Isonardosinone

Nardosinone-Type Sesquiterpenes from the Hexane Fraction of Nardostachys jatamansi Attenuate NF-kappaB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglial Cells.[Pubmed:29616391]

Inflammation. 2018 Aug;41(4):1215-1228.

Four nardosinone-type sesquiterpenes, nardosinone, Isonardosinone, kanshone E, and kanshone B, were isolated from the hexane fraction of Nardostachys jatamansi (Valerianaceae) methanol extract. The structures of these compounds were mainly established by analyzing the data obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). In this study, we investigated their anti-neuroinflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cells. The results showed that nardosinone-type sesquiterpenes inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. These inhibitory effects were correlated with the downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Moreover, these sesquiterpenes also attenuated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. During the evaluation of the signaling pathways involved in these anti-neuroinflammatory effects, western blot analysis and DNA-binding activity assay revealed that the suppression of inflammatory reaction by these sesquiterpenes was mediated by the inactivation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway. These sesquiterpenes also suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Taken together, these four nardosinone-type sesquiterpenes inhibited NF-kappaB- and MAPK-mediated inflammatory pathways, demonstrating their potential role in the treatment of neuroinflammation conditions.

A Simple and Rapid UPLC-PDA Method for Quality Control of Nardostachys jatamansi.[Pubmed:29202512]

Planta Med. 2018 May;84(8):536-543.

Nardostachys jatamansi is a well-documented herbal agent used to treat digestive and neuropsychiatric disorders in oriental medicinal systems. However, few simple, rapid, and comprehensive methods were reported for quality assessment and control of N. jatamansi. Herein, a UPLC with photodiode array detection method was developed for both fingerprint investigation of N. jatamansi and simultaneous quantitative analysis of the six serotonin transporter modulatory constituents in N. jatamansi. For chromatographic fingerprinting, 24 common peaks were selected as characteristic peaks to assess the consistency of N. jatamansi samples from different retail sources. Six of the common peaks (5, 7, 12: , and 16: - 18: ) were identified as desoxo-narchinol A, buddleoside, Isonardosinone, nardosinone, kanshone H, and (-)-aristolone, respectively, by phytochemical investigation. Five of the six compounds significantly either enhanced or inhibited serotonin transporter activity, while (-)-aristolone (18: ) didn't show any serotonin transporter activity. In quantitative analysis, the six compounds showed good linearity (r > 0.999) within test ranges. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was in the range of 0.25 - 2.77%, and the recovery of the method was in the range of 92 - 105%. The UPLC-photodiode array detection-based fingerprint analysis and quantitative methods reported here could be used for routine quality control of N. jatamansi.