Therapeutic Potential of the Rhizomes of and Timosaponin A-III in an Animal Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Inflammation.

Investigations into the development of new therapeutic agents for lung inflammatory disorders have led to the discovery of plant-based alternatives. The rhizomes of have a long history of use against lung inflammatory disorders in traditional herbal medicine. However, the therapeutic potential of this plant material in animal models of lung inflammation has yet to be evaluated.

Aurantio-obtusin, an anthraquinone from cassiae semen, ameliorates lung inflammatory responses.

The purpose of the present study is to find the natural compound(s) having a therapeutic potential to treat lung inflammatory disorders. In our screening procedure, the methanol extract of the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia (cassiae semen) inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase-catalyzed nitric oxide production in alveolar macrophages (MH-S). From the extract, 8 major anthraquinone derivatives were successfully isolated.