A concise and efficient synthesis of salvinal from isoeugenol via a phenoxenium ion intermediate

In this letter, we describe how salvinal can be efficiently synthesized from isoeugenol via a phenoxenium ion intermediate by four steps in 23% over all total yield.     

Three novel 5(6-->7)abeoabietane-type diterpenes from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides

Three new 5(6-->7)abeoabietane diterpenes with the uncommon skeleton of fused 6-5-6 rings were isolated from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides designated as taiwaniaquinone F (8), taiwaniaquinol C (9) and taiwaniaquinol D (10). Meanwhile, two known compounds, taiwaniaquinones A (1) and D (4), were also obtained. Their structures were determined principally from spectral evidence.     

Four new podocarpane-type trinorditerpenes from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides

Further studies on the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides found four new podocarpane derivatives, 1beta,13-dihydroxy-8,11,13-podocarpatriene (1), 14,18-dihydroxy-13-methoxy-8,11,13-podocarpatriene (2), 1beta,14-dihydroxy-13-methoxy-8,11,13-podocarpatriene-2,7-dione (3), and 3beta,14-dihydroxy-13-methoxy-8,11,13-podocarpatrien-7-one (4), together with a known 1beta,13,14-trihydroxy-8,11,13-podocarpatrien-7-one (5). Those structures were elucidated principally from spectral evidence.     

New lignans from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana

Four new lignans, 3',4'-O,O-demethylenehinokinin (1), chamalignolide (2), 8'beta-hydroxyhinokinin (3) and 7beta,8beta-epoxyzuonin A (4), as well as (-)-hinokinin (5), and (-)-zuonin A (6), were isolated from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana. The structures of these lignans were unambiguously determined by spectroscopic methods. And the absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated with a circular dichroism (CD) spectrum.     

The Constituents of Cynanchum Taiwanianum

The isolation and identification of eleven crystalline components from the aerial part of Cynanchum taiwanianum Yamazaki (Asclepiadaceae) are described. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical transformation. Besides caffeic acid, β-amyrin, and methyl phaeophorbide a, the isolated flavonoid components are classified into two groups, i.e. kaempferol derivatives (kaempferol, astragalin, afzelin, trifolin) and quercetin derivatives (quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, hyperin).     

6β-Acetoxy-7 α-Hydroxyroyleanone,A New Compound from Taiwania Cryptomerioides Hayata

Two crystalline compounds from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata were isolated. One of them was identified as 6,7-dehydroroyleanone and the other was shown to be a new derivative of royleanone having a structure of 6β-acetoxy-7α-hydroxyroyleanone.     

Seco-Abietanoids from Cryptomeria japonica and Their Inhibitory Activity Toward Xanthine Oxidase

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new seco-abietanoid, 12-methoxy-7-oxo-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-6-oic acid (1), and a known seco-abietanoid,12-hydroxy-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-triene-6,7-dial...     

A New Seco-Abietanoid from the Bark of Cryptomeria japonica

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new seco-abietanoid, 12-hydroxy-6,7-seco-abieta-8,11,13-triene-6,7-dioic acid (1), was isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. The...     

Secondary Metabolites with Anti-Inflammatory from the Roots of Cimicifuga taiwanensis

The genus Cimicifuga is one of the smallest genera in the family Ranunculaceae. Cimicifugae Rhizoma originated from rhizomes of Cimicifuga simplex, and C. dahurica, C. racemosa, C. foetida, and C. heracleifolia have been used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic remedies in Chinese traditional medicine. Inflammation is related to many diseases. Cimicifuga taiwanensis was often used in folk therapy in Taiwan for inflammation. Phytochemical investigation and chromatographic separation of extracts from the roots of Cimicifuga taiwanensis has led to the isolation of six new compounds: cimicitaiwanins A–F (1–6, respectively). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis (1D- and 2D-NMR, MS, and UV) and comparison with the literature data. The effect of some isolates on the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was evaluated. Of the isolates, 3–6 exhibited potent anti-NO production activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 6.54 to 24.58 μM, respectively, compared with that of quercetin, an iNOS inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 34.58 μM. This is the first report on metabolite from the endemic Taiwanese plant-C. taiwanensis.     

Chemical composition and bioactivities of the marine alga Isochrysis galbana from Taiwan

The present study investigated the chemical composition of Isochrysis galbana Parke, a marine microalga which is widely used as a feedstock in aquaculture. From gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis the mono-sugar compositions of I. galbana were 2.1% fucose, 2.5% rhamnose, 2.7% arabinose, 8.5% xylose, 15.7% mannose, 32.7% galactose and 35.8% glucose. The polysaccharides of I. galbana were able to induce prointerleukin-1beta (pro-IL-1beta) protein expression within murine macrophages. Furthermore, five kinds of chlorophyll and one sterol were separated from the ethanolic extracts, including pheophorbide-a, ethyl pheophorbide-a, 10S-10-hydroxypheophytin-a, 10R-10-hydroxypheophytin-a, (132-R)-pheophytin-a, and brassicasterol. In addition, the major soluble components of the ethanol/n-hexane extract were 9-octadecenoic acid (E) (38.4%), hexadecanoic acid (23.3%), tetradecanoic acid (15.7%), and octadecanoic acid (7.2%), but only a few polyunsaturated fatty acids were found, such as 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (1.9%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z) (3.4%), and docosahexaenoic acid (0.2%). This is the first occasion that polysaccharides from I. galbana have been demonstrated to exert immunomodulatory properties by the induction of IL-1 within macrophages.