Schisanlactone H and sphenanthin A,new metabolites from Schisandra sphenanthera

From the fruits of Schisandra sphenanthera (Schisandraceae), a new 3,4-seco-lanostane triterpenoid, schisanlactone H (1), and a new monocyclofarnesane sesquiterpenoid, sphenanthin A (2), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

Two new sesquiterpenoid glycosides from Nicotiana tabacum

Two new sesquiterpenoid glycosides, nicotabalactonecoside (1) and nicotabadiolcoside (2), along with four known terpenoids (3–6) were isolated from the leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined as dihydrodeacetylphytuberin-2-one 11-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 1,2-dehydro-4-epieremophil-9-ene-11,12-diol 12-O-β-d-glucopyranoside by extensive spectroscopic analyses (HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR) and chemical method. Compound 1 is an unusual phytuberin-type sesquiterpenoid with a 6/5/5 tricyclic system.     

Sesquiterpenoids from the twigs and leaves of Fokienia hodginsii

A rare carotane-type sesquiterpenoid, forkienin A (1), a new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, forkienin B (2), and a new natural eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, forkienin C (3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Fokienia hodginsii, along with eight known sesquiterpenoids. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR methods. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines.     

New sesquiterpenoid glycoside and phenylpropanoid glycosides from the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus

A new sesquiterpenoid glycoside, cryptomeridiol 11-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d- glucopyranoside (1), two new phenylpropanoid glycosides, 3,4-dihydroxy-allylbenzene 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), and 3,4,5-trihydroxy-allylbenzene 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), along with four known phenylpropanoid glycosides (4–7), were isolated from the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus. Compounds 4–7 were obtained from the genus Ophiopogon for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS.     

Antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities of extract and isolates from Zygogynum pancheri subsp. arrhantum

One new sesquiterpenoid (5R^*,8R^*,9R^*,10R^*)-cinnamolide (8), and seven known compounds, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavonone (1), 8-hydroxy-3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-(2″,2″-dimethylchromene)-tetralone (2), 8-hydroxy-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-6,7-(2″,2″-dimethylchromene)-tetralone (3), 1β-E-O-p-methoxycinnamoyl-bemadienolide (4), 1β-O-(E-cinnamoyl)-6α-hydroxy-9-epi-polygodial (5), 1β-O-(E-cinnamoyl)-6α-hydroxypolygodial (6), and 1β-O-E-cinnamoylpolygodial (7) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of barks of Zygogynum pancheri subsp. arrhantum (Winteraceae). The structures of these molecules were assigned predominantly based on spectral data. The structure of compound 8 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited significant antioxidant activity, whereas compounds 1 and 4–7 showed significant α-amylase inhibitory activity.     

Phenolic compounds from the twigs and leaves of Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa)

Two new homoisoflavans, 4′-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-benzyl-2H-chromene (1) and 3,4-cis-di-O-3-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-ethoxychroman (2), one new coumarin, 7-methoxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)coumarin (4), together with seven known phenolic compounds, bonducellin (3), anemarcoumarin A (5), (+)-syringaresinol (6), curuilignan D (7), scopoletin (8), and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (9), were isolated from Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa Kuntze). The structures of the new compounds were characterized from their 1D and 2D NMR spectral data. All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.     

Two new compounds from the dry leaves of Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) keng f.

Two new compounds, xylitol 1-O-(6′-O-p-hydroxylbenzoyl)-glucopyranoside (1) and bambulignan B (2), together with three known ones gastrodin (3), glucovanillin (4), and rel-(7S,7′R,8R,8′S)-4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxy-7,7′-epoxyligna-9,9′-diol-9(or)9′-O-β-glucopyranoside (5), were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the dry leaves of Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) keng f. Their structures were determined by UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, CD, and 1D and 2D NMR data analyses as well as GC experiments.     

New acylated flavonoid glycosides from flowers of Aerva javanica

Chromatographic purification of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of the flowers of Aerva javanica yielded three new acylated flavone glycosides: kaempferol-3-O-β-d-[4?-E-p-coumaroyl-α-l-rhamnosyl(1 → 6)]-galactoside (1), kaempferol-3-O-β-d-[4?-E-p-coumaroyl-α-l-rhamnosyl(1 → 6)]-(3″-E-p-coumaroyl)galactoside (2), and kaempferol-3-O-β-d-[4?-E-p-coumaroyl-α-l-rhamnosyl(1 → 6)]-(4″-E-p-coumaroyl)galactoside (3), along with p-coumaric acid (4), caffeic acid (5), gallic acid (6), eicosanyl-trans-p-coumarate (7), hexadecyl ferulate (8), and hexacosyl ferulate (9). The compounds 1–9 were characterized using 1D (¹H, ¹³C) and 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, and COSY) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (EI-MS, HR-EI-MS, FAB-MS, and HR-FAB-MS) and in comparison with the reported data in the literature. Compound 1 showed weak inhibitory activity against enzymes, such as acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and lipoxygenase with IC₅₀ values 205.1, 304.1, and 212.3 μM, respectively, whereas compounds 2 and 3 were only weakly active against the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.     

Flavonoids from silkworm droppings and their promotional activities on heme oxygenase-1

A new flavane glucoside, 7,2′-dihydroxy-8-hydroxyethyl-4′-methoxyflavane-2′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), along with three known flavonoids, 7,2′-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-4′-methoxyflavane (1), euchrenone a₇ (2), and 7,2′-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-4′-methoxy-2′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylflavane (4), was isolated from silkworm droppings. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and optical rotational characteristics. The compounds isolated from silkworm droppings were evaluated for their effects on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity. Compounds 1 and 3 increased the expression of HO-1 in HepG2 cells. HO-1 is an antioxidant enzyme that catabolizes heme to carbon monoxide, free iron, and biliverdin, all of which are involved in the suppression of inflammatory mediators.     

New flavonoids with 2BS cell proliferation promoting effect from the seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella foenum</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graecum</Emphasis> L.

Ten flavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the ethanolic extract of the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods to be 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-5′-methoxylisoflavone (1), biochanin A (2), formononetin (3), irilone (4), tricin (5), daidzein (6), calycosin (7), orientin-2″-O-p-trans-coumarate (8), vitexin-2″-O-p-trans-coumarate (9), and tricin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). Compounds 1 and 8 are new flavonoids, and 8 and 9 strongly promoted 2BS cell proliferation induced by H₂O₂.     

Four new compounds from the rhizome of Aristolochia championii

Three new flavonoid glycosides (1–3) and one new aristololactam N-glycoside (4) were isolated from the rhizome of Aristolochia championii. The structures of compounds 1–4 were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data and chemical evidence (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Their structures were determined as 8-(5-formyl-2-furanmethyl)-isorhamentin 3-O-robinobioside (1), 8-(5-methyl-2-furanoyl)-isorhamentin 3-O-robinobioside (2), 8-formylisorhamentin 3-O-robinobioside (3), and N-β-D-glucopyranosylaristololactam V (4), respectively.     

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.     

Terpenoids and bisbibenzyls from Chinese liverworts Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hirsuta

Four new monoterpene esters, 2α,5β-dihydroxybornane-2-cinnamate (1), 2α,5β-dihydroxybornane-5-acetyl-2-cinnamate (2), 2α,5β-dihydroxybornane-2-p-hydroxycinnamate (3) and 2α,5β-dihydroxy-bornane-2-cis-p-hydroxycinnamate (4), together with a known compound 3,4-dimethoxystyrene (5) were isolated from Chinese liverwort Conocephalum conicum and six known compounds, 5,7-dihydroxycalamenene (6), 7-hydroxycalamenene (7), lunularin (8), riccardin C (9), marchantin C (10) and riccardin D (11) were isolated from Dumortiera hirsuta. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analysis and chemical correlations. Compounds 1 and 8 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ 4.5 μg/ml and 7.4 μg/ml, respectively, while compound 8 also showed antimicrobacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration at 64 μg/ml.     

A new drimane sesquiterpenoid and a new triterpene lactone from fungus of Fomes officinalis

A new sesquiterpenoid fomeffic acid (1) and a new triterpene lactone fomefficinin (2) were isolated from the fungus Fomes officinalis, together with another six known compounds fomitopsin C (3), dehydrosulfurenic acid (4), dehydroeburiconic acid (5), dehydroeburicoic acid (6), 3-keto-dehydrosulfurenic acid (7), and laricinolic acid (8). The structures and stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were determined by NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses. The sesquiterpenoid and five triterpenes were tested for cytotoxicity against HL-60, Bel-7402, and KB cancer lines in vitro, and they appeared to be modestly active.     

Cytotoxic activity of flavonoids from the flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium on human colon cancer Colon205 cells

A new p-hydroxyphenylacetyl flavonoid, diosmetin 7-(6″-O-p-hydroxyphenylacetyl)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), was isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. ‘huaiju’ cv. nov. (Compositae), together with five known flavonoids, luteolin (2), diosmetin (3), diosmetin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), diosmin (5), and scolimoside (6), and four known caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, macranthoin F (7), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (8), 1,3-dicaffeoyl-epi-quinic acid (9), and chlorogenic acid (10). The structure of 1 was elucidated by UV, IR, ESI-TOF-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxic activity of compounds 1–5 against human colon cancer cell Colon205 was investigated using MTT assays. Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant cytotoxicities against Colon205, with their IC₅₀ values being 96.9 and 82.9 μM, respectively. However, compounds 1, 4, and 5 showed little cytotoxic activity.     

Microbial metabolites of 8-prenylnaringenin,an estrogenic prenylflavanone

Microbial metabolism studies of the phyto-estrogen (±)-8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) (1) has led to the isolation of three pairs of metabolites (2–4). The structures of these compounds were identified as 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,8-[2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2,3-dihydrofurano]flavanones (2), 8-prenylnaringenin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranosides (3), and 8-prenylnaringenin 7-O-β-D-(6‴-O-α-hydroxypropionyl)-glucopyranosides (4) on the basis of the spectroscopic analysis.     

A new sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopus tomentosus

A new sesquiterpene lactone, named tomenphantopin H (1), together with two known germacranolides, 2β-methoxy-2-deethoxy-8-O-deacylphantomolin-8-O-tiglinate (2) and 2-deethoxy-2-hydroxyphantomolin (3), was isolated from the whole plant of Elephantopus tomentosus Linn. The new compound was completely elucidated using a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and HR-ESI-MS analyses. All compounds exhibited antibacterial activity.     

Iridoid glucoside, (3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-oct-1-en-3-ol glycosides,and phenylethanoid from the aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caryopteris incana</Emphasis>

Eleven compounds of interest were isolated from the aerial parts of Caryopteris incana, specifically a new acyl derivative (3) of 8-O-acetylharpagide, two new (3R)-oct-1-en-3-ol glycosides (5, 6), and 6-O-caffeoylphlinoside A (11) along with seven known compounds, 8-O-acetylharpagide (1), 6′-O-p-coumaroyl-8-O-acetylharpagide (2), (3R)-oct-1-en-3-ol (matsutake alcohol) O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1″ → 6′)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin 7-O-neohesperidinoside (7), 6′-O-caffeoylarbutin (8), and two phenylethanoids, leucosceptoside A (9) and phlinoside A (10). This paper deals with structural elucidation of the new compounds.     

Two new anthraquinone glycosides from the roots of Rheum palmatum

Two new anthraquinone glycosides, named 1-methyl-8-hydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-β-d-(6′-O-cinnamoyl)glucopyranoside (1) and rhein-8-O-β-d-[6′-O-(3″-methoxyl malonyl)]glucopyranoside (2), have been isolated from the roots of Rheum palmatum, together with seven known compounds, rhein-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), physcion-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), chrysophanol-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), aleo-emodin-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), emodin-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), aleo-emodin-ω-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (8), and emodin-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis.     

Water-soluble constituents from the leaves of Ilex oblonga

Four new water-soluble constituents, oblongaroside A (1), oblongar ester A (2), oblongaroside B (3), and oblongaroside C (4), were isolated along with four known compounds: 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxybenzalcohol (5), 7-methoxyl-4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxybenzalcohol (6), 4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (8) from the leaves of Ilex oblonga. Identification of their structures was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including ¹H–¹H COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC methods and FAB mass spectral data.