Ten undescribed cembrane-type diterpenoids from the gum resin of Boswellia sacra and their biological activities

Ten undescribed cembrane-type diterpenes boscartins AL-AU, as well as five known analogues were isolated from Boswellia sacra Flueck. The relative configurations of these boscartins were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis of NMR spectra, IR and MS. The absolute configurations of boscartin AL, boscartin AN and isoincensole oxide were unequivocally assigned by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Meanwhile, the absolute configurations of boscartin AM, boscartin AP and boscartin AQ were determined by an empirical in situ formed Rh-complex ECD method. Biological evaluations showed that four compounds exhibited obvious hepatoprotective activities against paracetamol-induced HepG2 cell damage at 10 μM. Regarding neuroprotective activity, some isolates displayed moderate to evident protective effects against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultured fetal rat cortical neurons or oxygen-glucose deprivation toxicity in SK-N-SH Cells at 10 μM. Ten undescribed cembrane-type diterpenes were isolated from Boswellia sacra Flueck. Their hepatoprotective activity and neuroprotective activity were also evaluated. [Display omitted] •Ten undescribed cembrane-type diterpenes were isolated from Boswellia sacra Flueck.•The absolute configurations of some isolates were assigned by single crystal X-ray diffraction.•Three structures were determined by empirical in situ formed Rh-complex ECD method.•Some compounds showed obvious hepatoprotective or neuroprotective activity.