Synthesis and Anticancer Activity Evaluation of Hydrolyzed Derivatives of Panaxnotoginseng Saponins.

To increase the antitumor activity of ginsenosides and acetylsalicylic acid, acid hydrolysis products of Panaxnotoginseng saponin were used as raw materials to be combined with salicylic acid to obtain ginsenoside salicylic acid derivatives. All derivatives were assessed for anti-cancer activity. A total of 20 target compounds were designed and synthesized. The cytotoxic activity on five cancer cell lines, including human colon cancer (HT-29), gastric cancer (BGC-823), cervical cancer (Hela), human breast cancer (MCF-7), human lung cancer cells (A549), and two normal cancer cell lines (human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1), and human ovarian epithelial cells (IOSE144)) was evaluated following treatment with the compounds. The results showed that all compounds inhibited the growth of cancer cells. Compounds 1a, 3a, 7a, 1b, 2b, 3b and 8b showed strong anticancer activity. For MCF-7 cells, compound 3b showed the strongest inhibitory activity, IC50 = 2.56 ± 0.09 µM. In the cytotoxicity test, all compounds showed low toxicity or no toxicity (IC50 > 100 µM). In addition, a cell cycle distribution assay and wound healing assay demonstrated that compound 3b specifically inhibited MCF-7 proliferation and migration ability. Our results indicate that compound 3b represents a promising compound for further cancer studies.

Two new quinones from the roots of Juglans mandshurica.

Two new quinones, 1-hydroxy-5-pentyl-anthraquinone (1) and 4-(5-hydroxy-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-naphthalen-2-ylamino)-butyric acid methyl ester (2), together with two known quinones, 5-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-(1,4) naphthoquinone (3) and juglone (4) were isolated from the roots of Juglans mandshurica (Juglandaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Compound 3 was isolated from the Juglans genus for the first time. Compounds 1-4 exhibited significant cytotoxicity towards cultured MDA-MB231, HepG2 and SNU638 cells with IC50 values ranging from 4.46 to 88.47 µM.

A new biflavonoid from the whole herb of Lepisorus ussuriensis.

A new biflavonoid, 7-O-methylnaringenin-(4'→O→6″)-scutellarein (1), together with 11 known compounds (2-12) were isolated from the whole herb of Lepisorus ussuriensis. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Amongst them, dihydroquercetin (6), diosmetin (9), baicalein (11) and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (12) were reported from the family Polypodiaceae for the first time. Meanwhile, quercetin (7), diosmetin (9) and luteolin (10) inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB reporter gene expression on HeLa cells up to 30 and 100 µM.

Two new conjugated ketonic fatty acids from the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica.

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize novel chemical constituents of the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. (Juglandaceae). The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data (1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD, UV, and IR) and by the comparisons of spectroscopic data with the reported values in the literatures. Two long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (1 and 2) were obtained and identified as (S)-(8E,10E)-12-hydroxy-7-oxo-8,10-octadecadienoic acid (1) and (S)-(8E, 10E)-12-hydroxy-7-oxo-8,10-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation and structural elucidation of the two new conjugated ketonic fatty acids from this genus.

Chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Melandrium firmum.

Two new anthraquinones, melrubiellin C (1) and melrubiellin D (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Melandrium firmum Rohrbach, together with eight known compounds (3-10). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) experiments. All isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against NCI-H460, Hep G2, MKN-28 and A-549 cells. Of these 10 compounds, 1 and 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 9.54 to 32.41 µM.

A new phenyl glycoside from the aerial parts of Equisetum hyemale.

A new phenyl glycoside, 2-(sophorosyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone (9), was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Equisetum hyemale L., together with eight known compounds (1-8). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic analyses and chemical method. Of these nine compounds, 4 and 7 showed hepatoprotective effects towards tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep 3B cells with EC50 values of 42.7 ± 1.5 and 132.6 ± 2.8 µM, respectively.

A new phenolic glycoside from Juglans mandshurica.

A new phenolic glycoside, 6-O-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxybenzoyl)-d-glucopyranose (4), and nine known compounds (1-3 and 5-10) were isolated from Juglans mandshurica Maxim. Compound structures were elucidated by NMR, HR-ESI-MS and acid hydrolysis. Compounds 5 and 6 are reported from this genus for the first time. Among compounds 1-10, only 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against MGC-803, A549, K562, JAR, HeLa, CaSKi and SiHa cell lines (IC50: 2.0, 5.3, 2.3, 6.9, 4.0, 6.6 and 2.7 µM, respectively).

[Studies on chemical constituents of Rabdosia serra].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of aerial part of Rabdosia serra. METHOD: The compounds were isolated by extraction, coloum chromatography over silica gel and ODS, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by various spectroscopic methods including MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR data. RESULT: Six compounds were isolated from R. serra and were characterized as ent-1alpha, 7alpha, 14beta, 20-tetrahydroxy-11, 16-kauradien-15-one (1), kamebakaurin (2), dihydrokamebakaurin (3), rabdoinflexin A (4), daucosterol( 5), and beta-sitosterol (6). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is a new compound, and coumpound 3 was obtained from this plant for the first time.

[Quantitative analysis of aglycone of momordicoside L from Momordica charantia in different areas by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPLC for determination of aglycone of momordicoside L in Momordica charantia. METHOD: A Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) column was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-H2O (64:36), the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the UV detection wavelength was set 203 nm. RESULT: The calibration curves were linear from of 0.025 microg to 1 microg (r =0.9911), the contents of aglycone of momordicoside L in Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Jiangxi are 0.211, 0.033, 0.013, 0.007 mg x g(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple and reliable for determination of aglycone of momordicoside L in M. charantia.

Hepatoprotective constituents of Cudrania tricuspidata.

Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the root barks of Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (Moraceae), as guided by hepatoprotective activity in vitro, furnished four isoprenylated xanthones, cudratricusxanthone A (1), cudraxanthone L (2), cudratricusxanthone E (3), and macluraxanthone B (4). All of these compounds showed the significant hepatoprotective effect on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 also exhibited the significant hepatoprotective effect on nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells.