Computationally-Assisted Discovery and Assignment of a New Class of 6/6/5/5 Fused-Ring Diterpene Acting as Pregnane X Receptor Ligands from Isodon serra

J Nat Prod. 2024 Oct 25;87(10):2459-2467. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c00759. Epub 2024 Sep 24.

Abstract

We report here the orchestration of molecular ion networking (MoIN) and a set of computationally assisted structural elucidation approaches in the discovery and assignment of a new class of rearranged 4,5-seco-abietane diterpenoids including serra A (1), which possesses an unusual 6/6/5/5 fused-ring skeleton system, together with two previously unreported diterpenoids serras B-C (2-3) and five known compounds were isolated from Isodon serra (I. serra). The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with computationally assisted structure elucidation tools. In silico, serras A-C (1-3) bind well to PXR, suggesting their potential role in reducing inflammation. The results of serra A (1) with hPXR demonstrated agonist activity with an EC50 value of 15 μM. Serra A (1), graciliflorin F (4), gerardianin C (5), 11,12,15-trihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-7-one (6), rabdosin D (7), and 15-hydroxysalprionin (8) exhibited promising anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 267.4 cells, and their inhibition rates on NO production were more than 65% at 10 μM.

MeSH terms

  • Abietanes / chemistry
  • Abietanes / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Diterpenes* / chemistry
  • Diterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Isodon* / chemistry
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pregnane X Receptor* / agonists
  • Receptors, Steroid

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Abietanes
  • Receptors, Steroid