Flavonolignans and other constituents from Lepidium meyenii with activities in anti-inflammation and human cancer cell lines.

From the roots of Lepidium meyenii Walpers (Brassicaceae) have been isolated and identified 2 flavonolignans, tricin 4'-O-[threo-beta-guaiacyl-(7"-O-methyl)-glyceryl] ether (1) and tricin 4'-O-(erythro-beta-guaiacyl-glyceryl) ether (2), along with 11 other known compounds, tricin (3), pinoresinol (4), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (5), guanosine (6), glucotropaeolin (7), desulfoglucotropaeolin (8), 3-hydroxybenzylisothiocyanate (9), malic acid benzoate (10), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (11), d-phenylalanine (12), and vanillic acid 4-O-beta-D-glucoside (13). Structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS data. Some isolates and previously isolated lepidiline B (14) were tested for cytotoxicity in a small panel of human cancer cell lines (Hep G2, COLO 205, and HL-60) and for anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage. Among them, compounds 1 and 14 were modestly active for inhibiting nitrite production in macrophage. Compounds 1, 14, and 3 were demonstrated to be selectively active against HL-60 cells with IC50 values of 40.4, 52.0, and 52.1 mu M, respectively.