Myrtinols A-F : new anti-inflammatory peltogynoid flavonoid derivatives from the leaves of Australian Indigenous plant Backhousia myrtifolia

Our in-house ethnopharmacological knowledge directed our anti-inflammatory investigation into the leaves of Backhousia mytifolia. Bioassay guided isolation of the Australian indigenous plant Backhousia myrtifolia led to the isolation of six new rare peltogynoid derivatives named myrtinols A–F (1–6) along with three known compounds 4-O-methylcedrusin (7), 7-O-methylcedrusin (8) and 8-demethylsideroxylin (9). The chemical structures of all the compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analysis, and absolute configuration was established using X-ray crystallography analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity by assessing the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production and tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-γ activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. A structure activity relationship was also established between compounds (1–6), noting promising anti-inflammatory potential by compounds 5 and 9 with an IC₅₀ value of 8.51 ± 0.47 and 8.30 ± 0.96 µg/mL for NO inhibition and 17.21 ± 0.22 and 46.79 ± 5.87 µg/mL for TNF-α inhibition, respectively.