• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2007

We isolated a lignan, kobusin from Geranium thunbergii and studied its effect on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in a monocyte/macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells. Kobusin inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production and the expression of iNOS in a concentration-dependent manner. To identify the mechanistic basis for its inhibition of iNOS induction, we examined the effect of kobusin on both the luciferase reporter activity using $NF-{\kappa}B$ minimal promoter and the nuclear translocation of p65. Kobusin suppressed the reporter gene activity and the LPS-induced movement of p65 in to nucleus. $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation is controlled by the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and in the present study, we found that $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation was also inhibited by kobusin. Our findings indicate that kobusin may provide a developmental basis for an agent against inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.315-318
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• 2009

Three lignans were isolated from the fruit of Magnolia denudata (Magnoliaceae) through repeated column chromatography. Their chemical structures were elucidated as sesamin, kobusin and eudesmin, respectively, by spectroscopic analysis. These compounds were isolated for the first time from the fruit of Magnolia denudata.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.61-70
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• 1998

Xylem, bark and flower buds of Magnolia kobus DC. var. borealis Sarg. were extracted with ethanol. And then the ethanol extracts were fractionated with diethyl ether. The lignans structure of the diethyl ether fractions were determined by spectroscopic methods. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Three compounds, aschantinn(X-I), yangambin(X-II), (-)syringaresinol(X-III), tetrahydrofurofuranoid lignans were isolated from the xylem. 2. Five compounds were isolated from the bark. These are all tetrahydrofurofuranoid lignans, aschantin(B-I), yangambin(B-II), medioresinol(B-III), (+)syringaresinol(B-IV), and tetrahydrofuranoid, kobusinol B(B-V). 3. Three tetrahydrofurofuranoid lignans, kobusin(F-I), aschantin(F-II), yangambin(F-III) were isolated from the flower buds. 4. Isolated lignans from the each tissue were two types of tetrahydrofurofuran type and tetrahydrofuran type. 5. The tetrahydrofurofuranoid lignans were five compounds such as kobusin, aschantin, yangambin, medioresinol, and syringaresinol, while the tetrahydrofuranoid lignans was kobusinol B. 6. Most of these lignans were substituted with the methylenedioxy or methoxyl groups.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1109-1113
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• 2006

A new furofuran lignan, 4-hydroxykobusin (3), together with known lignans, kobusin (1), and 7,7'-dihydroxybursherenin (2), were isolated from the whole plant of Geranium thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc (Geraniaceae). The structures were determined based on the spectral data and a comparison with the published data. This is the first report of the presence of furofuran lignan in Geranium species.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2009

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Geranium eriostemon resulted in the isolation of one triterpene, three furofuran lignans, one syringic acid and four flavonoids. Their chemical structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods to be oleanolic acid (1), (-)-kobusin (2), (-)-eudesmin (3), (+)-magnolin (4), syringic acid (5), quercetin (6), juglanin (7), juglalin (8), and hyperin (9). All compounds (1 - 9) were isolated for the first time from this plant source and the compounds 2 - 4 were reported first from the genus Geranium. Compounds 4 - 6 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines in vitro using a SRB bioassay.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.152-156
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• 2004

The bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the flowers of Magnolia denudata led us to the isolation of six compounds identified as fargesin(1), kobusin(2), aschantin(3), magnolin(4), rel-[7s,8s,8's]-3,4,3',4'-tetra- methoxy-9,7'- dihydroxy-8,8',7.O.9'-lignan(5) and oplodiol(6), respectively. Among the isolated compounds, fargesin(1) showed most potent inhibitory effect on the melanin polymer biosynthesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines$(IC_{50},\;45.7\;{\mu}M)$.