A new sesquiterpene lactone from Artemisia rubripes nakai.

The chromatographic separation of a methylene chloride extract of Artemisia rubripes led to the isolation of a new sesquiterpene lactone (3), together with four known compounds, a coumarin (2) and three terpenes (1, 4, and 5). Their structures were characterized to be 1beta,6alpha-dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene (1), scopoletin (2), 1alpha,4beta-dihydroxy-8alpha-acetoxy-guaia-2,10(14), 11(13)-triene-6,12-olide (3), 1alpha,4beta-dihydroxy-8alpha-acetoxy-guaia-2,9,11(13)-triene-6,12-olide (4), and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glycoside (5) by spectroscopic means.

Phospholipids from Bombycis corpus and their neurotrophic effects.

Three phospholipids (4-6) and three aromatic amines (1-3) were obtained from the methanol extract of Bombycis corpus. Based on spectral data, their structures have been elucidated as nicotiamide (1), cytidine (2), adenine (3), 1-O-(9Z-octadecenoyl)-2-O-(8Z,11Z-octadecadienoyl) sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (4), 1,2-di-O-hexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (5) and 1,2-di-O-9Z-octadecenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (6). We examined the effects of compounds on synthesis of NGF in cultured astrocytes. By RT-PCR analysis, expresison of NGF mRNA in astrocytes cultured in serum-starvation increased after the addition of phospholipid (10 microM). The NGF content in the culture medium was significantly increased by compound 5, compared with the control value. These results suggest that three phospholipid compounds isolated from the methanol extract of Bombycis corpus may exert neurotrophic effects by stimulation of NGF synthesis in astrocytes.

Cerebrosides and terpene glycosides from the root of Aster scaber.

Three cerebrosides 2, 3, and 5 and two terpene glycosides 1 and 4 have been isolated from the methanol extract of the root of Aster scaber. Their structures were determined as 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-oleanolic acid methyl ester (1), (2S, 3S, 4R, 2'R, 8Z, 15'Z)-N-2'-hydroxy-15'-tetracosenoyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (2), (2S, 3S, 4R, 8Z)-N-octadecanoyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (3), 1alpha-hydroxy-6beta-O-beta-D-glucosyl-eudesm-3-ene (4), and (2S, 3S, 4R, 2'R, 8Z)-N-2'-hydroxy-hexadecanoyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (5) on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

Phytochemical constituents of Cirsium setidens Nakai and their cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines.

Five terpenes (1-5), three fatty acids (6-8), two sterols (9 and 11), and a monogalactosyldiacyl glycerol (10) were isolated from the methylene chloride extract of the aerial part of Cirsium setidens. Their chemical structures were determined to be alpha-tocopherol (1), 25-hydroperoxycycloart-23-en-3beta-ol (2), 24-hydroperoxycycloart-25-en-3beta-ol (3), mokko lactone (4), transphytol (5), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (6), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (7), hexadecanoic acid (8), acylglycosyl beta-sitosterol (9), (2R)-1,2-O-(9z,12z,15z-dioctadecatrienoyl)-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol (10) and beta-sitosterol glucoside (11) by spectral evidences. Compound 3 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines with its ED50 values ranging from 2.66 to 11.25 microM.