Objective To investigate the chemical constituents and their anti-inflammatory activity of Cynanchum wilfordii. Methods Various chromatographic techniques including silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography were employed for the isolation and purification of compounds. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including HR-ESI-MS, ESI-MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HSQC, and HMBC. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was evaluated using the Griess method. Results Two compounds were isolated and identified as (7'R,8'S)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (1) and 3β-[(O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-oxy]-8β,14β-trihydroxycarda-5,20-(22)-dienolide (2). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited NO production by 55.16% and 15.34%, respectively, with a median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of 41.37 μmol/L for compound 1. Conclusion Compounds 1 and 2 are both new compounds, belonging to lignan and cardenolide types, respectively. They have been assigned the names cynawilforin A (1) and wilforcardenoside A (2). In vitro anti-inflammatory assays indicated that compound 1 exhibits certain anti-inflammatory activity.

Cynanchum wilfordii(Maxim.) Hemsl  /  lignan  /  cardenolide  /  anti-inflammatory activity  /  cynawilforin A  /  wilforcardenoside A