Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes from Curcuma zedoaria

From the methanolic extract of the rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria, we isolated anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene furanodiene ( 1) and furanodienone ( 2) along with new sesquiterpene compound 3 and known eight sesquiterpenes, zederone ( 4), curzerenone ( 5), curzeone ( 6), germacrone ( 7), 13-hydroxygermacrone ( 8), dehydrocurdione ( 9), curcumenone ( 10), and zedoaronediol ( 11). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory effect of isolated components on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation of mouse ears were examined. Compounds 1 and 2 suppressed the TPA-induced inflammation of mouse ears by 75% and 53%, respectively, at a dose of 1.0 mmol. Their activities are comparable to that of indomethacin, the normally used anti-inflammatory agent.