Commiphoralactone A: A Hetero-Hybridized Sesquiterpene from Commiphora Sap against Depression That Targets Neuroflammation In Vivo

Commiphoralactones A (1) and B (2), two sesquiterpene dimers, were isolated from the sap of Commiphora trees, and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic and computational approaches. 1 and 2 represent eudesmane-type and lactonic-type acyclic side chain sesquiterpenes, respectively, formed via [4 + 2] addition featuring a 6/6/6/5 ring system. A potential biosynthetic pathway for 1 and 2 is discussed. Compound 1 exhibits a dose-dependent antidepressant effect in a lipopolysaccharide-induced rodent model. This study showcased a paradigm for discovering an in vivo effect using minor natural products.