Cytotoxic and antiinflammatory activities of the chemical constituents isolated from Baccharoides schimperi DC

A phytochemical investigation on aerial parts of Baccharoides schimperi DC. (Astraceae), led to the isolation of six secondary metabolites namely spinasterol (1), stigmasterol (2), 3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (3), vernolepin (4), vernadolol (5) and 11β,13-dihydrovernodalin (6). Their structures were determined by comprehensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and comparison with available literature data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation of compounds (1–6) from B. schimperi. Isolated compounds were subjected to biological assays to screen cytotoxic and antiinflammatory activities. Among the isolates, compound 4 was the most cytotoxic towards a panel of selected cell lines followed by 6 and 5. Compounds 4–6 also showed antiinflammatory activity in terms of inhibiting NF-kB and iNOS. The activity of 4 was comparable to the activity of parthenolide.