A New Asterosaponin from the Starfish Culcita novaeguineae

A new asterosaponin named novaeguinoside A, along with a known saponin, asteronyl pentaglycoside sulfate, was isolated from the starfish Culcita novaeguineae. The new compound was identitied to be sodium 6α-O-{β-D-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-D-quinovopyranosyl}-5α-pregn-9(11)-en-20-one-3β-yl-sulfate by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidence.     

Two New Steroidal Glycosides from Fermented Leaves of Agave americana

Two new spirostanol glycosides named agamenoside A and B, ere isolated from the fermented leaves of Agave americana. Their structures were elucidated as (23S,25R)-5α-spirostan-3β,6α，23－triol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(1) and (25R)-5α-spiro-stan-3β,6α-diol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyra-nosyl-(1→4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(2) by a combination of chemical and spectral methods.     

Sarcorucinine-D Inhibits Cholinesterases and Calcium Channels: Molecular Dynamics Simulation and In Vitro Mechanistic Investigations

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are considered effective therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. AChE plays an essential role in the nervous system by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In this study, the inhibition of the enzyme AChE by Sarcorucinine-D, a pregnane type steroidal alkaloid, was investigated with experimental enzyme kinetics and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. Kinetics studies showed that Sarcorucinine-D inhibits two cholinesterases—AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)—noncompetitively, with K_i values of 103.3 and 4.66 µM, respectively. In silico ligand-protein docking and MD simulation studies conducted on AChE predicted that Sarcorucinine-D interacted via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds with the residues of the active-site gorge of AChE. Sarcorucinine-D was able to relax contractility concentration-dependently in the intestinal smooth muscles of jejunum obtained from rabbits. Not only was the spontaneous spasmogenicity inhibited, but it also suppressed K⁺-mediated spasmogenicity, indicating an effect via the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels. Sarcorucinine-D could be considered a potential lead molecule based on its properties as a noncompetitive AChE inhibitor and a Ca²⁺ channel blocker.     

Tupisteroide A–C,three new polyhydroxylated steroidal constituents from the roots of Tupistra chinensis

Three new steroidal compounds with polyhydroxy groups, tupisteroide A–C (1–3), were obtained from the roots of Tupistra chinensis, together with one known compound (4) that was isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of tupisteroide A–C were determined on the basis of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy, including ¹H–¹H Correlation Spectroscopy, Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation, and Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence experiments. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against A549, HepG2, and CaSki cancer cell lines in vitro. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 4 did not show significant inhibitory activity, but compound 3 showed cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 25.0 μM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical fingerprint analysis and quantitative determination of steroidal compounds from Dioscorea villosa,Dioscorea species and dietary supplements using UHPLC‐ELSD

Ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection was used for the quantification of steroidal saponins and diosgenin from the rhizomes or tubers of various Dioscorea species and dietary supplements that were purported to contain Dioscorea. The analysis was performed on an Acquity UPLC? system with an UPLC? BEH Shield RP₁₈ column using a gradient elution with water and acetonitrile. Owing to their low UV absorption, the steroidal saponins were observed by evaporative light scattering detection. The 12 compounds could be separated within 15 min using the developed UHPLC method with detection limits of 5–12 µg/mL with 2 μL injection volume. The analytical method was validated for linearity, repeatability, accuracy, limits of detection and limits of quantification. The relative standard deviations for intra‐ and inter‐day experiments were <3.1%, and the recovery efficiency was 97–101%. The total content of standard compounds was found to be in the ranges 0.01–14.5% and 0.9–28.6 mg daily intake for dry plant materials and solid commercial preparations, respectively. UHPLC–mass spectrometry with a quadrupole mass analyzer and ESI source was used only for confirmation of the identity of the various saponins. The developed method is simple, rapid and especially suitable for quality control analysis of commercial products. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structures and Bioactivities of Steroidal Saponins Isolated from the Genera Dracaena and Sansevieria

The species Dracaena and Sansevieria, that are well-known for different uses in traditional medicines and as indoor ornamental plants with air purifying property, are rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. In fact, a wide variety of phytochemical constituents have been isolated so far from about seventeen species. This paper has reviewed the literature of about 180 steroidal saponins, isolated from Dracaena and Sansevieria species, as a basis for further studies. Saponins are among the most characteristic metabolites isolated from the two genera. They show a great variety in structural motifs and a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative effects and, in most case, remarkable cytotoxic properties.     

Enhancement of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of NSAIDs by Their Conjugation with 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzyl Alcohol

The synthesis of derivatives of three nonspecific COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen is presented. These acids were connected via an amide bond with an amino acid (L-proline, L-tyrosine, and beta-alanine) used as a linker. The amino acid carboxylic group was esterified with 3,4,5 trimethoxybenzyl alcohol. The activity of the novel derivatives was examined in vivo on carrageenan-induced inflammation, and in vitro, as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors. It was found that the new compounds were more potent anti-inflammatory agents than the parent drugs. Thus, the ibuprofen (21) and ketoprofen (16) derivatives reduced rat paw edema by 67 and 91% (the reduction by the relevant NSAIDs was 36 and 47%, respectively). They inhibited COX-2 more than the starting drugs (21 by 67%, ibuprofen 46%, 19 by 94%, ketoprofen 49%). Docking of compounds on the active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 reflects their in vitro activity. Thus, 19 adopts an unfavorable orientation for COX-1 inhibition, but it binds effectively in the binding pocket of COX-2, in agreement with the absence of activity for COX-1 and the high inhibition of COX-2. In conclusion, the performed structural modifications result in the enhancement of the anti-inflammatory activity, compared with the parent NSAIDs.     

Two New Steroidal Saponins from Tacca plantaginea

Two new C27 steroidal glycosides, named taccaoside A(1) and B(2), were isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Tacca plantaginea. The spectroscopic and chemical evidences revealed their structures to be 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-3β,26-dihydroxy furost-5,20-diene-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)]-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(1) and 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-3β,26-dihydroxy furost-5,20-diene-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),respectively.     

新型甾体N,N-二甲基缩氨硫腙类化合物的合成及其抗肿瘤活性

以乙醇（或甲醇为溶剂）,冰醋酸为催化剂,去氢表雄酮、孕烯醇酮、雌酮和3,5-二羟基-6-甲酰基-B-降胆甾烷分别与N,N-二甲基硫代氨基脲经缩合反应,合成了4个新型的具有不同甾核结构特征的甾体N,N-二甲基缩氨硫腙类化合物（1～4）,其结构经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR和HR-EI-MS表征。采用MTT法测定了1~4对肝癌细胞(HepG)、人鼻咽癌细胞(CNE-2)和人肾上皮细胞（HEK-293T）的体外抑制细胞生长增殖活性。结果表明：1~3对HepG和CNE-2具有明显的抑制活性。     

去氧胆酸钠水溶液中4-二甲氨基查尔酮荧光的超常增强

类似于电子给体一受体取代的蔑类化合物,4-二甲基氨基查尔酮的光激发态包含E,A和P态。其中E和A态对应于TICT荧光体的LE和TICT态,而P态系由E态经双键扭转弛豫形成的双自由基态。