Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizomes Contain Anti-inflammatory Sesquiterpenes

Two new compounds, named eudesm-4(15),7-diene-3α,9β,11-triol (1) and eudesm-4(15),7-diene-1β,3α,9β,11-tetraol (2) together with three known sesquiterpene lactones (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone (3), (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone-11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) atractylenolide III (5) were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. Their structures were elucidated by using one-dimensional (1D) and 2D-NMR spectra and high resolution electrospray ionization (HR-ESI)-MS data. Compound 5 exhibited the most active anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 27.5 µM in inhibiting of nitric oxide production. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate effects while compound 4 was inactive.