Secoheliosphanes A and B and Secoheliospholane A, Three Diterpenoids with Unusual seco-Jatrophane and seco-Jatropholane Skeletons from Euphorbia helioscopia.

Secoheliosphanes A (1) and B (2) and secoheliospholane A (3), possessing an unusual 7,8-seco-jatrophane skeleton and an unprecedented 9,10-seco-7,10-epoxyjatropholane skeleton, respectively, were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia, along with two biogenetically precursors, a new jatrophane diterpene, 2-epi-euphornin I (4) and a known jatrophane diterpene, euphoscopin A (5). Structures of 1-4 including absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallography, and chemical conversion. Compounds 1 and 2 were prepared from 4 and 5, respectively, confirming their structural assignments. Notably, 1 and 2 presented the first examples of seco-jatrophane-type diterpenoids and 3 featured a novel 5/6/7/7-fused tetracyclic ring skeleton. Among them, compound 2 showed modest activity against HSV-1 with IC50 value of 6.41 µM.

Protostane Triterpenoids from the Rhizome of Alisma orientale Exhibit Inhibitory Effects on Human Carboxylesterase 2.

Twelve new and 10 known protostane triterpenoids were isolated from the rhizome of Alisma orientale. Their structures were elucidated based on physical data analyses, including UV, HRESIMS, NMR experiments ((1)H, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and induced electronic circular dichroism. New compounds 1-12 were classified as protostanes (1-10), 29-norprotostane (11), and 24-norprotostane (12) by structure analyses. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects on human carboxylesterases (hCE-1, hCE-2) of compounds 1-22 were evaluated. Compounds 2, 6, 9, and 11 showed moderate inhibitory activities and were selective toward hCE-2 enzymes, with IC50 values of 8.68, 4.72, 4.58, and 2.02 µM, respectively. The inhibition kinetics of compound 11 toward hCE-2 were established, and the Ki value was determined as 1.76 µM using a mixed inhibition model. The interaction of bioactive compound 11 with hCE-2 was shown using molecular docking.

Phenolic constituents from the roots of Phyllodium pulchellum.

Three new phenolic constituents 1-3 were obtained from the 95% ethanol extract of the roots of Phyllodium pulchellum (Leguminosae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, such as NMR, UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and CD. Furthermore, in an in vitro bioassay, all compounds were tested for inhibitory effects against the proliferation of acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, and compound 3 exhibited potent inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 7.6 µM.

Heliojatrones A and B, Two Jatrophane-Derived Diterpenoids with a 5/10 Fused-Ring Skeleton from Euphorbia helioscopia: Structural Elucidation and Biomimetic Conversion.

Heliojatrones A and B (1 and 2), two jatrophane-derived diterpenoids with an unprecedented trans-bicyclo[8.3.0]tridecane core, were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures and absolute configurations were unequivocally determined by a combination of spectroscopic data, electronic circular dichroism calculations, biomimetic conversion, and X-ray diffraction analyses. Their plausible biosynthetic pathways were also proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 were biomimetically synthesized from 3 and 4 through a photochemical rearrangement reaction of ß,γ-unsaturated ketone, respectively. Compound 2 showed significant P-glycoprotein inhibitory activity compared with the positive control (cyclosporine A).

Heliosterpenoids A and B, two Novel Jatrophane-Derived Diterpenoids with a 5/6/4/6 Ring System from Euphorbia helioscopia.

Heliosterpenoids A and B (1 and 2), two unprecedented jatrophane-derived diterpenoid esters with a novel 5/6/4/6-fused tetracyclic ring skeleton, were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. The plausible biogenetic pathways of 1 and 2 were postulated. 1 and 2 were found to be potent inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and 1 also exhibited cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cell lines.

Bioactive metabolites of Schisanlactone E transformed by Cunninghamella blakesleana AS 3.970.

Schisanlactone E (SE) is a major triterpene obtained from the plants of genus Kadsura. The aim of this research was to investigate the transformed metabolites of SE by fungi and evaluate the bioactivities of these products. After screening 10 strains of filamentous fungi, Cunninghamella blakesleana AS 3.970 was chosen as a potent organism to be used for the biotransformation of SE. 13 metabolites were obtained and determined to be new compounds through the use of spectroscopic data, including UV, 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HR-ESIMS. Furthermore, in an in vitro bioassay, metabolites 7 and 9 showed moderate inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide production in LPS-induced macrophages with IC50 values of 16.73, 5.91 µM, respectively; 9 could inhibit the proliferation of acetaldehyde-induced HSC-T6 cells, with the IC50 value of 21.4 µM. Preliminary findings on the structure-activity relationships for these metabolites were also discussed.