Flavonol Glycosides with α‐Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and New Flavone C‐Diosides from the Leaves of Machilus konishii

Seventeen flavonoids, five of which are flavone C‐diosides, 1 – 5 , were isolated from the BuOH‐ and AcOEt‐soluble fractions of the leaf extract of Machilus konishii. Among 1 – 5 , apigenin 6‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), apigenin 8‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and apigenin 8‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) are new. Both 4 and 5 are present as rotamer pairs. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR‐spectroscopic analyses and MS data. In addition, the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR data of apigenin 6‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) were assigned for the first time. The isolated compounds were assayed against α‐glucosidase (type IV from Bacillus stearothermophilus). Kaempferol 3‐O‐(2‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 12 ) was found to possess the best inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 29.3 μM .     

Three New Pregnane Alkaloids from Veratrum taliense

Three new alkaloids, 3‐O‐acetylveralkamine ( 1 ), veralkamine 3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 2 ), and 6,7‐epoxyverdine ( 3 ), together with five known alkaloids, veramitaline, veralkamine ( 4 ), angeloylzygadenine, veratroylzygadenine, and veramiline 3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside), were isolated from the whole plants of Veratrum taliense. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, and the NMR data of veralkamine ( 4 ) are given for the first time. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds, except for veramitaline, were tested.     

Steroidal Alkaloids from Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f. with Genotoxicity on Brain Cell DNA in Mice

Two new steroidal alkaloids, 2β‐hydroxyverdine ( 1 ) and tomatillidine 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), were isolated from the root and rhizome of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz .) Loes . f., together with four known compounds, i.e., 16‐O‐(2‐methylbutyroyl)germine ( 3 ), veramitaline ( 4 ), jervine ( 5 ), and veratroylzygadenine ( 6 ). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with data in literature. Compounds 1 – 6 exhibited genotoxicity on brain cell DNA of the cerebellum and cerebral cortex in mice, evaluated by using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).     

New α‐Tetralone Galloylglucosides from the Fresh Pericarps of Juglans sigillata

Three new α‐tetralone galloylglucosides, 1 – 3 , were isolated from the fresh pericarps of Juglans sigillata (Juglandaceae), together with six known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were determined as 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐7‐hydroxy‐4‐oxonaphthalen‐1‐yl 6‐O‐[(3,4,5‐trihydroxyphenyl)carbonyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), (1S)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐8‐hydroxy‐4‐oxonaphthalen‐1‐yl 6‐O‐[(3,4,5‐trihydroxyphenyl)carbonyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐4‐oxonaphthalen‐1‐yl 6‐O‐[(3,4,5‐trihydroxyphenyl)carbonyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), respectively, on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, and acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis. The antimicrobial activities of the isolated compounds 2, 4 , and 7 – 9 were evaluated.     

Steroidal Alkaloids from Veratrum maackii Regel with Genotoxicity on Brain‐Cell DNA in Mice

Two new steroidal alkaloids, 23‐methoxycyclopamine 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ) and isoecliptalbine ( 2 ), were isolated from the root and rhizoma of Veratrum maackii Regel , together with five known compounds, i.e., verussurine ( 3 ), verabenzoamine ( 4 ), verazine ( 5 ), isoverazine ( 6 ), and verazinine ( 7 ). Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data, as well as by comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 – 7 could cause DNA damage in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of mice in a dose‐dependent manner by using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).     

Flavonoid Constituents from Spiraea brahuica

Sparins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), three new flavonoids, were isolated from the CHCl₃ subfraction of the EtOH extract of the whole plant of Spiraea brahuica, along with 3′,7‐di‐O‐methylquercetin ( 4 ) and luteolin 7‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), reported for the first time from this species. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including MS and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy.     

Two New Homo‐aro‐cholestane Glycosides and a New Cholestane Glycoside from the Roots and Rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. pseudothibetica

Two new homo‐aro‐cholestane glycosides and a new cholestane glycoside, along with three known saponins, were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. pseudothibetica. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3β‐O‐{α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylhomo‐aro‐cholest‐5‐ene‐26‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (parispseudoside A, 1 ), 3β‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylhomo‐aro‐cholest‐5‐ene‐26‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (parispseudoside B, 2 ), and (25R)‐3β‐O‐{α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐cholesta‐5,17(20)‐diene‐16,22‐dione‐26‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (parispseudoside C, 3 ) by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and MS experiments, as well as chemical evidences.     

Dapholidins A – C,New Isomeric Biisoflavonoids From Daphne oleoides

Three new isomeric biisoflavonoids, dapholidins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), have been isolated from the AcOEt‐soluble fraction of the MeOH‐soluble extract of the roots of Daphne oleoides, along with the known compounds daphwazirin ( 4 ), daphnetin 8‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), daphnin ( 6 ), daphneticin 4″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 7 ), and 6,7‐dihydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐8‐[2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐7‐(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐8‐yl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one ( 8 ). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR.     

A new NMR approach for structure determination of thermally unstable biflavanones and application to phytochemicals from Garcinia buchananii

Previous activity‐guided phytochemical studies on Garcinia buchananii stem bark, which is traditionally used in Africa to treat various gastrointestinal and metabolic illnesses, revealed xanthones, polyisoprenylated benzophenones, flavanone‐C‐glycosides, biflavonoids, and/or biflavanones as bioactive key molecules. Unequivocal structure elucidation of biflavonoids and biflavanones by means of NMR spectroscopy is often complicated by the hindered rotation of the monomers around the C‐C axis (atropisomerism), resulting in a high spectral complexity. In order to facilitate an unrestricted rotation, NMR spectra are usually recorded at elevated temperatures, commonly over 80 °C, which effects in a single set of resonance signals. However, under these conditions, one of the target compounds of this investigation, (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐manniflavanone ( 1 ), undergoes degradation. Therefore, we demonstrated in the present study that the 1,1‐ADEQUATE could be successfully used as a powerful alternative approach to confirm the C‐C connectivities in 1 , avoiding detrimental conditions. However, a moderate increase in temperature up to 50 °C was sufficient to deliver sharp signals in the proton NMR experiment of (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐isomanniflavanone ( 2 ) and (2″R,3″R)‐preussianone ( 3 ). In addition, two new compounds could be isolated, namely (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐GB‐2 7″‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ) and (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐manniflavanone‐7″‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), and whose structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry methods. The absolute configurations were determined by a combination of NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. The aforementioned compounds exhibited high anti‐oxidative capacity in the H₂O₂ scavenging, hydrophilic Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (H‐TEAC) and hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H‐ORAC) assays. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of an ultra high‐performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of a diastereomeric impurity in (+)‐pinoresinol diglucoside chemical reference substance

(+)‐Pinoresinol 4,4′‐di‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ((+)‐PDG) is one of the major lignans with various pharmacological activities which could be isolated from Duzhong and other plant species. In this study, a diastereomeric impurity, (?)‐pinoresinol 4,4′‐di‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ((?)‐PDG), the main impurity was identified in (+)‐PDG chemical reference substance (CRS) and a reliable chromatographic method for rapid purity determination of (+)‐PDG CRS was firstly developed. The optimal chromatographic condition was found to be using ACN/1,4‐dioxane–water (2.5:6:91.5, v/v/v) as mobile phase on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) with column temperature of 37°C. The method was validated and applied to determine the chromatographic purity of five (+)‐PDG CRS samples. The content of (?)‐PDG in four commercial (+)‐PDG CRS was 8.47–20.30%, whereas no (?)‐PDG was detected in our in‐house prepared (+)‐PDG CRS in which purity was confirmed to be 99.80%. The above results confirmed that this method is fast and highly efficient for purity determination of the (+)‐PDG CRS.     

Megastigmane Glycosides from Docynia indica and Their Anti‐inflammatory Activities

Using various chromatographic methods, three new megastigmane glycosides, docynicasides A – C ( 1  –  3 ) and ten known, (6S,9R)‐vomifoliol 9‐O‐β‐d ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1′′→6′)‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), hyperin ( 5 ), quercitrin ( 6 ), quercetin 3‐α‐l ‐arabinofuranoside ( 7 ), naringenin 7‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 8 ), phloridzin ( 9 ), phloretin 2′‐O‐β‐d ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 10 ), pinosylvin 3‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 11 ), tormentic acid ( 12 ), and chlorogenic acid methyl ester ( 13 ) were isolated from the fruits of Docynia indica. Their chemical structures were elucidated by physical and chemical methods. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for the inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS‐stimulated BV2 cells. As the results, compounds 3  –  5 showed significant inhibitory activity on LPS‐stimulated NO production in BV2 cells with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 21.0 to 29.3 μm .     

Sesquiterpenoids and Their Glycosides from Gynura procumbens

Chemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the leaves of Gynura procumbens (Lour .) Merr . afforded one new sesquiterpenoid, muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,10β‐triol ( 1 ), and two sesquiterpene glycosides, muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,10β‐triol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,15‐triol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), together with three known sesquiterpenoids. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods.     

New Flavonoids from Lysimachia christinae Hance

A chemical investigation of Lysimachia christinae, a traditional Chinese medicine used as an effective conservative treatment for gall stones, hepatolithiasis, and urinary calculi, resulted in the isolation of two new flavonoids, myricetin 3,3′‐di‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 1 ) and quercetin 3,3′‐di‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 2 ), along with the five known flavonoids quercetin 3‐[O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside], amentoflavone, hyperin, quercetin 3‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, and kaempferol 3‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside. Amentoflavone was reported for the first time from the genus Lysimachia, and quercetin 3‐[O‐α‐L ‐rhamopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside] was isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their chemical reactions and extensive spectroscopic analyses, including UV, mass, and NMR spectra.     

Furostane‐Type Steroidal Saponins from the Roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum

Four new furostanol steroid saponins, borivilianosides A–D ( 1 – 4 , resp.), corresponding to (3β,5α,22R,25R)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐hydroxyfurostan‐3‐yl O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 1 ), (3β,5α,22R,25R)‐ 26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐methoxyfurostan‐3‐yl O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 2 ), (3β,5α,22R,25R)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐methoxyfurostan‐3‐yl O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 3 ), and (3β,5α,25R)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)furost‐20(22)‐en‐3‐yl O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 4 ), together with the known tribuluside A and (3β,5α,22R,25R)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐methoxyfurostan‐3‐yl O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside were isolated from the dried roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant and Fern . Their structures were elucidated by 2D ‐NMR analyses (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) and mass spectrometry.     

Clionasterol Glucoside and Acylated Clionasterol Glucosides from Oplismenus burmannii

A new clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[(1'→3α)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), a new acylated clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐acyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐b‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and clionasterol ( 3 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Oplismenus burmannii. The nature and length of fatty acid acyl chains in 2 was identified by alkaline methanolysis of compound 2 . The aglycone fraction on GC‐MS analysis showed three peaks in GC at t_R 49.86 (82.1%), 51.13 (13.3%) and 56.53 (4.6%) min, which were characterized as arachidic acid methyl ester ( a ) oleic acid methyl ester ( b ) and 12‐methyltetradecanoic acid methyl ester ( c ) respectively. Thus 2 was characterized as a mixture of three new compounds, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐eicosanoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2a ), clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(8Z)‐octa‐deca‐9‐enoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2b ) and clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(12‐methyltetradecanoyl)‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2c ).     

New Minor Spirostane Glycosides from Ypsilandra thibetica

A further phytochemical investigation on the whole plants of Ypsilandra thibetica yielded three new spirostane glycosides, named ypsilandrosides M–O ( 1 – 3 ). Their structures were established as (3β,11α,25R)‐3,11‐dihydroxyspirost‐5‐en‐12‐one 3‐{O‐α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside} ( 1 ), (3β,7β,25R)‐spirost‐5‐ene‐3,7‐diol 3‐{O‐α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside} ( 2 ), and (3β,7α,25R)‐spirost‐5‐ene‐3,7,17‐triol 3‐{O‐α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhanmopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside} ( 3 ) by means of a combination of MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic methods, and chemical degradation. Among them, compound 3 is the first pennogenin (=(3β,25R)‐spirost‐5‐ene‐3,17‐diol) saponin whose aglycone contains an OH group at C(7). Compounds 1 – 3 were evaluated for the inhibition of the growth of five tumor cell lines, but all of them proved to be inactive.     

New Dammarane‐Type Saponins from the Rhizomes of Panax japonicus

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new dammarane‐type triterpenoid saponins, yesanchinoside R₁ ( 1 ) and yesanchinoside R₂ ( 2 ), together with one new natural product, 6′′′‐O‐acetylginsenoside Re ( 3 ). In addition, 25 known compounds, including 23 triterpenoid saponins, 4 – 26 , β‐sitosterol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 27 ), and ecdysterone ( 28 ), were also identified. The known saponins 12, 15 , and 18 – 22 were reported for the first time from the title plant. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques, as well as acidic hydrolysis.     

Flavone Glycosides from Strobilanthes Formosanus

Two new flavone glycosides, 3′‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxyflavone 4′‐O‐β‐D‐apiofuranoside ( 1 ), and 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone 4′‐O‐[β‐D‐apiofuranosyl(1→5)‐ β‐D‐glucopyranoside] ( 2 ) along with four known compounds, 4′‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxyflavone ( 3 ), 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 4 ), lupeol ( 5 ) and betulin ( 6 ) were isolated from the stem and roots of Strobilanthes formosanus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic evidence.     

Spirostanol Saponins from the Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker‐Gawl

Three new steroidal saponins, (25R)‐ruscogenin‐3‐yl α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), diosgenin‐3‐yl 2‐O‐acetyl‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), and pennogenin‐3‐yl 2‐O‐acetyl‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) were isolated from the fibrous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb .) Ker‐Gawl . Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR. All of these three steroidal saponins exhibited weak cytotoxicities against Hela and Hep2 cell lines.     

3‐O‐Methylquercetin Glucosides from Ophioglossum pedunculosum and Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Nitric Oxide Production in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

The three new 3‐O‐methylquercetin glucosides 1 – 3 , together with three known congeners and 3‐O‐methylquercetin, were isolated from the fern Ophioglossum pedunculosum (quercetin=2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐3,5,7‐trihydroxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one). The new compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis as 5′‐isoprenyl‐3‐O‐methylquercetin 4′,7‐di‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), 3‐O‐methylquercetin 4′‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside 7‐[O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside] ( 2 ), and 3‐O‐methylquercetin 7‐[O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside] ( 3 ). The effect of the isolated compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced NO production was evaluated. The inhibitory activity of 3‐O‐methylquercetin derivatives decreased markedly with the increasing number of glucosyl groups in the structures.