Research progress on chemical structures and pharmacological effects of natural cytisine and its derivatives / 中国中药杂志

Cytisine derivatives are a group of alkaloids containing the structural core of cytisine, which are mainly distributed in Fabaceae plants with a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as resisting inflammation, tumors, and viruses, and affecting the central nervous system. At present, a total of 193 natural cytisine and its derivatives have been reported, all of which are derived from L-lysine. In this study, natural cytisine derivatives were classified into eight types, namely cytisine type, sparteine type, albine type, angustifoline type, camoensidine type, cytisine-like type, tsukushinamine type, and lupanacosmine type. This study reviewed the research progress on the structures, plant sources, biosynthesis, and pharmacological activities of alkaloids of various types.

Research advances on chemical constituents from Calycanthaceae plants and their pharmacological activities / 中国中药杂志

Calycanthaceae family comprises of four genera including Chimonanthus, Sinocalycanthus, Calycanthus, and Idiospermum. The plants of Calycanthaceae are popular ornamental shrubs and used as foods and medicines, which are mainly distributed in China, North America, and Australia. The plants of Calycanthaceae are rich in volatile components, alkaloids, sesquiterpenes and coumarins. Dimeric piperidinoquinoline and dimeric pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids, dimeric and/or trimeric coumarins are characteristic compositions in these plants. In order to provide timely reference for further investigation and development of Calycanthaceae plants, we made a systemic review on chemical constituents, i.e. alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, and steroids, from Calycanthaceae plants, focusing on their chemical structures and pharmacological activities.