Abietane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Clerodendrum trichotomum and Their Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities

Twelve new abietane diterpenoids (1-12) and 31 known analogues (13-43) were isolated from a medicinal Chinese herb, Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunberg. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were established on the basis of ECD and X-ray crystallography data, whereas that of 4 was elucidated by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. Eight diterpenoids, 15,16-dehydroteuvincenone G (1), trichotomin A (4), 2 alpha-hydrocaryopincaolide F (7), villosin C (20), 15-dehydro-17-hydroxycyrtophyllone A (22), demethylcryptojaponol (38), 6 beta-hydroxydemethylcryptojaponol (39), and trichotomone (43), exerted inhibitory effects against NO production with IC50 values of 5.6-16.1 mu M. The structure-activity relationships of the isolated diterpenoids are also estimated.