Sweritranslactone D, a hepatoprotective novel secoiridoid dimer with tetracyclic lactone skeleton from heat-transformed swertiamarin

Swertia mileensis, known as Qing-Ye-Dan (QYD), has been documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia to cure hepatitis. Interestingly, its announced main active component, swertiamarin, could not be detected in the decoction, which indicated that the efficacy of QYD might be attributed to heat-transformed products of swertiamarin (HTPS). Further investigation on HTPS led to the isolation of sweritranslactone D (1), a novel secoiridoid dimer possessing a tetracyclic lactone skeleton, with better hepatoprotective activity than N-acetyl-L-cysteine in vitro.

Automated summary

Swertia mileensis, also known as Qing-Ye-Dan (QYD), has been documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for its efficacy in treating hepatitis. The main active component, swertiamarin, was not detected in the decoction, suggesting that the efficacy of QYD may be due to heat-transformed products of swertiamarin (HTPS). Further investigation led to the discovery of a novel compound, sweritranslactone D (1), with a tetracyclic lactone skeleton and better hepatoprotective activity than N-acetyl-L-cysteine in vitro.