(+)-rhododendrol and epi-rhododendrin suppress the NO production by activated macrophages in vivo.

In this study, we investigated the effect of (+)-rhododendrol (1) and epi-rhododendrin (2) isolated from Acer nikoense Maxim. (Aceraceae) on nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages elicited by bacillus Calmette-Guérin and in vitro stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. The NO production was not affected by an oral administration of methanol extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. However, the AcOEt soluble fraction significantly reduced the NO production. (+)-Rhododendrol (1) isolated as an active substance from the AcOEt fraction suppressed the NO production. epi-Rhododendrin (2), the glucoside of (+)-rhododendrol (1) isolated from the n-BuOH fraction, also suppressed the NO production. As NO is one of the critical mediators in inflammation, these results suggest that (+)-rhododendrol (1) and epi-rhododendrin (2) contribute in part to the anti-inflammatory effect of A. nikoense.