absolute configurations were confirmed via the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. The anti-inflammatory assay in LPS-triggered RAW 264.7 macrophages was carried out on the twelve compounds. 1 , 3 , 5 and 6 showed significant inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO production.