New Anti-Inflammatory Aporphine and Lignan Derivatives from the Root Wood of Hernandia nymphaeifolia.

A new aporphine, 3-hydroxyhernandonine (1) and a new lignin, 4'-O-demethyl-7-O-methyldehydropodophyllotoxin (2), have been isolated from the root wood of Hernanadia nymphaeifolia, together with thirteen known compounds (3⁻15). The structures of these compounds were determined through mass spectrometry (MS) and spectroscopic analyses. The known isolate, 2-O-methyl-7-oxolaetine (3), was first isolated from natural sources. Among the isolated compounds, 3-hydroxyhernandonine (1), 4'-O-demethyl-7-O-methyldehydropodophyllotoxin (2), hernandonine (4), oxohernangerine (5), and oxohernagine (6) displayed inhibition (IC50 values ≤5.72 μg/mL) of superoxide anion production by human neutrophils in response to formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). In addition, 3-hydroxyhernandonine (1), 4'-O-demethyl-7-O-methyldehydropodophyllotoxin (2), oxohernangerine (5), and oxohernagine (6) suppressed fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC50 values ≤5.40 μg/mL.