Diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Leonurus macranthus

One cis clerodane-type (1) and three highly oxygenated labdane-type diterpenes (2-4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus macranthus. Compound 1 represents the first example of cis clerodane-type diterpene in the plants of Leonurus genus.     

First identification of isatin-β-thiosemicarbazones as novel inhibitors of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1: Chemical synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular simulation

A series of isatin-β-thiosemicarbazone compounds were identified as novel inhibitors of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1. The structure-activity relationship and possible binding mode were also established for further rational design of new inhibitors.     

A new isocoumarin from metabolites of the endophytic fungus Alternaria tenuissima (Nees & T. Nees : Fr.) Wiltshire

A new isocoumarin,tenuissimasatin（1）,was isolated from metabolites of the endophytic fungus Alternaria tenuissima（Nees & T.Nees:Fr.） Wiltshire,which was isolated from the bark of Erythrophleum fordii Oliver,together with 11 known compounds（2- 12）.The structure and absolute configuration of 1 was determined by means of NMR and CD analysis.Compound 3 shows selective cytotoxic activity on human colon cancer cell HCT-8(IC₅₀ = 1.78μmol/L) by MTT test in vitro.Other compounds show no such activities(IC₅₀>10μmol/L).     

A new cytotoxic salannin-class limonoid alkaloid from seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss

Azadiramide A (1), a new salannin-class limonoid alkaloid, inhibits growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line with IC₅₀ value of 2.70±0.63 μmol/L.     

Synthesis and molecular modeling study of Cu(Ⅱ) complexes derived from 2-(diphenylmethylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives with cholinesterase inhibitory activities

Thiosemicarbazones of 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone and 3-aminobenzophenone（L¹-L⁴） have been synthesized and their Cu（Ⅱ） complexes（1-4） were afforded via coordination with cupric chloride.All these compounds were characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy together with CHN elemental analysis.NMR spectroscopy was also applied to characterize the ligands.In vitro chohnesterase inhibitory assays for the complexes（1-4） showed IC₅₀ values less than 10μmol/L,with complex 1 exhibiting the most activity,IC₅₀=2.15μmol/L and 2.16μmol/L for AChE and BuChE,respectively. Molecular modeling simulation revealed the binding interaction template for complex 1 with the AChE and BuChE receptors.In DPPH assay,the complexes also showed more in vitro antioxidant activities in comparison to their parent ligands.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of quinazolin-4(3H)-one Schiff base conjugates as potential antiamoebic agents

In an effort to develop novel antiamoebic scaffolds having better efficacy than the standard drug metronidazole (IC₅₀ = 1.80 μM) used against Entamoeba histolytica, quinazolin-4(3H)-one Schiff base conjugates were synthesized and evaluated against HM1: IMSS strain of E. histolytica. Out of the thirteen compounds (S2-S14), six compounds (S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S11) were found to be better inhibitors than metronidazole and showed low cytotoxicity on HeLa cells, a cervical cancer cell line. The structure of intermediate compound S1 was confirmed by crystal structure studies.     

Bistachybotrysins D and E,one stereoisomeric pair of cytotoxic phenylspirodrimane dimers from Stachybotrys chartarum

Bistachybotrysins D and E (1 and 2), one stereoisomeric pair of phenylspirodrimane dimers, were isolated from Stachybotrys chartarum CGMCC 3.5365. They represent novel phenylspirodrimane dimers with a central [6,5,6]-tricyclic carbon scaffold containing a cyclopentanone core. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and their absolute configurations were characterized by calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 1 and 2 displayed potent cytotoxic activity against the four human tumor cell lines HCT116, BGC823, Daoy and HepG2 with IC_ (50)values ranging from 6.7 μmol/L to 11.6 μmol/L. Furthermore, a plausible biogenetic pathway for 1 and 2 is proposed.     

Visconata: A rare flavonol having long chain fatty acid from Dodonaea viscosa which inhibits Human neutrophil elastase (HNE)

A series of flavonoids were isolated from Dodonaea Viscosa and tested for inhibition of human neutrophil elastase (HNE), enzyme involved in inflammatory disorders. Isolated compounds were identified as a novel flavonol (1) along with eight known flavonoids (2–9). Novel flavonol, visconata (1) has a very rare skeleton having odd numbered long chain (C19) fatty acid, which was completely identified by mass fragmentation and 2D NMR analysis. All compounds (1–9) inhibited HNE in dose dependent manner with IC₅₀s ranging between 2.4 and 150 μM. Visconata (1) emerged to be the most potent compound with 2.4 μM of IC₅₀. In kinetic studies, compound (1) was observed to be reversible, noncompetitive inhibitor having K_i = 1.8 μM, whereas other flavonoids (2–9) displayed mixed type inhibition.     

Design and synthesis of novel water-soluble amino acid derivatives of chlorin p6 ethers as photosensitizer

Eight new water-soluble amino acid derivatives of chlorin p₆ ethers 6a-h were designed and synthesized using purpurin-18 (2) as key intermediate. All target compounds exhibited better phototoxicity than talaporfin and the most phototoxic compound 6d showed IC₅₀ values of 0.20 μmol/L against A549 cell and 0.41 μmol/L against B16-F10 cell, which represented 31- and 24-fold increase of PDT antitumor efficacy compared to talaporfin.     

Thiazolylhydrazone dervatives as inhibitors for insect N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidase and chitinase

Insect chitinase and N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidases (Hex) are potential targets for developing new pesticides. Here, a series of thiazolylhydrazones I (with substituted group R₁ at N3) and II (with substituted group R₁ at N2) were designed, synthesised and evaluated as competitive inhibitors of OfHex1 and OfChi-h, from the agricultural pest Ostrinia furnacalis. Derivatives I-3d and II-3d, with phenoxyethyl group at R₁, demonstrated the best inhibitory activities against OfHex1 and OfChi-h. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the branched conformation compound II-3d (K_i = 1.5 μmol/L) formed more hydrogen bonds with OfHex1 than the stretched conformation compound I-3d (K_i = 5.9 μmol/L). The differences in compounds’ binding conformations with OfChi-h explained differences in inhibitory activity of compounds I-3d (K_i = 1.9 μmol/L) and II-3d (K_i = 4.1 μmol/L). This work suggests a novel scaffold for developing specific Hex and Chi-h inhibitors.     

Catharoseumine,a new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid possessing a peroxy bridge from Catharanthus roseus

Catharoseumine (1), a new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid possessing a unique peroxy bridge moiety, was isolated from the whole plants of Catharanthus roseus. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of NMR, IR, UV, and high-resolution mass spectrometric data, and its absolute configuration was determined by ECD and chemical methods. Catharoseumine (1) exhibited cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line with IC₅₀ value of 6.28 μM and potential inhibition against Plasmodium falciparum falcipain-2 (IC₅₀ = 4.06 μM). A plausible biogenetic pathway of 1 was also proposed.     

Exploring the N-terminus region: Synthesis,bioactivity and 3D-QSAR of allatostatin analogs as novel insect growth regulators

Two series of peptidomimetic analogs with different substituents on the N-terminus region were designed and synthesized to explore the relationship between the structure and the inhibition activity in vitro. In addition, 3D-QSAR study was performed to highlight the structural requirements of AST analogs.     

Antiplasmodial Securinega alkaloids from Phyllanthus fraternus: Discovery of natural (+)-allonorsecurinine

The chemical investigation of the antimalarial plant Phyllanthus fraternus G. L. Webster (Phyllanthaceae) resulted in the discovery of the Securinega alkaloid (+)-allonorsecurinine (1), previously reported as a synthetic compound, together with the known ent-norsecurinine (2), nirurine (3), bubbialine (4), epibubbialine (5) and the lignan phyllanthin (6). The structure and absolute configuration of the new compound were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, optical rotation, and GIAO NMR shift calculation followed by CP3 analysis. The antiplasmodial activity of these compounds was evaluated against chloroquine-resistant (W2) and -sensitive (3D7) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Among them, ent-norsecurinine (2) and (+)-allonorsecurinine (1) showed the strongest activity (IC₅₀: 1.14 ± 0.32 and 2.57 ± 0.53 µM) respectively, against W2 but one of the weakest against 3D7.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of water-soluble poly(aminoheterocyclic amine)s (I): N,N,N'''',N''''-tetra[2-(4-amino-5-substituted-s-triazol-3-yl sulfanyl)ethyl] -1,4-benzyldiamine salts

Five water-soluble poly(aminoheterocyclic amine)s containing s-triazole ring were synthesized as respective HC1 salts (5a-5e). Biological activities in L1210 (murine leukemia) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines were investigated via IC50 cytotoxicity determinations. The tide compounds represented moderate cytotoxicity (low IC50 values between 15 and 68μmol/L) in L1210 but high cytotoxicity (lower IC50 values: 0.25,0.018,0.014μmol/L for Sa-5e, respectively) in CHO cell lines, while the corresponding HC1 salts of the intermediates (3a-3e) without polyamine tether and starting materials amino-s-triazoles (1a-1e) showed poor or no activities against the above cell lines.     

Cytotoxic arylbenzofuran and stilbene derivatives from the twigs of Artocarpus heterophyllus

Four new natural products, including three arylbenzofurans named heterophyllenes A-C (1–3), and one stilbene named heterophyllene D (4), together with twenty-one known compounds were isolated from the twigs of Artocarpus heterophyllus and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic activity of selected compounds against KB, MCF-7 and NCI-H187 cell lines was evaluated. Heterophyllene C (3) exhibited cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 12.56 μM. Additionally, the known compounds norartocarpin and artocarpin showed cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and KB cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 10.04 and 13.57 μM, respectively. Both compounds also displayed cytotoxicity against the NCI-H187 cell line with values of 14.78 and 14.21 μM, respectively.     

Design,synthesis, and fungicidal activity of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives

Employing the intermediate derivatization method (IDM), a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing arylpyrazoloxyl moiety were designed and synthesized. In vitro bioassays showed that these compounds have moderate to significant fungicidal activity against rice sheath blight and sorghum anthracnose. Furthermore, compound 20 is a promising fungicide for further development.     

Two acridones and two coumarins from the roots of Paramignya trimera

Two acridones, paratrimerins C (1) and D (2), and two coumarins, paratrimerins E (3) and F (4), were isolated from the CHCl₃ and EtOAc extracts of Paramignya trimera (Rutaceae), together with twelve known compounds (5–16). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. All isolated compounds possessed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and showed more potent inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.6 to 112.2 μM, than the positive control acarbose (IC₅₀, 214.5 μM). The biosynthesis of the isolated coumarins and acridones was proposed.     

New compounds from the roots of Coriaria nepalensis

One new sesquiterpene lactone possessing novel variations in the structure, corialactone E (1), one new neolignan, coriarianeolignan A (2), together with three known apocarotenoids (3-5) and one known neolignan (6), have been isolated from a CHCl₃ extract of the roots of Coriaria nepalensis.     

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activities of novel 5H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indoles

A novel series of 5H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indoles were designed and synthesized in order to find novel potent anticancer compounds.The structures were confirmed by ~1H NMR and MS.Their antiproliferative activities against two cancer cell lines were tested by the MTT method in vitro.Three of compounds (1e,1g,and 1h) exhibited potent antiproliferative activities,especially compound 1h (with IC_(50) values of 5.2μmol/L and 1.9μmol/L against Bel-7402 and HT-1080,respectively).The preliminary structure-activity relationships of 5H-pyridazino[4,5-b]indole derivatives were discussed.     

Efficient,collective synthesis and nitric oxide inhibitory activity of rubrolides E,F, R,S and their derivatives

An efficient first synthesis of biologically significant natural butenolides, rubrolides F (1f), R (1r), S (1s) & its 7″,8″-didehydro derivative (1sa), and 3″-bromo rubrolide (1fa) along with the synthesis of rubrolide E (1e) and its di-O-methyl derivative (1ea) is accomplished in a collective fashion from commercially available and inexpensive precursors in overall yields of 14–48.5%. Key features are Wittig-Horner reaction, SeO₂-induced tandem allylic hydroxylation/intramolecular cyclization and Knoevenagel condensation. Next, in their inhibitory activity towards nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages as an indicator of anti-inflammatory activity, all compounds displayed good inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner. None of the compound exhibited notable cytotoxicity at the highest concentration (10 μM) and IC₅₀ values are found in the range from 8.53 to 17.85 μM.