Study on Tonghaosu and Its Analogs： Isolation, Structure Identification and Synthesis of Antifeedant B-ring-homo-tonghaosu

The methanolic extract from a Chinese endemic Chrysanthemum plant, Dendranthema indicum var. aromaticum, was found to show high antifeeding activity against Pieris brassicae L., and by bioassay-guided separation, the active component, B-ring-homo-tonghaosu, 2-(2‘,4‘-hexadiynylidene)-1,6-dioxaspiro-[4,5]-dec-3-ene (2) was isolated. Its structure was elucidated by comparing its spectroscopic data with those of 2 reported in the literatures. Furthermore new convenient total synthesis methods of B-ring-homo-tonghaosu were also developed to confirm its structure and make its further application in crop protection available. In addition, extensive comparison of spectroscopic data showed that the structure of compound 21 reported in literature should be revised to 2.     

Efficient Approach to 4‐Benzyl‐5,5‐dimethyldihydrofuranones: Total Synthesis of (±_bold;)‐Solafuranone

A six‐step general and very efficient synthesis of 4‐(arylmethyl)‐5,5‐dialkyldihydrofuranones starting from corresponding aryl aldehyde has been developed. Solafuranone, a novel furanone isolated from the Chinese folk medicine Solanum indicum, has been accomplished starting from 2,6‐dimethylbenzaldehyde in six steps in an overall yield of 70%. Contrary to expectations, solafuranone and its analogue failed to exhibit any significant cytotoxicity against A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) and HL60 (leukemia cells) cell lines.     

Flavone-Rich Fractions and Extracts from Oroxylum indicum and Their Antibacterial Activities against Clinically Isolated Zoonotic Bacteria and Free Radical Scavenging Effects

Oroxylum indicum extracts from the seeds collected from Lampang and Pattani provinces in Thailand, and young fruits and flowers exhibited in vitro display antioxidant and antibacterial activities against clinically isolated zoonotic bacteria including Staphylococcus intermedius, Streptococcus suis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, β-hemolytic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The orange crystals and yellow precipitates were obtained from the preparation processes of the seed extracts. The orange-red crystals from the seeds collected from Lampang province exhibited strong in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging effects (EC₅₀ value = 25.99 ± 3.30 μg/mL) and antibacterial effects on S. intermedius and β-hemolytic E. coli while the yellow precipitate from the same source exhibited only antioxidant activity. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals in O. indicum samples by spectrophotometric and HPLC techniques showed that they contained different amounts of total phenolic, total flavonoid and three major flavones; baicalin, baicalein and chrysin contents. Young fruit extract, which contained low amounts of flavone contents, still promoted antibacterial effects against the tested bacteria with IC₅₀ values lower than 1 mg/mL and MIC values between 4 to 10 mg/mL in S. intermedius, S. aureus and S suis while higher IC₅₀ and MIC values against P. aeruginosa and β-hemolytic E. coli were found. From scanning electron microscopy, the extract of the young fruit of O. indicum promoted morphological changes in the bacterial cells by disrupting the bacterial cell walls, inducing leakage of the cellular content, and generating the abnormal accumulation of cells. The mechanism of action of the extract for this antibacterial effect may be the disruption of the cell membrane and abnormal cell aggregations. Regression analysis of the results suggests the correlation between total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Baicalin was found to have a high correlation with an inhibitory effect against β-hemolytic E. coli while three unidentified peaks, which could be flavones, showed high correlations with an inhibitory effect against S. intermedius, S. suis, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.     

New Sesquiterpenes from the Flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.

Two new guaianolides (=guaianolactones), chrysanthguaianolactone A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and one new eudesmane sesquiterpene, chrysanthemdiol A ( 6 ), together with seven known sesquiterpenes were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

A New Ceramide from the Ascomycete Tuber indicum

A new C-18 phytosphingosine derivative (1) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Tuber indicum. Its structure was established as (2S,3S,4R,2′R)-2-N-(2′-hydroxytricosanoyl)-octadecan-1,3,4-triol by spectral and chemical methods.     

Three New Sesquiterpenoids from Chrysanthemum indicum L.

Phytochemical investigation of the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. led to the isolation of three new sesquiterpenoids, indicumolide A ( 1 ), indicumolide B ( 2 ), and indicumolide C ( 3 ). Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods.     

Insight into OroxylinA-7-O-β-d-Glucuronide-Enriched Oroxylum indicum Bark Extract in Oral Cancer HSC-3 Cell Apoptotic Mechanism: Role of Mitochondrial Microenvironment

Oroxylum indicum, of the Bignoniaceae family, has various ethnomedical uses such as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-bronchitis, anti-helminthic and anti-microbial, including anticancer properties. The druggability of OI stem bark extract was determined by its molecular docking interactions with PARP and Caspase-3, two proteins involved in cell survival and death. Note that 50 µg/mL of Oroxylum indicum extract (OIE) showed a significant (p < 0.05%) toxicity to HSC-3 cells. MTT aided cell viability and proliferation assay demonstrated that 50 µg/mL of OIE displayed significant (p < 0.5%) reduction in cell number at 4 h of incubation time. Cell elongation and spindle formation was noticed when HSC-3 cells were treated with 50 µg/mL of OIE. OIE initiated DNA breakage and apoptosis in HSC-3 cells, as evident from DNA ladder assay and calcein/EB staining. Apoptosis potential of OIE is confirmed by flow cytometer and triple-staining (live cell/apoptosis/necrosis) assay. Caspase-3/7 fluorescence quenching (LANCE) assay demonstrated that 50 µg/mL of OIE significantly enhanced the RFU of caspases-3/7, indicating that the apoptosis potential of OIE is probably through the activation of caspases. Immuno-cytochemistry of HSC-3 cells treated with 50 µg/mL of OIE showed a significant reduction in mitochondrial bodies as well as a reduction in RFU in 60 min of incubation time. Immunoblotting studies clearly showed that treatment of HSC-3 cells with OI extract caused caspase-3 activation and PARP deactivation, resulting in apoptotic cell death. Overall, our data indicate that OIE is an effective apoptotic agent for human squamous carcinoma cells and it could be a future cancer chemotherapeutic target.     

Novel Cerebrosides Isolated from the Fermentation Mycelia of Tuber indicum

The four new cerebrosides 1 – 4 possessing a unique C₁₈ 9‐methylsphinga‐4,8‐dienine‐related moiety and a cyclic octapeptide, 5 , possessing alternating proline and glycine moietes were isolated from the Tuber indicum fermentation mycelium. Their structures were established on the basis of a spectroscopic analysis including NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS, as well as an acidic methanolysis experiment. To the best of our knowledge, the cerebrosides identified in the present study are quite different from those isolated from Tuber indicum fruiting bodies. Additionally, it was the first time that a cyclic peptide was isolated from the Tuber genus.     

New flavonoid and pentacyclic triterpene from Sesamum indicum leaves

Two new and one known compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of Sesamum indicum leaves. By means of spectroscopic methods, their structures were elucidated and identified to be 3-epibartogenic acid (1), kaempferol 3-O-[2-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) and epigallocatechin (3). Compound 1 and 3 strongly inhibited α-amylase with the IC₅₀ values of 146.7 and 303.9 μM, respectively, in comparison with acarbose (IC₅₀ 124.0 μM).