Chemical Constituents from Osmanthus Fragrans Var. Aurantiacus Makino with Their In Vitro and In Silico Studies Targeting Anti-Inflammation by Suppressing ERK 1/2 MAPK Signaling

The study examines the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus Makino, identifying 18 compounds, including a new one, with significant effects. The ethyl acetate fraction notably inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Compound 8, hydroxytyrosol, showed strong antioxidative activity and effectively reduced NO, IL-6, and TNF-α production, inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 proteins. In vitro and in silico studies confirmed hydroxytyrosol's stable interactions with target proteins, particularly COX-2 and ERK, suggesting its potential as a promising anti-inflammatory agent by targeting the ERK 1/2 MAPK signaling pathway. Further research is recommended to explore its clinical applications.