Isopimarane-type diterpenoids from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga L. and their biological activities.

Fourteen isopimarane diterpenoids (1-14) were isolated from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, including four new compounds (1-4). The isolated secondary metabolites were identified through analysis of spectroscopic (1 D and 2 D NMR) and mass spectrometric data, together with X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 4-5, 7-11, and 13 showed strong antimalarial activities, with IC50 values in the range of 1.46-3.99 µg/mL. Moreover, compounds 4, 5, 8, and 12 showed cytotoxicity against KB cell line with IC50 values in the range of 6.13-38.2 µg/mL, while compounds 4, 5, and 12 showed cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line with IC50 values in the range of 11.75-47.4 µg/mL. Eventually, the isolated compounds were screened against six bacterial strains and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, demonstrating weak to moderate activities.

Hypoxylonone, a new oxa-bridged seven-membered ring analog from fungus Hypoxylon cf. subgilvum SWUF15-004.

A new oxa-bridged seven-membered ring analog, hypoxylonone (1), and thirteen known compounds (2-14) were isolated from fungus Hypoxylon cf. subgilvum SWUF15-004. The structures were elucidated by the analysis of spectroscopic (IR, 1 D and 2 D NMR), HRESIMS and X-ray diffraction (MoKα) data. Several isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HeLa, HT29, MCF-7, A549). Compound 1 exhibited weak inhibitory effects of the nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 8 and 9 exhibited slight cytotoxicity.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Vapochromism and Vapoluminescence in Formaldehyde-Responsive Amino-Functionalized Copper(I) Polymorphic Coordination Polymers.

The use of vapor-responsive chromic materials in sensing applications for the detection of harmful volatile organic chemicals is rapidly expanding. Herein, four new amino-functionalized Cu(I) coordination polymers of [CuI(pyt-NH2)]n (1) and (2) and [CuSCN(pyt-NH2)]n (3) and (4) (where pyt-NH2 = 2-amino-5-(4-pyridinyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole) were successfully synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 1 and 2 are iodo-based polymorphs, while 3 and 4 are thiocyanato-based polymorphs. They possess densely diverse crystalline architectures decorated by uncoordinated amino groups as a binding site. Also, 1-4 show a variety of color and luminescence based on the structural diversity. Remarkably, 1 and 2 undergo the change of color and naked-eye solid-state luminescence in response to formaldehyde (FA) vapor, demonstrating simultaneous vapochromism and vapoluminescence. The chromic Cu(I) coordination polymers in this work present for the first time dual-mode vapochromism and vapoluminescence in a highly selective response to FA vapor. The responsive mechanism has been clarified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and luminescence lifetime measurements, which reveal carbinolamine formation via the specific reaction between FA and the active amino groups of coordinated pyt-NH2. The carbinolamine formation can trigger the structural transformation of 1 and 2, leading to the concurrently selective vapochromism and vapoluminescence induced by FA vapor.

Coexistence of Naked-Eye Mechanochromism, Vapochromism, and Thermochromism in a Soft Crystalline Layered Nickel(II) Coordination Polymer.

Chromic materials have the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including memory devices and sensors. Despite fact that stimuli-responsive chromic materials have been widely reported to date, fabricating chromic materials that can be responsive to multiple external stimuli remains a challenge. Herein, a new multistimuli responsive chromic coordination polymer of {[Ni(pzt)2(H2O)2](H2O)(DMF)}n (1); Hpzt = 5-(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol, was successfully synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that 1 exhibits a soft crystalline 3-dimenional (3D) supramolecular framework generated by weakly interlayered stacking interactions between 2D coordination polymers. Compound 1 revealed unprecedented naked-eye mechanochromism, vapochromism, and thermochromism in response to multiple external stimuli including manual grinding, amine and alcohol vapors, and heat, respectively. The chromism related to the structural feature was clarified by SC-XRD, PXRD, TGA, elemental analysis, and spectroscopic techniques.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of chemical constituents from fungus Biscogniauxia whalleyi SWUF13-085.

The fungus Biscogniauxia whalleyi SWUF13-085 from the Graphostomataceae family was studied for potential anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. A diverse array of natural products was identified. Six of which were undescribed compounds, including xylariterpenoids L-N, (1R,2S,6R,7S)-1,2-dihydroxy-α-bisabolol, 6-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-propenyl]-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one and (1R*,4S*,5S*,7S*,10R*)-guaia-11 (12)-en-7,10-diol. Several of the isolated compounds such as bergamotene, guaiane and phthalide derivatives showed activity in both the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells with IC50 values in the range of 2.48-10.82 µg/mL and anti-proliferation against HeLa cells with IC50 values in the range of 8.64-31.16 µg/mL. While compounds such as cerebrosides A and C only exhibited inhibitory effects on NO production with IC50 values in the range of 4.45-10.28 µg/mL.

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes containing N-(8-quinolyl)salicylaldimine Schiff base ligands.

A series of Fe(II) complexes (1-4) and Fe(III) complexes (5-8) from Fe(II)/(III) chloride and N-(8-quinolyl)-X-salicylaldimine Schiff base ligands (Hqsal-X2/X: X = Br, Cl) were successfully synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (FT-IR, 1H-NMR), mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and single crystal X-ray crystallographic techniques. The interaction of complexes 1-8 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was determined by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The complexes exhibited good DNA-binding activity via intercalation. The molecular docking between a selected complex and DNA was also investigated. The in vitro anticancer activity of the Schiff base ligands and their complexes were screened against the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. The complexes showed anticancer activity toward A549 cancer cells while the free ligands and iron chloride salts showed no inhibitory effects at 100 µM. In this series, complex [Fe(qsal-Cl2)2]Cl 6 showed the highest anticancer activity aginst A549 cells (IC50 = 10 µM). This is better than two well-known anticancer agents (Etoposide and Cisplatin). Furthermore, the possible mechanism for complexes 1-8 penetrating A549 cells through intracellular ROS generation was investigated. The complexes containing dihalogen substituents 1, 2, 5, and 6 can increase ROS in A549 cells, leading to DNA or macromolecular damage and cell-death induction.

Chemical constituents and cytotoxic activity from the wood-decaying fungus Xylaria sp. SWUF08-37.

A new cyclic pentapeptide, pentaminolarin (1), and a new cytochalasin, xylochalasin (2), along with thirteen known compounds (3-15) were isolated from the wood-decaying fungus Xylaria sp. SWUF08-37. The absolute configurations of 1 were determined by a combination of Marfey's method and TDDFT ECD calculation and the absolute configurations of 2 were established by TDDFT ECD calculation. Compound 12 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HeLa (IC50 = 19.60 µg/mL), HT29 (IC50 = 17.31 µg/mL), HCT116 (IC50 = 14.28 µg/mL), MCF-7 (IC50 = 15.38 µg/mL), and Vero (IC50 = 24.97 µg/mL) cell lines by MTT assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed slight cytotoxicity against all tested cancer cell lines.

New limonophyllines A-C from the stem of Atalantia monophylla and cytotoxicity against cholangiocarcinoma and HepG2 cell lines.

Three new limonoids, limonophyllines A-C (1, 4 and 5), along with two known limonoids (2 and 3) and 11 acridone alkaloids (6-16) were isolated from the stems of Atalantia monophylla. All isolates were evaluated against cholangiocarcinoma, KKU-M156, and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Compounds 12, 14 and 16 displayed cytotoxicity against KKU-M156 cell line with IC50 ranging from 3.39 to 4.1 µg/mL while cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line with IC50 ranging from 1.43 to 8.4 µg/mL. The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, IR and mass spectrometry.

Anion-dependent self-assembly of copper coordination polymers based on pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate and 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene.

By utilizing a pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (H3pzdc) and flexible 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (dpe) with various copper(ii) salts under the same solvothermal synthetic conditions, six novel coordination polymers, namely, {[Cu2(pzdc)(dpe)2]X}n (X = NO3- (1), ClO4- (2), BF4- (3), SCN- (4)), {[Cu(ii)4Cu(i)4(pzdc)4(dpe)6](H2O)4}2n (5), and {[Cu5(HPO4)2 (pzdc)2(dpe)3](H2O)5}n (6) were obtained. The structural diversity of compounds 1-6 depends on the starting Cu(ii) salts. Compounds 1-4 are isostructural and exhibit a 3D porous cationic pillar-layered coordination framework with lattice monoanions incorporated into the channels of the framework. When using copper(ii) sulfate as a reagent, a neutral mixed-valence Cu(i,ii) 2D + 2D → 2D parallel interpenetrated layer of 5 was obtained. In the case of a phosphate trianion, compound 6 shows a 3D coordination framework which contains µ4-HPO42- linking between Cu(ii) centers. The anion-exchange properties of 1-4 were studied. Interestingly, compounds 1-4 exhibit the irreversible chemisorption of the thiocyanate anion instead of anion exchange without the destruction of their structural framework as confirmed by PXRD, IR, UV-Vis, and AA spectroscopy. Moreover, the anion-induced structural transformation of 1-4 was observed when exchanging with an azide anion. The luminescent properties of 1-6 and exchanged products were also investigated.

Bioactive Lupane and Hopane Triterpenes from Lepisanthes senegalensis.

Two lupane and hopane caffeates (1 and 4) and two hopane coumarates (2 and 3) along with eight known compounds (5-12) were isolated from stems and roots of Lepisanthes senegalensis. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. The structure of compound 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Triterpenes 1 and 4-6 showed cytotoxicity against the NCI-H187 cell line with IC50 values of 31.5, 28.5, 16.2, and 4.0 µM, respectively. However, these compounds also showed cytotoxicity against Vero cells, with IC50 values of 75.5, 16.6, 8.9, and 5.0 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 6 exhibited a moderate antimalarial activity with an IC50 value of 4.5 µM.

A new lumazine peptide penilumamide E from the fungus Aspergillus terreus.

A new rare lumazine peptide, penilumamide E (1), together with 13 known compounds (2-14) were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus terreus. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic techniques. The relative configuration of 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 10 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 2.83 µg/mL. Compounds 4 and 6 showed weak cytotoxicity against cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell lines. In addition, 4 and 11 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cell line.

Structural diversity and magnetic properties in 1D and 2D azido-bridged cobalt(II) complexes with 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene.

By utilizing a flexible co-ligand 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene (2,2'-bpe), two new azido-bridged cobalt(II) complexes with the formulae [Co3(N3)6(OH2)2(2,2'-bpe)2](n)(2,2'-bpe)(n) (1) and [Co(N3)2(2,2'-bpe)2](n) (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 shows an uncommon 1D chain comprised of double EO azido bridged five- and six-coordinated Co(II) geometries in a unique (-5-5-6-)(n) sequence of the coordination number. The 2,2'-bpe acts as a terminal co-ligand and an uncoordinated molecule in the crystal lattice. Moreover the adjacent 1D chain is assembled by C-Hπ interactions and the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between uncoordinated 2,2'-bpe and coordinated water molecules building a 2D layer. Whereas, compound 2 is a 2D coordination network containing the alternating double EO and double EE bridging modes of azides and ditopic 2,2'-bpe bridges. The magnetic investigation of 1 reveals dominant intra-chain ferromagnetic interactions, with the double EO azide-bridge and weak inter-chain antiferromagnetic interactions, with overall metamagnetic behaviour, having magnetic ordering at 6 K. The magnetic behaviour of 2 shows spin-canted antiferromagnetism below a T(N) of 12 K.