Inhibitory Selaginellins from Selaginella tamariscina against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells

Three selaginellins have been isolated and structurally identified as selaginellin (1), selaginellin M (2), and selariscinin B (3) from Selaginella tamariscina, by interpretation of spectroscopic (H-1, C-13 NMR and MS) data and comparing with literatures. Compounds 1-3 exhibited potential inhibition on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 21.0 +/- 1.2, 4.5 +/- 0.6, and 18.1 +/- 0.9 mu M, respectively. Celastrol was used as positive control showing an IC50 value of 1.0 +/- 0.1 mu M. This obtained data reveals the potential of these selaginellin type compounds in the development of anti-inflammatory agents from medicinal plants.