Phenolic Acid Derivatives from Ficus esquiroliana Levl. and Their Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

One new mesomer, ficusnaph A (1), two new phenolic acid derivatives, ficusnaphs B and C (2 and 3) together with three known biogenetically related polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives (4-6) were isolated from the stems of Ficus esquiroliana Levl. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-6 were evaluated the inhibitory activities against the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells in vitro. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 3.12±0.14 and 7.66±0.18 µM, respectively.

Three new long-chain polyenes from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium herquei JX4.

One new epimer pair of long-chain polyenes penicilqueis E (1) and F (2), and one new long-chain polyene pinophol G (3), along with one known compound (4), were obtained from EtOAc extract of the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium herquei JX4. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in vitro were evaluated.

Three new indole alkaloid derivatives from Fissistigma oldhamii Levl. and their anti-inflammatory effects.

Three new indole alkaloid derivatives, fissindoalkas A-C (1-3) together with one known biogenetically related polysubstituted indole alkaloid (4) were isolated from the roots of Fissistigma oldhamii (Hemsl.) Merr. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The inhibitory activities of compounds 1-4 against nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were evaluated in vitro using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent inhibitory activities on NO production with IC50 values of 2.52 ± 0.18 and 2.33 ± 0.16 µM. These results indicate that the discovery of indole alkaloid derivatives, from the roots of F. oldhamii, which show significant anti-inflammatory properties, could be of great importance to the research and for the development of novel natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Two new anthraquinone derivatives from Saprosma crassipes H. S. Lo.

Two new anthraquinone derivatives sapranquinones A and B (1 and 2) together with two known biogenetically related anthraquinone derivatives (3 and 4) were isolated from the stems of Saprosma crassipes H. S. Lo. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their antibacterial activities and compounds 1 and 3 had a broad spectrum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus albus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus tetragenus, and Micrococcus luteus with MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 5 µg/mL.

Rare isotachin-derived from the Dasymaschalon rostratum fungus Penicillium tanzanicum ZY-5.

Four rare isotachin-derived, isotachins E-H (1-4), together with two known biogenetically related isotachin derivatives (5 and 6) were isolated from the solid rice fermentation of a fungus Penicillium tanzanicum ZY-5 obtained from a medicinal plant Dasymaschalon rostratum collected from the Changjiang County, Hainan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of compound 5 was determined. Compounds 1-4 have a trans-3-(methylthio)-acrylic acid fragment, which are rare in nature. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in vitro were evaluated.

Two novel aporphine-derived alkaloids from the stems of Fissistigma glaucescens.

Two novel aporphine-derived alkaloids, aporaloids A and B (1 and 2), together with eight known biogenetically related alkaloids (3-10), two known isoquinoline alkaloids (3 and 4), and six known aporphinoid alkaloids (5-10) were isolated from the stems of Fissistigma glaucescens. Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the rare example of a six-membered lactone ring aporphine-derived alkaloids from natural products. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against four cancer cell lines were evaluated. Aporaloids A and B (1 and 2) showed broad spectrum cytotoxic activities.