Dengratiols A-D, four new bibenzyl derivatives from Dendrobium gratiossimum.

Dengratiol A (1), an unprecedented bibenzyl derivative bearing a tropolone unit together with three pairs of bibenzyl enantiomers (±)-dengratiols B-D [(±)-2-(±)-4], were isolated from Dendrobium gratiossimum Rchb.f. The resolution of enantiomers was performed with chiral HPLC. Their structures were characterized by extensive spectroscopic data analysis and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). A hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1 is proposed. Biological assay revealed that (-)-2 showed moderate antiviral effect against IAV with IC50 value of 6.3 µM, and (±)-2 displayed cytotoxic activities against five human tumor cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 15.5 to 42.5 µM.

Dendrobine-type alkaloids and bibenzyl derivatives from Dendrobium findlayanum.

Five previously undescribed compounds, including two dendrobine-type alkaloids (1 and 2), three bibenzyl derivatives (3-5), along with six known compounds were isolated from orchids Dendrobium findlayanum. The structures and absolute configurations of the undescribed compounds were elucidated on the basis of HR-ESIMS, NMR spectroscopy, optical rotation value, as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The cytotoxic effects of the isolated compounds on three human tumour cell lines (A172, SHSY5Y, and Hela) were evaluated by the MTT assay. Compound 6 showed excellent inhibitory activities against three human tumour cell lines with IC50 ranging from 1.65 µM to 3.77 µM. All these compounds were assessed for their activity of promoting the gastrointestinal motility of zebrafish treated with Nile red. Compound 6 have excellent activity to promote the gastrointestinal motility of zebrafish at the concentration of 0.3 µM.

Isolation, synthesis, and biological activities of a bibenzyl from Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum.

4-(2-Hydroxyphenethyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol, a bibenzyl, was isolated from the leaves of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum, collected from Mount Tateyama. Japanese rock ptarmigans frequently eat the leaves and fruits of this plant. The structure of the bibenzyl was confirmed by NMR spectroscopic analysis and fully characterized. A synthesis of this compound was accomplished by coupling 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid with syringaldehyde, decarboxylation of the resultant isoaurones, and hydrogenation of the double bond in the corresponding stilbene. This compound displayed cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells (HCT116 and Hela cells) and leukemia cells (HL-60 cells). The present study suggests that this plant serves as a source of biologically active natural products. Also, our findings provide information on the secondary metabolites in the diet of Japanese rock ptarmigans.

Anti-inflammatory bibenzyls from the stems of Dendrobium huoshanense via bioassay guided isolation.

The stems of Dendrobium huoshanense have long been used to prevent various diseases, including inflammatory diseases. This study was aimed to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of D. huoshanense stems in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and to discover potential anti-inflammatory compounds. Results exhibited that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract could significantly inhibit LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α and IL-1ß. Based on bioassay guided strategy, four bibenzyls (1-4) were isolated from D. huoshanense stems for the first time. Anti-inflammatory assay showed 1-4 could remarkably inhibit the production of NO in LPS-induced macrophages. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR analysis displayed that the mRNA levels of iNOs, TNF-α and IL-1ß could also be significantly reduced by 1-4. These results suggested that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract and bibenzyls 1-4 might be well developed as therapeutic agent to prevent inflammatory diseases.

New bisbibenzyl and phenanthrene derivatives from Dendrobium scabrilingue and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Dendrobium scabrilingue resulted in the isolation of two new compounds namely dendroscabrols A (1) and B (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10). The structures of these compounds were determined by NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments. All of the isolates were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. Dendroscabrol B (2) and RF-3192C (10) showed the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Dendroscabrol A (1), gigantol (5), coelonin (7) and lusianthridin (9) also exhibited strong activity as compared with the positive control acarbose.

Antibacterial stilbenes from the tubers of Bletilla striata.

Three new bibenzyl derivatives (bletstrins A-C, 1-3), including two bibenzyls that have hydroxyl-substituted chiral centers on the aliphatic bibenzyl bridge, along with eighteen known stilbenoids (4-21) were isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by the use of 1D/2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of bletitrins A and B were determined by optical rotation value. Compounds 13-16 were isolated from the Orchidaceae for the first time. Most of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against three gram-positive bacterial strains and one gram-negative bacterial strain. Compounds 4, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 showed potent inhibitory activities, with MICs of (6-52 µg/mL) against S. aureus ATCC 6538.

Atropisomeric bi(9,10-dihydro)phenanthrene and phenanthrene/bibenzyl dimers with cytotoxic activity from the pseudobulbs of Pleione bulbocodioides.

Bulbocodioidins E-H (1-4), four pairs of undescribed racemic bi(9,10-dihydro)phenanthrene and phenanthrene/bibenzyl atropisomers, along with four known compounds (5-8) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the pseudobulbs of Pleione bulbocodioides. Their structures were established by HRESIMS and comprehensive NMR spectroscopic data analysis. Their absolute configurations were elucidated by comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD (electronic circular dichroism) curves. Furthermore, compound 4a displayed cytotoxic activity against colon cancer (HCT-116), liver cancer (HepG2), and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines with IC50 values of 7.6, 3.8 and 3.4 µM, respectively. Compound 6 showed cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) with IC50 value of 5.4 µM.

Erianin, a novel dibenzyl compound in Dendrobium extract, inhibits bladder cancer cell growth via the mitochondrial apoptosis and JNK pathways.

Erianin, a component extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Dendrobium, has shown significant anti-tumour activity in various cancers but not in bladder cancer. In this study, we assessed the effects of Erianin on bladder cancer growth and elucidated the related mechanisms. First, Erianin was synthesized with high yields, and markedly suppressed EJ and T24 cell proliferation. It induced G2/M-phase arrest in vitro. Furthermore, Erianin triggered apoptosis via caspase cascades activation and the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. Bim up-regulation and Bcl-2 down-regulation as the symbol of apoptosis which were found to play the dominant role in the effects of Erianin. We further showed that JNK pathway activation is necessary for the Erianin-mediated anti-proliferation and apoptotic response. Finally, Erianin exhibited anti-tumour activity and induced apoptosis in tumour tissue in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest that Erianin induced cell cycle G2/M-phase arrest and apoptosis via the JNK signalling pathway in bladder cancer, indicating the potential usefulness of Erianin for the therapy of bladder cancer.

Poly p-hydroxybenzyl substituted bibenzyls and phenanthrenes from Bletilla ochracea Schltr with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity.

Ten previously undescribed stilbenoids, including six bibenzyls (bleochrins A-F, 1-6), three phenanthrenes derivatives (bleochrins G-J, 7-10) along with eleven known compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of Bletilla ochracea Schltr. The structural characterizations of 1-21 were accomplished by spectroscopic data, while the absolute stereostructure of 6 was confirmed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analyses. All isolated metabolites except 7 were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480). Four isolates exhibited significant inhibitory ability against HL-60, SMMC-7721, and MCF-7 cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 0.79 to 6.57 µM. The isolates were tested further for inhibitory effects on the NO production of the liposaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and showed activity with IC50 values at 15.29-24.02 µM.

Stilbenes with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity from the rhizomes of Bletilla ochracea Schltr.

Four new dihydrophenanthrenofuran, bleochranols A-D (1-4), along with 21 known compounds including phenanthrenes (5-14) and bibenzyls (15-25) were isolated and elucidated from the rhizomes of Bletilla ochracea. Combination of 1D/2D NMR techniques and the Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy based on the empirical helicity rules, chemical structure of those isolates were determined. All the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 human cancer cell lines by MTS assay and anti-inflammatory activity by nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Among the 25 tested compounds, bleochranol A (1) showed remarkable cytotoxic activity against HL-60, A-549, and MCF-7 with IC50 values of 0.24 ±â€¯0.03, 3.51 ±â€¯0.09 and 3.30 ±â€¯0.99 µM respectively. The anti-inflammatory assay showed that compound 12 exhibited most potential activity against NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 2.86 ±â€¯0.17 µM. The results indicated that the main chemical constituents of B. ochracea were phenanthrene and bibenzyl and similar to that of B. striata.

Bi- and bisbibenzyls from the roots of Dichapetalum heudelotii and their antiproliferative activities.

Two new bisbibenzyls, heudelotol A (1) and B (2), along with the known bibenzyls, (E)-combretastatin A-1 (3) and combretastatin B-1 (4) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Dichapetalum heudelotii. Structure elucidation of all four isolated compounds was achieved using UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-Mass Spectrometry. The compounds exhibited varying antiproliferative activity against six cancer cell lines using the CellTiter-Glo® Luminiscent Cell Viability Assay. Compound 3 was found to be the most active with sub-micromolar growth inhibition concentrations against all the cell lines (GI50 0.03-0.72µM). However, it was about ten-fold less active than the positive control, taxol. The new bisbibenzyls heudelotol A and B exhibited good activity against human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (GI50 9.04µM) and Burkitt's lymphoma (GI50 4.67µM) respectively, and average activity against the other cancer cell lines.

Development of combretastatins as potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

The combretastatins are isolated from South African tree combretum caffrum kuntze. The lead compound combretastatin A-4 has displayed remarkable cytotoxic effect in a wide variety of preclinical tumor models and inhibits tubulin polymerization by interacting at colchicine binding site of microtubule. However, the structural simplicity of C A-4 is favorable for synthesis of various derivatives projected to induce rapid and selective vascular shutdown in tumors. Majority of the molecules have shown excellent antiproliferative activity and are able to inhibit tubulin polymerization as well as possible mechanisms of action have been investigated. In this review article, the synthesis and structure-activity relationships of C A-4 and immense number of its synthetic derivatives with various modifications on the A, B-rings, bridge carbons and their anti mitotic activities are discussed.

Gigantol from Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. binds and inhibits aldose reductase gene to exert its anti-cataract activity: An in vitro mechanistic study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dendrobium. chrysotoxum Lindl is a commonly used species of medicinal Dendrobium which belongs to the family of Orchidaceae, locally known as "Shihu" or "Huangcao". D. chrysotoxum Lindl is widely known for medicinal values in traditional Chinese medicine as it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic induction, antitumor and antioxidant properties. STUDY AIM: To characterize the interaction between gigantol extracted from D. chrysotoxum Lindl and the AR gene, and determine gigantol's efficacy against cataractogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) were induced by glucose as the model group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess AR gene expression. Then, the mode of interaction of gigantol with the AR gene was evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The binding constant was determined by UV-visible. RESULTS: Gigantol depressed AR gene expression in HLECs. UV-visible spectra preliminarily indicated that interaction between the AR gene and gigantol may follow the groove mode, with a binding constant of 1.85×103L/mol. Atomic force microscope (AFM) data indicated that gigantol possibly bound to insert AR gene base pairs of the double helix. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies further supported these observations. CONCLUSION: Gigantol extracted from D. chrysotoxum Lindl not only has inhibitory effects on aldose reductase, but also inhibits AR gene expression. These findings provide a more comprehensive theoretical basis for the use of Dendrobium for the treatment of diabetic cataract.

Bioactive Phenanthrene and Bibenzyl Derivatives from the Stems of Dendrobium nobile.

A new enantiomeric pair of spirodiketones, (+)- and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2), three new phenanthrene derivatives (3-5), and three new biphenanthrenes (22-24), along with 11 known phenanthrene derivatives (6-16), five known bibenzyl derivatives (17-21), and four known biphenanthrenes (25-28), were isolated from Dendrobium nobile. The structures of 1-5 and 22-24 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. (+)-Denobilone and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2) were isolated as a pair of enantiomers by chiral HPLC. The absolute configurations of (+)- and (-)-denobilone A (1 and 2) were determined by comparing their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. The absolute configuration of denobilone B (3) was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against nine phytopathogenic fungi and three cancer cell lines were evaluated.

A new flavone C-glycoside and a new bibenzyl from Bulbophyllum retusiusculum.

A new flavone C-glycoside, apigenin 6-C-α-arabinofuranosyl 8-C-α-arabinopyranoside (1) and a new bibenzyl, bulbotetusine (2), were isolated from the tubers of Bulbophyllum retusiusculum. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by the comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no obvious cytotoxic activity against any five human tumour cell lines with IC50 values >40 µM.

A new 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene from Dendrobium moniliforme.

A new 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene,1,5-dihydroxy-3,4,7-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (1) was isolated and identified from the whole plants of Dendrobium moniliforme, as well as 24 known compounds including hircinol (2), (2R*,3S*)-3-hydroxymethyl-9-methoxy-2-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-phenanthro[4,3-b]furan-5,11-diol (3), diospyrosin (4), aloifol I (5), moscatilin (6), 3,4'-dihydroxy-3',4,5-trimethoxybibenzyl (7), gigantol (8), 3,3'-dihydroxy-4,5-dimethoxybibenzyl (9), longicornuol A (10), N-trans-cinnamoyltyramine (11), paprazine (12), N-trans-feruloyl 3'-O-methyldopamine (13), moupinamide (14), dihydroconiferyl dihydro-p-coumarate (15), dihydrosinapyl dihydro-p-coumarate (16), 3-isopropyl-5-acetoxycyclohexene-2-one-1 (17), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (18), vanillin (19), p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (20), vanillic acid (21), protocatechuic acid (22), (+)-syringaresinol (23), ß-sitosterol (24) and daucosterol (25). Compounds 3, 4, 13, 16, 17 and 20 were isolated from the Dendrobium genus for the first time, and compounds 2, 5, 7, 9-12, 14, 15, 18, 21 and 22 were originally obtained from D. moniliforme.

Bis-bibenzyls from the Cameroon Liverwort Marchantia debilis.

Liverworts are rich sources of terpenoids and aromatic compounds among which bis-bibenzyls are well known for their wide spectrum of biological activities. This is the first report of chemical analysis of the African liverwort Marchantia debilis Goebel. From the methanol extract marchantinquinone-l'-methyl ether was newly isolated together with three known bis-bibenzyls, marchantin C, marchantinquinone and perrottetin E. The presence of bis-bibenzyls with a quinone moiety is noted for the first time in the Marchantia genus.

Anti-osmotic and antioxidant activities of gigantol from Dendrobium aurantiacum var. denneanum against cataractogenesis in galactosemic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dendrobium aurantiacum var. denneanumis widespread in southern China, locally known as "Shihu", "Huangcao" or "Fengdou", has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for antipyretic, immunomodulatory, anti-aging effects and eye benefiting. AIM OF THIS STUDY: To investigate the effects of gigantol extracted from the stem of D. aurantiacum var. denneanum on the formation of galactose-induced cataractogenesis and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cataract lens models were induced by d-galactose both in vitro and in vivo. The transparency of the rat lenses in vitro and in vivo was observed with an anatomical microscope and a slit lamp microscope. The differential protein and action targets of gigantol were determined and compared among the control group, model group, and gigantol group using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS). Enzyme kinetics was used to show the ability of gigantol to respress aldose reductase (AR) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). was used to detect repression of the expression of AR and iNOS genes. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation were used to predict the interaction points and combination patterns between gigantol, AR, and iNOS. RESULTS: Gigantol was found to prevent galactose-induced damage to the rat lenses both in vitro and in vivo, to delay lens turbidity, and to keep the lenses transparent. Differential proteomes, MS, and RT-qPCR showed AR and iNOS to be the target proteins of gigantol. Gigantol reduced the galactose-induced AR and iNOS mRNA expression by 51.2% and 60.9%, respectively. The IC50 of gigantol for inhibition of AR and iNOS activities were 65.67 µg/mL and 8.768 µg/mL, respectively. Gigantol-AR binding sites were Trp111, His110, Tyr48, and Trp20, and gigantol-iNOS binding sites were Ile195 and Gln257. The main forms of interaction were hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces. CONCLUSION: Gigantol extracted from D. aurantiacum var. denneanum was found to inhibit galactose-induced formation of cataracts through repression of the gene expression and activity of AR and iNOS.

Nitrogen-containing bibenzyls from Pleione bulbocodioides: absolute configurations and biological activities.

Four new pyrrolidone substituted bibenzyls, dusuanlansins A-D (1-4) were isolated from the pseudo bulbs of Pleione bulbocodioides, along with 19 known compounds (5-23). Compounds 1-4 are two pairs of epimers of pyrrolidone substituted bibenzyls, which were separated successfully by a Chiralcel OD-RH C18 column. Their absolute configurations were elucidated by calculated ECD. Biological investigations showed that compounds 5 and 7 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activities on LPS-stimulated NO production in BV-2 microglial cells, with IC50 values of 2.46 and 3.14µM, respectively.

Dendrofalconerol A sensitizes anoikis and inhibits migration in lung cancer cells.

Resistance to anoikis, enhanced cell motility, and growth in anchorage-independent conditions are hallmarks of highly metastatic cancer cells. The present study demonstrates the anoikis-sensitizing and anti-migration activities of dendrofalconerol A (DF-A), a pure bis(bibenzyl) isolated from the stem of Dendrobium falconeri (Orchidaceae), and its underlying mechanisms in human lung cancer H460 cells. DF-A at non-toxic concentrations significantly increased the anoikis response of the cancer cells, but caused no toxic effect on normal keratinocytes. In addition, DF-A significantly inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells in anchorage-independent conditions. Western blot analysis revealed that the anoikis-sensitizing effect of such a compound involves its ability to suppress survival signals as well as anti-apoptotic proteins, namely, activated protein kinase B (Akt) and Bcl-2. Furthermore, DF-A decreased caveolin-1 (Cav-1), a protein responsible for aggressiveness, while having no effect on Bax, Mcl-1, and activated Erk (p42/44) proteins. In the case of cell motility, DF-A exhibited strong anti-migration activity with the mechanism involving suppression of pFAK and Rho-GTP, but had no effect on Rac-GTP in lung cancer cells. Taken together, DF-A possesses anoikis-sensitizing activity along with anti-migration effects, and may be developed as a novel active compound for cancer treatment.