Three new triterpenoid saponins from the leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium.

Three new minor dammarane saponins, quinquenosides L10 (1), L14 (2), and L16 (3), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium L. By the combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques and MS spectroscopic analysis, their structures were established as 20-O-(alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-dammar-24-ene-3,12, 20-triol (1), 20-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-dammar-24-ene-3,12,20-triol (2), 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-20-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-dammarane-3,12,20,24,25-pentaol (3). The content of artemisinin was significantly enhanced by 3.0 mg l(- 1) of compounds 1, 2, and 3 in the callus of Artemisia annua.

Studies on the chemical constituents of Ilex pubescens.

Three new compounds, ilexisochromane (1), ilex acid A (2), and ilex acid B (3), were isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens. Their structures were elucidated using the combination of 1- and 2-D NMR and mass spectrometry analyses.

Alkaloid profiling of crude and processed Veratrum nigrum L. through simultaneous determination of ten steroidal alkaloids by HPLC-ELSD.

Veratrum nigrum L., a traditional Chinese herb, has been used for treatment of hypertension, blood-stroke, excessive phlegm, epilepsy, etc. Steroidal alkaloids were well-known as both bioactive and toxic constituents of Veratrum species, the toxicity of which the traditional processing procedure can reduce. To reveal the mechanism of processing V. nigrum L., a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ten steroidal alkaloids in crude and processed V. nigrum L., comparison with ultrasound extract of crude V. nigrum L. With a Venusil XBP-C(18) analytical column, the analytes were separated efficiently using the mobile phase consisted of (A) 0.03% aqueous triethylamine (TEA) and (B) acetonitrile in a gradient program. The parameters for ELSD were set: S.C. (Spray Chamber)=35 degrees C, D.T. (Drift Tube)=70 degrees C, GAS=50 psi. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (gamma>or=0.9990) within the tested range. Additionally, reproducibility for the quantification of ten alkaloids in V. nigrum L. with intra- and inter-day variations of less than 5.0% was observed. The obtained alkaloid profiles performed by this newly established method, provided valuable information for the differentiation of crude and processed V. nigrum L. and for the explanation of the different toxicity.

A study on the chemical constituents of Veratrum nigrum L. processed by rice vinegar.

One new steroid alkaloid, 12beta-hydroxylveratroylzygadenine (1) and four known compounds, verdine (2), jervine (3), veramarine (4), and veratroylzygadenine (5), have been isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum nigrum L. processed by rice vinegar. Their structures were established through a combined analysis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic evidence. The assay results revealed that compounds 1, 4, and 5 exhibited cell toxicity against human HL-60 cells with IC50 values 52.67, 52.90, and 56.51 micromol/l, respectively.

Two new compounds from Ixeris sonchifolia.

Two new compounds, named as sonchifolactone E (1) and sonchifolinin B (2), have been isolated from the whole plant of Ixeris sonchifolia, along with one known compound, sonchifolatone A (3). Their structures and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic methods.