ent-Kaurenoids from the roots of Cacalia pilgeriana

Two new ent-kaurenoids,19-acetoxyl-ent-3β,17-dihydroxykaur-15-ene (1), 19-acetoxyl-ent-3β-hydroxykaur-15-en-17-al (2), together with seven known ent-kaurenoids: ent-kaur-16-en-19-al (3), ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (4), ent-kauran-16β,17-diol (5), ent-15β, 16β-epoxy-17-hydroxykauran-19-oic acid (6),19-acetyl-ent-3β-hydroxyl-kaur-16-ene (7), ent-3β,19-dihydroxykaur-16-ene (8), ent-17-hydroxykaur-15-ene (9), were isolated from Cacalia pilgeriana. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR spectral analysis.     

Manoalide derivatives from a sponge, Luffariella sp.

A new derivative of manoalide, 24-n-propyl-O-manoalide (1) together with manoalide (4) and four known derivatives (2, 3, 5, 6) were isolated from the methanolic extract of a sponge. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic method. All the compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cell line by MTS assay. Secomanoalide indicated antifungal activity on fungal lines Candida glabrata, Candida krusei and Candida albicans by in vitro antibiotic assay.     

Triterpenes from Campanula lactiflora

One new triterpene compound, 3β-acetoxylup-20(30)-en-29-al (1) and two known 3-acetylptiloepoxide (2) and 3β-acetoxylup-20(29)-ene (3) were isolated for the first time from the leaves of Campanula lactiflora and their structures were deduced by high field 1D and 2D 400 MHz NMR, EI-MS and (+) LC-MS/MS spectra.     

A new anti-HIV lupane acid from Gleditsia sinensis Lam.

A new lupane acid, 2β-carboxyl,3β-hydroxyl-norlupA (1)-20 (29)-en-28-oic acid (1), together with five known lupane acid derivatives (2-6), were isolated from the stings of Gleditsia sinensis Lam.. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques. All these known compounds were isolated from this genus for the first time. The new compound 1 showed strong anti-HIV activity.     

Coumarins from Coriaria nepalensis

Two new coumarins (1) and (2), along with seven known coumarins 3-9, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Coriaria nepalensis Wall. The two new compounds were established as 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,8-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (1) and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (2), on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The known compounds 3, 6-9 were isolated from this plant for the first time.     

3-Oxo-axisonitrile-3, a new sesquiterpene isocyanide from the Chinese marine sponge Acanthella sp

A new sesquiterpene isocyanide, 3-oxo-axisonitrile-3 (1), with a spiro [5,6] decane skeleton (spiroaxane) together with a known related sesquiterpene isonitrile (2), sesquiterpene isothiocyanates (3-8) and two diterpene isonitriles (9, 10) have been isolated from the Chinese marine sponge Acanthella sp. The structure of 1 has been determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.     

Carbazole alkaloids as new cell cycle inhibitor and apoptosis inducers from Clausena dunniana Levl

Carbazole alkaloids, 3-methylcarbazole (1), murrayafoline A (2), girinimbine (3), mahanimbine (4) and bicyclomahanimbine (5), were isolated for the first time from Clausena dunniana Levl. by bioassay-guided separation procedure and were identified by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 - 5 showed growth inhibitory activity (1, IC₅₀ 25 μg/ml) on human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells and cell cycle M-phase inhibitory (2, MIC 0.78 μg/ml) and apoptosis inducing (2, MIC 1.56 μg/ml; 3, MIC 25 μg/ml; 4, MIC 20 μg/ml; 5, MIC 30 μg/ml) activities on mouse tsFT210 cells, respectively, and 2 - 5 provided the first examples of carbazole alkaloids as new cell cycle inhibitors and apoptosis inducers.     

A cyclic peroxide of clerodenoic acid from the Taiwanese liverwort Schistochila acuminata

Two minor diterpenoids, 15(16)-peroxy-3, 13-clerodadien-18-oic acid (4) and totarol (7), were isolated from the liverwort Schistochila acuminata. The former is a further oxidized cyclic peroxide from the major component. The latter is a rearranged abietane alcohol which skeleton was found in liverworts for the first time.     

Xanthones from the roots of Cudrania fruticosa Wight

Chemical investigation on the roots of Cudrania fruticosa resulted in the isolation of two new xanthones, 1,6,7-trihydroxy-2-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl)-3-methoxyxanthone (1) and 3,6,7-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (2), together with three known ones, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)xanthone (3), 1,3-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyxanthone (4) and 3,5,6-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (5), respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical techniques.     

New flavonoids and other constituents from Lespedeza cuneata

Two new flavonoids, 6,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-2'-methoxy-7-methylisoflavanone (1) and 6,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-2'-methoxy-6'-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-isoflavone (2), were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of the dried roots of Lespedeza cuneata together with betulinic acid (3), β-sitosterol (4), hexacosanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxy-propyl ester (5), which were isolated from this plant for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.     

Two new and four known polyphenolics obtained as new cell-cycle inhibitors from Rubus aleaefolius Poir

Two new polyphenolics, rubuphenol (1) and sanguiin H-2 ethyl ester (2), were isolated together with ellagic acid (3), ethyl gallate (4), 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (5) and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (6) as new cell-cycle inhibitors from Rubus aleaefolius by bioassay-guided separation procedure and the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic method. Compounds 1 - 6 inhibited the cell cycle progression of tsFT210 cells at the G₀/G₁ phase with the MIC values of 14.6 μM (1), 22.1 μM (2), 10.3 μM (3), 7.8 μM (4), 7.9 μM (5) and 6.6 μM (6).     

Triterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook

Two new friedelane-type triterpenes, tripterfrielanons A (1) and B (2), along with six known triterpenoids, friedelin (3), canophyllal (4), canophyllalic acid (5), 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane (6), wilforlide A (7), wilforlide B (8), have been isolated from the EtOH extract of the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. Compounds 4, 5, 6 were isolated for the first time from this plant. The new triterpenes 1 and 2 exhibited mild cytotoxic activity against human Hela cell lines in vitro. The assay showed the IC₅₀ of 1 and 2 were 8.5 and 25 μg/mL, respectively.     

A New Bicoumarin from Stellera Chamaejasme L

Thirteen compounds were isolated from roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. (Thymelaeaceae). They are β-sitosterol (2), simplexin (3), pimelea factor P2 (4), daucosterol (5), (+)-3-hydroxy-1,5-diphenyl-1-pentanone (6), 4-ethoxy-benzoic acid (7), 2,4,6-Trimethoxy-benzoic acid (8), (+)-afzelechin (9), fumaric acid (10), N,N-dimethyl-L-aspartic acid (11), umbelliferone (12), daphniretin (13) and a novel bicoumarin named bicoumastechamin (1). Among the known compounds, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were first isolated from this plant, and 6 was first isolated from the natural resources. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectral data. In vitro bioassays showed that 4 inhibited cancer cell growth, 13 exhibited immunomodulatory activity, and 6 exhibited both immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activity.     

Three new xanthones from the roots of Polygala japonica Houtt.

Three new xanthones, 3, 6-dihydroxy-1, 2, 7-trimethoxyxanthone (2), 3, 7-dihydroxy- 1, 2-dimethoxyxanthone (4) and 1, 2, 7-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (9), together with seven known compounds were isolated from the roots of Polygala japonica Houtt. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Triterpene saponins from Lysimachia christinae

Seven triterpene saponins were isolated from Lysimachia christinae and identified as lysichriside A (1), lysichriside B (2), primulanin (3), lysikokianoside 1 (4), anagallisin C (5), ardisiacrispin A (6), and ardisicrenoside B (7). Compounds 1 and 2 are new triterpene saponins, compounds 3, 5, and 7 were isolated from this genus, and compounds 4 and 6 were isolated from this species for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by means of 1D and 2D NMR experiments.     

A new biflavonoid from Ochna beddomei

A new biflavonoid, 2,3-dihydroochnaflavone 7,4',7'-tri-O-methyl ether (1) together with two known biflavonoids namely, 2,3-dihydroochnaflavone (2) and ochnaflavone (3) were isolated from the stem bark of Ochna beddomei. The structures were determined by means of spectral and chemical studies.     

Heteroclitin H, a new lignan from Kadsura heteroclita

A new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan, heteroclitin H (1), was isolated together with seven known compounds, heteroclitin D (2), interiorin B (3), interiorin (4), neokasuranin (5), interiotherin C (6), gomisin J (7) and (+)-anwulignan (8), from the stems of Kadsura heteroclita. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 from K. heteroclita.     

Antibacterial constituents from Stemona sessilifolia

Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of eight compounds from Stemona sessilifolia. Of the eight isolates, three new bibenzyls, stilbostemins M-O (1-3), and a new tocopherol, 6-methoxy-3,4-dehydro-δ-tocopherol (4) were revealed together with four known compounds 3,5-dihydroxy-2'-methoxy bibenzyl (5), 3,5-dihydroxy bibenzyl (6), β-tocopherol (7), and γ-tocopherol (8). Compounds 5, 6, and 8 exhibited strong antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis.     

Two new phenylpropanoid esters of rhamnose from Lagotis yunnanensis

Two new phenylpropanoid esters of rhamnose, lagotoside B (1) and lagotoside C (2), together with three known compounds (3-5), were isolated from Lagotis yunnanensis. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 3-5 have been obtained from this species for the first time.     

A new triterpenoid from Entodon okamurae Broth

One new triterpenoid, entokamurol (1), was isolated from Entodon okamurae Broth, together with other nine compounds, namely dryocrassol (2), chrysophamol (3), physcion (4), 10-nonacosamnol (5), n-hexadecanol (6), phthalic acid isodibutyl ester (7), curcumol (8), β-sitosterol (9) and daucosterol (10). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR (DEPT, DQF-COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY), IR and MS studies. All the compounds were isolated and identified from the genus of Entodon for the first time, and it is also the first report of a guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid and compounds with anthraquinone skeleton in mosses.