Anti-septic activity of α-cubebenoate isolated from Schisandra chinensis

Sepsis is a life-threatening, infectious, systemic inflammatory disease. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of alpha-cubebenoate, a novel compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis against polymicrobial sepsis in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experimental model. Administration of alpha-cubebenoate strongly enhanced survival in the CLP model. alpha-cubebenoate administration also markedly blocked CLP-induced lung inflammation and increased bactericidal activity by enhancing phagocytic activity and hydrogen peroxide generation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and neutrophils. Expression of two important inflammatory cytokines, IL-1 beta and IL-6, was strongly increased in the CLP model, and this was dramatically blocked by alpha-cubebenoate. Lymphocyte apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, which are associated with immune paralysis during sepsis, were markedly attenuated by alpha-cubebenoate. Taken together, our findings indicate that alpha-cubebenoate, a natural compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis, is a powerful potential anti-septic agent.