Anti-inflammatory metabolites from the fruits of Pittosporum elevaticostatum

The investigation on the fruits of Pittosporum elevaticostatum Chang et Yan led to the isolation of two undescribed metabolites (1-2, named pitelevatin A and B) and twelve known ones (3-14), including one phthalide (1), four monoquiterpenoids (2-5), two sesquiterpenoids (6-7), two diterpenoids (8-9), and five phenolic analogues (10-14). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods, including high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS), one demension (1D) and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviloet (UV), electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and experimental and calculated specific optical rotation (SOR). Compounds 1-3, 7 and 11 showed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells by inhibiting the expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), with IC50 values ranging from 6.35 to 25.75 & mu;M. Western blot analysis confirmed the results above.