Lignans of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa multiflora</Emphasis> roots

Five known lignans, (+)-pinoresinol (1), (+)-8-hydroxypinoresinol (2), (-)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (3), (+)-trans-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), and (-)-olivil (5), were isolated from the roots of Rosa multiflora for the first time. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic data.     

Flavonoids from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spatholobus suberectus</Emphasis>

Two pterocarpans [(6aR,11aR)-maackiain, (6aR,11aR)-medicarpin], one flavanone [(2S)-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-flavanone], one isoflavan (sativan) and two isoflavones (pseudobaptigenin, genistein) were isolated from the Spatholobus suberectus (Leguminosae). Their chemical structures were determined by comparison of their spectroscopic parameters of CD, EIMS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR with those reported in the literatures. All of these compounds are reported for the first time from this plant through the present study.     

Antimicrobial phenolic derivatives from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendranthema zawadskii</Emphasis> var.<Emphasis Type="Italic">latilobum</Emphasis> kitamura (Asteraceae)

A phytochemical study on the root ofDendranthema zawadskii var.latilobum Kitamura, using a series of silica gel column chromatography and reversed phase C-18 HPLC chromatography, led to the isolation of (1S, 2S)-1, 2, 3-trihydroxy-1-(3, 4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propane (1), 4-methoxycinnamic acid (2), acacetin (3) and caffeic acid methyl ester (4). The structures of these compounds were determined using spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, HRTOFMS and NMR), with comparison of their spectral data with previously reported values. Compound1 was isolated for the first time, with compounds2 and4 from this plant reported for the first time. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the isolated compounds were measured using the disc diffusion method. Also, their cytotoxicities against the cancer cell lines, A549, B16F1 and SK-Mel-2, and brine shrimp lethalities were evaluated.     

Inhibitory effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trans-N-p</Emphasis>-coumaroyl tryamine from the twigs of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Celtis chinensis</Emphasis> on the acetylcholinesterase

The methanolic extract of the twigs of Celtis chinensis was found to show inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that plays a role in the metabolic hydrolysis of ACh. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of N-p-coumaroyl tyramine, as an inhibitor on AChE. This compound inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 value of trans-N-p-coumaroyl tyramine was 34.5 microg/mL (122 microM).     

Platelet anti-aggregatory effects of coumarins from the roots of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Angelica genuflexa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">A. gigas</Emphasis>

Five coumarins, isoimperatorin (1), pabulenol (2), isooxypeucedanin (3), oxypeucedanin hydrate (4) and osthol (5) were isolated from the MeOH extract of Angelica genuflexa in the course of searching for anti-platelet and anti-coagulant components from plants. Pabulenol (2) was isolated from A. genuflexa for the first time. The five compounds isolated from A. genuflexa, together with decursinol angelate (6), decursin (7) and nodakenin (8) from A. gigas were evaluated for their effects on platelet aggregation and blood coagulation. Compounds 2, 5, 6 and 7 were observed to be either equally effective or 2-4 times more inhibitory than ASA in both arachidonic acid and U46619 (TXA2 mimetic) induced platelet aggregations.     

Constituents of the stems and fruits of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia ficus-indica</Emphasis> var.<Emphasis Type="Italic">saboten</Emphasis>

From the stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten, eight flavonoids, kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (3), quercetin 3-methyl ether (4), narcissin (5), (+)-dihydrokaempferol (aromadendrin, 6), (+)-dihydroquercetin (taxifolin, 7), eriodictyol (8), and two terpenoids, (6S,9S)-3-oxo-alpha-ionol-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9) and corchoionoside C (10) were isolated and identified by means of chemical and spectroscopic. Among these isolates, compounds 3-5 and 8-10 were reported for the first time from the stems and fruits of O. ficus-indica var. saboten.     

A new kaempferol 7-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-triglucoside from the leaves of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> L

From the leaves of Brassica juncea, a new rare kaempferol 7-O-triglucoside isolated and characterized as kaempferol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-glucopyranoside (1) based on the spectroscopic evidences. This compound was found to be a scavenger of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythrina</Emphasis> alkaloid from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythrina herbacea</Emphasis>

A new Erythrina alkaloid, 10-hydroxy-11-oxoerysotrine (1), has been isolated from the flowers of Erythrina herbacea together with five known compounds: erytharbine (2), 10,11-dioxoerysotrine (3), erythrartine (4), erysotramidine (5) and erysotrine-N-oxide (6). The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of its spectral data, including 2-D NMR and mass (MS) spectra. The new compound is a rare C-10 oxygenated Erythrina alkaloid. The antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds 1–6 were evaluated by scavenging with peroxynitrite.     

A new coumarin from the stem of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Angelica dahurica</Emphasis>

One new and three known coumarins were isolated from the CHCl3 soluble fraction of Angelica dahurica stem. On the basis of spectral data, the structures of the isolated compounds were determined to be scopoletin, angelol I, angelol H and 6-[(1S), 2(R)-2, 3-dihydroxy-1-methoxy-3-methylbutyl]-7-methoxycoumarin; the latter being isolated for the first time from a plant source.     

Platelet anti-aggregating activities of bupleurumin from the aerial parts of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bupleurum falcatum</Emphasis>

An aryltetralin lactone, (-)-(1S,2R,3R)-1-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid lactone, was isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Bupleurum falcatum and named bupleurumin. The structure of the compound was determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods, including two-dimensional NMR spectrometry (e.g., 1H- and 13C-NMR, homo- and heteronuclear COSY, HMBC). Bupleurumin showed an 8-fold potent inhibitory effect (IC50: 47.5 uM) compared to that of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, IC50 : 420 uM) on collagen induced platelet aggregation and comparable effects as ASA on arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation.     

A benzenoid from the stem of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopanax senticosus</Emphasis>

Seven compounds were isolated from the stem of Acanthopanax senticosus by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated as isovanillin (1), (-)-sesamin (2), isofraxidin (3), (+)-syringaresinol (4), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5), eleutheroside B (6), and eleutheroside E (7) by spectral analysis. Among them, isovanillin (1) was isolated for the first time from the family Araliaceae.     

Hypocholesterolemic property of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yucca schidigera</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quillaja saponaria</Emphasis> extracts in human body

This study was undertaken to observe the effects of the blend of partially purified Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria extracts on cholesterol levels in the human's blood and gastrointestinal functions, and to determine if a new cholesterol-lowering drug can be developed by the further purification of the extracts. Ultrafiltration and sequential diafiltration increased the amounts of steroidal saponin in aqueous yucca extract and terpenoid saponin in aqueous quillaja extract from 9.3% and 21.4% to 17.2% and 61.8%, respectively. Taking 0.9 mg of the blend (6:4, v:v) of the resulting filtrates a day for 4 weeks resulted in the decreases in total and LDL cholesterol levels in blood plasma of hyper-cholesterolemic patients with enhancement in gastrointestinal symptoms of patients.     

Two new coumarin glucosides from the roots of<Emphasis Type="Italic">angelica apaensis</Emphasis> and their anti-platelet aggregation activity

Two new coumarin glucosides, 11-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl thamnosmonin (1) and 12-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl gosferol (2), were isolated from the roots of Angelica apaensis. Their structures were elucidated spectroscopically. Both compounds showed weak inhibitory effects on rabbit platelet aggregation induced by PAF, AA and APD.     

Two new phenolic constituents of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Humulus japonicus</Emphasis> and their cytotoxicity test<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis>

Two new phenolic constituents (4 and 6), together with four known constituents, methyl ferulate (1), eugenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and (E)-resveratrol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the aerial part sof Humulus japonicus. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods to be divarin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (4), and lariciresinol-9-O-beta-xylopyranoside (6). Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines (SK-OV-3 and HCT15) with ED50 values ranging from 8.84 to 8.79 microM.     

Coumarins from the roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligusticum multivittatum</Emphasis>

Five new coumarins, (+)-peujaponisin (1) and multivittans A–D (2–5), were isolated from the roots of Ligusticum multivittatum Franch., and their structures were established by spectral means.     

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.     

A new lignan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanamixis polystachya</Emphasis>

A new lignan, polystachyol (1), two lignan glycosides, lyoniside (2) and nudiposide (3), and a sterol, ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (4), with stigmasterol, and oleic and linoleic acids, have been isolated from an MeOH extract of the dried bark of Aphanamixis polystachya. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic data. The compounds did not have growth inhibitory activity against HeLa cells.     

Anti-Inflammation activity of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia polygama</Emphasis>

The fruit of Actinidia polygama (AP) has long been used as a folk medicine in Korea for treating pain, rheumatic arthritis and inflammation. The present investigation was carried out to determine the in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of AP using several animal models of inflammation. The 70% ethanol extract of the fruit of AP significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced, vascular permeability in a dose dependent manner (23%, 38%, and 41% inhibition at doses of 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, respectively). This effect was maintained in AP water-soluble fraction (APW). The APW fraction also showed significant inhibitory activity against the rat paw edema induced by a single treatment of carrageenan. In vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate the inhibitory activities of APW (100 microg/ml) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. The results showed that APW dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages without a notable cytotoxic effect and also decreased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein expression. APW also showed a significant inhibitory effect in LPS-induced PGE2 production and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression.     

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from the aerial parts of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Corydalis speciosa</Emphasis>

In a bioassay-guided search for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Korean natural resources, four isoquinoline alkaloids, corynoxidine (1), protopine (2), palmatine (3), and berberine (4) have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Corydalis speciosa. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. These compounds inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 values of compounds 1-4 were 89.0, 16.1, 5.8, and 3.3 microM, respectively.     

A new chromone glycoside from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhododendron spinuliferum</Emphasis>

A new chromone glycoside, 3,5,7-trihydroxylchromone-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (1), together with quercetin (2), (+)-catechin (3), (-)-epi-catechin (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Rhododendron spinuliferum. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and 2D-NMR spectral analysis. In addition, 1 exhibited mild inhibitory effect on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.