A new multiflorane triterpenoid ester from Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng

A new triterpenoid ester 3,29-di-O-(p-methoxy)benzoylmultiflora-8-ene-3 alpha,29-diol-7-one from the seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng has been isolated. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic evidence and confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Two New Furostanol Glycosides from Asparagus cochinchinensis

Two new furostanol oligoglycosides named as aspacochioside A(1)and B(2) were isolated from the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.)Merr..Their structures were clucidated to be 3-O-[{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4）}{β-D-glucopyranosyl}]-26-O-[β-D-glucopy-ranosyl]-(25S)-5β-furostane-3β，22α，26-triol 1 and 3-O-[{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4）}{β-D-glu-copyeransoyl}]-26-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl]-22α-methoxy-(25S)-5β-furostane-3β，26-diol 2 on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods.     

Walsucochinoids A and B: new rearranged limonoids from Walsura cochinchinensis

Walsucochinoids A (1) and B (2), two rearranged limonoids possessing an unprecedented carbon framework, were isolated from Walsura cochinchinensis. Their configurations were assigned as 1S, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R, 7S, 8R, 9R, and 10R on the basis of a detailed examination of spectroscopic data, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and CD experiments.     

Walsucochins A and B with an unprecedented skeleton isolated from Walsura cochinchinensis

Walsucochins A (1) and B (2) with an unprecedented skeleton were isolated from Walsura cochinchinensis. Their structures including absolute configuration were elucidated by spectral methods. A biosynthetic pathway of 1 and 2 was postulated. Both 1 and 2 exhibited significant cell protecting activities against H2O2-induced PC12 cell damage.     

Bisbenzopyrans and alkaloids from the roots of Stemona cochinchinensis

Two new bisbenzopyrans, namely 3,3'-bis(3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-2H-1-benzopyran) (1), and 8'-methoxy-3,3'-bis(3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran) (2), together with known 3,3'-bis(3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran) (3), as well as three known pyrido[1,2-alpha]azapine alkaloids, stemokerrin (4), oxystemokerrin (5) and oxystemokerrin-N-oxide (6), were isolated and identified from the roots of Stemona cochinchinensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra and other spectroscopic studies.     

Three new biflavonoids from Chinese dragon's blood, Dracaena cochinchinensis

Three new biflavonoids, named (2RyS)-3'-methoxy-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (1), (2SyR)-3'-methoxy-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (2), and (2RyR)-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (3), were isolated from Chinese Dragon's blood [Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen], together with two known ones. The structures of these new biflavonoids were elucidated by a combination of HR-ESI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC spectra. The absolute configurations of compounds 1-4 were determined by quantum chemical calculation of the circular dichroism spectrum and comparison with the experimental CD spectrum.     

A New Furost—20（22）—ene Oligoglycoside from Asparagus cochinchinensis

A new furost-20(22)-ene oligoglycoside named as aspacochioside C was isolated from the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. Its structure was elucidated to be 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5β- furost-20(22)-en-3β,26-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-( 1 →4)-β-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR experiments.     

Flavonoids from the Resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis

Chemical investigation of the red herbal resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis resulted in the isolation of three new configurationally isomeric flavonoids: 6,4′‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐8‐methylflavane (=3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐8‐methyl‐2H‐[1]benzopyran‐6‐ol; 1 ), 5,4′‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐6‐methylflavane (=3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐[1]benzopyran‐5‐ol; 2 ), and 7,4′‐dihydroxy‐5‐ methoxyhomoisoflavane (=3,4‐dihydro‐3‐[(4‐hydroxyphenyl)methyl]‐5‐methoxy‐2H‐[1]benzopyran‐7‐ol; 3 ). Their structures were identified by means of detailed spectral analysis. In addition, thirteen known compounds were isolated from D. cochinchinensis: 7‐hydroxy‐4′‐methoxyflavane ( 4 ), 2,4,6‐trimethoxy‐4′‐hydroxydihydrochalcone ( 5 ), 2,4‐dimethoxy‐4′‐hydroxydihydrochalcone ( 6 ), 7,8‐(methylenedioxy)‐4′‐hydroxyhomoisoflavane ( 7 ), 4′,7‐dihydroxy‐8‐methylflavane ( 8 ), 2,6‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐dihydroxydihydrochalcone ( 9 ), 2‐methoxy‐4,4′‐dihydroxydihydrochalcone ( 10 ), 7‐methoxy‐6,4′‐dihydroxyhomoisoflavane ( 11 ), 2‐methoxy‐4,4′‐dihydroxychalcone ( 12 ), 4′,7‐dihydroxyflavane ( 13 ), 7,4′‐dihydroxyhomoisoflavane ( 14 ), 7,4′‐dihydroxyhomoisoflavone ( 15 ), and 7,4′‐dihydroxyflavone ( 16 ). Compounds 7, 8, 9, 14 , and 15 have been isolated for the first time from this type of herbal source.     

The leaf essential oils of five Vietnamese Desmos species (Annonaceae)

The leaf essential oils of five Desmos species from Vietnam have been extracted by steam distillation and subjected to GC and GC-MS analyses. The plant samples were Desmos cochinchinensis Lour., D. penduculosus (A. DC.) Ban, D. penducolosus var. tonkinensis Ban, D. chinensis Lour., and D. dumosus (Roxb.) Saff. The oils were rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (65.9%-88.9%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (6.3%-30.9%). The oxygenated counterparts were less common. The quantitatively significant constituents of the oils were alpha-pinene (2.4%-12.1%), beta-elemene (2.2-39.5%), beta-caryophyllene (13.9-26.3%), germacrene D (9.9-15.5%), bicyclogermacrene (2.0-11.4%) and alpha-humulene (3.8-7.5%). The studied oils could be classified into two chemical forms: oils with abundance of beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D and alpha-pinene (D. cochinchinensis, D. penducolosus var. tonkinensis, D. chinensis and D. Dumosus) and oil with high amounts of beta-elemene, beta-caryophyllene and germacrene D (D. penduculosus).     

Two new benzophenone glucosides from Cratoxylon cochinchinensis

Two new benzophenone glucosides were isolated from the 60%ethanol extract of the dried stems of Cratoxylum cochinchinense. The structures were elucidated as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2′,4,6′-trihydroxy-benzophenone and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2′,5,6′-trihydroxybenzophenone on the basis of spectral and chemical methods.     

Chemical Constituents of the Leaves of Desmos cochinchinensis var. fulvescens Ban

A phytochemical investigation of MeOH extract of Desmos cochinchinensis var. fulvescens Ban afforded two new compounds, 1β,7α‐dihydroxyeudesman‐4‐one ( 1 ) and 5αH‐megastigm‐7‐ene‐3α,4α,6β,9‐tetrol ( 2 ), together with nine known terpenoids. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic analysis. Their relative configurations were assigned by NOESY experiments.     

Three New Highly Oxygenated Diterpenoids from Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour.

Chemical examination of the AcOEt extract of the leaves and twigs of Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour . collected from Xishuangbanna resulted in the isolation of the three new highly oxygenated diterpenoids 1 – 3 . The structures of the new diterpenoids were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectra data as (2β,3β,5α,6α)‐2,3‐bis(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐6,9‐dihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone A; 1 ), (1α,5α,6β,7β)‐1,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐7,9‐dihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone B; 2 ), and (1α,5α,6β,7β)‐6‐(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐1,7,9‐trihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone C; 3 ).     

Cochinchin from Dracaena cochinchinensis

A new compound, Cochinchin (1), together with 7,4‘-dihydroxyflavone (2), 7-hydroxy-4‘-methoxyflavane (3),7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)chroman (4), 4‘-hydroxy-2,4-dirnethoxydihydrochalcone (5) and 4‘-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxydihydrochalcone (6) was isolated from the resin (trivial name, “dragon‘s blood“) of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chert. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data as (2,3-trans)-6-allyl-2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin which is a natural product possessing a new framework.     

Alkaloids from the Roots of Stemona cochinchinensis

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Stemona cochinchinensis led to the isolation and structure elucidation of a new pyrido[1,2‐a]azepine‐type alkaloid, stemocochinamine ( 1 ), and of four new pyrrolo[1,2‐a]azepine‐type alkaloids, bisdehydrostemocochinine ( 2 ), isobisdehydrostemocochinine ( 3 ), neostemocochinine ( 4 ), and isoneostemocochinine ( 5 ), together with six known alkaloids. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses in combination with HR‐MS experiments.     

A new flavonoid from Cudrania cochinchinensis

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the roots of Cudrania cochinchinensis led to the isolation of a new flavonoid, (6S,12S,13R)-1-methoxy cyanomaclurin (1), together with seven known compounds, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-(3′-hydroxy-3′-methylbutyl)xanthone (2), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-4-prenylxanthone (3), 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (4), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (5), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone (6), resveratrol (7) and oxyresveratrol (8). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and the HR-ESI-MS data. The absolute stereochemistry was deduced via Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄-induced CD and NOESY spectra.     

Squash inhibitors: from structural motifs to macrocyclic knottins

In this article, we will first introduce the squash inhibitor, a well established family of highly potent canonical serine proteinase inhibitors isolated from Cucurbitaceae. The squash inhibitors were among the first discovered proteins with the typical knottin fold shared by numerous peptides extracted from plants, animals and fungi. Knottins contain three knotted disulfide bridges, two of them arranged as a Cystine-Stabilized Beta-sheet motif. In contrast to cyclotides for which no natural linear homolog is known, most squash inhibitors are linear. However, Momordica cochinchinensis Trypsin Inhibitor-I and (MCoTI-I and -II), 34-residue squash inhibitors isolated from seeds of a common Cucurbitaceae from Vietnam, were recently shown to be macrocyclic. In these circular squash inhibitors, a short peptide linker connects residues that correspond to the N- and C-termini in homologous linear squash inhibitors. In this review we present the isolation, characterization, chemical synthesis, and activity of these macrocyclic knottins. The solution structure of MCoTI-II will be compared with topologically similar cyclotides, homologous linear squash inhibitors and other knottins, and potential applications of such scaffolds will be discussed.     

Two new prenylated isoflavones from Maclura cochinchinensis collected in Hoa Binh province Vietnam

Two new prenylisoflavones, 3′,4′,5-trihydroxy-8-prenyl-dihydrofuran[2″,3″:7,6]isoflavone (1) and 4′,5-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-dihydrofuran[2″,3″:7,6]isoflavone (2), along with five known prenylisoflavones (3–7), benzylalcohol-4-O-β-d-glucoside (8) and two cinnamic acid esters (9, 10) were isolated from the leaves of Maclura cochinchinensis (Cudrania cochinchinensis). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR (¹H-, ¹³C-NMR, HSQC, HMBC), MS spectra and comparison with the published data. Compounds 4–10 were the first time isolated from this species. Prenylisoflavones 1–4 and 6–7 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity on KB and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Compound 4 showed cytotoxic activity against both cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 26.99 and 19.95 μM, respectively. The other compounds were considered as inactive.     

Offline Two-Dimensional RP/RPLC Method to Separate Components in Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen Xylem Containing Resin

An offline two-dimensional RP/RPLC system was developed for the separation of components in Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen xylem containing a resin that is an important raw material in Chinese traditional medicine. In this separation method, a CN-column was used in the first dimension and a C₁₈-column in the second dimension. Fractions collected from the CN-column were resolved into many additional components, which indicated that the two-dimensional RP/RPLC system based on the CN- and C₁₈-columns is orthogonal. The method provides higher peak capacity and better resolution. It is suitable for the analysis of complex samples such as those found in traditional Chinese medicines.     

New cytotoxic constituents in the water-soluble fraction from Momordicae Semen

Abstract

Two new lignans mubezhisol (1) and mubezhisal (2), together with twenty six known compounds (3–28) were isolated from water-soluble fraction from the semens of Momordica cochinchinensis. In the subsequent action evaluation, four saponins (4, 6, 13, 27), six lignans (1, 2, 16, 17, 22, 23), and one naphthoquinone (24) exhibited the significant cytotoxicity. The results indicated that various saponins and lignans were mainly responsible for the antitumor activities of Momordicae Semen.     

A comparative study on volatile metabolites profile of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen xylem with and without resin using GC‐MS

Dragon's blood is a famous traditional Chinese medicine produced from source plants under bio‐ or abio‐stress. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen xylem (DX) is one of the most important sources of the medicine. In this work, a GC‐MS method was developed for analysis of the n‐hexane extracts of DX with resin (DXR) and without resin (DXW). The repeatability of the method was also investigated for a metabolite comparative study of the different xylems. About 80 components were detected, 26 of which were identified in both DXR and DXN. Three sesquiterpenes (τ‐cadinol, τ‐muurolon and α‐cadinol) were first discovered in Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen. The chromatographs of the two plant materials were compared and differences of compounds were found. It showed that phytosterols showed a dramatic rise in content, and sesquiterpenes were found to be synthesized in DXR. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.