Orthoquinone and naphthalenone derivatives from berrya ammonilla and their anti-inflammatory activity

A new orthoquinone, berryammone A (1), and four new naphthalenone derivatives, berryammone B (2), berryammone C (3), 6-O-methylberryammone C (4), and 4-O-methylberryammone C (5), have been isolated from the stem of Berrya ammonilla, together with eleven known compounds (6-16). The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolates, compounds 1-3, 5, (+)-pinoresinol (6), and betulinic acid (12) exhibited inhibition (IC4.41 M) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine/ cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Compounds 1, 2, and 5 also inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with ICvalues 3.95 M.