Four new natural compounds from Curcuma phaeocaulis roots that may reduce inflammation enzyme activity

Compound 3 inhibited nitric oxide production with an IC50 value of 6.05 ± 0.43 μM.

• Three new sesquiterpenes, phaeocaulisins K-M (1-3) and phagermadiol (4), were isolated from Curcuma phaeocaulis.
• Compound 1 is identified as the first norsesquiterpene with a tropone backbone.
• Compound 3 features a novel 1,2-dioxolane structure and is classified as a sesquiterpene alcohol.
• All isolated compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit nitric oxide production in macrophages.
• The biosynthetic pathway for compounds 3 and 4 in Curcuma phaeocaulis was proposed.

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