Nitidumpeptins A and B, Cyclohexapeptides Isolated from Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum: Structural Elucidation, Total Synthesis, and Antiproliferative Activity in Cancer Cells.

Nitidumpeptins A and B (1 and 2), two novel cyclic hexapeptides, were isolated from the herb Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum. Their planar structures were elucidated based on NMR and MS spectrometric analysis, and the absolute configurations were determined by the Marfey's method. Structurally, 1 is a unique peptide with a backbone bearing a pyrrolidine-2,5-dione unit, which is the first occurrence moiety specifically in a naturally occurring cyclohexapeptide. The total synthesis of 1 and 2 was achieved by solution-phase in parallel with solid-phase peptide synthesis, and their absolute configurations were further confirmed. The combination of 2 with gefitinib exhibited synergistic antiproliferative activity in acquired gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (HCC827-gef). The underlying mechanism for the antiproliferative activity of 2 was in part associated with the suppression of YAP expression in HCC827-gef cells.

Glechomanamides A-C, Germacrane Sesquiterpenoids with an Unusual Δ8-7,12-Lactam Moiety from Salvia scapiformis and Their Antiangiogenic Activity.

Three new germacrane sesquiterpenoid-type alkaloids with an unusual Δ8-7,12-lactam moiety, glechomanamides A-C (1-3), and two pairs of 7,12-hemiketal sesquiterpenoid epimers (4a/b, 5a/b) were isolated from Salvia scapiformis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS, IR, UV, and 1D and 2D NMR and also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The chemical transformation of compounds 1-5 in a solution environment was analyzed by 2D NMR spectroscopy. The aza acetallactams (1-3) were stable in organic solvent, while single crystals of the hemiacetal esters (4a/b, 5a/b) underwent a tautomeric equilibrium after being dissolved. Single crystals of 4a, 4b, and 5a were obtained for the first time as their naturally occurring forms. Glechomanamide B (2) exhibited antiangiogenic activity by suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation through modulation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-mediated signaling pathways in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, compound 2 also showed the significant suppression of mRNA expression associated with glycolysis and angiogenesis biomarkers in high glucose (30 mM)-induced HUVECs. These findings suggest that compound 2 might be a potential lead compound candidate for the management of diabetic retinopathy.

Undescribed isoquinolines from Zanthoxylum nitidum and their antiproliferative effects against human cancer cell lines.

Eleven previously undescribed alkaloids, including three pairs of enantiomers nitidumalkaloids A-C, a pair of scalemic mixtures nitidumalkaloid D and three optically pure or achiral alkaloids, nitidumalkaloids E-G, along with 20 known alkaloids, were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the whole Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC plant. The chemical structures of the alkaloids were elucidated using a combination of comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution electro-spray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) analyses. The configuration of the stereogenic centers of all undescribed compounds was precisely established based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Racemic mixtures of nitidumalkaloids A-D were purified, and their enantiomers were analyzed via chiral-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection measurements (HPLC-ECD). Twelve compounds exhibited significant antiproliferative activities against a panel of cancer cell lines. Further studies were designed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of (1'S, 6R)-nitidumalkaloid B, which was the most active antiproliferative agent against human cancer A549 cells. G2/M cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and suppression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway were in part associated with the antiproliferative activity of (1'S, 6R)-nitidumalkaloid B. Moreover, (1'S, 6R)-nitidumalkaloid B inhibited cell migration by downregulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in A549 cells. These data suggest that the antiproliferation activity of (1'S, 6R)-nitidumalkaloid B was correlated with the stereoselectivity of the stereoisomers, and (1'S, 6R)-nitidumalkaloid B was prioritized as a potential leading compound for the management of aggressive human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from natural products.

The neurotrophic and antineuroinflammatory effects of phenylpropanoids from Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum (Rutaceae).

Three novel lignans (1, 5 and 6) and two novel quinic acids (16 and 17) along with 15 known phenylpropanoids were obtained from the ethanol extract of Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum (Rutaceae). Their structures were confirmed by comprehensive spectroscopic data (NMR and HRESIMS), and the absolute configurations of all novel compounds were elucidated based on electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic data. The production of nitric oxide (NO) in BV-2 microglial cells induced through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to evaluate in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory activity of compounds 1-20. Compound 2, 3, 7 and 16 showed excellent inhibition of LPS-induced NO production. The structure-activity relationships of the isolates were investigated. In addition, the mechanism of action of 2 was elucidated by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis, which indicated that it reduced neuroinflammatory mainly through NLRP3/caspase1 signaling pathways in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells.