• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2014

Previous our study demonstrated that ailanthoidol (3-deformylated 2-arylbenzo[b]furan), a neolignan from Zanthoxylum ailanthoides or Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a novel anti-inflammatory agent. In this investigation, we examined the anti-adipogenic effect of ailanthoidol. Our data showed that ailanthoidol suppressed lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Treatment of the 3T3-L1 adipocytes with ailanthoidol resulted in an attenuation of the releases of leptin and interleukin-6. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$, the central transcriptional regulators of adipogenesis, was decreased by treatment with ailanthoidol. Additionally, ailanthoidol treatment increased the phosphorylation levels of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. These results suggest that ailanthoidol effectively suppresses adipogenesis and that it exerts its role mainly through the significant down-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expression. Our findings provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying the anti-adipogenic activity of ailanthoidol.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1907-1912
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• 2012

Ailanthoidol showed a strong $anti$-inflammatory effect in a previous result. Ailanthoidol derivatives were prepared for the $anti$-inflammatory test using Sonogashira coupling, iodine induced cyclization and Wittig reaction. $Anti$-inflammatory effects of the prepared ailanthoidol derivatives were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264-7 macrophages. The results showed that some ailanthoidol derivatives inhibited significantly the production of inflammatory mediator nitric oxide.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2013

We reported that ailanthoidol, a neolignan from Zanthoxylum ailanthoides and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, inhibited inflammatory reactions by macrophages and protected mice from endotoxin shock. We examined the anti-inflammatory activity of six synthetic ailanthoidol derivatives (compounds 1-6). Among them, compound 4, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropenyl)-7-methoxybenzofuran, had the lowest $IC_{50}$ value concerning nitric oxide (NO) release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Compound 4 suppressed the generation of prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induced by LPS, and inhibited the release of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines from RAW264.7 cells. The underlying mechanism of compound 4 on anti-inflammatory action was correlated with the down-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and activator protein-1 activation. Compound 4 is potentially an effective functional chemical candidate for the prevention of inflammatory diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.965-970
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• 2010

An efficient and practical preparation of 2-arylbenzo[b]furan molecules including natural egonol, XH-14, ailanthoidol, and unnatural derivatives is demonstrated using Sonogashira coupling, iodine induced cyclization and Wittig reaction. Anti-inflammatory effects of the prepared benzo[b]furans were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264-7 macrophages. The results showed that ailanthoidol, XH-14 and three other unnatural derivatives (9-10, 13) inhibited significantly the production of inflammatory mediator nitric oxide without showing cytotoxicity.