Natural potential neuroinflammatory inhibitors from Stephania epigaea H.S. Lo

Stephania epigaea H. S. Lo is a folk medicine widely distributed in the south of China, especially in Yunnan and Guangxi province. An in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory study showed that total alkaloids of it can potently inhibit LPS-induced NO releasing of BV2 cells with an IC50 value of 10.05 ± 2.03 μg/mL (minocycline as the positive drug, IC50 15.49 ± 2.14 μM). The phytochemical investigation of the total alkaloids afforded three new phenanthrene (1–3), two lactams (4a, 4b), and nine aporphine derivatives (5–13). The final structure of 1 was identified by computer-assisted structure elucidation (ACD/Structure Elucidator software and the 13C NMR calculation with GIAO method) due to many possibilities of the substituent pattern. All isolates were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects, and as a result, 5, 8, 10, and 11 exhibited stronger inhibitory activities than the minocycline. The results suggested S. epigaea could provide potential therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.