Dioxopiperazine Alkaloids Produced by the Marine Mangrove Derived Endophytic Fungus Eurotium rubrum

Cultivation of the fungal strain Eurotium rubrum, an endophytic fungus that was isolated from the inner tissue of stems of the mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus, resulted in the isolation of two new dioxopiperazine derivatives, namely, dehydrovariecolorin L ( 1 ) and dehydroechinulin ( 2 ), together with eight known dioxopiperazine compounds including variecolorin L ( 3 ), echinulin ( 4 ), isoechinulin A ( 5 ), dihydroxyisoechinulin A ( 6 ), preechinulin ( 7 ), neoechinulin A ( 8 ), neoechinulin E ( 9 ), and cryptoechinuline D ( 10 ). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with literature. Compounds 1, 2, 9 , and 10 were investigated for their α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity. In addition, the new compounds, 1 and 2 , were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against the P‐388, HL‐60, and A549 cell lines.     

A New Tetracyclic Diterpene from Jatropha curcas

Jatrophodione A ( 1 ), a new diterpene with four rings, together with nine known compounds, caniojane ( 2 ), jatropholone A ( 3 ), jatropholone B ( 4 ), jatrogrossidione ( 5 ), 2‐epijatrogrossidione ( 6 ), heudelotinone ( 7 ), gossweilone ( 8 ), (3α)‐3‐hydroxy‐ent‐pimara‐8(14),15‐dien‐12‐one ( 9 ), and 12‐hydroxy‐13‐methylpodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐3‐one ( 10 ), was isolated from the aerial parts of Jatropha curcas. Compounds 5, 6, 9 , and 10 were found for the first time in this plant. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. Cytotoxicities of compounds 1, 2, 7, 8 , and 9 were tested on the three cancer cell lines A549, Hela, and SMMC‐7721. Results showed that 7 exhibited cytotoxicity against SMMC‐7721 with an IC₅₀ value of 21.68 μM , whereas 7 and 8 were active against A549 with the IC₅₀ values of 16.04 and 20.47 μM , and against Hela with the IC₅₀ values of 10.67 and 22.83 μM , respectively.     

Sesquiterpenoids from the Fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla and Their Anti‐Acetylcholinesterase Activity

Fourteen sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq . Their structures were elucidated based on NMR analyses (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and identified as 12‐nornootkaton‐6‐en‐11‐one ( 3 ), (+)‐(3S,4aS,5R)‐2,3,4,4a,5,6‐hexahydro‐3‐isopropenyl‐4a,5‐dimethyl‐1,7‐naphthoquinone ( 5 ), nootkatene ( 6 ), 9β‐hydroxynootkatone ( 7 ), 2β‐hydroxy‐δ‐cadinol ( 8 ), 4‐isopropyl‐6‐methyl‐1‐tetralone ( 11 ), oxyphyllone E ( 12 ), oxyphyllone D ( 13 ), oxyphyllanene B ( 15 ), oxyphyllone A ( 16 ), oxyphyllol E ( 17 ), (9E)‐humulene‐2,3;6,7‐diepoxide ( 18 ), mustakone ( 20 ), and pubescone ( 21 ). Among them, 3 was a new norsesquiterpenoid, 8 was a new natural product, and 5, 6, 11, 20, 21 were isolated from A. oxyphylla for the first time. Twenty sesquiterpenoids, 1 – 5 and 7 – 21 , were investigated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities, including previously isolated seven sesquiterpenoids from A. oxyphylla, (11S)‐12‐chloronootkaton‐11‐ol ( 1 ), (11R)‐12‐chloronootkaton‐11‐ol ( 2 ), nootkatone ( 4 ), oxyphyllenodiol A ( 9 ), oxyphyllenodiol B ( 10 ), 7‐epiteucrenone B ( 14 ), and alpinenone ( 19 ). TLC‐Bioautographic assay indicated that 1 – 4, 7, 14, 16, 18, 19 , and 21 displayed anti‐AChE activities at 10 nmol. Microplate assay confirmed that 19, 18, 16 , and 21 displayed moderate‐to‐weak anti‐AChE activities at the concentration of 100 μM , and 19 was the most potent inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 81.6±3.5 μM . The presence of anti‐AChE sesquiterpenoids in A. oxyphylla may partially support the traditional use of this fruit for the treatment of dementia.     

Alkaloids from the Leaves and Stems of Daphniphyllum calycinum

One new alkaloid, named caldaphnidine H ( 1 ), together with eight known ones, daphnioldhanin G ( 2a ), methyl homosecodaphniphyllate ( 3 ), daphnezomine M ( 4 ), daphniyunine A ( 5 ), calyciphylline A ( 6 ), deoxycalyciphylline B ( 7 ), deoxyisocalyciphylline B ( 8 ), and calyciphylline B ( 9 ) was isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The structure of 1 was established by spectral methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. The structure of daphnioldhanin G ( 2b ) reported previously was revised to 2a mainly by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and spectral analysis.     

Secondary Metabolites from the Endophytic Fungus Xylaria cubensis

Seven new metabolites, including three sesquiterpenoids, 10‐hydroxythujopsene ( 1 ), akotriol ( 2 ), and xylaritriol ( 3 ), one diterpenoid, cubentriol ( 4 ), one aliphatic derivative, akoenic acid ( 5 ), one alkaloid, akodionine ( 6 ), and one isocoumarin, akolitserin ( 7 ), together with seven known compounds, 8 – 14 , were isolated from the AcOEt‐soluble fraction of the fermentation broth of the endophytic fungus Xylaria cubensis, derived from the leaves of Litsea akoensis Hayata (Lauraceae). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments, and by HR‐ESI‐MS mass spectrometry. Among the isolates, (?)‐(R)‐7‐hydroxymellein showed IL‐6 inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 9.41 μM .     

人面果树皮中口 山 酮 化合物及其DPPH自由基的清除活性

从人面果乙酸乙酯提取物中分离出5个新的口 山 酮 化合物garcinenone A (1), B (3), C (4), D (7) and E (8)和7个已知化合物,其结构经过波谱技术,特别是2D-NMR技术来鉴定。Jacareubin (2), 1,4,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-7-(3-methyl-2-buteny1)xanthone (6), subeliptenone B (11) 和symphoxanthone (12)为首次从该植物中分离出来。在DPPH自由基的清除活性实验中,所有的化合物都显示抗氧化活性,其IC50的值在 6.0-23.2 mM。结果表明人面果是潜在的有前景的天然抗氧化剂。     

Two New Lycopodine Alkaloids from Huperzia serrata

Two new lycopodine alkaloids, (12β)‐12‐hydroxyhuperzine G ( 1 ) and (5β,6β,15α)‐15‐methyllycopodane‐5,6‐diol ( 2 ), were isolated from the whole plants of Huperzia serrata, together with six known compounds, huperzines A, B, and G, phlegmariurine B, (8β)‐8‐hydroxyphlegmariurine B, and lycoposerramine D. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including HR‐ESI‐MS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, DEPT, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY data.     

Two New C19‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids with Anti‐inflammatory Activity from Aconitum iochanicum

Two new C₁₉ ‐diterpenoid alkaloids, 7,8‐epoxy‐franchetine ( 1 ) and N(19)‐en‐austroconitine A ( 2 ), were isolated from Aconitum iochanicum . Compound 1 was a new C₁₉ ‐diterpenoid alkaloid with a 7,8‐epoxy unit. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses including UV , IR , MS , 1D and 2D NMR . Biological activity tests indicated that two new compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO ) production in LPS ‐activated RAW264 .7 macrophages. Compared with positive control, the two new compounds showed weak anti‐inflammatory effects with the inhibition rate of 27.3% and 29.2%, respectively.     

A New Tricyclic Alkaloid from Portulaca oleracea L.

A new tricyclic alkaloid named portulacatone ( 1 ), i.e., 5,6‐dihydro‐8,9‐dihydroxy‐11H‐pyrrolo[2,1‐b] [3]benzazepin‐11‐one, together with eight known compounds, methyl 4‐hydroxyphenylacetate ( 2 ), p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde ( 3 ), vanillin ( 4 ), protocatechualdehyde ( 5 ), p‐hydroxybenzoic acid ( 6 ), iseluxine ( 7 ), oleracein E ( 8 ), and (+)‐(R)‐feruloyl malate ( 9 ) were isolated from aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea L. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses. Among them, compounds 1 – 7 and 9 were isolated from this medicinal plant for the first time. Compounds 1 and 7 showed dose‐dependent scavenging activities against DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl) free radical, with EC₅₀ values of 14.36 μM and 9.98 μM , respectively, more potent than the natural antioxidant vitamin C (EC₅₀ 20.72 μM ).     

Two New Phenolic Compounds from Artemisia iwayomogi

Two new phenolic compounds, (Z)‐5′‐hydroxyjasmone 5′‐O‐{6″‐O‐[(E)‐caffeoyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside} ( 1 ) and quercetin‐7‐O‐β‐D ‐glucuronide methyl ester ( 2 ), along with ten known phenolic compounds, 3 – 12 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia iwayomogi. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and HR‐ESI‐TOF‐MS techniques. The inhibitory effects of compounds 1 – 12 on the LPS‐stimulated production of IL‐12 p40, IL‐6, and TNF‐α in bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells were evaluated.     

Two New Prenylated Xanthones from the Pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen)

Two new prenylated xanthones (=9H‐xanthen‐9‐ones), garcimangosxanthones D ( 1 ) and E ( 2 ), together with the six known xanthones 3 – 8 , were isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana. Their structures were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. All of the isolated compounds were biologically evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against A549, Hep‐G2, and MCF‐7 human‐cancer cell lines and antioxidant activity. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against Hep‐G2 (IC₅₀=19.2 μM ) and weak cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 (IC₅₀=62.8 μM ) cell lines, and compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity against A549, Hep‐G2, and MCF‐7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 12.5–20.0 μM (Table 2). Both compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated a weak antioxidant activity with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 41±7 and 130±4 μmol/g, respectively (Table 3).     

Six New Dammarane Triterpenoids from Viburnum cylindricum

One new dammarane triterpenoid, cylindrictone A ( 1 ), as well as five new nor‐dammarane triterpenoids cylindrictone B–F ( 2 – 6 ) were isolated from the leaves of Viburnum cylindrium, together with three known compounds 3β‐hydroxy‐hexanordammaran‐20‐one ( 7 ), 3α‐hydroxyoctanordammar‐12‐en‐17‐one ( 8 ), and neoalsogenin B ( 9 ). Their structures were identified by extensive NMR‐spectroscopic (especially 2D‐NMR) and mass‐spectrometric experiments, and the structure of 3 was further confirmed by a single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The compounds exhibited no activity against human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cell.     

Alkaloids from the Stems of Glycosmis pentaphylla

A new simple carbazole alkaloid, 4‐(7‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐6‐methyl‐9H‐carbazol‐4‐yl)but‐3‐en‐2‐one ( 1 ), and two new dimeric carbazole alkaloids, bisglybomine B ( 2 ) and biscarbalexine A ( 3 ), together with seven known alkaloids, were isolated from the stems of Glycosmis pentaphylla. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques.     

Isoprenoids and Flavonoids with Antimicrobial Activity from Ficus conraui Warburg (Moraceae)

A new triterpene, conrauidienol ( 1 ), and a new dihydroflavonol, conrauiflavonol ( 2 ), along with β‐amyrin acetate ( 3 ), betulinic acid ( 4 ), ursolic acid ( 5 ), 6β‐hydroxystigmasta‐4,22‐dien‐3‐one ( 6 ), 8‐prenylapigenin ( 7 ), β‐sitosterol glucoside ( 8 ), and 3,4′,5‐trihydroxy‐6″,6″‐dimethylpyrano[2,3‐g]flavone ( 9 ) were isolated from the stem barks of Ficus conraui Warburg (Moraceae). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The hexane, AcOEt, and MeOH extracts, as well as the new isolated compounds exhibited selective antimicrobial activities varying from weak to moderate.     

Epunctanone,a New Benzophenone,and Further Secondary Metabolites from Garcinia epunctata Stapf (Guttiferae)

A new polyprenylated benzophenone, named epunctanone ( 1 ), was isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia epunctata Stapf , together with eight known compounds, 7‐epiisogarcinol ( 2 ), 2,6‐dimethoxy‐p‐benzoquinone ( 3 ), friedelin ( 4 ), lupeol ( 5 ), 16β‐hydroxylupeol ( 6 ), betulin ( 7 ), stigmasterol ( 8 ), and rheediaxanthone A ( 9 ). The structure of epunctanone ( 1 ) was established by detailed analysis of its spectroscopic data, especially 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and HR‐MS data. All these compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and anti‐protozoan activities. They were also assayed to determine if any of the compounds were nonpeptide agonist ligands for nematodal G‐protein‐coupled receptors, which would be an indication of potential antinematodal activity. Among the isolated compounds, 7‐epiisogarcinol ( 2 ) was the most active against Candida albicans.     

Biflavonoids,Lignans, and Related Compounds from the Roots of Diplomorpha canescens

Two new biflavonoids, 14″‐O‐methyldihydrodaphnodorin B ( 1 ) and 14″‐O‐methyldaphnodorin J ( 2 ), along with 16 known compounds, i.e., dihydrodaphnodorin B ( 3 ), daphnodorin J ( 4 ), 3″‐epidihydrodaphnodorin B ( 5 ), daphnodorin B ( 6 ), neochamaejasmin B ( 7 ), sikokianin B ( 8 ), (?)‐syringaresinol ( 9 ), (?)‐syringaresinol 4‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 10 ), (+)‐nortrachelogenin ( 11 ), (?)‐lariciresinol ( 12 ), (?)‐pinoresinol ( 13 ), syringin ( 14 ), syringinoside ( 15 ), daphnoretin ( 16 ), phorbol 13‐acetate ( 17 ), and methyl paraben ( 18 ) were isolated from the roots of Diplomorpha canescens (Meisn.) C.A. Meyer . The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Isocassiaoccidentalin B,A New C‐Glycosyl Flavone Containing a 3‐Keto Sugar,and Other Constituents from Cassia nomame

A new C‐glycosyl flavone containing a 3‐keto sugar, isocassiaoccidentalin B ( 1 ), was isolated from whole Cassia nomame (Sieber ) Honda plants, along with eleven known compounds, including two flavonoids ( 2 and 3 ), five flavonoid glycosides ( 4  –  8 ), two chalcones ( 9 and 10 ), and two phenylpropanoids ( 11 and 12 ). The chemical structures of all compounds were determined via 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and ESI‐MS. Among these, compounds 2 , 3 , 7 , and 8 were found to be the most potent in inhibiting nitric oxide release. Compounds 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , 9 , and 10 showed significant free‐radical scavenging activity.     

Sesterterpenes and 2H‐Pyran‐2‐ones (=α‐Pyrones) from the Mangrove‐Derived Endophytic Fungus Fusarium proliferatum MA‐84

Two new tricyclic sesterterpenes, fusaprolifins A and B ( 1 and 2 ), and three new 2H‐pyran‐2‐one derivatives, prolipyrones A – C ( 3 – 5 ), were isolated and characterized from Fusarium proliferatum MA‐84, an endophytic fungus obtained from the fresh tissue of the marine mangrove plant Bruguiera sexangula. In addition, two known sesterterpenes, terpestacin ( 6 ) and fusaproliferin ( 7 ), and one known 2H‐pyran‐2‐one derivative, gibepyrone D ( 8 ), were also identified. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses. Fusaprolifin A ( 1 ) showed moderate activity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina), with a lethality rate of 49.5% at 100 μg/ml, while fusaprolifin B ( 2 ) showed weak activity.     

Two New Chemical Constituents of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f.

Two new chemical constituents, one new steroid, neoveratrenone ( 1 ), and one new glycerol ester, 1‐[11‐(ferulyloxy)undecanoyl)]glycerol ( 2 ), were isolated and characterized from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz .) Loes . f., together with five known compounds, i.e., hexacosanoic acid 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl ester ( 3 ), syringaresinol ( 4 ), prosapogenin A of dioscin ( 5 ), verapatulin ( 6 ), and oxyresveratrol ( 7 ). Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with literature reports. The compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against three tumor cell lines of HepG‐2, HeLa, and K562/S.     

ent‐Kaurane Diterpenes and Further Constituents from Wedelia trilobata

Two new ent‐kaurane diterpenes, wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ), together with eighteen other constituents, including the sesquiterpenoids 1 and 2 , ent‐kaurane diterpenes 3 – 7 , triterpenoids 10 and 11 , steroids 12 – 14 , and flavonoids 15 – 17 as well as benzene derivatives 18 – 20 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Wedelia trilobata. The structures of wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ) were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (including UV, IR, NMR, and MS). Furthermore, the structures of compounds 2 and 3 were confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analyses.