Synthesis and Steroidogenic Activity of Covalently Dimerized Corticotropin (ACTH) Fragments

The chemical synthesis by classical methods in solution of a dimer of the sequence 1 to 24 of adrenocorticotropin(ACTH) is described. The two monomers were covalently linked through their C-termini, using lysine amide as spacer. Dimerization did not improve significantly the potency of the agonist ACTH-(1–24), while it strongly potentiated the antagonistic effect of the fragments ACTH-(11–24) and ACTH-(7–24) in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in isolated adrenal cells. The results seem to imply a microaggregation of the receptors at the adrenal cell surface.     

Constituents of a fern, Diplazium subsinuatum. III. Four new hopane-triterpene lactone glycosides

From a whole plant of a fern, Diplazium subsinuatum, three new hopane-triterpene lactone glycosides, diplaziosides V-VII (1-3), were isolated, together with a new monoacetyl derivative (4) of diplazioside VII (3). Compounds 1-3 were defined as the respective 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosides of 3beta,24-dihydroxyhopan-28,22-olide (1), of 3beta,17,24-trihydroxyhopan-28,22-olide (2), and of (22R)-3beta,24,30-trihydroxyhopan-28,22-olide (3), and 4 as the 6"-O-acetate of 3, respectively, on the basis of spectral evidence. 1-3 are new in their glycoside structures but also in their triterpene structures. Furthermore, in compounds 1-4, the coupling between the 24-hydroxy proton and one of the 24-methylene protons showed a very large J-value (11.4 Hz); based on this 1H-NMR evidence, etc., preferred conformations of the 24-hydroxymethylene groups in 1-4 are also inferred. In a similar manner, 1H-NMR coupling patterns of the 24-hydroxymethylene in the monoglucoside (2a) and aglycone (2b), derived from 2, are also reported and discussed here.     

Four novel withanolide-type steroids from the leaves of Solanum cilistum.

Four novel withanolide-type steroids named cilistols p, pm, p1 and u (1-4, respectively), were isolated from the leaves of Solanum cilistum. The respective structures were characterized by spectroscopic means as follows: cilistol p (1) was (22R,24R,25R,26S)-1-oxo-22,26-epoxy-3alpha,5alpha-cycloergostane-6beta,17alpha, 24,25,26-pentaol 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, cilistol pm (2) corresponded to the 6-O-methyl ether derivative of 1; cilistol p1 (3) was represented as the 24-O-methyl ether of 1, and cilistol u (4) was shown to be the epoxide between C-24 and -25, presumably bearing cilistols p, pm and p1 by ring-opening.     

Four new cycloartane glycosides from Thalictrum fortunei

Four new cycloartane glycosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Thalictrum fortunei (Ranunculaceae). The chemical structures of these new glycosides were elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl (22S,24Z)-cycloart-24-en-3beta,22,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl (22S,24Z)-cycloart-24-en-3beta,22,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl (22S,24Z)-cycloart-24-en-3beta,22,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl (22S,24Z)-cycloart-24-en-3beta,22,26-triol 26-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside by extensive NMR methods, HR-ESI-MS, and hydrolysis. This is the first report of (22S,24Z)-3beta,22,26-trihydroxycycloartan-24-ene (thelictogenin A, 5) being glycosylated at C-26.     

Four new phenones from the cortexes of Polygala tenuifolia

From the 95% EtOH extract of the cortexes of Polygala tenuifolia, four new phenones and three known xanthones were isolated. The structures of the four new phenones were identified as 4-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxybenzophenone (tenuiphenone A, 1), 3,5-di-C-beta-glucopyranosyl-2,4,6,3'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (tenuiphenone B, 2), 2',4',6'-trihydroxyphenyl-(24Z)-triacontene-1-one (tenuiphenone C, 3), 2',4',6'-trihydroxyphenyl-(26Z)-dotriacontene-1-one (tenuiphenone D, 4) respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. The isolation of 1 and 2 supplied an evidence for the hypothesis that xanthone was biosynthesized from benzophenone in the plants.     

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids with antitumor effect from Aconitum nagarum var. heterotrichum

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids,nagaconitines A-D(1-4),were isolated from the roots of Aconitum nagarum var.heterotrichum.Their structures were elucidated as 8-(4'-hydroxylbutyryl) aconitine(1),15-oxo-13-deoxyludaconitine(2),15-hydroxyldelphisine(3),and 14-hydroxyl-2- acetoxyspiradine C(4)based on extensive UV,IR,MS,1D NMR and 2D NMR analyses.Compounds 3-4 showed inhibition of cancer cell line SK-OV-3 with 31%(IC_(50) 43.78 μmol/L) and 24%(IC_(50) 32.14 μmol/L),respectively.     

Four new steroid constituents from the waste residue of fibre separation from Agave americana leaves

Three new steroidal saponins, named agamenosides H-J (1-3), and a new cholestane steroid agavegenin D (4) were isolated from the waste residue of fibre separation from Agave americana leaves, together with six known steroids. Structures of the new compounds 1-4 were deduced to be (22S,23S,24R,25S)-24-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-5alpha-spirostane-3beta,6alpha,23-triol 6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (22S,23S,24R,25S)-5alpha-spirostane-3beta,23,24-triol 24-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (22S,23S,25R,26S)-23,26-epoxy-5alpha-furostane-3beta,22,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and (22S,25S)-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,16beta,22,26-tetrol (4), respectively, by means of spectroscopic analysis, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR data, and the results of hydrolytic cleavage.     

4个天然1,7-二芳基庚烷类化合物的合成

合成了4个天然1,7-二芳基庚烷类化合物:1-(4′-羟基-3′-甲氧基苯基)-7-(4″-羟基苯基)-5-羟基-3-庚酮(1),1-(4′-羟基-3′-甲氧基苯基)-7-(4″-羟基苯基)-4-庚烯-3-酮(2),1-(3′,4′-二羟基苯基)-7-(4″-羟基苯基)-5-羟基-3-庚酮(3),1-(3′,4′-二羟基苯基)-7-(4″-羟基苯基)-4-庚烯-3-酮(4).化合物1,2,4为首次合成.     

Four New Diterpenoids from Ballota limbata

Six diterpenoids ( 1 – 6 ) belonging to the clerodane and tetracyclic diterpene types were isolated from the CHCl₃ extract of Ballota limbata. The structures of the new compounds 1 and 4 – 6 (named ballatenolide A and limbatenolides A–C, resp.) were established by their spectral data, and their relative configuration was determined by 2D NMR. Compounds 2 and 3 were identified as known clerodanes. Compound 1 had a unique feature, i.e., an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactone moiety at C(4)/C(6), whereas limbatenolides A–C ( 4 – 6 ) belonged to the rare class of tetracyclic diterpenoids, which are known to occur only in the genus Ballota. All of the isolated compounds showed inhibitory potential in a cholinesterase‐inhibition assay.     

Four new 3,5-cyclosteroidal saponins from Dracaena surculosa

Further search for steroidal compounds contained in Dracaena surculosa (Agavaceae) led to the isolation of two new 3,5-cyclospirostanol saponins (1, 2) and two new 3,5-cyclofurostanol saponins (3, 4). Their structural assignment was established by spectroscopic analysis and a few chemical transformations as (24S,25R)-1beta-[(beta-D-fucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclospirostan-24-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (24S,25R)-1beta-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclospirostan-24-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (25S)-1beta-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-22alpha-methoxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclofurostan-26-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and (25S)-1beta-[(beta-D-fucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-22alpha-methoxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclofurostan-26-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), respectively.     

Four new prenylated flavonoids from the roots of Cudrania tricuspidata

Four new prenylated flavonoids, cudraflavanones E‐F (1–2) and cudraflavones F‐G (6–7), together with eight known compounds were isolated from the roots of Cudrania tricuspidata. The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and CD. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Four New Taxoids from the Barks of Taxus yunnanensis

The ongoing study of our previous work1-4 led to the isolation of four new taxoids from the barks of Taxus yunnanensis. One of them belonged to a paclitaxel analogue named 7-xylosyl-taxol D, the others were 11(15?1)-abeotaxoids with an opened D-ring system, named taxuyunnanines P-R respectively. Their structures were determined by means of spectral method s including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.7-Xylosyl-taxol D (1), white powder, has a molecular formula, C49H61NO18, from its positive HR…     

Benzodiazepine receptors in isolated adrenal glomerulosa cells

In our experiments the isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells displayed peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, which could bind to [3H] PK11195 with an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 9.4 +/- 2.8 nmol/L and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 5.6 +/- 1.8 pmol/10(6) cells. The effects of five ligands: PK11195, Ro5-4846, flunitrazepam, diazepam and clonazepam on aldosterone secretion responses of isolated glomerulosa cells to angiotensin II or extracellular potassium ions were observed. The logarithm of EO50 for these ligands as stimulators was well correlated with the logarithm of their Ki value for [3H] PK11195 binding, suggesting that the stimulative effects might be mediated by the benzodiazepine receptor in isolated glomerulosa cells.     

Spectroscopic characterization of environmentally relevant C10-chloroterpenes from a photochemically modified toxaphene standard

Twenty-five pure environmentally relevant toxaphene components have been isolated from photochemically modified technical toxaphene by means of a combination of column chromatography on silica gel and preparative high resolution liquid chromatography. These compounds are 6 chlorinated camphenes (1–3, 5, 7, and 11) and 19 chlorinated bornanes (4, 6, 8–10, 12–16, 18–24, 26, and 27 according to Table 1). Two further chlorobornanes (17 and 25) have been isolated from a highly chlorinated mixture obtained by the excess chlorination of 2-exo,10-dichlorobornane. The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds has been carried out with spectroscopical methods.     

Four new saponins from the starfish Certonardoa semiregularis

Four new saponins, designated as certonardosides K-N (1-3, 5), were isolated, along with culcitoside C(6) (4), from the brine shrimp active fraction of the starfish Certonardoa semiregularis. The structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical derivatization. These compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity.     

Triterpenoids and lignans from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens

Two new triterpenoids, 24(E)-3α,12α-dihydroxyl-lanost-9(11),24-dien-26-oid acid (1) and 3,4-seco-24(Z)-6α,7β-dihydroxyl-cycloart-4(28),24-dien-3,26-dioic-3-methyl ester (2), and ten known ones (3–12), together with eight lignans (13–20), were isolated from the stems of Schisandra glaucescens. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1–3, 5–7, 9, 11–13 and 15–18 were isolated from this species for the first time. 1 and 2 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities against the mouse cancer B16 cell line, human cancer HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines by MTT assay.     

Four new andrographolide metabolites in human urine

Andrographolide is one of principal components of a famous traditional Chinese herbal medicine Andrographis paniculate (BURM) NEES. Four new metabolites of andrographolide were isolated from human urine. All of them were characterized as sulfate and one of them also as a cysteine S-conjugate. The structures were determined to be andrographolide-3-O-sulfate (M-1), isoandrographolide-3-O-sulfate (M-2), 14-deoxyandrographolide-3-O-sulfate (M-3), 14-deoxy-12-(cysteine-S-yl)-andrographolide-3-O-sulfate (M-4), respectively, based on chemical evidence and spectroscopic analyses.     

Skin Exposure to Ultraviolet B Rapidly Activates Systemic Neuroendocrine and Immunosuppressive Responses

The back skin of C57BL/6 mice was exposed to a single 400 mJ cm^?2 dose of ultraviolet B (UVB), and parameters of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in relation to immune activity were tested after 30–90 min following irradiation. Levels of brain and/or plasma corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), β‐endorphin, ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) were enhanced by UVB. Hypophysectomy had no effect on UVB‐induced increases of CORT. Mitogen‐induced IFNγ production by splenocytes from UVB‐treated mice was inhibited at 30, 90 min and after 24 h. UVB also led to inhibition of IL‐10 production indicating an immunosuppressive effect on both Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Conditioned media from splenocytes isolated from UVB‐treated animals had no effect on IFNγ production in cultured normal splenocytes; however, IFNγ increased with conditioned media from sham‐irradiated animals. Sera from UVB‐treated mice suppressed T‐cell mitogen‐induced IFNγ production as compared to sera from sham‐treated mice. IFNγ production was inhibited in splenocytes isolated from UVB‐treated animals with intact pituitary, while stimulated in splenocytes from UVB‐treated hypophysectomized mice. Thus, cutaneous exposure to UVB rapidly stimulates systemic CRH, ACTH, β‐endorphin and CORT production accompanied by rapid immunosuppressive effects in splenocytes that appear to be independent of the HPA axis.     

Four New Briarane Diterpenoids from the Gorgonian Coral Junceella fragilis

Chemical investigation of the gorgonian coral Junceella fragilis, collected by scuba diving in Taiwan, resulted in the isolation of four new briarane‐type diterpenoids, frajunolides A–D ( 1 – 4 ), along with three known briaranes. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies, especially 1‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as HR‐MS experiments. The inhibitory effect of all isolated metabolites towards superoxide‐anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils in response to formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine/dihydrocytochalasin B (FMLP/CB) was evaluated.     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 9. Regioselective glycosidation of diols and triols: Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds

Glycosidation of the myo-inositol derivatives 2 and 3 by the diazirine 1 yields 90% of a diastereoisomer pair of β-D -glycosides in a 1:1 ratio, i.e. 5/6 and 7/8 , respectively (Scheme 1). The crystal structure of 3 shows a strong intramolecular H-bond, which persists in solution, as indicated by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. Yields and diastereoselectivity are lower for the glycosidation of 24 by 1 (Scheme 3). The resulting 1,2- and 1,4-linked disaccharides 25–28 were isolated as their acetates 29–32 . The previously determined crystal structure of 24 shows no intramolecular H-bonds. The yield of the glycosidation of 24 , but not of 3 , depends upon the concentration, indicating that activation of 24 by intermolecular H-bonds is required. Glycosidation of 2 and 3 with the trichloroacetimidate 14 gave mixtures of four ( 5,6,15 , and 16 ), and six ( 7,8 , and 17–20 ) disaccharides, respectively (Scheme 2).