Four new steroidal compounds possessing a rare 13,14-seco-16,24-cycloergostane skeleton, physalin Y ( 1), physalin Z ( 2), physalin I ( 6), and physalin II ( 7), were isolated from the 80% EtOH extract of calyces from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii together with 11 known steroids ( 3- 5 and 8- 15) and eight flavonoids ( 16- 23). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated primarily on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic studies. The relative configuration of the 3-OH group of 3, 4, and 5 was also established or re-established. The inhibitory effects of compounds 1- 23 on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccaride-activated macrophages were evaluated.

Eleven new monoterpenes, paeonidangenin (1), paeonidanin A (2), paeonidanin B (3), paeonidanin C (4), paeonidanin D (5), paeonidanin E (6), paeoniflorone (7), 4-O-methylbenzoylpaeoniflorin (8), 4-O-methylgalloylpaeoniflorin (9), 4-O-methyldebenzoylpaeoniflorin (10), and 4-O-methylalbiflorin (11), were isolated from the 60% ethanol extract of the roots of Paeonia albiflora. Their structures were determined primarily on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and MS studies. Paeonidanins D (5) and E (6) are unprecedented examples of "cage-like" monoterpene dimers. The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated N9 microglia were evaluated.

Two new megastigmane glycosides, physanosides A and B (1 and 2, resp.), were isolated from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii, together with four known compounds (6S,9R)-roseoside (3), (6S,9S)-roseoside (4), (6R,9S)-3-oxo-alpha-ionol beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), and citroside A (6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence, in-depth NMR spectroscopic analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and CD spectroscopy, and their inhibitory effect on NO production was also examined. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited strong inhibition on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO release by macrophages with IC(50) values of 9.93 and 7.31 microM, respectively.

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