2-(2-phenylethyl)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives from the resinous wood of Aquilaria sinensis with anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced macrophages

The resinous wood of Aquilaria sinensis, known as agarwood (Chen Xiang in Chinese), is traditionally used for the treatment of abdominal pain, vomiting, circulatory disorders, and dyspnea. Four new 2-(2-phenylethyl)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives, namely 7-methoxy-2-[2-(40-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl]chromone (1), 7-hydroxy-2-[2-(40-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (2), 5,6-dihydroxy-2-[2-(30-hydroxy-40-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (3), and 6-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone (4), have been isolated from the resinous wood of A. sinensis, together with nine known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolated compounds, neopetasan, 7-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-chromone, 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone, and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(40-methoxyphenyl) ethyl]chromone inhibited NF-κB activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages with relative luciferase activity values of 0.55 ± 0.09, 0.54 ± 0.03, 0.31 ± 0.05, and 0.38 ± 0.14, respectively, versus that of vehicle control (1.03 ± 0.02). In addition, 5,6-dihydroxy-2-[2-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone, 7-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone, 7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone, and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(4'-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone could suppress LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells and did not induce cytotoxicity against RAW264.7 cells after 24-h treatment.