Eighteen structurally diversified sesquiterpenes isolated from Pogostemon cablin and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production.

Five new sesquiterpenes, namely, guaianes A-E (1-5), including one novel carbon skeleton guaiane-type sesquiterpene derivatives (1), together with thirteen known compounds (6-18), were isolated from the aerial parts of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco.) Benth. Their chemical structures were mainly established through the relative spectroscopic data, while the absolute configurations of compounds 1-5 were elucidated on the base of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All compounds were tested for their inhibiting effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells as well as the cell viabilities. The results showed that compounds 2-16 and 18 possessed moderately anti-inflammatory activities at a concentration of 50 μM.