Three New Polyyne (=Polyacetylene) Glucosides from the Edible Roots of Codonopsis cordifolioidea

Three new linear C₁₄ polyyne (=polyacetylene) glucosides, cordifolioidynes A–C ( 1 – 3 ), together with two known polyynes, lobetyol ( 4 ) and lobetyolin ( 5 ), and five known phenylpropanoids, i.e., sinapinaldehyde ( 6 ), coniferaldehyde ( 7 ), coniferoside ( 8 ), sachaliside ( 9 ), and isoconiferin ( 10 ), were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis cordifolioidea. The structures of 1 – 3 were established from spectral evidences and by characterization of their hydrolysis products. Acid hydrolysis of 1 afforded the aglycone 1a , while hydrolysis of 2 and 3 gave the cyclization products 2a and 3a , respectively. Compounds 4 – 10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1 – 5 were assessed against eight microbial strains by the agar dilution method, none of them exhibited antibacterial effects at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml.     

Multidione, a novel diterpenoid from Jatropha multifida

A novel diterpenoid, multidione, has been isolated from the stems of Jatropha multifida and its structure has been settled from 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The compound possesses a phenolic moiety and a long side chain, structurally similar to the B ring of other lathyrane-diterpenoids in seco-form.The compound has possibly been derived biogenetically from a related lathyrane-diterpenoid.     

Three New C19‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum hemsleyanum var. circinatum

Further phytochemical investigation of the roots of Aconitum hemsleyanum var. circinatum resulted in the isolation of three new aconitine‐type C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids, hemsleyanines E–G ( 1 – 3 , resp.). The structures of these new alkaloids were elucidated on the basis of spectral data including 2D‐NMR.     

Eremophilane Glucosides from Petasites japonicus

Three new eremophilane glucosides, namely, petasitosides A–C, and seven known eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Petasites japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This is the first report on eremophilane glycosides from the genus Petasites.     

Synthesis of ent-ambrox® from (−)-nidorellol

Using ozonolysis of the acid-catalyzed cyclized products of (−)-nidorellol and air-autoxidation as the key steps, (+)-ambrox was obtained in 53% overall yield. In the course of our synthesis, we discovered that (−)-nidorellol provided (+)-ambrox instead of the expected product, (−)-ambrox. Thus the absolute configuration of (−)-nidorellol was proved to be trans-(5R^∗,7R^∗,8R^∗,9S^∗,10R^∗)-labda-12,14-diene-7α,8β-diol, which is opposite to that illustrated in a previous report.     

A simple and efficient total synthesis of (±)-danshexinkun A, a bioactive diterpenoid from Salvia miltiorrhiza

An efficient 12-step route for the synthesis of the diterpenoid quinone (±)-danshexinkun A in 23% overall yield from the corresponding highly substituted stilbene using a photocyclization strategy is described.     

Castanolide and epi-castanolide, two novel diterpenoids with a unique seco-norabietane skeleton from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib.

Castanolide (1) and epi-castanolide (2), two novel diterpenoids possessing a unique seco-norabietane skeleton, were isolated from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive NMR analysis and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. A possible biosynthetic pathway of these two compounds was also proposed.     

Phenylpropanoid glucosides from Tadehagi triquetrum inhibit oxLDL-evoked foam cell formation through modulating cholesterol homeostasis in RAW264.7 macrophages

The phenylpropanoid glucosides from Tadehagi triquetrum were found to be beneficial to glucose and lipid metabolism in vitro. Herein, we investigated the effects of these compounds on oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced foam cell formation in RAW264.7 macrophages, aiming to evaluate their potential utility in prevention of atherosclerosis. Our results showed that three out of seven phenylpropanoid glucosides significantly inhibited oxLDL-evoked foam cell formation. These three compounds remarkably inhibited cholesterol influx and enhanced cholesterol efflux. Treatment with compounds 3, 4 and 7 significantly down-regulated the expression of scavenge receptors 1 (SR-1) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and increased the expression ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and G1 (ABCA1 and ABCG1). Analyses of structure–activity relationships revealed that cinnamyl group was the most pivotal group for their activities. This work provided phenomenon that these phenylpropanoid glucosides are effective regulator of cholesterol influx/efflux and may be useful in leading for development of anti-atherosclerotic agents.     

Synthesis of Glycosides of Lupane-Type Triterpene Acids

A preparative synthesis of glucosides of the lupane-type triterpene acids betulinic, dihydrobetulinic, betulonic, dihydrobetulonic, and 3,20-dioxo-30-norlupan-28-oic was proposed. Glycosylation of 3-hydroxyacids by -acetobromoglucose (ABG) with Ag₂O was performed in pyridine (Py)to formglycosides at C-28, repeated glycosylation of which by these same reagents but in CH₂Cl₂ generated a glycoside bond at C-3 to form bisglucosides. 28-Glucosides of ketoacids were formed in high yields in both Py and CH₂Cl₂.