[Phenylpropanoids from Zanthoxylum species and their pharmacological activities: a review].

Phenylpropanoids are one of the major chemical constituents in Zanthoxylum species. They include simple phenylpropanoids, coumarins, and lignans and possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, insecticidal, and antifeedant activities. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Zanthoxylum plants in hopes of providing reference for the research and application of phenylpropanoids from this genus.

Novel triterpene saponins isolated from Clematis mandshurica and their inhibitory activities on NO production.

Four new triterpene saponins, mandshunosides F-I (1-4), together with five known compounds (5-9), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and hydrolysis products. Bisdesmosidic saponin (3-9) showed modest suppression of NO production with the inhibition ratios in the range of 51.3%- 64.6% at 50 µmol·L-1, whereas monodesmosidic saponins with a free carboxyl group at C-28 (1 and 2) showed potent inhibitory activities with IC50 values being 12.7 and 8.3 µmol·L-1, respectively.

Clemochinenosides C and D, two new macrocyclic glucosides from Clematis chinensis.

The EtOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis afforded two new macrocyclic glucosides clemochinenosides C (1) and D (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and hydrolysis products. These compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharides-induced TNF-α production in RAW 246.7 macrophages. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 12.9 ± 2.3 and 18.4 ± 2.7 µM, respectively. In addition, a proliferation study was used to evaluate the anti-angiogenic effects of these compounds in vitro (VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation). Compounds 1 and 2 displayed weak inhibitory effects with inhibition rates of 26.3 ± 1.8 and 19.2 ± 2.6% at 50 µM, respectively.

Lipoxygenase-inhibiting lignans from Clematis mandshurica.

The EtOH extract of the roots and rhizomes of Clematis mandshurica afforded two new lignans clemomanshurinane C (1) and clemomanshurinane D (2), and three known compounds (3-5). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and hydrolysis products. All compounds displayed moderate inhibitory activity against enzyme lipoxygenase.

Two new C-glucosyl flavonoids from Ziziphus jujube and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Two new C-glucosyl flavonoids 6''-O-feruloylspinosin and 6''-O-feruloyl-6'''-p-hydroxybenzoylspinosin, together with five known compounds, were isolated from the seeds of Ziziphus jujube (Rhamnaceae family). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences. Compounds 1-7 showed moderate inhibitory effects against COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes.

Monoterpene glycosides from Paeonia veitchii.

The EtOH extract of the roots of Paeonia veitchii afforded two new monoterpene glycosides paeonidanin I (1) and paeonidanin J (2), and a new dimeric monoterpene glycoside paeonidanin K (3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means and hydrolysis products.

[Research progress on alkaloids constituents from Zanthoxylum and their pharmacological activities].

There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.