New sesquiterpenoids from the New Zealand liverwort Chiloscyphus subporosus

A new aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoid, 4(15)-aromadendren-12,5alpha-olide and an aromadendrane-guaianolide dimer have been isolated from the New Zealand liverwort Chiloscyphus subporosus. Their structures were established by extensive NMR techniques and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

New sesquiterpenoid from the New Zealand liverwort Lepidozia spinosissima

A new cyclogorgonane-type sesquiterpenoid, 1,5-cyclo-3,6-gorgonadien-15,11-olide was isolated from the New Zealand liverwort Lepidozia spinosissima, together with three known sesquiterpenoids. Their structures were established by the extensive NMR techniques and chemical reaction.     

New bibenzyl cannabinoid from the New Zealand liverwort Radula marginata

The ether extract of the New Zealand liverwort Radula marginata afforded a new cannabinoid type bibenzyl compound named perrottetinenic acid, and two new bibenzyls, together with a known cannabinoid, perrottetinene. Their structures were established by two dimensional (2D) NMR spectral data. The structure of perrottetinenic acid was a similar to that of Delta(1)-tetrahydrocannabinol, a known hallucinogen. Cannabinoid type bibenzyls have been isolated from liverwort Radula perrottetii, though have not previously been reported from the liverwort R. marginata.     

Bazzanane sesquiterpenoids from the New Zealand liverwort Frullania falciloba

Two new bazzanane-type sesquiterpenoids have been isolated from the New Zealand liverwort Frullania falciloba. Their structures were confirmed by NMR and CD spectroscopy and chemical reactivity.     

New ent-kaurene-type diterpenoids possessing cytotoxicity from the New Zealand liverwort Jungermannia species

Two new ent-kaurene-type and a new rearranged ent-kaurene-type diterpenoids possessing cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell line have been isolated from the New Zealand liverwort Jungermannia species, together with previously known ent-kaurene-type diterpenoids. Their structures were established based on extensive NMR techniques.     

Cytotoxic 8,9-secokaurane diterpenes from a New Zealand liverwort, Lepidolaena taylorii

The main cytotoxic compound from the liverwort Lepidolaena taylorii is the known ent-8,9-seco-7-hydroxy-kaura-8(14),16-dien-9,15-dione1. The relative stereochemistry of a new cytotoxic compound, 16,17-dihydro derivative 2, was supported by molecular modelling. Another new cytotoxic compound was identified as 8,14-epoxide 3 by preparation from 1. These compounds showed differential cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines.     

New highly oxidized fusicoccane diterpenoids from the liverwort subsp.

Four novel fusicoccane diterpenoids, fusicoplagins A, B, C, and D, have been isolated from the liverwort subsp. and the structures determined by spectroscopic methods, chemical transformations, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

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.     

Chemical constituents of malagasy liverworts, part V: prenyl bibenzyls and clerodane diterpenoids with nitric oxide inhibitory activity from Radula appressa and Thysananthus spathulistipus

3Beta,4beta:15,16-diepoxy-13(16),14-clerodadiene (1) and a new clerodane diterpenoid designated thysaspathone (2) were isolated from the liverwort Thysananthus spathulistipus, while Radula appressa produced radulannin A (3), radulannin L (4), 2-geranyl-3,5-dihydroxybibenzyl (5), 2(S)-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl) chromene (o-cannabichromene) (6), 6-hydroxy-4-(2-phenylethyl) benzofuran (7), and o-cannabicyclol (8). All of the isolated compounds inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and the greatest inhibition was attributed to compound 5, with an IC50 value of 4.5 microM.     

Terpenoids and bibenzyls from three Argentine liverworts

A new rosane diterpenoid, 3a-hydroxy-5,15-rosadien-11-one (3), was isolated, together with a known rosane diterpenoid, 5,15-rosadiene-3,11-dione (4), and an aromadendrane sesquiterpenoid, ent-cyclocolorenone (5), from the Et(2)O extract of an unidentified Argentine liverwort Anastrophyllum species. Moreover, four known sesquiterpene lactones 6-9 and two known bibenzyls 10, 11 were isolated from the Et(2)O extracts of Argentine Frullania brasiliensis and Radula voluta, respectively. The structures of compounds 3-11 were determined by the use of NMR techniques.     

Aromatic compounds from the liverwort Conocephalum japonicum

Two undescribed dimeric ArC2 derivatives, cis- and trans-1,2-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane (1 and 2), one new monoterpenes esters, 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxybornane-2-cis-cinnamate (3), along with eight known compounds, 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxybornane-2-trans-cinnamate (4), perrottetin E (5), isoriccardin C (6), marchantin A (7), marchantin E (8), marchantin C (9), and isomarchantin C (10) were isolated from the liverwort Conocephalum japonicum. All the structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds 3-10 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the human KB cell line with IC50 values ranging from 16.5 to 50.2 microM.     

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.     

Anti-inflammatory bibenzyls from the stems of Dendrobium huoshanense via bioassay guided isolation

Abstract

The stems of Dendrobium huoshanense have long been used to prevent various diseases, including inflammatory diseases. This study was aimed to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of D. huoshanense stems in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and to discover potential anti-inflammatory compounds. Results exhibited that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract could significantly inhibit LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β. Based on bioassay guided strategy, four bibenzyls (1–4) were isolated from D. huoshanense stems for the first time. Anti-inflammatory assay showed 1–4 could remarkably inhibit the production of NO in LPS-induced macrophages. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR analysis displayed that the mRNA levels of iNOs, TNF-α and IL-1β could also be significantly reduced by 1–4. These results suggested that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract and bibenzyls 1–4 might be well developed as therapeutic agent to prevent inflammatory diseases.     

New insights into the seleniranium ion promoted cyclization of prenyl and propenylbenzene aryl ethers

The chromane core is widely represented in nature being part of a wide array of secondary metabolites of plant, fungal, and bacterial origin. In this paper an improved method for the chemical synthesis of differently substituted chromanes is described. Substituted 2H-1-benzopyrans have been synthesized in good to excellent yields (52–81%) by treatment of 3,3-dimethylallyl and propenylbenzene ethers of differently substituted phenols with phenylselenyl chloride.     

Anti-inflammatory and antimalarial meroterpenoids from the New Zealand ascidian Aplidium scabellum

Bioassay-directed fractionation of an extract of the New Zealand ascidian Aplidium scabellum has afforded the anti-inflammatory secondary metabolite 2-geranyl-6-methoxy-1,4-hydroquinone-4-sulfate (1) and a family of pseudodimeric meroterpenoids scabellones A (2)-D (5). The benzo[c]chromene-7,10-dione scaffold contained within scabellones A-D is particularly rare among natural products. The structures were elucidated by interpretation of NMR data. Scabellone B was also identified as a moderately potent, nontoxic inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum.     

Carexanes: prenyl stilbenoid derivatives from Carex distachya

Metabolites with a new molecular skeleton, named carexane, have been isolated from the leaves of Carex distachya. The structures have been determined on the basis of the spectroscopic characteristics of the compounds. Bidimensional NMR has furnished important data useful for the characterization and the stereochemistry of the molecules. The compounds have a tetracyclic skeleton derived from the coupling of the prenyl moiety on a stilbenoid structure.     

Insect antifeedant sesquiterpene acetals from the liverwort Lepidolaena clavigera

Two new oxygenated bergamotane derivatives, clavigerins B and C, were responsible for the insect antifeedant activity of an extract from the New Zealand liverwort Lepidolaena clavigera.     

Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids from the Japanese liverwort Jungermannia truncata NEES

Five new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids and a new gymnomitrane (=barbatane)-type sesquiterpenoid have been isolated from the Japanese liverwort Jungermannia truncata NEES, together with twelve previously known ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by two-dimensional (2D) NMR experiments and chemical reaction. Some of the isolated compounds showed cytotoxicity against human leukemia cell lines and induced apoptosis.