New polyacetylene glucosides from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius and their weak anti-inflammatory activities

Eight new linear polyacetylene glucosides (1-8), containing two C10-, one C13- and five C14-acetylenes, together with three known polyacetylenes (9-11) were isolated from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. The absolute configurations of compounds 3-9 were confirmed by Snatzke and Gerards's method, observing the induced circular dichroism after addition of dirhodium tetrakis (trifluoroacetate) [Rh2(OCOCF3)4] in CHCl3. All the isolated compounds (1-11) were also tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in murine macrophages and just showed weak activities at concentrations of 1 × 10−5 M.