In this study, 44 compounds in the petroleum ether extract of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens) bark, a traditional Dai herbal medicine, were identified by GC-MS. Major components included 3(2H)-benzofuranone, asarinin and (dimethoxymethyl)-3-methoxy-benzene. A total of 18 compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of Maqian bark by column chromatography and identified by chemical and spectral analyses. Rhoifoline B, zanthoxyline dimethoxy derivative, N-nortidine, nitidine, decarine are the major alkaloids. Both the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant inhibition on NO production, which imply anti-inflammatory activity, in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells without cell toxicity. Decarine is the major anti-inflammatory constituent with NO IC₅₀ values of 48.43 μM on RAW264.7 cells. The petroleum ether extract, the ethyl acetate extract and decarine showed anti-inflammatory activities through inhibiting TNF-α and IL-1β production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells without cell toxicity too. Decarine showed anti-inflammatory activity on human colon cells by reducing IL-6 and IL-8 production in TNF-α+IL-1β-induced Caco-2 cells. These results support the use of Maqian bark as a remedy for enteritis and colitis recorded by Dai medicine in China, and elucidate the major pharmacological compounds in Maqian bark.

Nine compounds were isolated from the leaves of Anthocephalus chinensis by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques as clethric acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), mussaendoside T (2), β-stigmasterol (3), hederagenin (4), ursolic acid (5), clethric acid (6), 3β,6β,19α,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), mussaendoside I (8), and cadambine (9). Compounds 1 and 2, and 7 and 8 were isolated from the plants of this genus for the first time, and compounds 1 and 2 were new triterpenoid glycosides.

One novel pentacyclic triterpene, 24-dimethoxymethyl-3β,6β,19α- trihydroxy −12-en-28-oic acid (1), along with six known compounds 2–7, were isolated from the canes of Uncaria sessilifructus Roxb. Their structures were determined according to spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds (1–7) were scanned against NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages by MTS assay, however no activities were observed.