Two New Compounds Isolated from<em> Liriope muscari</em>

Two new compounds, (2S,3R)-methyl 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-carboxylate (1) and (4R,5S)-5-(3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-4-isopropyldihydrofuran-2-one (2), tentatively named norcurlignan and limlactone, respectively, were isolated from Liriope muscari, together with the known compound (-)-pinoresinol (3). The structures of these compounds were elucidated and characterized on the basis of 1D NMR, 2D NMR, CD and MS data. The in vitro antioxidant activities of compounds 1-3 were assessed by the DPPH and ABTS scavenging methods.     

New benzoyl glucosides and cytotoxic pterosin sesquiterpenes from Pteris ensiformis Burm

Three new compounds: 2R,3R-pterosin L 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->2)-7-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 4-O-benzoyl-beta-D-xylo-pyranosyl(1-->2)-7-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), together with nine known compounds, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Pteris ensiformis. 5-[2-Hydroxyethylidene]-2(5H)-furanone (4), which had been synthesized, was isolated from natural sources for the first time. The structures of all isolated compounds were determined on the basis of mass and spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 and pterosin B (5) show cytotoxicity against HL 60 cells (human leukemia) with the IC(50) values of 3.7 and 8.7 microg/mL, respectively.     

Two New Steroidal Glycosides from Liriope muscari

Liriope muscari (Decn.) Bailey (Liliaceae) is a folk medicinal plant used as a substitute of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl., mainly distributing in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China1. Previously, we reported the isolation and identification of two…     

A new diphenyl ether from Phoma sp. strain, SHZK-2

A new diphenyl ether methyl 2-(2-formyl-3-hydroxy-5-methylphenoxy)-5-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate (3), together with four known compounds, asterric acid (1), methyl asterrate (2), 9(Z),12(Z)-nonadecadienoic acid (4) and orsellinic acid (5), were isolated from the Phoma sp. strain SHZK-2, which was isolated from a polluted environment in southern China. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxicities of compounds against HEPG2 cell and Raji cell lines were preliminarily evaluated by the MTT method.     

A new isorhamnetin glycoside and other phenolic compounds from Callianthemum taipaicum

A new flavonol glycoside together with five known phenolic compounds were isolated from the whole herb of Callianthemum taipaicum. The compounds were identified as isorhamnetin-3-O-α-L-arabinoside-7-O-β-D-glucoside (1), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (2), dibutyl phthalate (3), (+)-1-hydroxylpinoresinol-4'-β-D-glucoside (4), pinoresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucoside (5) and 2-phenylethyl-β-primeveroside (6). Compound 1 was identified as a new flavonol glycoside. The compound 6 was isolated for the first time as natural product. All compounds were isolated for the first time from the Callianthemum genus. Furthermore, the 2D-NMR data of the four known compounds 2-5 are given for the first time in this paper. All the structures were identified on the basis of detailed spectral analysis. The compounds 1 and 4 exhibited certain antifungal activity.     

Flavonoids isolated from Draconis Resina

One new chalcone, 4,6-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-3-methyldihydrochalcone (4), together with four known compounds, dammaradienol (1), (-)-5-methoxyflavan-7-ol (2), 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-phenyl-7H-chromen-7-one (3), and dracorhodin (5), were isolated from Draconis Resina. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectral methods. Among these five compounds, compounds 1, 2, and 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against KB and HepG2 cells.     

Three new 3-benzylbenzofuran-2-one derivatives from Homalium brachybotrys (Flacourtiaceae/Salicaceae s. l.)

Eight phenolic compounds, including two mixtures of two compounds, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of leaves and stems of Homalium brachybotrys. They were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as quercetin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside, 5,6-dihydro-6-beta-glucopyranosyloxy-3-(hydroxyphenyl-methyl)-2(4H)-benzofuranone (cochinolide 6-O-beta-glucopyranoside) (1), 2-(6-benzoyl-beta-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (poliothrysoside) (2), 2-(beta-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (salirepin) (3), 4,5-dihydro-7a-beta-glucopyranosyloxy-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-2(7aH)-benzofuranone (isocochinolide-7a-O-beta-glucopyranoside) (4), 5,6-dihydro-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-2(4H)-benzofuranone (6-deoxycochinolide) (5) and 3-benzylidine-6-hydroxy-2-benzofuranone (1'deoxy-4,5,6-dehydrocochinolide) (6). Benzofuranones (4), (5) and (6) are new natural products. The compounds isolated support the argument that Homalium is best placed in the Salicaceae s.l.     

Bioactive aromatic derivatives from endophytic fungus, Cytospora sp

Two new benzyl gamma-butyrolactone analogues, (R)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (1) and its 6-acetate (2), and a new naphthalenone derivative (8), together with eight additional known aromatic derivatives, (S)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3), (S)-5-benzyl-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (4), 5-phenyl-4-oxopentanoic acid (5), gamma-oxo-benzenepentanoic acid methyl ester (6), 3-(2,5-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-phenyl-2-furyl)propionic acid (7), (3R)-5-methylmellein (9), integracins A (10) and B (11) were isolated from Cytospora sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from Ilex canariensis from Gomera. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, comparison with reported data, and chemical interconversion. The absolute configurations of the new compounds (1, 2, 8) were established on the basis of optical rotation or CD spectra analysis. Preliminary studies showed antimicrobial activity of these compounds against the fungi Microbotryum violaceum, Botrytis cinerea and Septoria tritici, the alga Chlorella fusca, and the bacterium Bacillus megaterium.     

Cyano- and Nitro-containing Compounds from the Roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides

Four cyano-containing compounds, (1E,4α,5β,6α)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-cyclohexen-l-ylideneacetonitrile (1), lithospermoside (2), 4-hydroxy-2-β-D-glucopyranosyl oxyphenylacetonitrile (3) and 4-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl oxy]phenylacetonitrile (4), and a nitro-containing one, 4-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy]-1-(2-nitroethyl)benzene (5), as well as eleven other types of compounds, were isolated from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods. Among them, 1 and 4 are new isolated compounds. The cyano- and nitro-containing compounds are very rare in plants and their isolation from one traditional Chinese medicine is really interesting.     

Antioxidant, anti-glycation and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic constituents from Cordia sinensis

Nine compounds have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of C. sinensis, namely protocatechuic acid (1), trans-caffeic acid (2), methyl rosmarinate (3), rosmarinic acid (4), kaempferide-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferide-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), all reported for the first time from this species. The structures of these compounds were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic studies, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1-9 were investigated for biological activity and showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageen induced rat paw edema test. The antioxidant activities of isolated compounds 1-9 were evaluated by the DPPH radical scavenging test, and compounds 1, 2, 4 and 7-9 exhibited marked scavenging activity compared to the standard BHA. These compounds were further studied for their anti-glycation properties and some compounds showed significant anti-glycation inhibitory activity. The purity of compounds 2-5, 8 and 9 was confirmed by HPLC. The implications of these results for the chemotaxonomic studies of the genus Cordia have also been discussed.     

Phenolic constituents from the rhizomes of Dryopteris crassirhizoma

A new phenolic glycoside, dryopteroside (1), was isolated from the rhizomes of Dryopteris crassirhizoma (Dryopteridaceae), together with five known compounds, 4beta-carboxymethyl-(-)-epicatechin (2), isobiflorin (3), biflorin (4), 1-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzene (5) and (+)-catechin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6). The new compound was elucidated to be 1-butanoyl-3-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5-methyl-phloroglucinyl-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) by chemical and various spectroscopic analyses. The known compounds 2-6 were first reported from the genus Dryopteris.     

Inhibition on HIV-1 integrase activity and nitric oxide production of compounds from Ficus glomerata

An ethanol Ficus glomerata wood extract and its purified components were investigated for their HIV-1 integrase (IN) and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. From bioassay-guided isolation, five compounds: beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside (1), aloe-emodin (2), genistein (3), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-8-methyl-anthraquinone (4) and 3-(1-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid (5) were isolated. Among the tested samples, at concentrations of 100 microM; compound 2 showed 31.9% inhibition of HIV-1 IN, followed by 4 (19.5%), whereas other compounds were inactive. With regard to the inhibitory effect on NO production, 3 possessed the highest activity with an IC50 value of 27.5 microM, followed by 4 (IC50 = 34.7 microM) and 2 (IC50 = 41.8 microM), respectively. This is the first time that compounds 2-5 have been isolated from Ficus glomerata.     

Isolation of toxic compounds from wild Phaeocystis globosa

Two new compounds, namely taenialactam C and globorin A (1 and 2), as well as six known compounds, cornoside (3), 2-phenylethyl-b-D-glucoside (4), 3-isopropyl-5-acetoxycyclohexene-2-one-1 (5), 4-methyl-phenol (6), 5-[(2S)-2-aminobutyl]-2-methyl-phenol (7), and 1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-propanone (8) were isolated from wild Phaeocystis globosa. The structures of the new compounds were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with spectral data of related known compounds. The structures of the known compounds were identified by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. This paper also reports toxicity properties of the eight compounds against the brine shrimp Artemia salina and juvenile Epinephelus akaara fish. Some of these compounds showed significant lethality on the brine shrimp A. salina and the juvenile E. akaara fish.     

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory constituents from Cuscuta reflexa

Two new compounds, 7'-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-N-[(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]propenamide (4), and 7'-(4'-hydroxy,3'-methoxyphenyl)-N-[(4-butylphenyl)ethyl]propenamide (5) have been isolated from Cuscuta reflexa along with five known compounds, 6,7-dimethoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (1), 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-ethanoate (2), 6,7,8-trimethoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (3), 3-(4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-ol (6), 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-4H-1-benzopyrane-4-one (7), reported for the first time from this species. Structures of these compounds were determined by spectral analysis. These compounds showed strong inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase.     

Enzyme inhibitory constituents from Duranta repens

Isoprenylated flavonoids 5,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-3,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 3,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-5,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) and an isoprenylated acetophenone derivative (3) have been isolated from Duranta repens along with known compounds, 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone (4), rosenonolactone (5), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (6), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7) and 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (8), isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures and the relative configuration were determined by spectroscopic methods (1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, UV and MS) and two-dimensional (2D)-NMR experiments. The compounds 1-5 showed inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase while 4 and 5 were also active against thrombin.     

The chemical constituents of the tissue culture cells of Daphne giraldii cullus

Three compounds were isolated from the tissue culture cells of Daphne giraldii cullus,their structures were identified as daphneolone(1),S-(+)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1-pentanone(2),S-(+)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3- hydroxy-5-phenyl-1-pentanone(3),and among them,2 was a new compound,3 was a novel natural product.     

New stilbenoids from Pholidota yunnanensis and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

Six new stilbenoids, a (bibenzyldihydrophenanthrene) ether designated phoyunnanin D (1), a bis(dihydrophenanthrene) ether designated phoyunnanin E (2), and four stilbenes designated phoyunbene A-D (3-6), were isolated from the air-dried whole plant of Pholidota yunnanensis ROLFE. The new compounds were identified as 7-[2-(3-hydroxyphenethyl)-4-hydroxy-6-methoxyphenoxy]-4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (1), 1-[(9,10-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-7-phenanthrenyl)oxy]-4,7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (2), trans-3,3'-dihydroxy-2',4',5-trimethoxystilbene (3), trans-3,4'-dihydroxy-2',3',5-trimethoxystilbene (4), trans-3,3'-dihydroxy-2',5-dimethoxystilbene (5), and trans-3-hydroxy-2',3',5-trimethoxystilbene (6) based on spectroscopic evidence. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of compounds 1-6 on nitric oxide production in a murine macrophage-like cell line (RAW 264.7) activated by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma were examined.     

Arsenic-containing ribofuranosides and dimethylarsinic acid in green seaweed,Codium fragile

Three water-soluble arsenic compounds were isolated from the green seaweed Codium fragile. These compounds were identified as 1-glycerophosphoryl-2-hydroxy-3-[5′-deoxy-5′-(dimethylarsinoyl)-β-ribofuranosyloxy]propane (1a), 1′ -(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-5′ -deoxy-5′ -(dimethylarsinoyl)-β-ribofuranoside (1b), and dimethylarsinic acid ((CH₃)₂AsOOH). The structures of these compounds were ascertained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1a and 1b accounted for 60 % and dimethylarsinic acid for 5% of the water-soluble arsenic.     

Antimicrobial polyacetylenes from Panax ginseng hairy root culture

Two new polyacetylenes, 1-hydroxydihydropanaxacol (3) and 17-hydroxypanaxacol (4), were isolated from Panax ginseng hairy root culture, along with dihydropanaxacol (1), panaxacol (2) and ginsenoyne D (5). Highly hydroxylated compounds 1-4 were isolated from the medium and compound 5, which was a biosynthetic precursor of compound 1, was isolated from the roots. Compounds 1-4 showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus. It is suggested that P. ginseng plants release antimicrobial polyacetylenes into the surrounding soil from the roots as defense compounds.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitor from the stem bark of Styrax japonica S. et Z

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction from the stem bark of Styrax japonica S. et Z. (Styracaceae) yielded two new lignan compounds, styraxjaponoside A (1) and styraxjaponoside B (2), along with three known compounds, matairesinoside (3), egonol glucoside (4), and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9'-O-glucoside (5). The structures of compounds 1-5 were determined by spectroscopic method, as well as 1D- and 2D-NMR (HSQC, 1H-1H COSY, and HMBC) spectroscopy. Among them, compound 2 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and prevented the UV-induced changes in the MMP-1 expression. In addition, compounds 3 and 5 were isolated from this plant for the first time.