Eupomatenes A – E: Neolignans isolated from the leaves of Australian rainforest plant Eupomatia laurina

A detailed phytochemical investigation of the leaves of the Australian rainforest tree Eupomatia laurina , led to the discovery of five new neolignans, eupomatenes A – E and eight known compounds, eupomatenoid-2, trans-(2′ S )-2-[1′-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2′-yl]anethol, chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid-methyl ester, tyrosol-1- O - β- xylopyranosyl-1(1 → 6)- O - β -glucopyranoside, leucoside, kaempferol-3- O -neohesperidoside, and pachypodol. The structures of all the compounds were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were also evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties by assessing their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production and TNF- α release in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Whilst slight anti-inflammatory activity (in terms of inhibition of NO production) was observed with eupomatenes A – E, this was also associated with high levels of cell growth inhibition. • Five undescribed C 6 – C 3 lignans isolated from the leaves of Eupomatia laurina . • Eupomatenes A – E exhibited moderate anti-inflammatory activity in LPS and IFN-γ induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. • Eupomatia. laurina has been identified to be a rich and diverse source of lignans.