Clerodendrumic Acid,a New Triterpenoid from Clerodendrum glabrum (Verbenaceae), and Antimicrobial Activities of Fractions and Constituents

One new triterpenoid, (3β,11α,19β)‐3‐(butanoyloxy)‐11‐hydroxytaraxast‐20(30)‐ene‐23,28‐dioic acid (clerodendrumic acid; 1 ) was isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves of Clerodendrum glabrum var. glabrum along with heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by interpretation of its NMR (1D and 2D), MS, and IR data. Combined fractions C and D from the column chromatography of the hexane extract exhibited significant antifungal activities (average MIC of 0.10 mg/ml) against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. C. albicans was relatively resistant to clerodendrumic acid ( 1 ; MIC 125 μg/ml) and was resistant to heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ; MIC 188 μg/ml). Both compounds had low antibacterial activities against two Gram‐positive and two Gram‐negative bacteria with average MIC values of 157 and 172 μg/ml, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were relatively nontoxic against monkey kidney Vero cells in vitro with IC₅₀ values of 202.6 and 108.4 μg/ml, respectively.     

New Steroids and a New Alkaloid from the Gorgonian Isis minorbrachyblasta: Structures,Cytotoxicity, and Antilarval Activity

Two new polyoxygenated steroids, (1α,3β,7α,11α,12β)‐gorgost‐5‐ene‐1,3,7,11,12‐pentol 12‐acetate ( 1 ) and 11‐O‐acetyl‐22‐epihippuristanol ( 2 ), and a new alkaloid, 2,3,5,6,11,11b‐hexahydro‐2‐hydroxy‐1H‐indolizino[8,7‐b]indole‐2‐carboxylic acid ( 3 ), together with three known compounds, 22‐epihippuristanol ( 4 ), hippuristanol ( 5 ), and tryptamine ( 6 ), were isolated from the EtOH/CH₂Cl₂ extracts of the South China Sea gorgonian Isis minorbrachyblasta. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity against A549, HONE1, and HeLa cancer cell lines and strong antilarval activity towards Bugula neritina larvae with an EC₅₀ value of 5.8 μg/ml. Compound 5 showed moderate cytotoxicity against A549, HONE1, and HeLa cell lines, and the epimer mixture 4 / 5 (weight ratio 3 : 2) exhibited potent cytotoxicity against A549 and HONE1 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 4.2 and 4.8 μg/ml, which indicated that epimers 4 and 5 might have a synergistic effect on their cytotoxicity against A549 and HONE1 cell lines.     

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).     

Triterpenoids and Iridoid Glycosides from Gentiana dahurica

One new and six known pentacyclic triterpenoids, 1 and 4 – 9 , resp., along with two new and three known iridoid glycosides, 2 and 3 , and 10 – 12 , resp., were isolated from the roots of Gentiana dahurica (‘Qin‐Jiao’). The new structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic and chemical methods as 1β,2α,3α,24‐tetrahydroxyursa‐12,20(30)‐dien‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ), 6′‐O‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 2 ), and 3′‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 3 ). Isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against the MCF‐7 human breast cancer cell line using the MTT assay. Among them, triterpenoids 2α,3β,24‐trihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 6 ) and 3β,24‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 9 ) were found to have moderate cytotoxic effects with IC₅₀ values of 20.9 and 21.7 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the chemotaxonomic significance of the identified secondary metabolites is briefly discussed.     

New Sesterterpenoids from the Marine Sponge Phyllospongia papyracea

Chemical investigation of an extract of the marine sponge Phyllospongia papyracea, collected from the South China Sea, led to the isolation and identification of three new scalarane‐type sesterterpenoids, compounds 1 – 3 . Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as high‐resolution ESI‐MS experiments. (12α,16β)‐12‐Acetoxy‐16‐hydroxy‐20,24‐dimethyl‐25‐norscalar‐17‐en‐24‐one ( 1 ) was cytotoxic against the leukemia P388 cancer cell line, with an IC₅₀ value of 5 μg/ml.     

Polyoxygenated Sterols from Freshwater Clam

Two new biologically active polyoxygenated sterols, 3,5,9‐trihydroxycholest‐7‐en‐6‐one ( 1 ) and cholest‐7‐ene‐3,6,9‐triol ( 3 ), together with one known sterone, topsentisterol D3 ( 2 ), were isolated from freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea Muller ; an important cultured edible shellfish in Taiwan). The structure elucidation of sterols 1 – 3 were accomplished by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, HMQC, and HMBC, and MS analyses. The sterols 1 – 3 displayed cytotoxicities against the human hepatoma Hep G2 cells (IC₅₀: 6.04±0.07, 40.78±4.28, and 10.57±0.51 μg/ml, resp.).     

Guaiane Sesquiterpenoids Isolated from the Fruits of Torilis japonica and Their Cytotoxic Activity

Two new guaiane sesquiterpenoids, 11‐(acetyloxy)‐1,8‐dihydroxyguai‐4‐en‐3‐one ( 5 ) and (1α,6β)‐1,6‐dihydroxytorilin ( 6 ), were isolated from the fruits of Torilis japonica (Umbelliferae), along with four known sesquiterpenes, torilin ( 1 ), torilolone ( 2 ), (1β)‐1‐hydroxytorilin ( 3 ), and (1α)‐1‐hydroxytorilin ( 4 ). During the phytochemical investigation, daucosterol, friedelin, and epifriedelanol were also isolated from the plant for the first time. The structures of the new sesquiterpenoids 5 and 6 were determined by comprehensive analyses of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. These isolates were evaluated against human breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Compounds 1, 3 , and 4 exhibited cytotoxic activity against the LLC cells with IC₅₀ values of 31.3, 32.5, and 34.0 μg/ml, respectively. However, no significant cytotoxicity was found against the MCF‐7 cells for any of the compounds tested.     

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.     

A New Taraxastane‐Type Triterpene from Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia

3‐Oxotaraxer‐14‐en‐30‐al ( 1 ), a new taraxastane‐type triterpene, together with 14 known compounds, taraxerone ( 2 ), 3‐epiursolic acid ( 3 ), 2α,3β‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 4 ), lupeol ( 5 ), betulinic acid ( 6 ), casticin ( 7 ), artemetin ( 8 ), luteolin ( 9 ), 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid ( 10 ), docosanoic acid ( 11 ), tetracosanoic acid ( 12 ), cerotic acid ( 13 ), β‐sitosterol ( 14 ), and β‐daucosterol ( 15 ), was isolated from the leaves and twigs of Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia . Compounds 2 – 6 were found for the first time in this plant. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D‐NMR techniques. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 3 , and 5 – 10 were tested on the three cancer cell lines, PANC‐1, K562, and BxPC‐3. Results revealed that 7 exhibited cytotoxicity against PANC‐1, K562, and BxPC‐3, with IC₅₀ values of 4.67, 0.72, and 4.01 μg/ml, respectively, whereas 8 was inactive against these cancer cell lines. The structure? activity relationship of compound 7 and 8 indicated that the 3′‐OH group in polymethoxyflavonoids is essential for antitumor activity.     

Two New Eremophilane‐Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Rhizomes of Ligularia veitchiana (Hemsl.) Greenm

Two new eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenoids eremophil‐6‐en‐11‐ol ( 1 ) and (7α,9α,10α)‐9,10‐epoxy‐eremophilan‐11‐ol ( 2 ), together with a known eremophilane‐type (6α,8α)‐6,8‐dihydroxyeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12‐oic acid 12,8‐lactone ( 3 ) were isolated from the rhizomes of Ligularia veitchiana. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by spectral analysis including ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, HSQC, HMBC, and HR‐ESI‐MS data. The compounds 1 and 3 were assessed against lung‐cancer (A549) and stomach‐cancer (BCG823) cell lines by the MTT method. The results showed that 1 exhibited significant inhibiting activities on the growth of these cancer cells with IC₅₀ values between 1–100 μg/ml, whereas compound 3 had no effect on the same cell lines.     

New Sesquiterpenoids from Ligularia duciformis

From the whole plants of Ligularia duciformis, four new sesquiterpenoids, 3β‐acetoxy‐6β‐methoxyeremophila‐7(11),9(10)‐dien‐12,8β‐olide ( 1 ), 3β‐acetoxy‐8α‐hydroxy‐6β‐methoxyeremophila‐7(11),9(10)‐dien‐12,8β‐olide ( 2 ), 3β‐acetoxy‐10β‐hydroxy‐6β,8β‐dimethoxyeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8α‐olide ( 3 ), and 3β‐acetoxy‐6β,8β,10β‐trihydroxyeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8α‐olide ( 4 ) were isolated. Their structures were established by high‐field NMR techniques (¹H,¹H‐COSY, ¹³C‐APT, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and HR‐ESI‐MS analysis, together with comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of structurally related compounds. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the new compounds against human hepatic cancer cells Bel‐7402, human pneumonic cancer cells A‐549, and human colonic cancer cells HCT‐8 were evaluated, the new compounds showed no cytotoxicity against the three tumor cells (all IC₅₀ values >200 μM ).     

Synthesis,in vitro Antimicrobial,and Cytotoxic Activities of New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazin‐5(6H)‐one Derivatives from Dehydroabietic Acid

A series of new 1,3,4‐oxadiazin‐5(6H)‐one derivatives ( 6a–n ) of dehydroabietic acid were designed and synthesized as potential antimicrobial and antitumor agents. Their structures were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. All the title compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four bacterial and three fungal strains using the serial dilution method. Among them, compound 6e showed the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1.9 μg/mL. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxic activities of the title compounds were also assayed against three human carcinoma cell lines (MCF‐7, SMMC‐7721, and HeLa) through the MTT colorimetric method. As a result, compounds 6b , 6g , 6k, and 6m exhibited significant inhibition against at least one cell line with IC₅₀ values below 10 μM. Compound 6m was especially found to be the most potent derivative with IC₅₀ values of 2.26 ± 0.23, 0.97 ± 0.11, and 1.89 ± 0.31 μM against MCF‐7, SMMC‐7721, and HeLa cells, respectively, comparable to positive control etoposide.     

Novel Sesquiterpenes from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

Two novel sesquiterpene dimers, ligularin A ( 1 ) and ligulolide D ( 2 ), and one new sesquiterpenoid, 1β,10α‐dihydroxy‐6β‐[(2‐methylpropyl)oxy]furanoeremophil‐9‐one ( 3 ), as well as two known sesquiterpenoids, 6β‐[(2‐methylpropyl)oxy]‐furanoeremophil‐1(10)‐en‐9‐one ( 4 ) and 1‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethyl‐2‐(pent‐3‐enyl)benzofuran ( 5 ), were isolated from the petroleum‐ether fraction from an alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy together with HR‐ESI‐MS analysis, and comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds. In addition, the cytotoxicities against human gastric cancer SGC‐7910 cell were measured in vitro, the results demonstrated that these sesquiterpenes have no cytotoxicity against the selected tumor cell (all IC₅₀ values >200 μM ).     

Two Unusual Xanthones from the Bark of Garcinia xanthochymus

A new xanthone derivative, garcinexanthone F ( 1 ), which was found to possess an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactone moiety, and a new bisxanthone, bigarcinenone B ( 2 ), with a terpene bridge providing the xanthone? xanthone linkage, were isolated from the bark of Garcinia xanthochymus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. The antioxidant assay in vitro showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant scavenging activities against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical with IC₅₀ values of 22.32 and 20.14 μM , and against HO^. radical with IC₅₀ values of 1.16 and 2.85 μM , respectively.     

Two new polyhydroxylated triterpenoids from Salvia urmiensis and their cytotoxic activity

Two new polyhydroxylated triterpenoids were isolated from the acetone extract of the aerial parts of Salvia urmiensis Bunge. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS analyses as olean-12-ene-1β,3β,11α,22α-tetraol (1) and urs-12-ene-1β,3β,11β,22α-tetraol (2). The effect of these compounds on cell viability of MCF-7 cells was investigated by the MTT assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 110.23 ± 0.12 and 88.35 ± 0.09 μM, respectively.     

Anthraquinones and Lignans from Cassia occidentalis

One new anthraquinone glycoside, 6‐O‐(α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl)emodin ( 1 ), and two new sesquilignans, seslignanoccidentaliols A ( 2 ) and B ( 3 ), were isolated from the whole plant of Cassia occidentalis. The structures of the new compounds were established by means of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR data (¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY), as well as HR‐ESI‐MS analysis. One previously reported sesquilignan, erythro‐guaiacylglycerol‐β‐O‐4′‐(5′)‐methoxylariciresinol, was revised to be seslignanoccidentaliol A ( 2 ). The 6‐O‐(α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl)emodin ( 1 ) exhibited moderate anti‐HIV‐1 activity with an EC₅₀ value of 2.90 μg/ml and a therapeutic‐index (TI) value of 260.     

Polar steroid derivatives from the Vietnamese starfish Astropecten polyacanthus

Five polar steroid derivatives, including one new glycosylated polyhydroxysteroid namely polyacanthoside A (1), were isolated from the water-soluble materials from the MeOH extract of the Vietnamese starfish Astropecten polyacanthus using various chromatographic separations. The structure elucidation was confirmed by spectroscopic experiments such as HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR. Among the isolated compounds, (20R,24S)-3β,6α,8,15β,24-pentahydroxy-5α-cholestane (3) showed significant cytotoxic effect against five human cancer cell lines as HepG2, KB, LNCaP, MCF7 and SK-Mel2 with the IC₅₀ values from 18.03 ± 2.63 to 21.59 ± 3.23 μM.     

Four New Podocarpane‐Type Trinorditerpenes from Aleurites moluccana

Four new podocarpane‐type trinorditerpenenes, (5β,10α)‐12,13‐dihydroxypodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐3‐one ( 1 ), (5β,10α)‐12‐hydroxy‐13‐methoxypodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐3‐one ( 2 ), (5β,10α)‐13‐hydroxy‐12‐methoxypodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐3‐one ( 3 ), and (3α,5β,10α)‐13‐methoxypodocarpa‐8,11,13‐triene‐3,12‐diol ( 4 ), together with four known diterpenes, 12‐hydroxy‐13‐methylpodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐3‐one ( 5 ), spruceanol ( 6 ), ent‐3α‐hydroxypimara‐8(14),15‐dien‐12‐one ( 7 ), and ent‐3β,14α‐hydroxypimara‐7,9(11),15‐triene‐12‐one ( 8 ), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Aleurites moluccana. Their structures were elucidated by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR and MS. Except 8 , all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity; compound 4 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against Raji cells with an IC₅₀ value of 4.24 μg/ml.     

Lycopodium Alkaloids from Huperzia serrata

Three new lycopodium alkaloids, huperserramines A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), along with 15 known ones, lycopodine‐6α,11α‐diol ( 4 ), lycoposerramine H ( 5 ), lycoposerramine I ( 6 ), lycopodine‐6α‐ol ( 7 ), lycoposerramine M ( 8 ), diphaladine A ( 9 ), lycoposerramine K ( 10 ), lycoposerramine W ( 11 ), huperzine M ( 12 ), luciduline ( 13 ), phlegmariuine N ( 14 ), huperzine A ( 15 ), huperzine B ( 16 ), lycodine ( 17 ), and lycoposerramine R ( 18 ), were isolated from the whole plant of Huperzia serrata. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR and MS analyses. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α‐glucosidase. As a result, lycopodine‐6α,11α‐diol ( 4 ) exhibited more potent α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 148±5.5 μM ) than the positive control acarbose (IC₅₀ 376.3±2.7 μM ).     

Neolignans from the Fruits of Magnolia obovata Inhibit NO Production and Have Neuroprotective Effects

One new sesquineolignan, obovatalignan A ( 1 ), and one new neolignan, obovatalignan B ( 2 ), were isolated from the Magnolia obovata fruits. Their chemical structure, including absolute configuration, was determined based on various spectroscopic methods, such as HR‐EI‐MS, 1D‐NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT), 2D‐NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC, NOESY), and CD spectroscopy. The compounds were evaluated for protective effects against glutamate‐induced oxidative stress in HT22‐immortalized hippocampal cells and inhibitory activity against NO production in LPS‐induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited protective effects against glutamate‐induced oxidative stress with EC₅₀ values of 18.1 ± 1.23 and 7.10 ± 0.78 μm , respectively, as well as inhibitory effects on NO production with IC₅₀ values of > 30.0 and 8.22 ± 2.01 μm , respectively.