Synthesis of a cysteine functional covalent organic framework via facile click reaction for the efficient solid phase extraction of substituted p-phenylenediamine-derived quinones.

N,N'-Substituted p-phenylenediamine quinones (PPD-Qs) are the emerging toxicant, which transform from the rubber tire antioxidant N,N'-substituted p-phenylenediamines (PPDs). Because of their potential toxic and widespread occurrence in the environment, PPD-Qs have received great attention. However, efficiently extracting PPD-Qs from complex samples is still a challenge. Herein, a cysteine functional covalent organic framework (Cys-COF) designed according to the "donor-acceptor" sites of hydrogen bonding of PPD-Qs was synthesized via click reaction and then used as solid-phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent. Cys-COF can form the seven-member ring adsorption structure with PPD-Qs via hydrogen bonding. The adsorption mechanism was tentatively revealed by density functional theory (DFT). After optimizing the Cys-COF-SPE parameters, PPD-Qs were efficiently extracted from water, soil, sediment, and fish, followed by detection using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The Cys-COF-SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method exhibited ideal linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9932), high relative recoveries (80.4-111 %), and low limits of detection (0.0001-0.0013 ng mL-1). In addition, the bioconcentration kinetics in goldfish provides a feasible platform to investigate the toxicity and accumulated ability of PPD-Qs.

Pradimicin U, a promising antimicrobial agent isolated from a newly found Nonomuraea composti sp. nov.

Pradimicin U is a new dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone compound found to be active on a screen designed to investigate compounds with antimicrobial activity, produced by the actinomycete designated strain FMUSA5-5T. The strain was isolated from a bio-fertilizer of Musa spp. collected from Suphanburi province, Thailand. The chemotaxonomic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that strain FMUSA5-5T is a member of the genus Nonomuraea. Low genome-based taxonomic criteria, average nucleotide identity (ANI) (82.8-88.3%), average amino-acid identity (AAI) (79.4-87.3%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) (29.5-38.5%) values and several phenotypic differences between strain FMUSA5-5T and its closest type strains of the genus Nonomuraea indicated that strain FMUSA5-5T represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea and the name Nonomuraea composti sp. nov. is proposed for the strain. The crude extract from the culture broth of strain FMUSA5-5T displayed promising antimicrobial activity against several pathogens and led to the isolation of a novel secondary metabolite, pradimicin U. Interestingly, this compound displayed a broad spectrum of biological activities such as antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (IC50 value = 3.65 µg/mL), anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (MIC value = 25.0 µg/mL), anti-Alternaria brassicicola BCC 42724 (MIC value = 25.0 µg/mL), anti-Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and anti-Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (MIC values = 6.25 and 1.56 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, the compound possessed strong anti-human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187) activity with IC50 value of 5.69 µg/mL, while cytotoxicity against human breast cancer (MCF-7) and Vero cells was very weak (IC50 values of 52.49 and 21.84 µg/mL, respectively).

Chemical constituents of Rubia tibetica Hook. f. from Tibetan medicine and cytotoxic activity evaluation.

Two unprecedented quinone compounds Rubiaxylm A (1) and Rubiaxylm B (2), along with fifteen known anthraquinones (3-17) were isolated and characterized from the roots of Rubia tibetica in Tibetan medicine. Their structures were identified through comprehensive analyses of 1D/2D NMR as well as HR-ESIMS data. Furthermore, all separated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on A549, Caco-2, MDA-MB-231 and Skov-3 cell lines. In particular, compound 2 effectively inhibited MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 value of 8.15 ± 0.20 µM. Subsequently, the anti-tumor mechanism of 2 was investigated by flow cytometry, JC-1 staining, cell scratching and cell colony. These results indicated that compound 2 could inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells by arresting cells in the G1 phase.

Further Polycyclic Quinones of Micromonospora sp.

The crude acetone extract of a marine Micromonospora sp. strain associated with Eudistoma vannnamei was fractioned with hexane and ethyl acetate. The crude extract and both soluble fractions were assayed against several bacteria strains. The new polycyclic quinones 12-hydroxy-9-propyltetracene-6,1-dione (1), 5,12-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9-propyltetracene-5,12-dione (2), and 4,6-dihydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl- methyl-6a-(oxobutyl)-5,12-anthraquinone (3), along with the known 4,6-dihydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-methyl-6a-(oxo-3-methyl-butyl)-5,12-anthraquinone (4) and 4,6-dihydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-methyl-6a-(oxopentyl)-5,12-anthraquinone (5) were isolated from the hexane-soluble fraction, while from the active ethyl acetate fraction were isolated the known 4,6,11-trihydroxy-9-propyltetracene-5,12-dione (6), 4-methoxy-9-propyltetracene-6,11-dione (7), 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-4-methoxy-9-propyltetracene-6,11-dione (8), and 10ß-carbomethoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-4,6,7α,9α,11-pentahydroxy-9-propyltetracene-5,12-dione (9). The structures of the new compounds were established by interpretation of HRMS and NMR techniques. A study of molecular docking was performed with the compounds from the active ethyl acetate fraction to correlate tentatively with the antimicrobial activity. Molecular docking, RMSD, RMSF, and MM-GBSA evaluations were performed to investigate the inhibitory activity of 6-8 against the protein PDB-codex 1MWT, being considered a promising target for studying drug development responsible for inhibiting replication of Staphylococcus aureus. Penicillin G was used as the standard inhibitory. Anthracyclinones 6-8 were the best hydrolase inhibitor with affinity energy -8.1 to -7.9 kcal/mol compared to penicillin G, which presented -6.9 kcal/mol. Both 8 and 7 present potent inhibitory effects against hydrolase through molecular dynamics simulation and exhibit favorable drug-like properties, promising new hydrolase blockers to fight bacterial infections from Staphylococcus aureus.

Anti-Epstein-Barr Viral Agents from the Medicinal Herb-Derived Fungus Alternaria alstroemeriae Km2286.

Chromatographic separation on the liquid-state fermented products produced by the fungal strain Alternaria alstroemeriae Km2286 isolated from the littoral medicinal herb Atriplex maximowicziana Makino resulted in the isolation of compounds 1-9. Structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis as four undescribed perylenequinones, altertromins A-D (1-4), along with altertoxin IV (5), altertoxin VIII (6), stemphyperylenol (7), tenuazonic acid (8), and allo-tenuazonic acid (9). Compounds 1-6 exhibited antiviral activities against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with EC50 values ranging from 0.17 ± 0.07 to 3.13 ± 0.31 µM and selectivity indices higher than 10. In an anti-neuroinflammatory assay, compounds 1-4, 6, and 7 showed inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial BV-2 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 0.33 ± 0.04 to 4.08 ± 0.53 µM without significant cytotoxicity. This is the first report to describe perylenequinone-type compounds with potent anti-EBV and anti-neuroinflammatory activities.

New quinones, a sesquiterpene and phenol compounds with cytotoxic activity from the aerial parts of Morinda umbellata L.

Eight previously undescribed compounds, two quinones (1-2), one sesquiterpene (3), and five phenol compounds (4-8), including three enantiomers (6a, 7a, and 8a), along with three corresponding known enantiomers (6b-8b) were isolated from the aerial parts of Morinda umbellata L. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and experimental and calculated ECD spectra, respectively. Compound 5 was found to have weak cytotoxity, which inhibited the growth of seven human cancer cell lines (A2780, HeLa, MCF-7, BGC-823, H7420, Ketr3 and SW 1990) with IC50 values from 13.3 to 15.1 µM.

Quinone-rich fraction of Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC roots alters angiogenic cascade in collagen-induced arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic joint disorder, of which, excessive angiogenesis is the well-established factor contributing to synovitis and joint destruction. Ardisia crispa (Primulaceae) is a medicinal herb with evidenced anti-angiogenic properties, attributed to 2-methoxy-6-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) found in its roots. However, it is still unclear how BQ is able to inhibit angiogenesis in RA. Hence, we investigated the anti-arthritic potential of quinone-rich fraction (QRF) separated from Ardisia crispa roots hexane extract (ACRH) by targeting angiogenesis on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. The QRF was priorly identified by quantifying the BQ content in the fraction using GC-MS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were initially immunised with type II collagen (150 µg) subcutaneously at the base of the tail on day 0. QRF (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day) and celecoxib (5 mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 13 consecutive days starting from day 14 post-induction, except for the vehicle and arthritic controls. QRF at all dosages moderately ameliorated the arthritic scores, ankle swelling, and hind paw oedema with no significant (p > 0.05) modulation on the bodyweights and organ weights (i.e., liver, kidney, and spleen). Treatment with QRF at 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated VEGF-A, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, p38, STAT3, and STAT5 proteins and markedly restored the increased synovial microvessel densities (MVD) to the normal level in arthritic rats in a dose-independent manner. In conclusion, QRF conferred the anti-arthritic effect via angiogenesis inhibition in vivo, credited to the BQ content and synergism, at least in part, by other phytoconstituents.

Metabolomics analysis of the soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.) pericarp during fruit development and ripening based on UHPLC-HRMS.

Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.) is a multi-functional tree with widespread application in toiletries, biomedicine, biomass energy, and landscaping. The pericarp of soapberry can be used as a medicine or detergent. However, there is currently no systematic study on the chemical constituents of soapberry pericarp during fruit development and ripening, and the dynamic changes in these constituents still unclear. In this study, a non-targeted metabolomics approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) was used to comprehensively profile the variations in metabolites in the soapberry pericarp at eight fruit growth stages. The metabolome coverage of UHPLC-HRMS on a HILIC column was higher than that of a C18 column. A total of 111 metabolites were putatively annotated. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis of pericarp metabolic composition revealed clear metabolic shifts from early (S1-S2) to late (S3-S5) development stages to fruit ripening stages (S6-S8). Furthermore, pairwise comparison identified 57 differential metabolites that were involved in 18 KEGG pathways. Early fruit development stages (S1-S2) were characterized by high levels of key fatty acids, nucleotides, organic acids, and phosphorylated intermediates, whereas fruit ripening stages (S6-S8) were characterized by high contents of bioactive and valuable metabolites, such as troxipide, vorinostat, furamizole, alpha-tocopherol quinone, luteolin, and sucrose. S8 (fully developed and mature stage) was the most suitable stage for fruit harvesting to utilize the pericarp. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first metabolomics study of the soapberry pericarp during whole fruit growth. The results could offer valuable information for harvesting, processing, and application of soapberry pericarp, as well as highlight the metabolites that could mediate the biological activity or properties of this medicinal plant.

Hydroxysafflor yellows alleviate thrombosis and acetaminophen-induced toxicity in vivo by enhancing blood circulation and poison excretion.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) from the flower of Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) has been reported to have various pharmacological effects. However, little is known about the bioactivities of other chemical constituents in Safflower and the relationship between enhancement of blood circulation and hepatoprotection by HSYA. PURPOSE: The present research was to evaluate the antithrombotic and hepatoprotective activities of HSYA and C, examine their mechanisms of actions, including influence on the excretion velocity of acetaminophen, and the relationship between the antithrombotic, hepatoprotective, and other bioactivities. METHODS: The hepatoprotective activities were examined by acetaminophen (APAP)-induced zebrafish toxicity and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse liver injury. The concentrations of APAP in zebrafish and APAP that was excreted to the culture media were quantified by UHPLC-MS. The anti-thrombosis effect of HSYA and C were examined by the phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced zebrafish thrombosis. RESULTS: HSYA and HSYC showed robust protection on APAP-induced toxicity and PHZ-induced thrombosis. The hepatoprotective effects of HSYA and C were more potent than that of the positive control, acetylcysteine (61.7% and 58.0%, respectively, vs. 56.9% at 100 µM) and their antithrombosis effects were more robust than aspirin (95.1% and 86.2% vs. 52.7% at 100 µM). HSYA and C enhanced blood circulation, rescued APAP-treated zebrafish from morphological abnormalities, and mitigated APAP-induced toxicity in liver development in liver-specific RFP-expressing transgenic zebrafish. HSYC attenuated CCl4-induced mouse liver injury and regulated the levels of HIF-1α, iNOS, TNF-α, α-SMA, and NFκB in liver tissues. HSYA was also protective in a dual thrombotic and liver toxicity zebrafish model. By UHPLC-MS, HSYA accelerated the excretion of APAP. CONCLUSION: HSYA and C are the bioactive constituents of Safflower that are responsible for the herbal drug's traditional use in promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Safflower and its chalcone constituents may protect from damage due to exogenous or disease-induced endogenous toxins by enhancing the excretion velocity of toxins.

Antitumor Effects of a Sesquiterpene Derivative from Marine Sponge in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

In this study, the anti-proliferative effect of ilimaquinone, a sesquiterpene derivative from the marine sponge, in breast cancer cells was investigated. Ilimaquinone inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with IC50 values of 10.6 µM and 13.5 µM, respectively. Non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells were less sensitive to ilimaquinone than breast cancer cells. Flow cytometric and Western blot analysis showed that ilimaquinone induced S-phase arrest by modulating the expression of p-CDC-2 and p21. Ilimaquinone induces apoptosis, which is accompanied by multiple biological biomarkers, including the downregulation of Akt, ERK, and Bax, upregulation of p38, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased reactive oxygen species generation, and induced autophagy. Collectively, these findings suggest that ilimaquinone causes cell cycle arrest as well as induces apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells.

A metabolomic approach to target antimalarial metabolites in the Artemisia annua fungal endophytes.

Fungal endophytes are a major source of anti-infective agents and other medically relevant compounds. However, their classical blinded-chemical investigation is a challenging process due to their highly complex chemical makeup. Thus, utilizing cheminformatics tools such as metabolomics and computer-aided modelling is of great help deal with such complexity and select the most probable bioactive candidates. In the present study, we have explored the fungal endophytes associated with the well-known antimalarial medicinal plant Artemisia annua for their production of further antimalarial agents. Based on the preliminary antimalarial screening of these endophytes and using LC-HRMS-based metabolomics and multivariate analyses, we suggested different potentially active metabolites (compounds 1-8). Further in silico investigation using the neural-network-based prediction software PASS led to the selection of a group of quinone derivatives (compounds 1-5) as the most possible active hits. Subsequent in vitro validation revealed emodin (1) and physcion (2) to be potent antimalarial candidates with IC50 values of 0.9 and 1.9 µM, respectively. Our approach in the present investigation therefore can be applied as a preliminary evaluation step in the natural products drug discovery, which in turn can facilitate the isolation of selected metabolites notably the biologically active ones.

Fluorescent image-based high-content screening of extracts of natural resources for cell cycle inhibitors and identification of a new sesquiterpene quinone from the sponge, Dactylospongia metachromia.

Natural products are important sources for drug development. Discovery of natural products that inhibit cell cycle progression significantly contributes to the progress of cancer biology and the development of new antitumor agents. In this study, cell cycle inhibitory activity was evaluated with our extract library of natural resources, including marine invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria, using HeLa/Fucci2 cells which allow classification of the cell cycle phases of living cells. Screening of the extract library revealed that the extract of the marine sponge Dactylospongia metachromia inhibited cell cycle progression at S/G2/M phases. Bioassay-guided fractionation afforded a new sesquiterpene quinone, neoisosmenospongine (1), and four known compounds, nakijiquinone I, N, and Q (2-4) and (-)-dictyoceratin-C (5). The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated by interpretating the NMR and mass spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration was determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Fluorescent imaging of HeLa/Fucci2 cells revealed that 1-4 inhibited the cell cycle progression at S/G2/M phases. This study demonstrated that fluorescent image-based high-content screening using HeLa/Fucci2 cells is an effective approach for isolating cell cycle inhibitors from natural resources.

Identification and heterologous expression of an isoquinolinequinone biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces albus J1074.

Nitrogen heterocycle small molecules display various pharmaceutically important bioactivities and have great potential in drug development and application. Microbes are an important source for discovering nitrogen heterocycle natural products, and the elucidation of their biosynthetic pathways in microbes facilitates genetic manipulation of new nitrogen heterocycle products. In this study, we isolated three isoquinolinequinones from a Streptomyces albus J1074 conjugant and identified their biosynthetic gene cluster in the S. albus J1074 genome. The function of the biosynthetic gene cluster was confirmed by heterologous expression of the gene cluster in S. coelicolor M1146. This study uncovered a new biosynthetic machinery to produce nitrogen heterocycle natural products in microbes.

Purification of hypocrellins from Shiraia bambusicola by coordinated high-speed countercurrent chromatography using cupric chloride as a complexing agent.

Hypocrellins are anthraquinone that can act as excellent photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. In the present work, we found that high-speed countercurrent chromatography using cupric chloride as a complexing agent effectively separated hypocrellins from Shiraia bambusicola extract. The optimal two-phase solvent system consisted of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (7:3:5.5:4.5, v/v/v/v), with 0.01 mol/L cupric chloride in the lower phase at pH of 2.45. This lower phase served as the mobile phase, whereas the upper phase acted as the stationary phase. Employing a continuous separation mode, three continuous injections were found to allow the purification of 1.2 g of crude extract in approximately 12 h. Hypocrellin B (10.8 mg), hypocrellin A (16.2 mg), and hypocrellin C (15.6 mg) were obtained from this process. Simulation of complexation of hypocrellin A with divalent copper ion by computational chemistry calculations indicated that three pairs of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups in hypocrellin A had similar binding energies, and demonstrated that hypocrellin A and B owned different metal-to-ligand ratios as compared to hypocrellin C. These factors could modify the partitioning of these compounds in two-phase solvent system, and resulting in a suitable separation factor. This method would also be used to purify other anthraquinones from natural products.

Cytotoxic sesquiterpenoid quinones from South China Sea sponge Dysidea sp.

A new sesquiterpene, (+)-19-methylaminoavarone (1), together with six known compounds (2-7), were isolated from the Xisha Islands marine sponge Dysidea sp. The structures were elucidated based on their spectroscopic data. We revised the carbon spectrum data of the compound 2. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were further confirmed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis. Compounds 1-3 and 5-7 showed potent cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines.

Discovery of Novel Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) Dual Inhibitors Derived from the Natural Product Saprorthoquinone.

The discovery of IDO1 and HDAC1 dual inhibitors may provide a novel strategy for cancer treatment by taking advantages of both immunotherapeutic and epigenetic drugs. In this paper, saprorthoquinone (1) and 13 of its analogues from Salvia prionitis Hance were investigated for their SAR against IDO1, the results demonstrated the ortho-quinone was a key pharmacophore. Then a series of IDO1 and HDAC dual inhibitors connected by appropriate linkers were designed, synthesized, and evaluated from the hit compound saprorthoquinone (1). Among them, compound 33d showed balanced activity against both IDO1 (IC50 = 0.73 µM) and HDAC1 (IC50 = 0.46 µM). Importantly, the structure of 33d suggested that an ortho-quinone pharmacophore and a N-(2-aminophenyl) amide pharmacophore were necessary for the IDO inhibition and HDAC inhibition respectively. Meanwhile, these two pharmacophore groups should be combined by a pentane linker. Moreover, the binding modes of 33d to the enzyme active site showed that the hydrogen bond with Leu234 of IDO1 appeared to confer increased potency to this class of inhibitors, which may explain the higher activity of 33d. This study provides a new strategy for future IDO1/HDAC dual inhibitors with synergistic antitumor activity started from lead compound 33d.

Antiproliferative abietane quinone diterpenoids from the roots of Salvia deserta.

A total of twenty abietane quinone diterpenoids including ten new ones (1-10) were isolated from the roots extract of Salvia deserta. Their chemical structures were delineated by extensive spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques including HRESIMS, NMR, UV, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, calculated 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis, calculated ECD, and Mo2(OAc)4-induced ECD. The absolute configurations of salvidesertone A (1), 8α,9α-epoxy-6-deoxycoleon U (18), and 7,20-epoxyroyleanone (19) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Salvidesertone A (1) represents the first example of a 9-hydroxyabieta-7(8)-ene quinone diterpenoid. This is the first report of the crystal structures of 8α,9α-epoxy-6-deoxycoleon U (18) and 7,20-epoxyroyleanone (19). Abietane quinone diterpenoids 1, 2, and 4-20 were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against five cancer cell lines A-549, SMMC-7721, SW480, MCF-7, and HL-60 and a normal epithelial cell line BEAS-2B in vitro. Salvidesertones E (8) and F (9) selectively inhibited the proliferation of A-549, SMMC-7721, and SW480 cancer cell lines. Importantly, salvidesertones E (8) and F (9), horminone (13), taxoquinone (14), 7α-O-methylhorminone (15), and 8α,9α-epoxy-6-deoxycoleon U (18) showed more potent antiproliferative effects against A-549 than the positive control cis-platin. A preliminary structure-activity relationship for the antiproliferative effects of abietane quinone diterpenoids 1-20 was discussed.

Residual Larvicidal Activity of Quinones against Aedes aegypti.

The number of documented dengue cases has increased dramatically in recent years due to transmission through the Aedes aegypti mosquito bite. Vector control remains the most effective measure to protect against this and other arboviral diseases including Zika, chikungunya and (urban) yellow fever, with an established vaccine only available for yellow fever. Although the quinone class shows potential as leading compounds for larvicide development, limited information restricts the development of optimized structures and/or formulations. Thus, in this contribution we investigated the larvicidal and pupicidal activity of three quinone compounds isolated from a Connarus suberosus root wood ethyl acetate extract together with 28 quinones from other sources. Eight quinones demonstrated larvicidal activity, of which tectoquinone (4) proved to be the most active (LC50 1.1 µg/mL). The essential residual effect parameter of four of these quinones was evaluated in laboratory trials, with tectoquinone (4) and 2-ethylanthraquinone (7) presenting the most prolonged activity. In small-scale field residual tests, tectoquinone (4) caused 100% larvae mortality over 5 days, supporting its selection for formulation trials to develop a prototype larvicide to control Ae. aegypti.

Exploration of the Electrophilic Reactivity of the Cytotoxic Marine Alkaloid Discorhabdin C and Subsequent Discovery of a New Dimeric C-1/N-13-Linked Discorhabdin Natural Product.

The cytotoxic marine natural product discorhabdin C contains a 2,6-dibromo-cyclohexa-2,5-diene moiety, previously proposed to be a critical feature required for biological activity. We have determined that the dienone-ring of discorhabdin C is indeed electrophilic, reacting with thiol and amine nucleophiles, affording debrominated adducts. In the case of reaction with 1-aminopentane the product contains an unusual C-2/N-18 ring closed, double-hydrate moiety. This electrophilic reactivity also extends to proteins, with lysozyme-discorhabdin C adducts being detected by ESI mass spectrometry. These results prompted further examination of an extract of discorhabdin C-producing sponge, Latrunculia (Latrunculia) trivetricillata, leading to the isolation and characterisation of a new example of a C-1/N-13 linked discorhabdin dimer that shared structural similarities with the 1-aminopentane-discorhabdin C adduct. To definitively assess the influence of the dienone moiety of discorhabdin C on cytotoxicity, a semi-synthetic hydrogenation derivative was prepared, affording a didebrominated ring-closed carbinolamine that was essentially devoid of tumour cell line cytotoxicity. Antiparasitic activity was assessed for a set of 14 discorhabdin alkaloids composed of natural products and semi-synthetic derivatives. Three compounds, (-)-discorhabdin L, a dimer of discorhabdin B and the discorhabdin C hydrogenation carbinolamine, exhibited pronounced activity towards Plasmodium falciparum K1 (IC50 30-90 nM) with acceptable to excellent selectivity (selectivity index 19-510) versus a non-malignant cell line.

Simultaneous Optimization of the Ultrasonic Extraction Method and Determination of the Antioxidant Activities of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A and Anhydrosafflor Yellow B from Safflower Using a Response Surface Methodology.

An evaluation of the ultrasonic extraction process and the antioxidant activities of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and anhydrosafflor yellow B (AHSYB) from safflower are presented herein. Using response surface methodology (RSM), based on a four-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD), the extraction parameters, namely, temperature, extraction time, solvent-to-material ratio, and extraction power, were optimized for maximizing the yields of HSYA and AHSYB. The maximum yield was obtained at a temperature of 66 °C with an extraction time of 36 min, solvent-to-material ratio of 16 mL/g, and the extraction power of 150 W, which was adjusted according to the actual conditions. The HSYA and AHSYB contents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The yield and the comprehensive evaluation value of HSYA and AHSYB were calculated. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined using a ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) kit and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The results suggested that the safflower extracts possessed obvious ferric reducing and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The antioxidant activity increased with increasing concentration. The results suggested that optimizing the conditions of ultrasonic extraction using RSM can significantly increase the yields of HSYA and AHSYB from safflower. The safflower extracts showed better antioxidant activity. This study can encourage future research on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.