Nitric oxide inhibitory substances from the rhizomes of Dioscorea membranacea

Thai medicinal plants locally known as Hua-Khao-Yen were examined for their inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell lines. Among the plant species studied, an ethanolic extract of Dioscorea membranacea exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 23.6 μg/ml. From this extract, eight compounds [two naphthofuranoxepins (1, 2), one phenanthraquinone (3), three steroids (4–6) and two steroidal saponins (7, 8)] were isolated and further investigated for their inhibitory properties of NO production. It was found that diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnosyl (1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (7) possessed the highest activity (IC50 = 3.5 μM), followed by dioscoreanone (3, IC50 = 9.8 μM) and dioscorealide B (2, IC50 = 24.9 μM). Regarding structural requirements of diosgenin derivatives for NO production inhibitory activity, compound 7 which has a rhamnoglucosyl moiety at C-3 exhibited much higher activity than compounds that have either a diglucosyl substitution (8) or its aglycone (9); whereas, hydroxyl substitution at position 8 of naphthofuranoxepin derivatives conferred higher activity than the methoxyl group. It is concluded that diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnosyl (1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), dioscoreanone (3) and dioscorealide B (2) are active principles for NO inhibitory activity of Dioscorea membranacea. Compounds 1–3 were also tested for the inhibitory effect on LPS-induced TNF-α release in RAW 264.7 cells. The result revealed that 3 possessed potent activity against TNF-α release with an IC50 value of 17.6 μM, whereas, 1 and 2 exhibited mild activity. The present study may support the use of Dioscorea membranacea by Thai traditional doctors for treatment of the inflammatory diseases.