Macathioureas A-D, four new thiourea analogues from the roots of Lepidium meyenii.

Macathioureas A-D (1-4), four new thiourea derivatives with a carbamothioylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide framework, were isolated from the roots of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) collected from Qujing, Yunnan Province of China. Their structures were identified based on extensive spectroscopic data, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS techniques. Their absolute configurations were assigned as 7S by the comparison of the experimental and predicted electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. All the thiourea analogues were tested for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines. However, no significant activities were detected at concentrations up to 40 µM.

New ent-Kaurane and cleistanthane diterpenoids with potential cytotoxicity from Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels.

Six diterpenoids including three ent-kauranes (1-2, 4) and three cleistanthanes (3, 5-6) were isolated from the roots and stems of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels. Of them, (16S)-ent-16,17,18-tri-hydroxy-19-nor-kaur-4-en-3-one (1), phyllanthone A (2), and 6-hydroxycleistanthol (3) are new compounds, while the ent-kaurane diterpenoids were reported from the titled plant for the first time. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 2 and 4-6 displayed cytotoxic potential with IC50 values ranging from 1.96 to 29.15 µM. They also showed moderate anti-inflammatory activities (IC50 = 6.30-12.05 µM). Particularly, the new ent-kaurane 2 displayed cytotoxic potential against HL-60 (IC50 = 2.00 µM) and MCF-7 (IC50 = 3.55 µM) cells, and anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 6.47 µM).

The identification and isolation of anti-inflammatory ingredients of ethno medicine Breynia fruticosa.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Breynia fruticosa is a folk medicine in China, traditionally used to treat gastroenteritis, sore throat, eczema and arthritis. However, the bioactive ingredients are unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify and isolate the anti-inflammatory ingredients of B. fruticosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B. fruticosa extracts were fractioned by Amberchrom CG161M and Toyopearl HW40C resins. Acetic acid-induced capillary permeability mice model was used to evaluate the anti-inflammation activities of fractions. The anti-inflammatory ingredients were identified by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). On-line two dimensional liquid chromatography system was constructed to remove the tannins and enrich the breynins. The breynins were purified by preparative HPLC and evaluated for their anti-arthritis activities using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis rats model. RESULTS: The anti-inflammatory ingredients of B. fruticosa are sulfur containing sesquiterpenoids (breynins). The on-line two dimensional preparative liquid chromatography system can effectively remove the tannins and enrich the bioactive ingredients in large scale within 1 h. Four major breynins were purified, and their structures were elucidated by analysis of MS and NMR data. Breynins can significantly prevent the rats' arthritis deterioration, with inhibition ratio 50% at dose 0.2 mg kg-1, comparable with that of indomethacin at dose 2 mg kg-1. CONCLUSION: The breynins have strong anti-arthritis activities, which is responsible to the anti-inflammatory effects of B. fruticosa. However, breynins are also toxic components of B. fruticosa.

Phyllaciduloids A-D: Four new cleistanthane diterpenoids from Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels.

Four new cleistanthane diterpenoids, phyllaciduloids A-D (1-4), were isolated from the roots and stems of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels (Phyllanthaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Phyllaciduloids B-D (2-4) present in their structures with ether bond between C-7 and C-16, which were rarely reported. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines.

New cytotoxic lignan glycosides from Phyllanthus glaucus.

During the process of exploring bioactive lead compounds from Phyllanthus species, two new glycosides including an arylnaphthalene lignan, diphyllin 4-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1), and a phenolic compound, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol 7-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole plants of Phyllanthus glaucus Wall. ex Müll. Arg. In addition, 31 known compounds, including 19 lignan derivatives (3-21), four phenylpropanoids (22-25), seven simple phenolics (26-32) and one monoterpenoid (33) were obtained. Their structures were determined on the basis of the HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, and pre-column derivative/chiral HPLC analysis in case of 1 for the absolute configurations. All these compounds were obtained from P. glaucus for the first time. Moreover, the known lignan glycoside, phyllanthusmin C (5) showed in vitro cytotoxicities against HL-60, MCF-7 and SW480 cells with IC50 values of 9.2 ± 0.2, 19.2 ± 1.7 and 20.5 ± 0.9, respectively.

Triterpenoids with Promoting Effects on the Differentiation of PC12 Cells from the Steamed Roots of Panax notoginseng.

The roots of Panax notoginseng, an important Chinese medicinal plant, have been used traditionally in both the raw and processed forms, due to the different chemical constituents and bioactivities found. Thirty-eight dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the steam-processed roots of P. notoginseng, including 18 new substances, namely, notoginsenosides SP1-SP18 (1-18). The structures of 1-18 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and acidic hydrolysis. The absolute configuration of the hydroxy group at C-24 in 1-4, 19, and 20 was determined in each case by Mo2(AcO)4-induced circular dichroism. The new compounds were found to feature a diversity of highly oxygenated side chains, formed by hydrolysis of the C-20 sugar moiety followed by dehydration, dehydrogenation, epoxidation, hydroxylation, or methoxylation of the main saponins in the raw roots. The new saponins 1, 2, 6-8, 14, and 17 and the known compounds 20-27 showed promoting effects on the differentiation of PC12 cells, at a concentration of 10 µM.

Anti-viral and cytotoxic norbisabolane sesquiterpenoid glycosides from Phyllanthus emblica and their absolute configurations.

In an effort to identify anti-viral and cytotoxic compounds from Phyllanthus spp., 14 highly oxygenated norbisabolane sesquiterpenoids, phyllaemblicins H1-H14, were isolated from the roots of Phyllanthus emblica Linn, along with phyllaemblicins B and C and glochicoccinoside D. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Determination of absolute configurations of these compounds was facilitated by theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) for the aglycone components, and pre-column derivative/chiral HPLC analysis for the monosaccharides. The known glochicoccinoside D displayed potent activity against influenza A virus strain H3N2 and hand, foot and mouth virus EV71, with IC50 values of 4.5±0.6 and 2.6±0.7 µg/ml, respectively. Phyllaemblicin H1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines A-549 and SMMC-7721, with IC50 values of 4.7±0.7 and 9.9±1.3 µM, respectively.

Minor dehydrogenated and cleavaged dammarane-type saponins from the steamed roots of Panax notoginseng.

Nine new minor dehydrogenated and cleavaged dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, namely notoginsenosides ST6-ST14 (1-9) were isolated from the steamed roots of Panax notoginseng, together with 14 known ones. Among them, 5-7 and 21-22 were protopanaxadiol type and the left 18 compounds, including 1-4, 8-20, and 23 were protopanaxatriol type saponins. Their structures were identified by extensive analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and acidic hydrolysis. Resulted from the side chain cleavage, the new saponins 1 and 2 featured in a ketone group at C-25, and 3-5 had an aldehyde unit at C-23. The known saponins 12, 16 and 18 displayed the enhancing potential of neurite outgrowth of NGF-mediated PC12 cells at a concentration of 10 µM, while 20 exhibited acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity, with IC50 value of 13.97 µM.

Anti-hepatitis B virus activities and absolute configurations of sesquiterpenoid glycosides from Phyllanthus emblica.

During the process exploring anti-viral compounds from Phyllanthus species, eight new highly oxygenated bisabolane sesquiterpenoid glycoside phyllaemblicins G1­G8 (1­8) were isolated from Phyllanthus emblica, along with three known compounds, phyllaemblicin F (9), phyllaemblic acid (10) and glochicoccin D (11). Phyllaemblicin G2 (2), bearing a tricyclo [3.1.1.1] oxygen bridge ring system, is an unusual sesquiterpenoid glycoside, while phyllaemblicins G6­G8 (6­8) are dimeric sesquiterpenoid glycosides with two norbisabolane units connecting through a disaccharide. All the structures were elucidated by the extensive analysis of HRMS and NMR data. The relative configuration of phyllaemblicin G2 was constructed based on heteronuclear coupling constants measurement, and the absolute configurations for all new compounds were established by calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) using time dependent density functional theory. The sesquiterpenoid glycoside dimers 6­9 displayed potential anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities, especially for the new compound 6 with IC50 of 8.53 ± 0.97 and 5.68 ± 1.75 µM towards the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV excreted antigen (HBeAg) secretion, respectively.

Cytotoxic bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Stephania epigaea.

Six new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (1-6) and seven known compounds (8-14) were isolated from the tubers of Stephania epigaea, in addition to the major alkaloid, cepharanthine (7). The structures of 1-6 were elucidated by combined spectroscopic data analysis and chemical methods, with their configurations determined from their optical rotation values and confirmed using circular dichroism. Compounds 1-6 belong to the oxyacanthine type of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids and have a rare methylenedioxy substituent. Compound 1, a dimer composed of benzylisoquinoline and seco-aristolactam units, represents a new type of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, while compounds 3-6 are bisbenzylisoquinoline N-oxides. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities against six human cancer cell lines (A-549, ECA109, HL-60, MCF-7, SMMC-7721, and SW480). Cepharanthine (7), the major component of S. epigaea, exhibited cytotoxicity against all of these cancer cell lines except ECA109, while its known analogue, 10, displayed cytotoxicity against all six cancer cell lines.