[Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of small molecule compounds in scorpions].

Scorpions, a group of oldest animals with wide distribution in the world, have a long history of medicinal use. Scorpio, the dried body of Buthus martensii, is a rare animal medicine mainly used for the treatment of liver diseases, spasm, and convulsions in children in China. The venom has been considered as the active substance of scorpions. However, little is known about the small molecules in the venom of scorpions. According to the articles published in recent years, scorpions contain amino acids, fatty acids, steroids, and alkaloids, which endow scorpions with antimicrobial, anticoagulant, metabolism-regulating, and antitumor activities. This paper summarizes the small molecule chemical components and pharmacological activities of scorpions, with a view to providing valuable information for the discovery of new active molecules and the clinical use of scorpions.

Identification and characterization of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) as a functional target of marine natural product grincamycin B.

Grincamycins (GCNs) are a class of angucycline glycosides isolated from actinomycete Streptomyces strains that have potent antitumor activities, but their antitumor mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we tried to identify the cellular target of grincamycin B (GCN B), one of most dominant and active secondary metabolites, using a combined strategy. We showed that GCN B-selective-induced apoptosis of human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 through increase of ER stress and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Using a strategy of combining phenotype, transcriptomics and protein microarray approaches, we identified that isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1) was the putative target of GCN B, and confirmed that GCNs were a subset of selective inhibitors targeting both wild-type and mutant IDH1 in vitro. It is well-known that IDH1 converts isocitrate to 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG), maintaining intracellular 2-OG homeostasis. IDH1 and its mutant as the target of GCN B were validated in NB4 cells and zebrafish model. Knockdown of IDH1 in NB4 cells caused the similar phenotype as GCN B treatment, and supplementation of N-acetylcysteine partially rescued the apoptosis caused by IDH1 interference in NB4 cells. In zebrafish model, GCN B effectively restored myeloid abnormality caused by overexpression of mutant IDH1(R132C). Taken together, we demonstrate that IDH1 is one of the antitumor targets of GCNs, suggesting wild-type IDH1 may be a potential target for hematological malignancies intervention in the future.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in herbs of Hemistepta lyrata].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Hemistepta lyrata. METHOD: The constituents of the EtOAc-soluble portions of the 95% ethanol extract were isolated and purified by means of chromatography. Compounds were identified by their physical characteristics and spectral features. RESULT: Five compounds were isolated and identified as caffeic acid (1), tracheloside (2), uracil (3), 8-carboxymethyl-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (4), and 3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (5). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-5 were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Isolation and structure determination of cypritibetquinone A and B, two new phenanthraquinones from Cypripedium tibeticum.

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Cypripedium tibeticum. METHODS: Compounds were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography and purified on Sephadex LH-20 and structures were determined by spectral analysis. RESULTS: Cypritibetquinones A and B were isolated from the ethyl acetate residue and their structures were determined as 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-1 4-phenanthraquinone (1) and 7-hydroxy-2, 10-dimethoxy-l1 4-phenanthraquinone (2), respectively, by extensive spectral analyses. CONCLUSION: Cypritibetquinones A and B are two new phenanthraquinones.

Beesiosides G, H, and J-N, seven new cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Beesia calthifolia.

Seven new cycloartane glycosides (1-7), beesiosides G, H, and J-N, together with beesioside I (8) and beesioside A, were isolated from the rhizomes of Beesia calthifolia, and their structures were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Beesiosides G, H, and J-N were assigned as 20xi(1),24xi(2)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,16beta,18,25-tetraol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 20xi(1),24xi(2)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,16beta,18,25-tetraol-3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (20S,24R)-15alpha,16beta-diacetoxy-20,24-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,18,25-triol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (3), (20S,24S)-16beta-acetoxy-18,24;20,24-diepoxy-9,19-cyclanostane-3beta,15beta,25-triol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), (20S,24S)-16beta-acetoxy-18,24;20,24-diepoxy-9,19-cyclanostane-3beta,25-diol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (5), 20xi(1),24xi(2)-epoxy-15alpha-acetoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,16beta,25-triol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (6), and 20xi(1),24xi(2)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,12alpha,15alpha,16beta,25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (7), respectively.

Beesiosides A-F, six new cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Beesia calthaefolia.

Six new cycloartane triterpene glycosides (1-6), beesiosides A-F, were isolated from whole plants of Beesia calthaefolia, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR experiments and chemical methods. Beesiosides A-F were assigned as (20S,24R)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,16beta,18,25-tetraol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (1), (20S,24R)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,12beta,16beta,18,25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (2), (20S,24R)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,12alpha,16beta,18,25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (3), (20S,24R)-16beta-acetoxy-20,24-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,12alpha,18,25-tetraol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), (20S,24R)-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,15alpha,16beta,18,25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (5), and (20S,24R)-16beta-acetoxy-20,24-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3beta,12beta,25-triol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (6), respectively.

[Structures and pharmacological activities of beesiosides O and P].

AIM: To investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Beesia calthaefolia native to China in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of its effective components. METHODS: Compounds were isolated by column chromatography with silica gel. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and chemical evidence. Compounds identified were subjected to pharmacological evaluation. RESULTS: Two novel compounds were isolated and identified as (20S, 24S)-15 alpha-acetoxy-16 beta, 24; 20, 24-diepoxy-9, 19-cyclolanostane-3 beta, 25-diol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (I) and (20S, 24R)-15 alpha-acetoxy-9, 19-cyclolanostane-3 beta, 16 beta, 20, 24, 25-pentaol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (II), named beesioside O and beesioside P. CONCLUSION: Compounds I and II are new compounds. Compounds I exhibited immunosuppressive activity and could inhibit angiogenesis as well as inhibit the proliferation of osteoblast. Compound II displayed remarkable inhibition activity against calcium channel receptor.