title: Tetrahydrofuran lignans from Illicium floridanum and their activity in a luminol enhanced chemiluminescence assay.
abstract: Two lignans of the tetrahydrofuran type, di-O-methyltetrahydrofuroguaiacin B (1) and (+)-veraguensin (2) were isolated from fruits and leaves of Illicium floridanum Ellis (Illiciaceae). These compounds are the first genuine lignans isolated from the genus Illicium. We investigated their radical scavenging potency towards 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical reagent and their influence on luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CHL) induced by different stimuli in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Both compounds were inactive in the TLC assay for chemical radical scavenge. In the PMN assay, the symmetric lignan 1 at concentrations below 1.0 microM displayed a strong inhibition of CHL induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). At concentrations above 5 microM, 1 led to a pronounced increase of fMLP induced CHL. When CHL was stimulated with opsonized zymosan, both compounds were completely inactive. Thus, 1 must interfere selectively with a step in the signal cascade evoked by fMLP. In addition to their known PAF-receptor antagonism tetrahydrofuran lignans may thus also interfere with inflammatory responses by inhibition of free radical formation.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heilmann
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008165:Luminol / Q000737:chemistry*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D017705:Lignans; C018674:tetrahydrofuran; D008165:Luminol