Rapid evaluation of PHD2 inhibitory activity of natural products based on capillary electrophoresis online stacking strategy.

Prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) is an important enzyme in the human body that perceives changes in oxygen concentration and regulates response in hypoxic environments. Evaluation of PHD2 inhibitory activity of natural products is crucial for drug development of hypoxia related diseases. At present, the detection of low concentration of α-ketoglutaric acid (the substrate of PHD2 enzymatic reaction) requires derivatization reactions or sample pretreatment, which undoubtedly increases the workload of PHD2 inhibitory activity evaluation. In this paper, a direct detection approach of α-ketoglutaric acid was established by using the online stacking strategy of capillary electrophoresis to evaluate the PHD2 inhibitory activity of natural products. Under optimized conditions, detection of a single sample can be achieved within 2 min. By calculation, the intraday precision RSD of the apparent electrophoretic mobility and peak areas of α-ketoglutaric acid are 0.92 % and 0.79 %, respectively, and the interday RSD were 1.27 % and 0.96 % respectively. The recoveries of the present approach were 97.9-105.2 %, and the LOQ and LOD were 2.0 µM and 5.0 µM, respectively. Furthermore, this approach was applied for the evaluation of inhibitory activity of PHD2 for 13 natural products, and PHD2 inhibitory activity of salvianolic acid A was firstly reported. The present work not only realizes evaluation of PHD2 inhibitory activity through direct detection of α-ketoglutaric acid, but also provides technical support for the discovery of potential drug molecules in hypoxia related diseases.

Alkylamides from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and their neuroprotective activity.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is an important medicinal plant, and its pericarps are commonly used as a natural spice in Asian countries. In this study, fifteen alkylamides were isolated and elucidated from the pericarps of Z. armatum, including five undescribed alkylamides (1-5) and ten known compounds (6-15). The molecular structures of all compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry, among which the absolute configuration of compound 15 was determined by the Mo2(OAc)4-induced circular dichroism method. Moreover, all compounds were screened for their neuroprotective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells for the evaluation of their neuroprotective activity. Especially, compounds 2-4 expressed potential neuroprotective activity, and further research showed that the cell viability was significantly enhanced in a concentration dependent manner when the cells were treated for 6 h. Moreover, compounds 2-4 could decrease reactive oxygen species accumulation. This paper enriched structure types of alkylamides in Zanthoxylum armatum.

Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br.: Comprehensive review of propagation and breeding, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology, quality control, and processing.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gymnadenia conopsea, a perennial herbaceous flowering plant that belongs to the family of Orchidaceae, sporadic distributed in the altitudes of 200-4700 m across northern Europe and, temperate and subtropical Asia region. The dried tubers of G. conopsea have been used to treat cough, asthma, and their syndromes, and also as a tonic in China and surrounding countries for a long history. G. conopsea is often processed deeply processed before use to enhance its efficacy. In recent years, because of its remarkable pharmacological activity and health care function, G. conopsea has been used more and more widely. Due to its extensive application and bad growth environment, the wild distribution of G. conopsea is decreasing and it has been listed as an endangered plant. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to summarize the propagation and breeding, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology, quality control, and processing of G. conopsea. Moreover, it also provides suggestions for the future high-value utilization of G. conopsea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search on Gymnadenia genus and G. conopsea was performed using scientific databases including SciFinder, ACS, Web of Science, Springer, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and CNKI. Information was also collected from classic books of Chinese herbal medicine, official websites, Ph.D. and M.Sc. Dissertations, and so on. Structures of chemical compounds were drawn by ChemDraw software. RESULTS: As of submission date of this manuscript, total 170 natural compounds have been isolated and characterized from G. conopsea, and all of the compounds were isolated from the tubers. The isolated compounds including benzylester glucosides, dihydrostilbenes, phenanthrenes, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, polysaccharide, lignans, flavones, triterpenoids, steroids, and other compounds. Some of these compounds and active extracts exhibited a wide range of pharmacological activities, in which, the tonifying, anti-fatigue, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, sedative and hypnotic activities are consistent with the traditional uses for the treatment of diseases. In addition, a variety of new pharmacological activities, such as preventing and treating gastric ulcers, immunoregulatory, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-anaphylaxis, anti-silicosis, anti-cancer and neuroprotective activities have also been reported. However, the bioactive compounds responsible for most of the above pharmacological effects have not been well summarised till now. In this manuscript, analysis, speculation and summary of compounds that responsible for pharmacological effects were conducted. CONCLUSIONS: The chemical constituents and pharmacological activities studies of G. conopsea extract have been summarised in this context, the isolated compounds responsible for the pharmacological activities were also analyzed and deduced according to the publications, all above led to suggestions for the future high-value utilization of G. conopsea.

Gypenosides (GPs) alleviates hypoxia-induced injury in PC12 cells and enhances tolerance to anoxia in C57BL/6 mice.

Oxygen is a necessary substance for life activities, but reduced oxygen utilization due to high altitude exposure and respiratory dysfunction diseases could lead to pathological changes in the organisms. Herein gypenosides, the active ingredients in the food and medicine resource plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino were found to alleviate hypoxia-induced injury in PC12 cells. Moreover, hypoxia induced an increase in Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species content, and such patterns were both significantly reduced by gypenosides treatment. At the same time, gypenosides significantly blocked the decrease of both NO content and mitochondrial membrane potential caused by hypoxia. Furthermore, gypenosides gavage treatment significantly prolonged the survival time of C57BL/6 mice in confinement up to 24.3% and enhanced the locomotor ability of mice. Therefore, gypenosides have good neuroprotective effects and hypoxia tolerance activity and have the prospect of being developed as a preventive and therapeutic drug for hypoxia-related diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Gypenosides can enhance tolerance of cells and mice to hypoxia and have the potential to be developed into hypoxia-resistant health food and drugs.

Dammarane triterpenoids with rare skeletons from Gynostemma pentaphyllum and their cytotoxic activities.

Three unreported dammarane-type triterpenoids with rare skeletons (1-3), along with one undescribed gypenoside (4), were isolated from the aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum using diverse chromatographic materials and pre-HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and spectrometric data, while the absolute configurations of 1-3 were assessed via electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Notably, compounds 1-3 possess a 3,19-hemiketal bridge in the A ring. Saponin 4 possesses an unreported 20,25-oxa structural moiety. Their antiproliferative effects against HepG2, MCF-7, and DU145 cell lines were screened. Compounds 1-3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 13.7 ± 0.2 to 32.0 ± 1.7 µM.

Terpenoids from Nardostachys jatamansi and their cytotoxic activity against human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Five previously unreported terpenoids, together with fifteen known analogs, were isolated from a methanol extract of the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra analyses, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction for crystalline compounds. Structurally, (4R,5S,6S,7R)-1(10)-aristolane-8,9-diacid is a novel 8,9-dicarboxylic acid derivative of aristolane-type sesquiterpenoid. (4R,6S,7R,10S)-10-Hydroxyguaia-1(5)-6,7-epoxy-2-one is an undescribed analogue of nardoguaianone K, with a rare 6,7-epoxide group. (4R,5R,6R,8R)-1(10)-Isonardosinone-8-ol-9-one-7,11-lactone is an isonardosinane-type sesquiterpene bearing a γ-lactone ring. Dinardokanshone F is a rare example of a sesquiterpene dimer from N. jatamansi connected by an oxo bridge. The isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against four human pancreatic cancer cell lines (CFPAC-1, PANC-1, CAPAN-2 and SW1990). Compound epoxynardosinone exhibited significant cytotoxicity against CAPAN-2 cell lines with IC50 value of 2.60 ± 1.85 µM. 1-Hydroxylaristolone displayed comparable cytotoxicity on CFPAC-1 cell lines (IC50 1.12 ± 1.19 µM), compared to Taxol (IC50 0.32 ± 0.13 µM). 1-Hydroxylaristolone, 1(10)-aristolane-9ß-ol, 1(10)-aristolen-2-one, alpinenone, valtrate isovaleroyloxyhydrine and nardostachin displayed stronger cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.01 ± 0.01 to 6.50 ± 1.10 µM. 1(10)-Aristolane-9ß-ol, 10-hydroxyguaia-1(5)-6,7-epoxy-2-one, nardoguaianone K, nardonoxide, epoxynardosinone, 1(10)-isonardosinone-8-ol-9-one-7,11-lactone, valtrate isovaleroyloxyhydrine and nardostachin showed remarkable cytotoxicity against SW1990 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.07 ± 0.05 to 4.82 ± 6.96 µM. Furthermore, the primary mechanistic study of nardostachin demonstrated that it induced cell apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent pathway, and induced SW1900 cell arrest at G2/M phase.

(-)-Naringenin 4',7-dimethyl Ether Isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi Relieves Pain through Inhibition of Multiple Channels.

(-)-Naringenin 4',7-dimethyl ether ((-)-NRG-DM) was isolated for the first time by our lab from Nardostachys jatamansi DC, a traditional medicinal plant frequently used to attenuate pain in Asia. As a natural derivative of analgesic, the current study was designed to test the potential analgesic activity of (-)-NRG-DM and its implicated mechanism. The analgesic activity of (-)-NRG-DM was assessed in a formalin-induced mouse inflammatory pain model and mustard oil-induced mouse colorectal pain model, in which the mice were intraperitoneally administrated with vehicle or (-)-NRG-DM (30 or 50 mg/kg) (n = 10 for each group). Our data showed that (-)-NRG-DM can dose dependently (30~50 mg/kg) relieve the pain behaviors. Notably, (-)-NRG-DM did not affect motor coordination in mice evaluated by the rotarod test, in which the animals were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or (-)-NRG-DM (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) (n = 10 for each group). In acutely isolated mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons, (-)-NRG-DM (1~30 µM) potently dampened the stimulated firing, reduced the action potential threshold and amplitude. In addition, the neuronal delayed rectifier potassium currents (IK) and voltage-gated sodium currents (INa) were significantly suppressed. Consistently, (-)-NRG-DM dramatically inhibited heterologously expressed Kv2.1 and Nav1.8 channels which represent the major components of the endogenous IK and INa. A pharmacokinetic study revealed the plasma concentration of (-)-NRG-DM is around 7 µM, which was higher than the effective concentrations for the IK and INa. Taken together, our study showed that (-)-NRG-DM is a potential analgesic candidate with inhibition of multiple neuronal channels (mediating IK and INa).

Narjatamolide, an Unusual Homoguaiane Sesquiterpene Lactone from Nardostachys jatamansi.

Narjatamolide (1), an unusual homoguaiane sesquiterpene lactone, was isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. It represents the new carbon skeleton of a homoguaiane sesquiterpenoid possessing an additional acetate unit spiro-fused with C-4 and C-15 to form a cyclopropane ring. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configuration was confirmed by the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Compound 1 showed antiproliferative effects against BEL-7402 cell lines with an IC50 value of 5.67 ± 1.43 µM, and the mechanism study showed that 1 induces cell cycle of BEL-7402 cell lines arrest at G2/M phase.

Bungsteroid A: One Unusual C34 Pentacyclic Steroid Analogue from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.

Bungsteroid A (1), possessing an unreported carbon skeleton, was isolated from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. It represents the first carbon skeleton of a C34 steroid analogue featuring a unique 6/6/6/6/5-fused pentacyclic skeleton, which has been determined by spectroscopic methods, quantum-chemical 13C NMR, ECD calculations, and calculations of optical rotations. Bungsteroid A showed the antiproliferative effects against HepG2, MCF-7, and HeLa cell lines with the IC50 values of 56.3 ± 1.1, 64.2 ± 0.9, and 74.2 ± 1.3 µM, respectively.

Ingenane and jatrophane diterpenoids from Euphorbia kansui and their antiproliferative effects.

In this study, fourteen ingenane-type and nine jatrophane-type diterpenoids were isolated from Euphorbia kansui, including seven undescribed compounds. Kansuingenol A-C have the 6,7-vicinal diol moiety, and Kansuijatrophanol A and B possess the 11,12-vicinal diol moiety, both of which are rarely reported. 3,4-(Methylenedioxy) cinnamyl moiety was found for the first time in jatrophane-type diterpenoids, as shown in Kansuijatrophanol C and D. The absolute configurations of seven undescribed compounds have been analyzed and assigned by the modified Mosher's method, Mo2(OAc)4-induced circular dichroism (ICD) method, and CD exciton chirality method. All compounds were screened for their antiproliferative effects against HepG2, MCF-7 and DU145 cell lines. Regarding the HepG2 cells, Kansuijatrophanol C exhibited the most promising inhibition with the IC50 value of 9.47 ± 0.31 µM. Regarding the MCF-7 and DU145 cells, Kansuijatrophanol D exhibited the most promising inhibition with the IC50 values of 6.29 ± 0.18 and 4.19 ± 0.32 µM, respectively.

Diterpenoid Alkaloids and One Lignan from the Roots of Aconitum pendulum Busch.

Diterpenoid alkaloids have neroprotective activity. Herein, three napelline-type diterpenoid alkaloids 1-3, two aconitine-type diterpenoid alkaloids 4-5, and one isoquinline-type alkaloid 6, as well as one lignan glycoside 7, have been isolated from the roots of Aconitum pendulum Busch. Compounds 1 and 7 were new compounds, and their chemical structures were determined on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and mass spectrometry analysis. A ThT assay revealed that compound 2 showed significant disaggregation potency on the Aß1-42 aggregates.

Further New Gypenosides from Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum).

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) has been widely used as a herbal tea, dietary supplement, and vegetable in Asian countries. In this study, six new gypenosides (1-6) were isolated from the aerial parts of G. pentaphyllum. Their molecular structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis and acid hydrolysis. Gypenosides 1 and 2 represented the first example of a dammar-21-O- glucopyranoside without any unsaturated functional group and a dammar-3-O-glucopyranosyl-25-O-glucopyranoside without any cyclization in the side chain, respectively. In addition, gypenosides 5 and 6 exhibited the first example of a 24-hydroperoxy-19-oxo-dammarane triterpenoid and 19-oxo-dammar-21-O-glucopyranoside with a saturated side chain, respectively. Gypenoside 5 was found to possess protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 8.2 ± 0.9 µM, and moderate cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells MCF7, MCF7/ADR, and MDA-MB-231, with IC50 values ranging from 10.5 ± 1.4 to 14.2 ± 2.6 µM. The outcome of the study provided crucial information regarding the structural diversity and health benefits of gypenosides.

New clerodane diterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Nannoglottis carpesioides.

Three new clerodane diterpenoid glycosides with L-arabinose (1-3), together with ten known compounds including phytol-type diterpenes, cycloartane-type, ursane-type, and oleanane-type triterpenes, were isolated from the aerial parts of Nannoglottis carpesioides which a Chinese endemic genus. The structures of the new compounds 1-3 were identified based on chemical and spectroscopic studies, including one- and two-dimensional NMR, HRESIMS, UV, and IR results. Their absolute configurations were determined by the application of theory calculations of optical rotation, which were compared with the experimental data. New aglycone 1a and L-arabinose were obtained by acid hydrolysis of 1 and GC-MS analysis. The cytotoxicities of some isolated compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines were evaluated by the MTT assay. Clerodane diterpenoides are the characteristic chemical constituents and may be used as chemical markers of the genus Nannoglottis.

[Literature survey on botanical origin and clinical application of traditional Tibetan medicine "Shengdeng"].

"Shengdeng" is its Tibetan transliteration referring to many medicines. Tibetan doctors and pharmacists in different areas use different drugs in formulation and clinical application, which are easily confused. In order to grasp the formula and clinical application accurately, we conduct a literature survey on history and current state of botanical origin and clinical application of "Shengdeng", making clear the application of various herbs named "Shengdeng" and providing reference to all Tibetan researchers and clinical workers in formulation and clinical application.