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.     

Antiviral triterpenes fromPrunella vulgaris

Two triterpenes 1 and 2 with antiviral activity againstHerpes simplex virus type 1in vitro were isolated fromPrunella vulgaris. Each compound caused a significant reduction in viral cytopathic effect whenvero cells were exposed to them for 72 hours after viral challenge. They were identified asbetulinic acid(1) and 2α, 3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid(2) on the basis of their spectroscopic properties. The antiviral activity of them was estimated as EC₅₀=30 μg/ml(1) and 8 μg/ml(2), respectively by plaque reduction assay.     

A new ceramide from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ramaria botrytis</Emphasis> (Pers.) Ricken

A new ceramide, (2S,2′R,3R,4E,8E)-N-2′-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-2-amino-9-methyl-4,8-heptadecadiene-1,3-diol (1), was isolated together with four known sterols, 5α,6α-epoxy-3β-hydroxy-(22E)-ergosta-8(14),22-dien-7-one (2), ergosterol peroxide (3), cerevisterol (4) and 9α-hydroxycerevisterol (5), from the fruiting bodies of Ramaria botrytis (Pers.) Ricken (Ramariaceae). The structure of the new compound was elucidated based on spectral data.     

Triterpenoids from the roots ofRubus parvifolius

From the roots ofRubus parvifolius L., four triterpenoidal sapogenins, ursolic acid1, 2α-hydroxyursolic acid2, euscapic acid3, 2α, 3β, 19α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-23,28-dioic acid4 and one triterpenoidal glycoside, suavissimoside R₁ 5, were isolated. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. Compound4 was first isolated as free form.     

Sesquiterpene components from the flower buds ofMagnolia fargesii

From the Chinese crude drugshin-i, the flower buds ofMagnolia fargesii, four sesquiterpene, oplopanone (1), oplodiol (2), homalomenol A (3) and 1β,4β,7α-trihydroxyeudesmane (4) were isolated. These structures were elucidated and the¹³C-NMR chemical, shifts of these compounds were revised by means of various 2D-NMR techniques.     

Agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ: A new compound with potent gastroprotective and ulcer healing properties

Pioglitazone, a specific ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), was recently implicated in the control of inflammatory processes and in the modulation of the expression of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but its role in the mechanism of gastric mucosal integrity has not been studied extensively. This study was designed to determine the effect of pioglitazone on gastric mucosal lesions induced in rats by topical application of 100% ethanol and by 3.5 h of water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) with or without pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.p.) to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 enzyme activities and L-NNA (20 mg/kg i.p.) to suppress nitric oxide (NO)-synthase. In addition, the effect of pioglitazone on ulcer healing in rats with chronic acetic acid ulcers (ulcer area 28 mm²) was determined. Rats were killed 1 h and 3.5 h after ethanol administration or WRS exposure or at day 9 upon ulcer induction, and the number and area of gastric lesions were measured by planimetry, the gastric blood flow (GBF) was determined by H₂-gas clearance technique and the mucosal PGE₂ generation and gene expression and plasma concentration of TNF-α and IL-1β were also evaluated. Pre-treatment with pioglitazone dose-dependently attenuated gastric lesions induced by 100% ethanol and WRS; the dose reducing these lesions by 50% (ID₅₀) being 10 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg, respectively. The protective effect of pioglitazone was accompanied by the significant rise in the GBF, an increase in PGE₂ generation and the significant fall in the plasma TNF-α and IL-1β levels. Strong signals for IL-1β-and TNF-α mRNA were recorded in gastric mucosa exposed to ethanol or WRS, and these effects were significantly decreased by pioglitazone. Indomethacin which suppressed PG generation by about 90%, while augmenting WRS damage, and L-NNA, that suppressed NO-synthase activity, significantly attenuated the protective and hyperaemic activity of this PPAR-γ ligand. In the chronic study, pioglitazone significantly reduced the area of gastric ulcers on day 9 and significantly raised the GBF at the ulcer margin. The acceleration of ulcer healing by PPAR-γ ligand was accompanied by a significant increase in the expression of PECAM-1 protein, a marker of angiogenesis. We conclude that (1) pioglitazone exerts a potent gastroprotective and hyperaemic actions on the stomach involving endogenous PG and NO and attenuation of the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, and (2) PPAR-γ ligand accelerates ulcer healing, possibly due to the enhancement in angiogenesis at ulcer margin.     

Potential anthelmintics: polyphenols from the tea plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia sinensis</Emphasis> L. are lethally toxic to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis elegans</Emphasis>

A novel gallate of tannin, (−)-epigallocatechin-(2β→O→7′,4β→8′)-epicatechin-3′-O-gallate (8), together with (−)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (4), (−)-epigallocatechin (5), (−)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (6), and (+)-gallocatechin-(4α→8′)-epigallocatechin (7), were isolated from the tea plant Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze var. sinensis (cv., Yabukita). The structure of 8, including stereochemistry, was elucidated by spectroscopic methods and hydrolysis. The compounds, along with commercially available pyrogallol (1), (+)-catechin (2), and (−)-epicatechin (3), were examined for toxicity towards egg-bearing adults of Caenorhabditis elegans. The anthelmintic mebendazole (9) was used as a positive control. Neither 2 nor 3 were toxic but the other compounds were toxic in the descending order 8, 7 ≈ 6, 9, 4, 5, 1. The LC₅₀ (96 h) values of 8 and 9 were evaluated as 49 and 334 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. These data show that many green tea polyphenols may be potential anthelmintics.     

New triterpenoid saponins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argania spinosa</Emphasis>

Five new triterpene saponins, arganine L (1), O (2), P (3), Q (4) and R (5), were isolated from the barks of Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels. Arganines L-P and R are bidesmosidic saponins. The structures of 1–5 were elucidated as 3-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1–3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl] bayogenin, 3-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl] bayogenin, 3-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl] bayogenin, 3-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl] bayogenin, and 3-O-[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1–4)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1–4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl] bayogenin, respectively, mainly on the basis of their spectroscopic data.     

Cytotoxic constituents of<Emphasis Type="Italic">diadema setosum</Emphasis>

5,8-Epidioxycholest-6-en-3-ol (1), cholesterol (2), glycerol 1-palmitate (3) and glycerol 1,3-dioleate-2-stearate (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the sea urchinDiadema setosum, which was collected from the Halong sea, Vietnam. Chemical structures were established based on extensive 1D, 2D-NMR, FAB-MS, EI-MS spectroscopic data and GC-MS analysis. The NMR spectral data of compound 1 were reassigned by using HMQC and HMBC. Compound1 was found to have strong cytotoxic effect against various cancer cell lines, such as KB (IC₅₀, 2.0 μg/mL), FL (IC₅₀, 3.93 μg/mL), and Hep-2 (IC₅₀, 2.4 μg/mL) byin vitro assay.     

A new furofuran lignan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isodon japonicus</Emphasis>

A new sesamin type furofuran lignan, (−)-sesamin-2,2′-diol (1), along with two known flavonoids (2 and 3) and three phenolic compounds (4–6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon japonicus. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data (1D-, 2D-NMR, HRMS and CD) and by comparison of the data with those of related metabolites.     

Triterpenoic acids of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina and their cytotoxic activities In Vitro

The column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract from the aerial parts of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai led to the isolation of fifteen triterpenoic acids (2–6, 9–13, 16–20), four flavonoids (14, 21–23), four phenolics (7, 8, 15, 24), and a diterpene (1). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods to be trans-phytol (1), oleanic acid (2) ursolic acid (3), 2α,3α,19α-trihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (4), 2α,3α-dihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (5), maslinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7), phydroxy cinnamic acid (8), 2α,3α,19α,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (9), 2α,3α,23-trihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (10), 2α,3β-dihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (11), 2α,3β,24-trihydroxyolea-12en-28oic acid (12), (12R, 13S)-2α,3α,24,trihydroxy-12,13-cyclo-taraxer-14-en-28oic acid (13), quercertin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14), rosmarinic acid (15), 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyurs-12,20(30)-dien-28oic acid (16), 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyolea-12en-28oic acid (17), 2α,3β,19α,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid 28-O-Dglucopyranoside (18), 2α,3α,19α,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid 28-O-D-glucopyranoside (19), prunvuloside A (20), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopranoside (21), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (22), quercertin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (23), and 2-hydroxy-3-(3’,4’-dihydroxyphenly)propanoic acid (24). Compounds 1, 8–12, 17, 21, 23, and 24 were isolated from this plant source for the first time. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells in vitro using the sulforhodamin B bioassay (SRB) method. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells, with ED₅₀ values of 3.71, 3.65, 13.62, and 5.44 μM, respectively.     

A new lignan glucoside from the stems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Callicarpa japonica</Emphasis> Thunb. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">luxurians</Emphasis> Rehd.

A new lignan glucoside (1) was isolated from the stems of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. var. luxurians Rehd. (Verbenaceae), along with six known lignan glucosides and three known triterpenoids. The chemical structure of 1 was characterized as (+)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-(6″-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic data. In addition, the radical-scavenging effect of four lignans on the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl was examined. Among the tested compounds, three compounds, including 1, showed almost the same scavenging activity as that of α-tocopherol.     

(<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-3-Hexenyl diglycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spermacoce laevis</Emphasis> Roxb.

A new (Z)-3-hexenyl O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside was isolated from the aerial part of Spermacoce laevis, along with 17 known compounds: (6S,9R)-roseoside, (Z)-3-hexenyl O-β-d-glucopyranoside, (Z)-3-hexenyl O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, (Z)-3-hexenyl O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, phenyethyl O-β-d-glucopyranoside, phenyethyl O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, phenyethyl O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, benzyl O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, benzyl O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, asperuloside, 6α-hydroxyadoxoside, asperulosidic acid, kaempferol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside, and rutin. The structure determinations were based on physical data and spectroscopic evidence.     

Pharmacological characterization of α-adrenoceptors that mediate contraction in splenic artery strips from the pig

The α-adrenoceptors that mediate contractions in strips of splenic artery from the pig were characterized by the use of selective agonists and subtype-selective antagonists. Noradrenaline, the α₁-selective agonist phenylephrine and the α₁-/α₂-agonist oxymetazoline caused the preparations to contract with potency (pD₂) values of 6.94, 6.14 and 7.27, respectively. Compared to noradrenaline, phenylephrine and oxymetazoline induced 93% and 78% of noradrenaline maximum effect. Conversely, the two α₂-selective agonists clonidine and B-HT 920 induced only 31% and 13% of noradrenaline maximum effect. B-HT 920 only marginally contracted the tissue even when it was precontracted with phenylephrine. The α₂-selective antagonist yohimbine antagonized oxymetazoline- and phenyleprine-induced contractions with affinity (pA₂) values (6.80 and 6.74, respectively) consistent with α₁-adrenoceptor interaction. This suggests that the pig splenic artery possesses only functional α₁-adrenoceptors. The α₁-adrenoceptor antagonists of varying subtype selectivities like WB-4101, 5-methylurapidil, benoxathian and BMY 7378 competitively antagonized phenylephrine-induced contractions with affinity values of 9.46, 8.26, 9.06 and 6.91, respectively. These values correlated highly with published affinity values for functional α_1A-adrenoceptors (r=0.92) and α_1a-clones (r=0.94) and less well with affinity values for functional α_1B-adrenoceptors (r=0.84) and α_1b-clones (r=0.87). Conversely, correlation with functional α_1D-adrenoceptors (r=0.26) and α_1d-clones (r=0.33) was poor. In addition the α_1D-selective antagonist BMY 7378 had a low affinity value compared to that reported for α_1D-adrenoceptors. Therefore, based on correlation studies, the plot that resembled the line of equal values most closely was that for the α_1A-subtype. The α_1A-selective antagonist RS-17053 antagonized phenylephrine-induced contractions in an apparently non-competitive manner and gave an apparent pA₂ value of 7.06 which is similar to the “low” affinity values reported in other α_1A-containing tissues. Exposure to the irreversible α_1B/D-antagonist chloroethylclonidine slightly decreased maximum response to phenylephrine without significantly affecting its potency value, indicating that the phenylephrine response is substantially chloroethylclonidine-insensitive.It is concluded that splenic artery strips from the pig contract in response to phenylephrine through activation of α₁-adrenoceptors which display the pharmacological profile of the α_1A-subtype for which the recently reported α_1A-selective antagonist RS-17053 shows low affinity. Evidence for contribution of the α_1B-subtype in the overall contractile response is elusive while no evidence was obtained for the involvement of the α_1D-subtype. The contribution of functional α₂-adrenoceptors to the contractile response was ruled out. Received: 15 January 1998 / Accepted: 4 March 1998     

A novel nortriterpene fromHedera rhombea

A new nortriterpene, rhombenone (1) was isolated from the leaves ofHedera rhombea Bean (Araliaceae). The structure of this compound was established as 27-demethyl-20(S)-dammar-23-ene-6α,20-diol-3,25-dione on the basis of spectral analysis including HMQC and HMBC techniques. Rhombenone (1) was the first 27-demethyl nortriterpene of dammarance type isolated from natural sources.     

New triterpene saponins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenocereus eruca</Emphasis> (Cactaceae)

Two new triterpene saponins, named stellatoside B (1) and erucasaponin A (2), were isolated from a cactaceous plant, Stenocereus eruca A. C. Gibson & K. E. Horak (Machaerocereus eruca Br. & R.). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated as 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl stellatogenin and 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl betulinic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl ester, respectively, on the basis of their spectroscopic data.     

New anthracene glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodomyrtus tomentosa</Emphasis> stimulate osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells

Two new anthracene glycosides (1, 2) were isolated from aerial parts of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, along with three known compounds (3–5). The structures of two new compounds were established to be 4,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-2,3,7-trimethoxyanthracene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 2,4,7,8,9,10-hexahydroxy-3-methoxyanthracene-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) based on spectroscopic and chemical methods. Among them, compound 1, 2, and 5 significantly (P<0.05) increased the alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and mineralization of the nodules of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells compared to those of the control, respectively.     

Flavonol glycosides from the aerial parts of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aceriphyllum rossii</Emphasis> and their antioxidant activities

The methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts ofAceriphyllum rossii (Saxifragaceae) was fractionated into ethyl acetate (EtOAc),n-BuOH and H₂O layers through solvent fractionation. Repeated silica gel column chromatography of EtOAc andn-BuOH layers afforded six flavonol glycosides. They were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (astragalin,1), quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin,2), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyrano-side (rutin,4), kaempferol 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (5) and quercetin 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (6) on the basis of several spectral data. The antioxidant activity of the six compounds was investigated using two free radicals such as the ABTS free radical and superoxide anion radical. Compound1 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the ABTS2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging method. 100 mg/L of compound1 was equivalent to 72.1±1.4 mg/L of vitamin C, and those of compounds3 and5 were equivalent to 62.7±0.5 mg/L and 54.3±1.3 mg/L of vitamin C, respectively. And in the superoxide anion radical scavenging method, compound5 exhibited the highest activity with an IC₅₀ value of 17.6 ± 0.3 μM. In addition, some physical and spectral data of the flavonoids were confirmed.     

Expression of thymosin α1-thymopentin fusion peptide in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis> and its characterization

Thymopentin plays an important role in improving imbalanced immune systems of patients, however, it has a limited half-life in plasma. To get more stable and active thymopentin analogs, a fusion thymosin α1-thymopentin (Tα1-TP5) gene was synthesized and cloned into vector pGAPZαA. Tα1-TP5 fusion peptide was expressed in pichia pastoris and purified by metal chelating chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The circular dichroism spectra (CD) indicated that the secondary structure of Tα1-TP5 fusion peptide is dominated by a-helix and random coil. In vitro analysis showed that the plasma half-life of Tα1-TP5 fusion peptide is 140 ± 14 min, which is longer than that of TP5 (5.6±0.7 min) and Tα1 (127±11 min). The in vitro activity assay presented that Tα1-TP5 fusion peptide has greater activity in promoting proliferation of Kunming mouse splenocytes, and in vivo experiment it showed better activity in promoting the phagocytosis of macrophages and secretion of IL-2 than both Tα1 and TP5. Our findings suggest that Tα1-TP5 fusion peptide might be a potential therapeutic agent.     

Regio- and stereoselective reactions of (S)-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl allyl sulfide

The synthesis and regioselective reactions of a chiral allyl sulfide, (S)-(+)-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl allyl sulfide (MAS.1) are described. Remarkable α-regioselectivity was observed in the alkylation of the carbanion of MAS while 1∶3 mixtures of α-and γ-adducts were produced in the addition of the MAS anion to aldehydes. However, a dramatic change of the regioselectivity was witnessed when Lewis acids such as Et₃Al, Et₃B, and Ti(O ⁱ Pr)₄ were used as additives in the addition reaction. In these cases, α-adducts were formed exclusively. A rationale for the change of regioselectivity is provided. And the stereochemical aspect of the addition reaction is also described.