New diterpenoids from stems and roots of Caesalpinia crista

Nine new cassane-type diterpenes, named taepeenin A-I, and two new norcassane-type diterpenes, named nortaepeenin A-B, were isolated from the stems and roots of Caesalpinia crista along with three known diterpenes: vinhaticoic acid, methyl vinhaticoate and ent-11β-hydroxy-rosa-5,15-diene. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. In addition, the structure of taepeenin A was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Eight new diterpenoids from soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata resulted in the isolation of eight new diterpenes, cespihypotins E-L (1-8). The new metabolites comprise of six verticillene-type diterpenes, one cespitularane derivative, and one derivative with 14-membered lactone ring. The structures were determined through detailed spectroscopic analyses, especially high resolution ESIMS and 2D NMR techniques. The relative stereochemistry was deduced from NOESY spectrum and application of Mosher's ester technique. Immunomodulatory and antiviral activities of 1-8 were tested and evaluated. The biogenetic pathways for 1-8 were also proposed.     

Salviatalin A and salvitrijudin A, two diterpenes with novel skeletons from roots of Salvia digitaloides and anti-inflammatory evaluation

Salviatalin A (1) and salvitrijudin A (2), two diterpenes with novel skeletons, were isolated from the roots of Salvia digitaloides. Their structures were determined using 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESI-MS spectroscopic analyses. Salviatalin A (1) from bioassay-guided fractionation showed a potent inhibitory effect on superoxide anion production in GMLP/CB-activated human neutrophils as well as other anti-inflammatory effects. A plausible biosynthetic pathway is also discussed.     

Identification of anti-inflammatory diterpenes from the marine gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae

Analysis of the terpene metabolites of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected from the Florida Keys has resulted in the identification of a novel hydroxyquinone, elisabethadione (1), as well as new pseudopterosins and seco-pseudopterosins. Anti-inflammatory assays indicate that elisabethadione is more potent than the well characterized pseudopterosin A and E. This report also describes the co-occurrence of pseudopterosins and seco-pseudopterosins, diterpenes with amphilectane and serrulatane skeletons, respectively. This together with our previously described isolation of elisabethatriene as the sole diterpene cyclase product in P. elisabethae suggests that the amphilectane and serrulatane families of diterpenes are derived from the same geranylgeranyl diphosphate cyclase product.     

A pair of epimeric cassane-type diterpenoids and a new labdane-type derivative from Caesalpinia decapetala

Caesaldecins A and B (1a/1b), a pair of epimeric cassane-type diterpenoids containing an ether linkage between C-6 and C-20 and an α,β-butenolide ring in the northern hemisphere, were isolated from the leaves of the medicinal plant Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston, along with a new labdane-type diterpenoid, termed as 8(17),11(Z),13(E)-trien-15,18-dioic acid (2). Structures of 1 and 2 were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The in vitro antibacterial and inhibitory activities against a panel of bacteria and cancer cell lines were evaluated, respectively. Compound 2 displayed moderate antibacterial activity against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (MRSA) with an MIC₅₀ value of 5.99?μg?mL^?1.     

Synthetic studies of neoclerodane diterpenoids from Salvia splendens and evaluation of opioid receptor affinity

Salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum, is the only known non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Several structural congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens (2-8) together with a series of semisynthetic derivatives (9-24), some of which possess a pyrazoline structural moiety (9, 19-22), have been tested for affinity at human μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. None of these compounds showed high affinity binding to these receptors. However, 10 showed modest affinity for κ receptors suggesting that other natural neoclerodanes from different Salvia species may possess opioid affinity.     

Clerodane diterpenoids from Microglossa angolensis

Two new diterpenoids, 6β-(2-methylbut-2(Z)-enoyl)-3α,4α,15,16-bis-epoxy-8β,10βH-ent-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12-olide and 10β-hydroxy-6-oxo-3α,4α,15,16-bis-epoxy-8βH-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12-olide, together with the known β-amyrin, spinasterol, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8,3′,4′,5′-pentamethoxyflavone have been isolated from the aerial parts of Microglossa angolensis Oliv. et Hiern (Compositae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies and comparison with published data.     

Infectopyrone, a potential mycotoxin from Alternaria infectoria

A new metabolite, infectopyrone (1), has been isolated from the filamentous fungus Alternaria infectoria. The structure of 1 was elucidated by analysis of 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compound 1 is an α-pyrone resembling known toxins, and is a useful phenotaxonomic marker for the A. infectoria species-group. Infectopyrone (1) was also produced by species within Stemphyllium and Ulocladium, and found in mouldy food.     

Pauferrol A, a novel chalcone trimer with a cyclobutane ring from Caesalpinia ferrea mart exhibiting DNA topoisomerase II inhibition and apoptosis-inducing activity

Pauferrol A (1), a unique chalcone derivative was isolated from the stems of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart, and the structure was determined on the basis of 2D-NMR spectroscopy to be a chalcone trimer fused by a cyclobutane ring. This new chalcone trimer showed potent inhibitory activity against human topoisomerase II, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.1 μM, and cell proliferation inhibitory activity through the induction of apoptosis in human leukemia HL60 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 5.2 μM. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation and structure of this chalcone trimer and its biological activity.     

Two novel diterpenoids from Isodon rubescens var. lushanensis

Two novel diterpenoids, luanchunins A (1) and B (2), along with their precursor, kamebakaurin (3), had been isolated from the stems and leaves of Isodon rubescens var. lushanensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 showed potent cytotoxic activity against HL-60 with IC₅₀ values of 4.81 μM and 3.52 μM, respectively. Plausible pathways for the biosynthesis of 1 and 2 were also postulated.     

Biopreparation of an anti-inflammatory agent,diarctigenin, from arctiin isolated from Arctium lappa by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4

In the preliminary screening for the plant-derived pesticides against Rhizoctonia solani Kühn AG-4 (RS AG-4), the indicator compounds arctiin (1) and arctigenin (2) in methanol extracts of Arctium lappa L. were consumed and transformed to other compounds. Thus, in the present study RS AG-4 was used as a biocatalyst and the biotransformation of arctiin (1) was investigated. Conversion of arctiin (1) to arctigenin (2) was achieved by the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugar moiety. In addition, an anti-inflammatory lignan dimer reported from the Arctium species, diarctigenin (3) was afforded in good yields. The HPLC monitoring of the biotransformation process indicated the possible mechanism. It would be an excellent method to produce a large scale of diarctigenin (3) for the successive medicinal examinations.     

Cytotoxic bromoditerpenes from the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius

Three new brominated diterpenes (1, 2, 8), along with six previously reported metabolites (3-7, 9), were isolated from the organic extract of Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, collected in Palaiokastritsa bay at the west coasts of Corfu Island. The structures of the new natural products, as well as their relative stereochemistry, were established by means of spectral data analyses, including 2D experiments. The absolute stereochemistry of 2 and 4 as well as the structure revision of the previously reported metabolite 3 were established by X-ray crystallographic analyses. The cytotoxicity of the isolated metabolites was evaluated against the NSCLC-N6-L16 and A549 human lung cancer cell lines.     

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids from Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids rubescensins U (1) and V (2) were isolated from the leaves of Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis. They were elucidated as a 8,15-seco-ent-kauranoid and an ent-abietanoid, respectively, by 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and single crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 is the first example of an 8,15-seco-ent-kaurane from the plants genus Isodon. A discussion of their biogenesis is described.     

Durumolides A-E, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial cembranolides from the soft coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigations on the acetone extract of the soft coral Lobophytum durum have afforded five new cembranoids with a trans-fused α-methylene-γ-lactone, durumolides A-E (1, 6, and 8-10), and five previously characterized cembrane-based diterpenoids (2-5 and 7). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the relative stereochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 3-5 and 8 were established by application of modified Mosher's method. The anti-inflammatory effects, antibacterial activities, and inhibition assay of HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) endonuclease activity of these isolated metabolites 1-10 were evaluated in vitro.     

Hericirine,a novel anti-inflammatory alkaloid from Hericium erinaceum

A novel ergosterol conjunction-type alkaloid, hericirine (1), was isolated from the dried fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceum. The overall framework of 1 was isolated, and combined with hericerin and ergosterol. Its structure was elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis using 1D and 2D NMR, IR and HRESIMS techniques. We found that hericirine significantly inhibited protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 and reduced NO, PGE₂, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β production in RAW264.7 cells exposed to LPS.     

New tri- and tetracyclic diterpenes from Euphorbia villosa

Three new tetracyclic diterpenes were isolated from the chloroform-soluble extract of Euphorbia villosa, together with one new and one known lathyrane diterpene. The structures were elucidated by means of various spectroscopic methods, including HREI-MS, HRFAB-MS, UV, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Spectral analyses revealed that two of the tetracyclic compounds contain the rare 5-6-6-4 fused ring system, while the third has a 5-6-7-3 fused diterpene core. Such diterpene skeletons have previously been found only in euphoractines A-E isolated from Euphorbia micractina. As a new structural feature, the diterpene framework described here has a C-2 epimer configuration. The new lathyrane diterpene is a diester of a hitherto unknown polyfunctional parent alcohol.     

Novel grayanane diterpenoids from Rhododendron principis

Six new grayanane diterpenoids, principinols A–F (1–6), were isolated from Rhododendron principis. Compounds 1 and 2 possess unprecedented 6,10-epoxy and 5α-OH moieties, and 1 and 3 are the first two examples of 9α-H in grayanoids. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1–4 were assigned by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4 and 5 inhibit PTP1B phosphatase activity in vitro. A preliminary structure–activity relationship discussion is presented.     

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.     

Sesquiterpenoids, alantolactone analogues, and seco-guaiene from the roots of Inula helenium

Three new sesquiterpenoids, a new unusual dimeric eudesmanolide, bialantolactone, a new nor-eudesmanolide, trinoralantolactone, and a new seco-guaiene, 7S,1(10)Z-4,5-seco-guaia-1(10),11-diene-4,5-dioxo, together with 13 known sesquiterpenoids, were isolated from the roots of Inula helenium. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of bialantolactone and 7S,1(10)Z-4,5-seco-guaia-1(10),11-diene-4,5-dioxo were defined via the experimental and computational optical rotation and CD data. The plausible biosynthetic pathways to bialantolactone and 7S,1(10)Z-4,5-seco-guaia-1(10),11-diene-4,5-dioxo are discussed. 16 compounds were evaluated for their anti-bacterial activities against six bacteria.     

New pyrrolidine alkaloids from the roots of Pandanus amaryllifolius

Four new alkaloids, pandamarilactonines-E, -F, and -F-N-oxide consisting of a pyrrolidine moiety and two α-methyl-γ-lactone residues, and pandamarilactonine-G, possessing a pyrrolidinone function, were isolated from the roots of Pandanus amaryllifolius. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic analyses and chemical syntheses.