Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Eupatorium lindleyanum

Three new germacrane sesquiterpenes, eupalinolides C–E (1–3), along with three known germacrane sesquiterpenes, eupalinolide A (4), eupalinolide B (5), and 3β-acetoxy-8β-(4′-hydroxytigloyloxy)-14-hydroxycostunolide (6), were isolated from Eupatorium lindleyanum. They were tested for cytotoxicity against A-549, BGC-823, SMMC-7721, and HL-60 tumour cell lines. The results showed that these compounds demonstrated potent cytotoxicity. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR experiments.     

Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Eupatorium lindleyanum

Three new germacrane sesquiterpenes, eupalinolides C-E (1-3), along with three known germacrane sesquiterpenes, eupalinolide A (4), eupalinolide B (5), and 3beta-acetoxy-8beta-(4'-hydroxytigloyloxy)-14-hydroxycostunolide (6), were isolated from Eupatorium lindleyanum. They were tested for cytotoxicity against A-549, BGC-823, SMMC-7721, and HL-60 tumour cell lines. The results showed that these compounds demonstrated potent cytotoxicity. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR experiments.     

Two new lanostane triterpenoids from Poria cocos

Two new lanostane triterpenoids, 29-hydroxypolyporenic acid C (4) and 25-hydroxypachymic acid (5), together with three known compounds, ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (1), polyporenic acid C (2) and pachymic acid (3), were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of the sclerotium of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including IR, UV, ESITOF-MS, HRESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC).     

Harzianums A and B produced by a fungal strain, Hypocrea sp. F000527, and their cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines

A new compound, harzianum B (1), was isolated from the culture broth of a fungal strain, Hypocrea sp. F000527, together with a known trichothecene, harzianum A (2). Its structure was determined by spectroscopic analyses including HRFAB-MS and various ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectral data. Harzianum B (1) was characterised as (E,Z,E)-2', 4', 6'-octatriendioic acid esterified on the 4β-hydroxyl group of trichodermol. Harzianums A (2) and B (1) showed cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines.     

Chemical Constituents from the Leaves of Magnolia Denudata

20 compounds were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia denudata including 16 lignans, which belong to 6 structural types. Except for (7R, 8S, 1'S) -δ^8' - 1', 4' - dihydro - 5'- methoxy - 3, 4 -methylenedioxy - 4' - oxo -7.O.2', 8.1' - neolignan (6), magliflonenone (9), 2,5' - diene-2', 8'- epoxy - 5' - methoxy - 8 - methyl - 4' - oxo - 3,4-methylenedioxy - spiro (5,5) - undecane (10), veraguensin (16) and β-sitosterol (20), the other 15 compounds were obtained from this species for the first time. The absolute configurations of 3 compounds (1,4,10) were determined by CD spectroscopy for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1, 2 and 16 were assessed and 2 was shown to have significant inhibition effect on mice hind-paw edema induced by carrageenan.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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 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).     

Stilbene derivatives from Gnetum cleistostachyum

Three new stilbene derivatives, named gnetucleistol A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with four known compounds, gnetifolin A (4), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (5), piceatannol (6) and resveratrol (7), were isolated from Gnetum cleistostachyum C.Y. Cheng (Gnetaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence (EI-MS, UV, IR, NOE, ¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR).     

Microbial hydroxylation of cinobufagin by Mucor spinosus

Mucor spinosus has been employed for the biotransformation of cinobufagin (1) to afford three metabolites. On the basis of their physico-chemical data, the structures of the transformation products have been characterized as 1β-hydroxy-cinobufagin (2), 12β-hydroxy-cinobufagin (3) and 1β,12β-dihydroxy-cinobufagin (4), of which metabolites 2 and 4 are new compounds. In vitro cytotoxic activities of the biotransformation products and the substrate-cinobufagin have been assayed against four tumor cell lines of Bel 7420, BGC 823, HeLa and HL 60; they all showed cytotoxic activities.     

Two new 18-carbon norditerpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum sinomontanum

Two new 18-carbon norditerpenoid alkaloids, sinaconitines A (1) and B (2), together with two known alkaloids, ranaconitine (3) and lappaconitine (4), were isolated from the roots of Aconitum sinomontanum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidences and X-ray crystallographic analysis for 1. Furthermore, the reversed ¹³C NMR assignments for C-10 and C-13 of 3, 4, puberanine, puberanidine and demethyllappaconitine were revised. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme inhibitory activity. However, they did not show any inhibition at 10 μM.     

Chemical constituents of Pseudopterogorgia species of the Indian ocean

A new ceramide, (2S,3R,4E)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-[(hexadecanoyl)amino]-nonadeca-4-ene (1), cholest-5-en-3β,7β,19-triol (2), identified as its, peracetyl derivative (3), and batyl alcohol (4) were isolated from Pseudopterogorgia species. 1 exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.     

Paeciloxanthone, a new cytotoxic xanthone from the marine mangrove fungus Paecilomyces sp. (Tree1-7)

The metatrophic fungus Paecilomyces sp. (Tree1-7) was isolated from an estuarine mangrove from the Taiwan Strait. The methanol extract of the fungal mycelium exhibited cytotoxicity against hepG2. Paeciloxanthone (1), a new xanthone, and the known compounds emodin (2) and chrysophanol (3), were isolated from the extract. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic experiments. Paeciloxanthone (1) exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against hepG2 (IC₅₀ = 1.08 μg/mL), acetylcholineesterase (AChE) inhibitory (IC₅₀ = 2.25 μg/mL) and antimicrobial activities.     

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.     

Further flavonol and iridoid glycosides from Ajuga remota aerial parts

Five new iridoid glycosides characterised as 6-keto-8-acetylharpagide (1), 6,7-dehydro-8-acetylharpagide (2), 7,8-dehydroharpagide (3), 8-acetylharpagide-6-O-β-glucoside (4), harpagide-6-O-β-glucoside (5) together with three flavonol glycosides, myricetin 3-O-rutinoside-4'-O-rutinoside (6), myricetin 3-O-rutinoside-3'-O-rutinoside (7) and isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside-7-O-rutinoside-4'-O-β-glucoside (8) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Ajuga remota. Also isolated were two known compounds ajugarin IV and ajugarin V. Their structures were established using spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, FAB-MS, HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

Stilbenoids from Stemona sessilifolia

Two new dihydrostilbenes, stilbostemins H (1), I (2), and a new dihydrophenanthrene, stemanthrene E (3), were isolated and identified from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia, together with known stilbostemins B, D and G, and stemanthrenes A and C (4-8). Structures of new stilbenoids were established by 1D and 2D ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analyses.     

Cytotoxic ent-kauranoids from Isodon leucophyllus

Two new compounds, baiyecrystals D and E (1, 2), together with eight known analogues, xerophilusin B (4), macrocalin B (5), oridonin (6), rosthorin A (7), lasiocarpanin (8), rabdoternin A (9) and phyllostachysin A (10) and B (11), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon leucophyllus. The structures of 1 and 2 and 4-11 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially the 2D NMR spectral analysis. Compounds 2, 6-8 and 10 were evaluated for their antineoplastic activities in vitro. Among them, lasiocarpanin (8) showed significant inhibitory activities against K562 and Bcap37 cells, with the IC₅₀ values of 0.13 and 1.26 μg mL_-1, respectively, which were lower than those of the positive control.     

Studies on chemical constituents from Ilex pubescens

Two new phenolic glycosides, ilexpubsides A and B, along with four known lignan glycosides were isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens. By spectral evidence, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 4-O-β-D-[6'-O-(4'-O-β-D-glucopyranosylvanilloyl)glucopyranosyl] vanillic acid (1) and syringinic 6'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (2). The known compounds were identified to be liriodendrin (3), (-)-olivil (4), tortoside A (5) and (+)-cyclo-olivil (6). All compounds were first isolated from Ilex pubescens.