Wei-Fen Li, Madhu Babu Sura, Si-Si Zhu, Wenxi Chen, Yunyun Liu, Jianxing Liu, Yong-Xian Cheng
Novel sesqui-sesqui-diterpene trimers, gercadietanes A–G ( 1 – 7 ), were isolated from the resins of Commiphora and structurally characterized. These compounds feature a unique [4 + 2] Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the furan ring of a germacrene unit and the exocyclic double bond of cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids, followed by esterification with dehydroabietic acid or its derivatives on the cadinane skeleton. Inspired by chemical defense of plant resins, biological evaluation revealed that 1 demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory effects and significantly modulated cytokine profiles by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and elevating anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. In vivo, 1 mitigated LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammation-associated depression.