New Triterpenes from the Heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L.

Fourteen chemical constituents were isolated from the CHCl₃ soluble portion of the heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L. These compounds include β-sitosterol (1) , β-sitostenone (2) , 6-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-3-hepten-2-one (3) , naphthalene (4) , squalene (5) , 2α3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (6) , 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-27,28-dioic acid (7) , 2α,3β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (8) , 3β,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (9) , 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (10) , 3β-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (11) , and three novel oleanane derivatives 23-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,3β-dihydroxyotean-12-en-28-oic acid (12), 3β-trans-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (13) , and its isomer 3β-cis-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (14) , The three novel compounds were characterized as the two and three O-methylated derivatives, respectively.     

Plectranthoic acid A & B, two new triterpenoids from Plectranthus rugosus

Two new triterpenoid acids, designated as plectranthoic acid A and plectranthoic acid B, have been isolated from P. rugosus and are characterised as (20-S)-3α-hydroxy-18α,19α-$\text{H}\text{-}$-urs-12-en-30β-oic acid and (14-S)-3α-hydroxy-18α, 19α $\text{H}\text{-}$-urs-12-en-27α-oic acid.     

A new triterpene from the plant of uncaria macrophylla

Our ongoing investigations on the stem bark of Uncaria macrophylla afforded a new ursolic triterpene, 3β,6β,19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid-24-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1), named uncariursanic acid, and three known ursolic triterpenes including 3β,6β,19α-trihydroxy-23-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 3β,6β,19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3) and ursolic acid (4). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The cytotoxicities of the four compounds were evaluated against two cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and HepG2) by the MTT method, and only compound 4 exhibited potent activity.     

Two new triterpenoids from the seeds of blackberry (Rubus fructicosus)

Two new ursane-type triterpenoids (1, 2) attached to isopropylidenedioxy group were isolated from the seeds of blackberry (Rubus fructicosus L., Rosaceae) along with two known ursane-type triterpenoids, 2,3-O-isopropylidenyl-2α,3α,19α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (3) and 1β-hydroxyeuscaphic acid (4). The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were determined to be 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1β,2β,3β,19α-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 1,2-O-isopropylidene-1β,2α,3α,19α-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, respectively, based on spectroscopic data. Additionally, their cytotoxic activity towards HL-60 human leukaemia cells was evaluated. Among them, 3 demonstrated a clear cytotoxic activity with 72.8 μM of IC₅₀ value.     

Two new noroleanane-type triterpenoid saponins from the stems of Stauntonia chinensis

Two new noroleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, 3β,20α,24-trihydroxy-29-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid 24-O-β-L-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3β,20α,24-trihydroxy-29-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid 24-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the stems of Stauntonia chinensis DC., together with three known compounds, brachyantheraoside B₂ (3), eupteleasaponin Ⅷ (4) and fargoside B (5). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated against five human tumor cell lines (HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, NCI-H1650, and A2780). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activities toward the tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 12.71 to 32.04 μM.     

Two new echinocystic acid derivatives catalyzed by filamentous fungus Gliocladium roseum CGMCC 3.3657

Biotransformation of Echinocystic acid (EA,1) using G. roseum CGMCC 3.3657 has been investigated, which leads to the isolation and identification of two novel Echinocystic acid derivatives, 4, 16α-dihydroxy-3,4-seco-olean-12-en-3,28-dioic acid (2) and 16α-hydroxy, A-homo-3α-oxa-olean-12-en-3-one-28-oic acid (3). Their structures have been elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. This biocatalysis could serve as an efficient tool complementary to classical chemical methods for the transformation of EA.     

Two new triterpenoids from Nauclea officinalis

Two new triterpenoids and three 27-nor-triterpenoids were isolated from the stems (with bark) of Nauclea officinalis. Their structures were identified to be 2β,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 2β,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1-2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (2), pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (3), pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosy1-28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4), pyrocincholic acid 3β-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosy1-28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (5) by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR and HR-MS analyses. The cytotoxic activity of 1–5 against lung cancer A-549 cells was also investigated.     

New oleanene glycosides from the leaves of Acanthopanax japonicus

The structures of 6 new oleanene glycosides (1--6) isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax japonicus FRANCH et. SAVART (Araliaceae) were elucidated by mass, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The structures of 1--6 were established as 28-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] ester of 3beta,23-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-28,29-dioic acid, 3beta,30-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-23,28-dioic acid, 3beta,29-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-23,28-dioic acid (=dianic aicd), 3beta-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-23,28-dioic acid (=gypsogenic acid), 3beta,29-dihydroxy-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, and 3beta-hydroxy-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28,29-dioic acid, designated acanjaposide D (1), E (2), F (3), G (4), H (5), and I (6), respectively.     

A new triterpene and a saponin from Centella asiatica

A new triterpene and a saponin,named 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid(1)and 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(2),have been isolated from the aerial part of Centella asiatica.Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods,including 2D-NMR spectra.     

Five new ent-kaurane diterpenes from Annona squamosa L. pericarps

Abstract

In the present study, five new ent-kaurane diterpenes including 4α-hydroxy-17,19-dinor-ent-kaurane-16-one (1), 4β-hydroxy-16β-H-18-nor-ent-kaurane-17-oic acid (2), 4β,17-dihydroxy-16α-acetoxy-18-nor-ent-kaurane (3), Annosquamosin Z (4) and 16α-H-ent-kaurane-17,18-dioic acid, 17-methy ester (5) were isolated from Annona squamosa L. pericarp. The compounds were also evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cell lines, among which compound 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of less than 20?μM.     

Two new triterpenoids from Gypsophila oldhamiana

Two new triterpenoids (1–2) were isolated and elucidated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana, together with four known triterpenoids (3–6). Their structures were identified to be 3β-hydroxyolean-13(18)-ene-23, 28-dioic acid (1), 3β, 12α-dihydroxy-23-carboxyolean-28, 13β-olide (2), 3β, 16α-dihydroxy-23-oxoolean-13(18)-en-28-oic acid (3), gypsogenin (4), quillaic acid (5) and gypsogenic acid (6) by spectral methods. All compounds were tested for their cytotoxicities against human tumour cell lines (lung cancer H460 and gastric cancer SGC-7901) and for their antiangiogenic effects using a zebra fish model. All compounds showed interesting antiangiogenic activities and the significant cytotoxicities against H460.     

New triterpenoid saponins from Stelmatocrypton khasianum

Four new triterpenoid saponins, designated as stelmatotriterpenosides E-H (1-4), together with three known compounds, asterbatanoside B (5), 2alpha,3beta,19alpha,23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (6) and 2alpha,3beta,19alpha,23-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (7), were isolated from the stems of Stelmatocrypton khasianum. On the basis of chemical and spectral evidence, the structures of 1-4 were established as 2alpha,3beta,23-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 2alpha,3beta,23-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 2alpha,3beta,19alpha-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 2beta,3beta,19alpha-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-24,28-dioic acid-24-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl diester (4).     

New C19-diterpenoid alkaloids from the parent roots of Aconitum carmichaelii

Aconitum carmichaelii is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine and important source of clinical drugs. The parent roots of A. carmichaelii were investigated resulting in the isolation and identification of five new C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids; 14α-benzoyloxy-N-ethyl-15α-hydroxy-1α,6α,8β,16β,18-pentamethoxyaconitane formate (1), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-N-ethyl-13β,15α-dihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyaconitane formate (2), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-N-ethyl-3α,13β,15α-trihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxylaconitane (3), 14α-benzoyloxy-8β-butoxy-3α,13β,15α-trihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyl-N-methylaconitane (4) and 8β,14α-dibenzoyloxy-N-ethyl-13β,15α-dihydroxy-1α,6α,16β,18-tetramethoxyaconitane (5).     

Microbial transformation of two 15α-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene diterpenes by Mucor plumbeus

The microbiological transformation of candidiol (15α,18-dihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene) by Mucor plumbeus led to 3β,15α,18-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 6α,15α,18-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 3α,15α,18-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 11β,15α,18-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene and 15α,17,18-trihydroxy-11β,16β-epoxy-ent-kaurane, whilst the incubation of 15α,19-dihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene gave 9β,15α,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 3α,15α,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 11β,15α,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 6α,15α,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, 15α,17,19-trihydroxy-11β,16β-epoxy-ent-kaurane, 19-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-15α-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene and 19-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-15-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene. An interesting rearrangement in dilute acid medium of 9β,15α,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene into 16-oxo-19-hydroxy-ent-abiet-8(9),15-diene, is also described in this work.     

Microbial hydroxylation and glycosidation of oleanolic acid by Circinella muscae and their anti-inflammatory activities

Biotransformation of oleanolic acid (OA) by Circinella muscae AS 3.2695 was investigated. Nine hydroxylated and glycosylated metabolites (1–9) were obtained. Their structures were elucidated as 3β,7β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3β,7β,21β-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 3β,7α,21β-trihydroxyolean-12-en- 28-oic acid (3), 3β,7β,15α-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), 7β,15α-dihydroxy- 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 7β-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (7), 3β,21β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28- oic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (8), and 3β,7β,15α-trihydroxyolean-12-en- 28-oic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (9) by spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compounds 4 and 9 were new compounds. In addition, anti-inflammatory activities were assayed and evaluated for the isolated metabolites. Most of the metabolites exhibited significant inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharides-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells.     

Constituents of Fruit Bodies of Tramete orientalis

A known sterol, 5α,6α-epoxy-5α-crgosta-8(14),22E-diene-3β,7α-diol ( 1 ), and two new sterols, 5α,6α-epoxy-3β,8β,14α-trihydroxy-5α-ergost-22E-en-7-one ( 2 ), (3α,5α),(8β,11β)-diepidioxy-ergost-22E-en-12-one ( 3 ), were isolated and characterized from dried fruit bodies of Trametes orientalis. Their structures were elucidated according to spectral methods.     

The Terpenoids of Maytenus boaria MOL. (Celastraceae)

The known triterpenoids β-amyrin (= olean-12-en-3β-ol; 22 ), lupeol (= lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol; 17 ), betulin (= lup-20(29)-ene-3β,28-diol; 18 ), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,30-diol ( 20 ), oleanolic acid (= 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid; 21 ), and betulonic acid (= 3-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid; 19 ), together with epicatechol (= cis-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 23 ), 5′-O-methylgallocatechol (= trans-2-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 24 ), and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were isolated from the aerial parts of Maytenus boaria (MOL. ). Additonally, the eight 4,C⁴-dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids 1–8 , one of them a diol with a (4R)-configuration, and compound 9 were present in the extract. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic and chemical means.     

Soldier defense secretions of the south american termites Cortaritermes Silvestri, Nasutitermes SP N.D and Nasutitermes Kemneri

The defense secretions of the soldiers of the South American termites Cortaritermes silvestri, Nasutitermes sp. n.D. and Nasutitermes kemneri have been investigated. The secretion of C. silvestri was shown to contain α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene and cis-pin-3-en-yl acetate. Three of the four diterpenes in this secretion were identified as the triacetate, diacetate propionate and acetate dipropionate of 3α, 9β, 12α-trihydroxy-11(12), 15(17-trinervitadiene. The soldier secreation of Nasutitermes sp. n.D. and Nasutitermes kemneri were found to contain a mixture of monoterpene hydrocarbons and diterpenes. The major monoterpene in these two species was shown to be β-phellandrene and terpinolene, respectively. The major diterpene in Nasutitermes sp. n.D. was identified as 9β-hydroxy-1(15), 8(19)-trinervitadiene and, for Nasutitermes kemneri, 2α, 3β-dihydroxy-1(15), 8(9)- and 1(15), 8(19)-trinervitadiene were the major components.     

Terpene glycosides from the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis L. and their hemostatic activities

Guided by a hemostasis bioassay, seven terpene glycosides were isolated from the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis L. by silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC. On the grounds of chemical and spectroscopic methods, their structures were identified as citronellol-1-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), geraniol-1-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), geraniol-1-O-α-Larabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3β-[(α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-19α-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), 3β-[(α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-oxy]-19α-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-β-D-glucopyranoside (ziyu-glycoside I, 5), 3β,19α-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-β-D-glucopyranoside (7). Compound 1 is a new mono-terpene glycoside and compounds 2, 3 and 5 were isolated from the Sanguisorba genus for the first time. Compounds 1–7 were assayed for their hemostatic activities with a Goat Anti-Human α2-plasmin inhibitor ELISA kit, and ziyu-glycoside I (5) showed the strongest hemostatic activity among the seven terpene glycosides. This is the first report that ziyu-glycoside Ι has strong hemostatic activity.     

Preparative Droplet Counter-Current Chromatography for the Separation of the New Nor-Seco-Triterpene and Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from Qualea Parviflora

The methanolic extract of the bark of the medicinal plant Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) contains new nor-seco-triterpene and pentacyclic triterpenoids. They were separated in a preparative scale using droplet counter-current chromatography. The optimum solvent used was composed of a mixture of CHCl₃/MeOH/H₂O (43:37:20, v/v) in the descending mode and led to a successful separation of the new compound 28-nor-17, 22-seco-2α, 3β, 19, 22, 23-pentahydroxy-Δ¹²-oleanane, besides the known triterpenoids bellericagenin B, bellericaside B and arjunglucoside I . Identification was performed by ESI-MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses.