Sesquiterpene Esters from the Fruits of Celastrus orbiculatus

Abstract

Three new β-dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpene esters, 6α-acetoxy-9β-benzoyloxy-1β-cinnamoyloxy-8β-butanoyloxy-β-dihydroagarofuran (1), 6α-acetoxy-9β-benzoyloxy-1β-cinnamoyloxy-8β-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-β-dihydroagarofuran (2), and 6α-acetoxy-1β,8β-dibenzoyloxy-9β-hydroxy-β-dihydroagarofuran (6), together with three known compounds (3—5) were isolated from the fruits of Celastrus orbiculatus THUNB. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Compound 4 showed moderate activity in inhibiting LPS-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 43.7 μM.