Gene excavation and expression analysis of CYP and UGT related to the post modifying stage of gypenoside biosynthesis in Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino by comprehensive analysis of RNA and proteome sequencing.

Previous studies have revealed that gypenosides produced from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino are mainly dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins with diverse structures and important biological activities, but the mechanism of diversity for gypenoside biosynthesis is still unclear. In this study, a combination of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteome analysis and RNA sequencing transcriptome analysis was performed to identify the proteins and genes related to gypenoside biosynthesis. A total of 3925 proteins were identified by proteomic sequencing, of which 2537 were quantified. Seventeen cytochrome P450 (CYP) and 11 uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT) candidate genes involved in the side chain synthesis and modification of gypenosides were found. Seven putative CYPs (CYP71B19, CYP77A3, CYP86A7, CYP86A8, CYP89A2, CYP90A1, CYP94A1) and five putative UGTs (UGT73B4, UGT76B1, UGT74F2, UGT91C1 and UGT91A1) were selected as candidate structural modifiers of triterpenoid saponins, which were cloned for gene expression analysis. Comprehensive analysis of RNA sequencing and proteome sequencing showed that some CYPs and UGTs were found at both the transcription and translation levels. In this study, an expression analysis of 7 CYPs and 5 UGTs that contributed to gypenoside biosynthesis and distribution in G. pentaphyllum was performed, providing consistent results that will inspire more future research on vital genes/proteins involved in gypenoside biosynthesis.

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Anti-Inflammatory Components from the Bulbs of Lilium brownii var. viridulum and Identifying the Underlying Mechanism through Acting on the NF-κB/MAPKs Pathway.

The bulbs of Lilium brownii var. viridulum (LB) are commonly used as both traditional Chinese medicines and popular functional food for many centuries in China. Previous studies reported that the extract of lily bulbs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity both in vivo and in vitro, but its active components and associated molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, using bioassay-guided isolation method, two phenylpropenoid acylglycerols, 1-O-feruloyl-2-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (1) and 1,3-O-diferuloylglycerol (2), were obtained and identified from the chloroform fraction of LB. Both compounds 1 and 2 significantly decreased the production of nitrite oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 9.12 ± 0.72 µM and 12.01 ± 1.07 µM, respectively. They also inhibited the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and several other pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 downregulated the protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). They also inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway. Taken these data together, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities through acting on the NF-κB and MAPKs pathway. This research provides the first evidence on the major bioactive constituents and related molecular mechanisms of LB as an anti-inflammatory agent. Our findings also advanced the understanding of LB as a traditional herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of inflammation.

Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activity and Absolute Configurations of Arylalkenyl α,ß-Unsaturated δ/γ-Lactones from Cryptocarya concinna.

During an ongoing exploration of potential anti-inflammatory agents from medicinal plants, eight new arylalkenyl α,ß-unsaturated δ-lactones, cryptoconcatones A-H (1-8), and two unusual arylalkenyl α,ß-unsaturated γ-lactones, cryptoconcatones I and J (9 and 10), were identified from the leaves and twigs of Cryptocarya concinna. The structures of these compounds were established based on spectroscopic data (MS, 1D/2D NMR), and their absolute configurations were determined with Riguera's method, the modified Mosher's method, chemical derivatization, and the Snatzke chirality rule. Compounds 4-6 and 8-10 showed inhibitory activity toward nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, particularly compounds 4 and 8-10, with IC50 values of 3.2, 4.2, 3.4, and 7.5 µM, respectively.

Further C-15-acyl phragmalin derivatives from Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss.

Relying on characteristic double UV absorptions (210 and 270 nm), sixteen phragmalins with three types of enolic acyl substituents at C-15 were isolated directly from EtOH extracts of the seeds of Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss. Eight of these compounds possessed a C-15-acetyl phragmalin skeleton, and the basic carbon skeleton and absolute configuration of one of these was determined by NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis, while the structures of the other phragmalins were determined via NMR, HR-MS, and CD spectra. Additionally, all of the isolates were tested for inhibition against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages and cytotoxicity in SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and U2OS tumor cells.

Tirucallane-type triterpenoids from the fruit of Ficus carica and their cytotoxic activity.

Nine new tirucallane-type triterpenoids, ficutirucins A-I (1-9), were isolated from the fruit of Ficus carica. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical methods. All isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines, MCF-7, HepG-2, and U2OS. Compounds 1-3, 6, 7, and 9 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities with IC50 values of 11.67-45.61 µM against one or more of the three cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum attenuatum.

Six new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, attenuatumiones A-F (1-6), together with twelve known analogs (7-18) were isolated from the whole plant of Hypericum attenuatum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of C-13 in attenuatumione C (3) was deduced via the circular dichroism datum of the in situ formed [Rh2(OCOCF3)4] complexes. All isolates were evaluated for the cytotoxic activities on three human cancer cell lines. Compound 3 showed moderate cytotoxic activities with IC50 values of 10.12 and 10.56 µM against SMMC7721 and U2OS, respectively.

Cassane-type diterpenoids from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia bonduc.

Seven new cassane diterpenoids (1-7), along with three known compounds (8-10), were isolated from the seed kernels of Caesalpinia bonduc. The structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC and ROESY) and mass (HRESIMS) spectroscopic data analyses. The structure and absolute configuration of compound 1 were confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. All isolates were tested for their cytotoxicity against HepG-2, MCF-7 and MG-63 cells, and 8-10 showed weak inhibitory activities.