The flavonoid constituents of Aesculus wilsonii, a source of the Chinese medicinal drug Suo Luo Zi, and their in vitro anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Fifteen flavonoids, including aeswilflavonosides IA–IC (1–3) and aeswilflavonosides IIA–IIE (4–8), along with seven known derivatives were isolated from a seed extract. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, acid and alkaline hydrolysis, and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Among them, compounds 3 and 7 possess a 5-[2-(carboxymethyl)-5-oxocyclopent-yl]pent-3-enylate or oleuropeoylate substituent, respectively, which are rarely reported in flavonoids. Compounds 2, 3, 7, and 1215 were found to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell lines. In a mechanistic assay, the flavonoid glycosides 2, 3, and 7 reduced the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) induced by LPS. Further investigations suggest that 2 and 3 down-regulate the protein expression of TNF-α and IL-6 by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38. Compound 7 was found to reduce the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the secrection of TNF-α and IL-6 through inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Compounds 2, 3 and 7 possessed moderate inhibitory activity on the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Taken together, the data indicate that the flavonoid glycosides of A. wilsonii seeds exhibit NO release inhibitory activity through mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) [MAPK (p38)], NF-κB and STAT3 cross-talk signaling pathways.

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Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether‐photodynamic therapy (HMME‐PDT) has achieved encouraging clinical outcomes in adult port‐wine stain (PWS). Optimal treatment option for children with PWS was minimal. To compare whether the clinical effectiveness of HMME‐PDT with the 5‐min (fast) administration treatment regimen (FATR) was better than the 20‐min (slow) administration treatment regimen (SATR) for PWS of children in vivo and in vitro. Thirty‐four children with PWS were divided into two groups including FATR and SATR. The two groups received three times HMME‐PDT, respectively. Treatment efficacy and safety were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. Erythema index (EI) was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Both FATR and SATR were effective and safe in children with PWS after HMME‐PDT. There were significance differences between the two groups in reductions of EI after the second treatment (p < 0.001) and the third treatment (p < 0.001) with HMME‐PDT. The serum HMME concentration reach the peak level at short time compare with SATR group. A significance increased superoxide levels were observed in FATR group compare to SATR groups in vitro (p < 0.05). Our study suggested that HMME‐PDT was effective and safe for children with PWS, the therapy regimen with FATR was better in clinical efficacy than that of the SATR.