A new compound from the flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge and its anti-inflammatory activity by modulating NF-κB signalling pathway

Twenty-one chemical compounds, including one novel molecule along with twenty previously reported substances, were extracted from the flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge. Among the known compounds, five were isolated from Ranunculaceae plants for the first time. Seven compounds were first reported in the Trollius genus, and two additional compounds were newly identified in T. chinensis. Compounds 1, 8 and 19 demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects on inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.33 to 9.34 μmol/L. TNF-α and IL-6 levels in macrophage supernatant were further detected by ELISA, with IC₅₀ values ranging between 26.4 and 45.1 μmol/L. The new compound inhibited phosphorylation of p65 NF-κB relative to total p65, decreased phosphorylated IκBα when compared to its unphosphorylated form, and lowered inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein levels, indicating the potential modulation of NF-κB signalling involved in inflammatory processes.