Flavonoids and arylbenzofurans from the rhizomes and roots of Sophora tonkinensis with IL-6 production inhibitory activity

Three new compounds (1-3) and 20 known compounds were isolated from the rhizomes and roots of Sophora tonkinensis, and all the isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity against IL-6 production in HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA plus ionophore, A23187. Of the tested compounds, compounds 1, 5, 9, and 21 were found to potently inhibit IL-6 production with IC50 values of 1.62, 0.73, 3.01, and 4.02 μM, respectively.