Daphnane‐Type Diterpenoids from the Flower Buds of Daphne genkwa

Three new daphnane‐type diterpenoids, genkwanines M–O ( 1 – 3 , resp.), together with seven known daphnane‐type diterpenoids, genkwanines D and H, genkwaine F, genkwadaphnine, yuanhuatine, yuanhuafine, and yuanhuapine ( 4 – 10 , resp.), were isolated from the flower buds of Daphne genkwa during a phytochemical investigation. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D‐NMR spectra (HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY).     

Phytochemistry of Daphne oleoides

Genus Daphne belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family and consists of 70 species. Its various species exist in Europe, Philippine Islands, temperate and subtropical Asia, North Africa, Australia and Pacific. In Pakistan, Daphne is represented by three species. Our focused Daphne oleoides is widely found in diverse climatic conditions from northern cold to central hot regions which creates a rich diversity and novelty in biosynthetic levels of its chemical constituents and hence is a great opportunity. Daphne oeloides is a proven rich source of a variety of unique and interesting nature-made skeletons with a wide range of therapeutic properties. D. oleoides possesses effective therapeutic properties, therefore, has been used in herbal medicines and is still being used to treat various diseases. The modern research by various groups, including ourselves, has resulted in the isolation of a number of natural molecules including some novel tris- and bis- coumarins, daphnane diterpenoids and lignoids. Therefore, due to novelty and richness of the nature-made molecules, and their therapeutic potential combined with our significant work on D. oleoides, this report covers chemical constituents isolated from D. oleoides. The pharmacological activities of the isolated compounds and use of this species in folk medicine have also been reviewed.     

Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of the Diterpenoids from the Genus Daphne

There are abundant natural diterpenoids in the plants of the genus Daphne from the Thymelaeaceae family, featuring a 5/7/6-tricyclic ring system and usually with an orthoester group. So far, a total of 135 diterpenoids has been isolated from the species of the genus Daphne, which could be further classified into three main types according to the substitution pattern of ring A and oxygen-containing functions at ring B. A variety of studies have demonstrated that these compounds exert a wide range of bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, antifertility, neurotrophic, and cholesterol-lowering effects, which is reviewed herein. Meanwhile, the fascinating structure–activity relationship is also concluded in this review in the hope of providing an easy access to available information for the synthesis and optimization of efficient drugs.     

LC–DAD–ESI-MS-MS for Characterization and Quantitative Analysis of Diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii

Qualitative characterization and quantitative analysis of labdane diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii have been achieved by liquid chromatography hyphenated with photodiode-array detection and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–DAD–ESI-MSⁿ). By use of this method, thirteen forskolin-type diterpenoids were identified in the crude extract on the basis of their fragmentation mechanisms. Fragmentation rules were deduced from nine forskolin-type standards by ESI-MS in positive-ion mode. It was found that fragmentation behavior varied with the position and number of the substituents on the skeleton; this could be used for convenient identification of this type of compound. Six marker diterpenoids were also quantified, and the quality of both the cultivated and wild plants was evaluated.

     

LC–DAD–ESI-MS-MS for Characterization and Quantitative Analysis of Diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii

Qualitative characterization and quantitative analysis of labdane diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii have been achieved by liquid chromatography hyphenated with photodiode-array detection and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–DAD–ESI-MS ⁿ ). By use of this method, thirteen forskolin-type diterpenoids were identified in the crude extract on the basis of their fragmentation mechanisms. Fragmentation rules were deduced from nine forskolin-type standards by ESI-MS in positive-ion mode. It was found that fragmentation behavior varied with the position and number of the substituents on the skeleton; this could be used for convenient identification of this type of compound. Six marker diterpenoids were also quantified, and the quality of both the cultivated and wild plants was evaluated.     

Divergent Total Synthesis of Atisane‐Type Diterpenoids

Atisane‐type diterpenoids are the principal constituent of tetracyclic C₂₀‐diterpenoids, widely isolated from the plant kingdom with varying degrees of structural complexity and pharmacological activity. The tetracarbocyclic system with the unique bicyclo[2.2.2]octane skeleton of this natural product family has generated interest within the synthetic community. Divergent total synthesis is an effective tactic to synthesize several atisane‐type diterpenoids using structural interconversion from a common intermediate. This account summarizes the divergent total synthesis of atisane‐type diterpenoids.     

Asterolaurins G – J,New Xenicane Diterpenoids from the Taiwanese Soft Coral Asterospicularia laurae

Four new xenicane diterpenoids, asterolaurins G–J ( 1 – 4 , resp.) have been isolated from the Taiwanese soft coral Asterospicularia laurae. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (UV, CD, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMBC, and NOESY). The cytotoxic activities of all compounds were evaluated.     

Four New Neoclerodane Diterpenoids from Ajuga decumbens

Four new neoclerodane diterpenoids, 15‐epilupulin A ( 1 ), 6‐O‐deacetylajugamarin ( 2 ), and ajugadecumbenins A ( 3 ) and B ( 4 ), were isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga decumbens. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical correlations.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of ericaceous toxins

Assignments of the ¹³C NMR resonances for the toxic diterpenoids of ericaceous plants have been made. The data have proved to be a useful tool for the structural examination of the congeners. For example, the structure of asebotoxin-VII to which a 6-O-acyl moiety had previously been assigned has now been revised to contain a 7-O-acyl group.     

Nine New Norlabdane Diterpenoids from the Leaves of Austroeupatorium inulifolium

Nine new norlabdane diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of Austroeupatorium inulifolium collected in Indonesia. All of them have an acyl‐furan unit connected to C(11), and oxygenated functions at C(2) and C(3). The structure elucidations and the assignment of the absolute configurations of the isolated natural products were carried out by extensive spectroscopic analysis and the extended Mosher method, as well as chemical correlations. Antimicrobial activities and cytotoxicity against HL‐60 cells were determined using bioassays.     

Biological activity of bicyclic and tricyclic diterpenoids from Salvia species of immediate pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest

Diterpenoids are a class of compounds that derive from the condensation of four isoprene units that leads to a wide variety of complex chemical structures, including acyclic bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds; in Salvia species, only bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds have been found. This review covers a wide range of biological activities and mode of action of diterpenoids isolated from Salvia species that might raise some pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest. We have produced a synoptic table where the biological activities of the main active principles are summarized. Our analysis emphasizes that diterpenoids from Salvia species continue to be a plant defence system since their antimicrobic activity. Experimental studies show that most of diterpenoids considered have cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative activity. Some of them have also cardiovascular and central effects. In a less extended manner, diterpenoids from Salvia species show gastrointestinal, urinary, antinflammatory, antidiabetic, ipolipidemic and antiaggregating effects. In the last decade, several clinical trials have been developed in order to investigate the real value of Salvia extracts treatment; results obtained are promising and confer scientific basis in the use of medicinal plants from folk medicine.     

Tricyclic diterpenoids of the dolastane ring system from the marine alga dictyota divaricata

Four new oxygenated tricyclic diterpenoids have been isolated from the Caribbean brown alga Dictyota divaricata. The structures of these new compounds were secured by an X-ray analysis of a convenient diol derivative, followed by interconversion where possible. The new diterpenoids belong to the dolastane group first isolated from the herbivorous mollusc Dolabella auricularia and their isolation here indicates that the sea hare most likely derived these compounds from brown seaweeds of the family Dictyotaceae.     

Diterpene lactones with labdane, halimane and clerodane frameworks

The labdane, halimane and clerodane type diterpenoids are compounds that have been isolated in plants of several families. These molecules and their derivatives with a lactone group on the side chain or on the decaline system, have a great interest because of their biological properties as insect antifeedant, antiviral, cytotoxic and trypanocidal. The scope of this review is lactones diterpenoids with labdane, halimane and clerodane frameworks.     

Studies on the diterpenoid constituents from Rabdosia angustifolia

Two new ent-kaurene diterpenoids, angustifolin B and natural hydrogen-bonded 1:1 complex, angustifolin C, as well as four known diterpenoids, angustifolin, isodonal, sodoponin, tri-chorabdal B, were isolated from the leaves of Rabdosia angustifolia.     

Terpenoids from the liverwort Chandonanthus hirtellus

A new bicyclogermacrane sesquiterpenoid, two new cembrane diterpenoids and five new dolabellane diterpenoids, along with known terpenoids, have been isolated from the Malaysian liverwort Chandonanthus hirtellus. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods in addition to X-ray crystallographic studies.     

Novel cytotoxic kaurane-type diterpenoids from the New Zealand Liverwort Jungermannia species

Novel cytotoxic rearranged kaurene- and ent-kaurene-type diterpenoids against HL-60 cells have been isolated from the unidentified New Zealand liverwort Jungermannia species together with previously known ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR techniques, chemical degradation and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Synthesis of Natural Atisane‐Type Diterpenoids by retro‐Biomimetic Transformations

An efficient one step, retro‐biomimetic procedure for the synthesis of natural products having the atisane structure is described (Scheme 2), natural products which are components of medicinal plants and possess relevant biological activity. Their structures were confirmed by chemical transformations and spectral data. The starting materials were the known ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid ( 1 ) and ent‐trachyloban‐19‐oic acid ( 2 ), diterpenoids readily available from the waste of sunflower.     

Prenyleudesmanes,rare natural diterpenoids from Dysoxylum densiflorum

Prenyleudesmanes are rare natural diterpenoids and their structural features need further characterization. In this paper, twelve new prenyleudesmanes, dysoxydenones A–L (1–12), together with one known prenyleudesmane were isolated from Dysoxylum densiflorum. This is the first time the absolute configurations of prenyleudesmanes have been unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction with Cu Kα radiation. Moreover, the absolute configuration of dysokusone D was revised.     

Sucupiranins M–Q,five new furanocassane-type diterpenoids from the seeds of Bowdichia virgilioides

Five new furanocassane-type diterpenoids, sucupiranins M–Q (1–5) were isolated from the seeds of Bowdichia virgilioides. Their structures and stereo chemistries were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including HRESIMS, 2D NMR (¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and ECD spectra.     

New labdane-type diterpenoids from Leonurus heterophyllus SW

Five new natural labdane-type diterpenoids (5-9), designated leoheteronins A-E, together with four known diterpenoids (1-4), two phytosterols as a mixture of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, and the flavone genkwanin (10) were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus heterophyllus SW. (Lamiaceae) collected in northern Vietnam. Compound 1 was isolated for the first time from a Leonurus species, and 10 is considered to be a chemotaxonomic marker of the Leonurus genus. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analyses.