Isoprenylated Flavonoids and 2-Arylbenzofurans from the Root Bark of Morus alba L. and Their Cytotoxic Activity against HGC27 Cancer Cells.

Three new compounds (1, 11, and 12), together with 32 known ones, were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L. using various chromatographic methods. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated based on 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS dataanalysis, while the known ones were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human gastric cancer HGC27 cells by CCK-8 assay. Among them, compounds 5, 8, 10, and 30 exhibited cytotoxic activities on HGC27 cells with IC50 values of 33.76 ± 2.64 µM, 28.94 ± 0.72 µM, 6.08 ± 0.34 µM, and 10.24 ± 0.89 µM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 10 was confirmed to reduce proliferation ability, increase apoptosis rate, and inhibit cell migration pathway by annexin V/PI double staining experiment, transwell experiment, and Western blot analysis.

Steroidal saponins and homoisoflavonoids from the fibrous roots of ophiopogon japonicus and their anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities.

The chemical investigation of the fibrous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus afforded two new steroidal saponins, named ophiojaponin F (1) and ophiojaponin G (2), together with twelve known steroidal saponins (3-14) and ten known homoisoflavonoids (15-24). The structures of the isolated compounds were established unambiguously via spectroscopic analyses (NMR and HR-ESI-MS). Ophiojaponin F (1) is a 23-hydroxylated spirostanol saponin, and this type of steroidal saponin rarely been reported in liriopogons. All isolates were evaluated for their anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities on TGF-ß1-actived NIH3T3 cells for the first time. Among them, compounds 3, 4, 11-13, 15-19, 21 and 24 showed potential anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects with IC50 values ranging from 3.61 ± 0.86 µM to 21.33 ± 1.82 µM, and the main component ophiopogonin D (4) displayed the best activity with an IC50 value of 3.61 ± 0.86 µM. Thus, ophiopogonin D may be a potent candidate for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Terpenoid and phenolic derivatives from the aerial parts of Elsholtzia rugulosa and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Seven undescribed terpenoids, including three pairs of enantiomers, named (±)-rugulolides A-C, and one cyclopentenone derivative, named rugulolide D, together with twenty-six known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Elsholtzia rugulosa. The chiral separation of rugulolides A-C was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography using the chiral column. Their structures were elucidated unambiguously based on comprehensive spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Rugulolides A-D are rare naturally occurring terpenoid derivatives featuring a methylated α,ß-unsaturated-γ-lactone or a cyclopent-2-en-1-one nucleus. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cell, among them, four compounds showed moderate inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 12.46 to 23.10 µM.