Vitrifolin A: A Norlabdane Diterpenoid from the Fruits of Vitex trifolia Linn. var. simplicifolia Cham

A new norlabdane diterpenoid, named vitrifolin A, was isolated from the fruits of Vitex trifolia Linn. var. simplicifolia Cham. Its structure was elucidated by mean of spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR. The inhibitory effect of vitrifolin A on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccarideactivated mouse macrophages was also evaluated.     

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.     

Highly Acetylated Lanostane‐Type Triterpenoids from Coprinus cinereus 120

Two new highly acetylated lanostane‐type triterpenoids, coprinacin A ( 1 ) and coprinacin B ( 2 ), were isolated from the basidiomycetous strain Coprinus cinereus 120. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments and FT‐ICR‐MS, and their in vitro cytotoxic activities against the human‐tumor cell line HeLa were established as modest.     

A New 30‐Noroleanane Saponin from Wedelia chinensis

A novel 30‐nortriterpenoid saponin, (3β)‐3‐hydroxy‐30‐noroleana‐12,20(29)‐dien‐28‐oic acid 3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid 6‐methyl ester) ( 1 ), and a known compound, (3β)‐oleanolic acid 3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid 6‐methyl ester) ( 2 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Wedelia chinensis. The structures were established by their spectral data including ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMBC, HSQC, NOESY, and HR‐FAB‐MS data.     

A Hydroxylated Lupeol‐Based Triterpenoid Ester Isolated from the Scurrula parasitica Parasitic on Nerium indicum

(3β,7β)‐7‐Hydroxylup‐20(29)‐en‐3‐yl hexadecanoate ( 1 ), a new lupeol‐based triterpenoid ester, along with sixteen known compounds, 7β,15α‐dihydroxylup‐20(29)‐ene‐3β‐O‐palmitate ( 2 ), lupeol palmitate ( 3 ), lupeol ( 4 ), 3‐oxolup‐20(29)‐ene ( 5 ), ursolic acid ( 6 ), cycloeucalenol ( 7 ), stigmasterol ( 8 ), β‐sitosterol ( 9 ), β‐daucosterol ( 10 ), quercetin ( 11 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinoside ( 12 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnoside ( 13 ), catechin ( 14 ), gitoxigenin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnoside ( 15 ), gitoxigenin 3‐O‐α‐D ‐glucoside ( 16 ), and digitoxigenin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnoside ( 17 ), was isolated from the leaves of the Southern China mistletoe, Scurrula parasitica Linn parasitic on Nerium indicum Mill . Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 2D‐NMR techniques. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 – 7 and 11 – 17 were evaluated against three cancer cell lines, PANC‐1, HL‐60, and SGC‐7901, revealing that compounds 4, 6, 11 , and 15 – 17 exhibited effective cytotoxicities, while others were inactive. A structure? activity relationship study of compounds 1 – 5 indicated that the 3‐OH group in lupeol‐based triterpenoids is essential for antitumor activity.     

Four New Schisanartane‐Type Nortriterpenoids from Schisandra propinqua var. propinqua

Four new, highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids with the unique schisanartane skeleton, propindilactones A–D ( 1 – 4 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Schisandra propinqua var. propinqua, together with four known schisanartane‐type compounds. The structures of the new plant constituents were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods.     

密脉鹅掌柴中三萜类新化合物12α,13-二羟基齐墩果烷-3酮-28酸和新细胞周期抑制剂齐墩果酮酸

12α, 13-Dihydroxyolean-3-oxo-28-oic acid (1), a new pentacyclic triterpene, was isolated from Scheffiera venulosa (Wight et Am.) Harms through a bioassay-guided fractionafion procedure, together with the known oleanonic acid (2) as a new cell cycle inhibitor. Structures were estabfished by spectroscopy. Compound 2 inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells with the IC50 value of 0.13 lamol/mL by the SRB method and inhibited the cell cycle of tsFT210 cells at the G0/G1 phase at the concentration higher than 10 μg/mL.     

Secondary Metabolites from the Leaves of Litsea lii var. nunkao‐tahangensis

Investigation of the leaves extract of Litsea lii var. nunkao‐tahangensis led to the isolation of five new butanolides, litsealiicolide A ( 1 ), isolitsealiicolide A ( 2 ), litsealiicolide B ( 3 ), isolitsealiicolide B ( 4 ), and isolitsealiicolide C ( 5 ), along with 17 known compounds. Their structures were determined through in‐depth spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric analyses. Among the isolates, compounds 1 and 2 were cytotoxic against MCF‐7, NCI‐H460, and SF‐268 cell lines in vitro. Compound 5 and isolinderanolide B ( 6 ) showed marginal cytotoxic activity against these three cell lines in vitro.     

Three New Cassane‐Type Diterpenes from Caesalpinia minax

Three new cassane‐type diterpenes, 14‐dehydroxy‐12,16‐dihydrocaesaldekarin L ( 1 ), 1‐deacetyl‐12‐ethoxyneocaesalpin N ( 2 ), and 1‐deacetylneocaesalpin N ( 3 ), together with two known cassane‐type diterpenes, neocaesalpin A and neocaesalpin L, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the twigs and leaves of Caesalpinia minax. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, as well as by comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds.     

A New Megastigmane Palmitate and a New Oleanane Triterpenoid from Aster yomena Makino

A new megastigmane palmitate, 9‐oxomegastigm‐5(13)‐ene‐2β‐palmitate ( 1 ), and a new oleanane triterpenoid, (3β)‐3,23,28‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐11‐one ( 2 ), together with three known oleanane‐type triterpenoids, β‐amyrin ( 3 ), erythrodiol ( 4 ), and (3β)‐olean‐12‐ene‐3,23,28‐triol ( 5 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Aster yomena (Asteraceae). Their structures were identified based on 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analysis, including ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY techniques.     

Response surface optimization of ultrasound‐assisted flavonoids extraction from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl

Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl is a member of genus Citrus (Rutaceae) and has been used in Chinese medicine with the effectiveness of digestant and expectorant. Ultrasonic‐assisted extraction process for maximum flavonoids from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl was investigated by response surface methodology. Through single factor experiment, ranges of the main variables (including ethanol concentration, solid/liquid ratio, extraction time and temperature) affecting the extraction yield of flavonoids were confirmed. Box–Behnken central composite design consisting of 24 experimental runs and 5 replicates at zero point was then applied and a regress model was obtained to predict the optimal extraction yield. The ANOVA indicated that the regression equation fits very well with the actual situation, reflecting the relationship between the extraction yield of flavonoids and extraction conditions. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature 72.11°C, time 51.89 min, ethanol concentration 51.19% and liquid/solid ratio of 40:10. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum response value of yield (1.88%) was consistent with the experimental value (1.87%), indicating the feasibility and validation of response surface methodology in optimizing the extraction of flavonoids from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl.     

Four New Triterpenes from Anchusa azurea var. azurea

Four new triterpene glycosides, named oleanazuroside 1 ( 1 ), oleanazuroside 2 ( 2 ), ursolazuroside 1 ( 3 ), and ursolazuroside 2 ( 4 ), together with the seven known compounds 5 – 11 , were isolated from the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Anchusa azurea Miller var. azurea. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic evidence (UV, IR, MALDI‐MS, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR). The radical‐scavenging activities against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of the BuOH extract and of 8 and 10 were very strong (Table 5).     

Myrrhanolide D and Myrrhasin A,New Germacrane‐Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Resin of Commiphora opobalsamum

Two new germacrane‐type sesquiterpenoids bearing an epoxy ring, myrrhanolide D ( 1 ) and myrrhasin A ( 2 ), together with eight known compounds, 3 – 10 , were isolated from the resinous exudates of Commiphora opobalsamum. Their structures were elucidated based on the analyses of their spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds 1, 2, 6 , and 8 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human prostate cancer DU145 and PC3 cells.     

Investigation of Flavonoid Glycosides from Neolitsea Sericea var. Aurata via the General Method and HPLC‐SPE‐NMR

Six flavonoid rhamnosides ( 1‐2, 4‐7 ) were separated from the water‐soluble non‐alkaloidal portion of the EtOH extract of the leaves of Neolitsea sericea var. aurata using various chromatographic techniques including Sephadex LH‐20, centrifugal partition chromatography, and RP‐18 Lobar. One additional compound ( 3 ) besides these six was identified by application of HPLC‐SPE‐NMR in a flavonoid rich fraction. The latter approach consumed only 1.5 mg of samples, theoretically equivalent to 0.2 g of dry leaves. This study demonstrates that HPLC‐SPE‐NMR has great advantage over the general methods on the aspects of manpower, research time, amounts of plant materials, and consumables in separation and characterization of natural products.     

Structural and Biological Properties of Vermistatin and Two New Vermistatin Derivatives Isolated from the Marine‐Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Guignardia sp. No. 4382

Vermistatin (=(3R)‐4,6‐dimethoxy‐3‐{4‐oxo‐6‐[(1E)‐prop‐1‐en‐1‐yl]‐4H‐pyran‐3‐yl}‐2‐benzofuran‐1(3H)‐one; 1 ) and two new vermistatin derivatives, compounds 2 and 3 , were isolated from the fungal strain Guignardia sp. No. 4382 obtained from the South‐China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by various methods, including circular dichroism (CD), 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and HR‐EI‐MS. The structures of 1 and 2 were unequivocally corroborated by X‐ray crystallography, and their absolute configurations were derived by CD spectroscopy based on a literature comparison. The in vitro cytotoxic and antifungal activities of 1 and 2 were tested.     

Two New Cytotoxic Nonsulfated Pentasaccharide Holostane (=20‐Hydroxylanostan‐18‐oic Acid γ‐Lactone) Glycosides from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria grisea

Two new lanostane‐type nonsulfated pentasaccharide triterpene glycosides, 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ), were isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria grisea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR and MS experiments, as well as chemical evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 possess the same pentasaccharide moieties but differ slightly in their side chains of the holostane‐type triterpene aglycone. The structures of the two new glycosides were established as (3β,12α)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20‐dihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 1 ) and (3β,12α)‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20,22‐trihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 2 ). The 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against HL‐60, BEL‐7402, Molt‐4, and A‐549 cancer cell lines.     

Five New β‐Carboline‐Type Alkaloids from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata

Five new β‐carboline‐type alkaloids, dichotomines F–J ( 1 – 5 , resp.), along with nine known compounds, dichotomides I, III, V, and VII ( 6 – 9 , resp.), stellarines A and C ( 10 – 11 , resp.), dichotomine B ( 12 ), glucodichotomine B ( 13 ), and 1‐acetyl‐3‐carboxy‐β‐carboline ( 14 ), were isolated from the roots of Chinese medicinal plant Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic means. Compounds 12 and 13 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity.     

Four New Lariciresinol‐Based Lignan Glycosides from the Roots of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana

The four new lariciresinol‐based lignan glycosides, (?)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(6″‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 1 ), (?)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 2 ), 5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 3 ), and 4‐O‐[α‐(1,2‐dihydroxyethyl)syringyl]‐5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 4 ), together with two known ones, lariciresinol 4′‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 5 ) and tortoside B ( 6 ), were isolated from the BuOH extract of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana roots, and their structures were established by means of various spectroscopic techniques.     

New Cytotoxic Metabolites from the Marine‐Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. ZLN29

One new penicillide derivative, prenpenicillide ( 1 ), and one new xanthone derivative, prenxanthone ( 2 ), were isolated from the culture extract of the marine‐derived fungus Penicillium sp. ZLN29, together with six known polyketide compounds, 3 – 8 . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. The cytotoxicities of these eight compounds were evaluated on four tumor‐cell lines by SRB (=sulforhodamine B) or MTT (=3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) methods. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited weak cytotoxicities against HepG2 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 9.9 and 9.7 μM , respectively.