New C9 -Monoterpenoid Alkaloids Featuring a Rare Skeleton with Anti-Inflammatory and Antiviral Activities from Forsythia suspensa.

Forsyqinlingines C (1) and D (2), two C9 -monoterpenoid alkaloids bearing a rare skeleton, were isolated from the ripe fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were fully elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and ECD experiments. The plausible biogenetic pathway for compounds 1 and 2 was also proposed. In vitro, two C9 -monoterpenoid alkaloids showed anti-inflammatory activity performed by the inhibitory effect on the release of ß-glucuronidase in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), as well as antiviral activity against influenza A (H1N1) virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Alkaloids bearing rare skeletons from Forsythia suspensa with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities in vitro.

Five alkaloids, including two previously undescribed alkaloids, named forsyshiyanines A and B, attributable to the rare skeletons 4b,5,6,7,8,8a,9,10-octahydrobenzo[f]quinoline and (6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-7-yl)methyl, respectively, along with three known ones (3-5), were isolated from the ripe fruits of Forsythia suspensa. The chemical structures including absolute configurations of two undescribed compounds were established using integrated spectroscopic techniques, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis. In vitro, five alkaloids showed anti-inflammatory activities, with the inhibition rates of the release of ß-glucuronidase from polymorphonuclear leukocytes of rats being in the range 47.9%-56.0% at a concentration of 10 µM. Moreover, five compounds exhibited anti-viral activities against influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus, with IC50 values in the range of 7.3-32.5 µM and EC50 values in the range 3.7-14.1 µM.

Trinorlabdane diterpenoid alkaloids featuring an unprecedented skeleton with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities from Forsythia suspensa.

Two unique trinorlabdane diterpenoid alkaloids, forsyqinlingines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the ripe fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Their structures, including absolute stereochemical configurations, were fully elucidated from extensive spectroscopy experiments, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). In addition, a plausible biosynthetic pathway for the formation of compounds 1 and 2 in Forsythia suspensa was also proposed. In vitro, the two C17-labdane diterpenoid alkaloids exhibited anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the release of ß-glucuronidase in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and antiviral activities against influenza A (H1N1) virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

[Diterpenoids from Scutellaria strigillosa].

By means of preparative HPTLC and column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, nine diterpenoids were isolated and purified from the whole plants of Scutellaria strigillosa. Based on the physico-chemical properties and spectral data, their structures were elucidated as: 6-O-acetyl-7-O-nicotinoylscutebarbatine G(1), 6-O-nicotinoyl-7-O-acetylscutebarbatine G(2), 6,7-di-O-nicotinoylscutebarbatine G(3), scutebarbatine K(4), scutebarbatine B(5), 6-O-acetylscutehenanine A(6), 6-O-nicotinoylbarba- tin A(7), 6,7-di-O-acetoxylbarbatin A(8), scutebarbatine F(9). Compound 1 is a new diterpenoid, and compounds 2-9 were isolated from Scutellaria strigillosa for the first time.

New sesquiterpenoid derivatives from Solanum septemlobum with cytotoxicities.

Two new sesquiterpenoid derivatives, attributable to eudesmane-type (1-2, named septemlobin D and 11,12-O-isopropylidenesolajiangxin F), were isolated from the whole plant of Solanum septemlobum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of integrated spectroscopic techniques, mainly HR-FAB-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY). In vitro, two sesquiterpenoid derivatives were found to show significant cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines (P-388, HONE-1 and HT-29), and gave IC50 values in the range of 3.0-7.3 µM.

[Sesquiterpenoids from Solanum lyratum].

Ten compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography over silica gel, preparative TLC, and Sephadex LH-20 from the whole plant of Solanum lyratum. The structures were elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral data as 1beta-hydroxy-1 ,2-dihydro-alpha-santonin (1) , boscialin (2) , blumenol C (3), 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(4), dehydrovomifoliol(5) , blumenol A(6), (1'S,2R,5S, 10R) -2-(1', 2'-dihydroxy-l1'-methylethyl) -6,10-dimethylspiro[4,5] dec-6-en-8-one(7) , (1'R,2R,5S,10R)-2-( 1',2'-dihydroxy-l '-methylethyl) -6,1 l0-dimethylspiro[4,5]dec-6-en-8-one( 8) , 2-(1',2'-dihydroxy-1 '-methylethyl) -6,1 0-dimethyl-9-hydroxyspiro [4,5] dec-6-en-8-one (9) , and grasshopper ketone (10). Compounds 1-10 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

New eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid from Solanum lyratum with cytotoxic activity.

In our continuing effort to discover more new cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids from Solanum lyratum, one new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid (1, 3-keto-eudesm-9ß,11-diol, named lyratol G), together with one known eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid (2, 1ß-hydroxy-1,2-dihydro-α-santonin), was obtained. The structure of the new sesquiterpenoid was elucidated on the basis of integrated spectroscopic techniques, mainly HR-FAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY). In vitro, two sesquiterpenoids were found to exhibit significant cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines (P-388, HONE-1 and HT-29), and gave IC50 values in the range of 3.1-6.9 µM.

New sesquiterpenoid derivatives from Solanum lyratum and their cytotoxicities.

Three new sesquiterpenoid isopropylidene derivatives, named solajiangxins H and I (1 and 2) and 7-hydroxylsolajiangxin I (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Solanum lyratum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of integrated spectroscopic techniques, mainly HR-FAB-MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY). In vitro, compounds 1-3 were found to show significant cytotoxicity against three cancer cells (P-388, HONE-1, and HT-29), and gave IC50 values in the range of 3.2-7.7 µM.

Two new C13-norisoprenoids from Solanum lyratum.

Two new C(13)-norisoprenoids, named lyratols E and F (1-2), were isolated from the whole plant of Solanum lyratum Thunb, and their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. In vitro, two new compounds were found to show significant cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells including P-388 and HT-29.

Two new cytotoxic ent-clerodane diterpenoids from Scutellaria barbata.

Two new ent-clerodane diterpenoids have been isolated from Scutellaria barbata, and their structures were established by detailed spectroscopic analyses as (13R)-6α,7ß-dihydroxy-8ß,13-epoxy-11ß-nicotinyloxy-ent-clerodan-3-en-15,16-olide (scutelinquanine D, 1) and (11E)-6α-acetoxy-7ß,8ß-dihydroxy-ent-clerodan-3,11,13-trien-15,16-olide (6-acetoxybarbatin C, 2). In vitro, the isolated two new compounds showed significant cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (HONE-1 nasopharyngeal, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells), and gave IC(50) values in the range of 2.5-6.6 µM.

Effect of astilbin on experimental diabetic nephropathy in vivo and in vitro.

Astilbin, a flavonoid compound, was isolated from the rhizome of Smilax glabra Roxb. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of astilbin on experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN) in vivo and in vitro and its possible mechanisms. Astilbin was added in high glucose stimulated HK-2 cells, streptozotocin-induced experimental DN, randomized to receive intragastric ( I. G.) astilbin to observe its anti-renal lesion effect. Results showed that astilbin inhibited high glucose stimulated HK-2 cell production of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in vitro, especially CTGF; analogic results was also found in vivo. I. G. of astilbin 2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg significantly ameliorated renal function, reduced kidney index, while it increased body weight and survival time in animals. In addition there was no significant difference in blood glucose level between the STZ-treated group and the astilbin groups. Furthermore, astilbin ameliorated the pathological progress of renal morphology. Astilbin can exert an early renal protective role to DN, inhibit production of TGF-beta1 and especially of CTGF. We suggest that astilbin inhibition of CTGF may be a potential target in DN therapy. This work provides the first evidence for astilbin as a new candidate of DN therapeutic medicine.

Rosmarinic acid protects against experimental sepsis by inhibiting proinflammatory factor release and ameliorating hemodynamics.

The present study was to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) in cultured RAW264.7 cells and experimental model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in rats and the potential mechanism. Results showed that RA concentration dependently down-regulated the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and high-mobility group box 1 protein in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, inhibited the IkappaB kinase pathway, and modulated nuclear factor-kappaB. Intravenous injection of RA alone or in combination with imipenem reduced cecal ligation and puncture-induced lethality in rats. In addition, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, high-mobility group box 1 protein, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells, and endotoxin were down-regulated; in contrast, serum level of IL-10 was up-regulated. Amelioration of hemodynamics and decrease in serum enzyme activities and myeloperoxidase in lung, liver, and small intestine were also observed after RA injection. These data indicate that the antisepsis effect of RA was mediated by decreasing local and systemic levels of a wide spectrum of inflammatory mediators. This article provides the first evidence that RA has the capacity to inactivate inflammatory response in sepsis. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of RA may inhibit activation of the nuclear factor- kappaB pathway by inhibiting IkappaB kinase activity.