Cyano- and Nitro-containing Compounds from the Roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides

Four cyano-containing compounds, (1E,4α,5β,6α)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-cyclohexen-l-ylideneacetonitrile (1), lithospermoside (2), 4-hydroxy-2-β-D-glucopyranosyl oxyphenylacetonitrile (3) and 4-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl oxy]phenylacetonitrile (4), and a nitro-containing one, 4-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy]-1-(2-nitroethyl)benzene (5), as well as eleven other types of compounds, were isolated from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods. Among them, 1 and 4 are new isolated compounds. The cyano- and nitro-containing compounds are very rare in plants and their isolation from one traditional Chinese medicine is really interesting.     

New phenolic compounds from the leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus

One new 2-arylbenzofuran derivative, artocarstilbene B(1), one new benzaldehyde derivative,(E)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-1-enyl)benzaldehyde(2), as well as 18 known compounds(3–20) were obtained from the leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS. Many compounds exhibited moderate to weak inhibitory activity against the proliferation of the PC-3, NCI-H460, and A549 cancer cell lines.     

Identification of Three New Flavonoids from the Peels of Citrus unshiu

Three new flavonoids, 5,6,7,8,3′,4′‐hexamethoxyhomoflavone ( 1 ), 5,6,7,8,4′‐pentamethoxyhomoflavone ( 2 ) and 3,6,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone ( 3 ) were isolated from the peels of mature fruits of Citrus unshiu Marcow (Rutaceae), together with the three known compounds 6,7,8,4′‐tetramethoxyflavone (=6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 3,5,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone (=2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐3,5,7,8‐tetramethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), and scopoletin (=7‐hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) of which the former two have never been isolated from natural resources, although they have been reported as synthetic compounds. The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analysis.     

A New Diterpenoid and other Constituents from Acanthopanax Brachypus Harms

Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Acanthopanax brachypus afforded a new labdanetype diterpene glycoside, 3α‐trans‐sinapoyloxy‐jhanol 18‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), together with four known compounds, including one diterpene acid, acanthoic acid ( 2 ), one coumarin, isofraxidin ( 3 ), one phenolic glycoside, sasanquin ( 4 ), as well as one chalcone glycoside, okanin 4‐methyl ether‐3′‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ). All of the structures were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods, including ¹H, ¹³C, 2D‐NMR and HR‐MS, as well as chemical methods and comparison with the literature data.     

Triterpenoids and diterpenoids from Viburnum chingii

Two new oleanane triterpenoids (1-2) and one new vibsane-type diterpenoid (3), together with 7 known compounds (4-10), were isolated from the leaves of Viburnum chingii. The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR technique. Cytotoxicity of compounds 1-10 were tested against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, SK-BR-3, and PANC-1 cell lines. Compound 3 showed significant cytotoxicity against HL-60, SK-BR-3, and PANC-1 cell lines.     

Constituents of Salvia microphylla

A new phenolic ester 2-( p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl eicosaheptanoic acid ester (1) and a known one hexacosylferulate (2) were isolated from the acetone extract of Salvia microphylla. In addition, two sesquiterpenes beta-eudesmol (3) and 8alpha-hydroxy-beta-eudesmol (4), a diterpene carnosic acid 12-methyl ether (12-methoxycarnosic acid) (5), three triterpenes erithrodiol 3-acetate, oleanolic acid, lupeol and beta-sitosterol were obtained as known compounds from this plant extract. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including one- and two- dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR and MS spectroscopies. The selected compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against standard bacterial strains, and only carnosic acid 12-methyl ether showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus at 78 microg mL(-1).     

Secondary Metabolites from the Fungus Monascus purpureus and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity

Investigation of the 95% EtOH extract of red yeast rice fermented with the fungus Monascus purpureus BCRC 31615 has led to the isolation and structure elucidation of four new compounds, including one new azaphilone analog, monascuspurpurone ( 1 ), a new isocoumarin, monaschromone ( 2 ), a new furan‐3‐one derivative, 2‐dodecyl‐5‐(2‐methoxyethyl)‐2‐methylfuran‐3(2H)‐one ( 3 ), and a new alkaloid, methyl 4‐[(E)‐2‐acetyl‐4‐oxoundec‐1‐enyl]‐6‐propylnicotinate ( 4 ), together with seven known compounds. The structures of all isolates were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 – 4 were tested for their cytotoxicity against the MCF‐7, NCI‐H460, and SF‐268 cell lines using the MTT (=3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) assay. Among them, compounds 1 and 4 were found to have moderate cytotoxic effects against these three cell lines in vitro.     

Chemical Constituents from Strychnos Cathayensis

Secostrychnosin ( 1 ), a new secoiridoid, as well as seven compounds never before isolated from nature: 4‐tert‐butyl‐2‐oxazolidinone ( 2 ), 3‐acetoxyindole ( 3 ), indole‐2‐carboxylic acid ( 4 ), benzocaine ( 5 ), 3‐acetylindole ( 6 ), butylparaben ( 7 ) and 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde ( 8 ), together with fifty other known compounds, have been isolated from the stem of Strychnos cathayensis. These compounds include twenty‐three alkaloids, twelve benzenoids, four steroids, three flavonoids, three iridoids, two triterpenoids, two secoiridoids, two fatty acids, one lignan, one acetophenone, one coumarin, one chromane, one tetraterpenoid, one tannin, and one organic acid. The structures of these compounds were determined by means of spectralanalyses.     

Sesquiterpenoids and Lignans from Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala

From the BuOH extract of the whole plant of Ligularia virgaurea spp. oligocephala, a series of sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene glycosides, and lignan glycosides were isolated, including the three new compounds (1α)‐1‐hydroxy‐8‐oxo‐eremophila‐6,9‐dien‐12‐oic acid ( 1 ), 8‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]eremophila‐1(10),8,11‐trien‐2‐one ( 2 ), and 4‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]pinoresinol ( 4 ). Their structures were elucidated by 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as HR‐ESI‐MS analyses, and by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds.     

Phenolic constituents from the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata

Gastrodia elata Bl. (Orchidaceae) is an important traditional medicinal plant as well as a famous foodstuff in China. In the present article, the HPLC chromatograms of different preparation processes were reported, and structures of nine phenolic compounds, isolated from Gastrodia elata, were assigned. The isolated compounds were identified as 1,3-bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)citrate (1), gastrodin (2), 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (3), 1-(4-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl)citrate (4), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5), parishin B (6), 4-hydroxybenzyl methyl ether (7), 4-hydroxybenzyl ethyl ether (8), and 4-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)phenol (9). Compounds 1 and 4, named as parishin D and E, were new. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses, including 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

Glycosides from the leaves of Ilex hylonoma

Two new triterpenoid saponins, hylonosides I-II (1,2) have been isolated along with one known flavonoid glycoside (3) from the methanol extract of leaves of Ilex hylonoma. The structures were elucidated by ID and 2D NMR experiments, including 1H-1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC methods. Two new compounds were characterized as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl pomolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl pomolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2).     

Detection of new fumonisin mycotoxins and fumonisin-like compounds by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Fumonisins were produced in a rice culture infected with Fusarium verticillioides. To decrease the possibility of the formation of artifacts, the fumonisins were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-IT-MS2) immediately after the extraction of the culture material without any sample clean-up. In addition to already known fumonisins, numerous new fumonisin mycotoxins and fumonisin-like compounds were detected. On the basis of the IT-MS2 data, detailed fragmentation pathways including new mechanisms were proposed for the different series of fumonisins. The retention times, the masses of the protonated molecules and of the product ions including the backbones and the characteristic neutral mass losses from the protonated molecules of the new compounds suggested their structures (applying the well-known designation): iso-FA1a,b, iso-FB1a-d, iso-FB2,3a-e, PHFB2a-c, PHFB4a-d, FB5/iso-FB5a-d, FBK1 2TCA, FBK4 2TCA, FC2, iso-FC2,3, PHFC4, FD and FBX series. The relative quantities of fumonisins and fumonisin-like compounds found in the sample extract were expressed as percentages of FB1 (0.02-100%). The backbone of the compound denoted FD contained fewer carbon atoms than the well-known fumonisins with the C19 or C20 backbone and may well be a precursor of the longer compounds. For the compounds denoted FBX (12 compounds), one or two OH groups attached to the fumonisin backbone were esterified by carboxylic acids other than tricarballylic acid, such as cis-aconitic acid, oxalylsuccinic acid and oxalylfumaric acid.     

Two New 2‐(2‐Phenylethyl)chromen‐4‐ones from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg

Two new compounds, 8‐chloro‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐(2‐phenylethyl)chromen‐4‐one ( 1 ) and 8‐chloro‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐[2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromen‐4‐one ( 2 ), were isolated from the Aquilaria sinensis (Lour. ) Gilg . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 1D‐ and 2 D‐NMR analysis.     

Tocopherols and Triterpenoids from Sida acuta

A new tocopherol derivative, 7_a‐methoxy‐α‐tocopherol ( 1 ), and a new taraxastane triterpene, taraxast‐1,20(30)‐dien‐3‐one ( 5 ), together with four known compounds, β‐tocopherol ( 2 ), α‐tocopherol ( 3 ), α‐tocospiro B ( 4 ) and taraxasterone ( 6 ) were isolated from the whole plant of Sida acuta. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis including MS, 1D and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. Among those compounds, compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 showed significant antioxidant effect (EC₅₀ = 86.9, 68.2, and 70.9 μM, respectively) in the DPPH radicals scavenging activity assay.     

New constituents from Crinum latifolium with inhibitory effects against tube-like formation of human umbilical venous endothelial cells

Six compounds (1-6) were isolated from the methanol extract of Crinum latifolium by bioassay-guided separation. Among the six isolates, compounds 2 and 6 were new metabolites. Their structures were established as 4-senecioyloxymethyl-3,4-dimethoxycoumarin (2) and 5,6,3'-trihydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone (6) based on spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 was found to be strongly inhibitory against the in vitro tube-like formation of human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) while manifesting no cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines (B16F10, HCT116). Significant inhibitory activity (inhibition percentage, 53.5%) was still observed at concentrations as low as 1 microg/mL. Compound 6 showed a modest inhibitory effect on the tube-like formation of HUVECs. Other compounds, including cycloartenol (1), 4',7-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavan (3), 4',7-dihydroxyflavan (4), and 2',4',7-trihydroxydihydrochalcone (5) were found to be nearly inactive.     

Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Patrinia Rupestris

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Patrinia rupestris afforded a new triterpenoid patrirupin A ( 1 ) and a new iridoid patrirupin B ( 2 ), as well as three known triterpenoids: 3‐oxo‐olean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 3 ), ursolic acid ( 4 ), α‐amyrin ( 5 ), three known iridoids: isovaltratum ( 6 ), 11‐ethoxyviburtinal ( 7 ), homobaldrinal ( 8 ), five known steroids: ergosterol ( 9 ), ergost‐6,22‐diene‐3β,5α,8α‐triol ( 10 ), 6‐hydroxenone ( 11 ), β‐sitosterol ( 12 ), daucosterol ( 13 ), and two known flavones: 1‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxy xanthen‐9‐one ( 14 ), 3′,4′,5,7‐tetrahydroxyflavanone ( 15 ). The new compounds were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS, and the known ones were established on the basis of comparing their NMR data with those of the corresponding compounds in the literature.     

苔藓植物短肋羽藓Thuidium kanedae sak 中的双二氢黄酮类化合物

A new bidihydroflavonoid, thuidinin 1, together with 5 known compounds including one known biflavonoid 3＇,3＂＇-binaringenin （2） and four other known natural products pentadecane （3）, methyl β-orcinolarboxylate （4）, β-sitosterol （5） and daucostenol （6）, were isolated from leaves of Thuidium kanedae Sak. Their structures were established on the basis of 1D and 2D spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereochemistry of compounds 1 and 2 was determined by CD spectra.     

Antioxidant and anti-nitric oxide components from Quercus glauca

From the ethanolic extract of Quercus glauca, two new lignans, (+)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol-9'-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and (7R,8S)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-β-D-xyloside (2), along with fourteen known compounds including four lignanoids (3-6), five triterpenoids (7-11), two flavonoids (12, 13), two aromatics (14, 15), and one steroid (16) were isolated. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, compounds 9 and 14 strongly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production with IC50 values of 8.25 and 14.04?μM, respectively, and compounds 1, 4-6, 14, and 15 showed moderate antioxidant activities.     

Rapid preparative isolation of a new phenylpropanoid glycoside and four minor compounds from Sparganium stoloniferum using high-speed counter-current chromatography as a fractionation tool

A rapid high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was used to isolate five minor compounds from rhizome of Sparganium stoloniferum namely San Leng in Chinese, including two phenylpropanoid glycosides, sparganiaside A (1) and 1-O-feruloyl-3-p-coumaroylglycerol (2), and three aromatic acids, vanillic acid (3), p-hydroxylcinnamic acid (4), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5), of which, compound 1 was a new one. Five compounds were preparatively enriched at top efficiency by one-step HSCCC operation in the isolation procedure. A suitable solvent system composed of chloroform-methanol-water (4:3.5:1.8, v/v/v) was used. And the operation time was less than 4 h. The purities of compounds (1-5) in the enriched fractions were determined to be 75.8%, 66.3%, 90.6%, 79.9%, and 98.2%, respectively. The mean recoveries of the five compounds were 84.8%, 87.3%, 81.8%, 90.3%, and 92.7%, respectively. Compounds 1-4 were further purified by semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This is the first report on the use of HSCCC as a fractionation tool for preparative isolation of minor compounds from S. stoloniferum. The method was proved to be rapid, convenient, high yield, and low cost. HSCCC was shown to be a quick and effective tool in isolation of natural products even though the compounds were not abundant.     

Alkaloid and Anthraquinone Derivatives Produced by the Marine‐Derived Endophytic Fungus Eurotium rubrum

Cultivation of the fungal strain Eurotium rubrum, an endophytic fungus that was isolated from the inner tissue of the semi‐mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus, resulted in the isolation of one new dioxopiperazine alkaloid, 12‐demethyl‐12‐oxo‐eurotechinulin B ( 1 ), and one new anthraquinone derivative, 9‐dehydroxyeurotinone ( 2 ), together with ten known compounds including variecolorin J ( 3 ), eurotechinulin B ( 4 ), variecolorin G ( 5 ), alkaloid E‐7 ( 6 ), cryptoechinuline G ( 7 ), isoechinulin B ( 8 ), 7‐isopentenylcryptoechinuline D ( 9 ), 2‐O‐methyl‐9‐dehydroxyeurotinone ( 10 ), emodin ( 11 ), and emodic acid ( 12 ). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with literature reports. Some of the purified compounds were evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities.