Anti-inflammatory lathyrane diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Euphorbia wallichii

An intensive phytochemical study on the aerial parts of Euphorbia wallichii afforded ten lathyrane-type diterpenoids, including six formerly unreported ones ( 1 – 4 , 6 and 8 ). Their structures were determined via comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute stereochemistries were assigned on the basis of electronic circular dichroism technique. Among these diterpenoids, compound 2 exhibited the best inhibitory activity on NO production and its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism was then explored by network pharmacology analysis. Further experimental validation demonstrated that diterpenoid 2 could exert its anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing pro-inflammatory factors and modulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In short, the present work confirms the promising potential of E. wallichii as a source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.