Two Novel Quassinoid Glycosides with Antiviral Activity from the Samara of Ailanthus altissima.

Phytochemistry investigations on Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, a Simaroubaceae plant that is recognized as a traditional herbal medicine, have afforded various natural products, among which C20 quassinoid is the most attractive for their significant and diverse pharmacological and biological activities. Our continuous study has led to the isolation of two novel quassinoid glycosides, named chuglycosides J and K, together with fourteen known lignans from the samara of A. altissima. The new structures were elucidated based on comprehensive spectra data analysis. All of the compounds were evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus activity, among which chuglycosides J and K exhibited inhibitory effects against the virus multiplication with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 56.21 ± 1.86 and 137.74 ± 3.57 µM, respectively.

Two new compounds from the fruit of Ailanthus altissima.

A new phenolic derivative, 4-hydroxyphenol-1-O-[6-O-(E)-feruloyl-ß-d-glucopyranosyl]-(1→6)-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1), and a new terpenylated coumarin, named altissimacoumarin H (2) were identified from the fruit of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), together with ten known compounds (3-12), including two coumarins and eight phenylpropanoids. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical method and spectroscopic data. Antiviral effect against Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) of all the compounds obtained were evaluated using leaf-disc method.

Anti-Tobacco Mosaic Virus Quassinoids from Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle.

Quassinoids are bitter constituents characteristic of the family Simaroubaceae. A total of 18 C20 quassinoids, including nine new quassinoid glycosides, named chuglycosides A-I (1-6 and 8-10), were identified from the samara of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. All of the quassinoids showed potent anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activity. A preliminary structure-anti-TMV activity relationship of quassinoids was discussed. The effects of three quassinoids, including chaparrinone (12), glaucarubinone (15), and ailanthone (16), on the accumulation of TMV coat protein (CP) were studied by western blot analysis. Ailanthone (16) was further investigated for its influence on TMV spread in the Nicotiana benthamiana plant.

Phenylpropionamides, Piperidine, and Phenolic Derivatives from the Fruit of Ailanthus altissima.

Four novel compounds-two phenylpropionamides, one piperidine, and one phenolic derivatives-were isolated and identified from the fruit of a medicinal plant, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), together with one known phenylpropionamide, 13 known phenols, and 10 flavonoids. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 2-hydroxy-N-[(2-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl)phenyl]propionamide (1), 2-hydroxy-N-[(2-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl)phenyl]propionamide (2), 2ß-carboxyl-piperidine-4ß-acetic acid methyl ester (4), and 4-hydroxyphenyl-1-O-[6-(hydrogen-3-hydroxy-3-methylpentanedioate)]-ß-d-glucopyranoside (5) based on spectroscopic analysis. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) using the leaf-disc method. Among the compounds isolated, arbutin (6), ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-arbutin (7), 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid (10), and corilagin (18) showed moderate inhibition against TMV with IC50 values of 0.49, 0.51, 0.27, and 0.45 mM, respectively.

Shallow groundwater surrounding the Likeng landfill, Guangzhou, China - major ions and elements indicating the contamination sources.

An investigation of groundwater contamination around the Likeng landfill, Guangzhou, was carried out. Major ions and elements of 34 groundwater samples were measured, and the Piper trilinear diagram and expanded Durov diagram were used to analyze the chemical types and hydro-geochemical processes of the groundwater. End Member Mixing Analysis was used to find the types and sources of pollutants. The results show that the hydro-geochemical process was mainly mixing and ion exchange; the shallow groundwater around the Likeng landfill was contaminated mainly by both anthropogenic/agricultural sources and leachate pollution. There are different types of major ions, hydro-chemical processes and distributions for the two pollution sources.

Triptolide inhibits TGF-ß1 induced proliferation and migration of rat airway smooth muscle cells by suppressing NF-κB but not ERK1/2.

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling contributes to increased mortality in asthma. We have reported that triptolide can inhibit airway remodeling in a mouse asthma model. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of triptolide on airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) proliferation, migration and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Rat airway smooth muscle cells were cultured and made synchronized, then pretreated with different concentrations of triptolide before stimulated by TGF-ß1. Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting and MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to study the influence of triptolide on cell cycle. Migration was measured by Transwell analysis. Signal proteins (NF-κB p65 and ERK1/2) were detected by western blotting analysis. LDH releasing test and flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis were also performed to explore the potential cytotoxic or pro-apoptotic effects of triptolide. RESULTS: Triptolide significantly inhibited TGF-ß1 induced ASMC proliferation and migration (p<0.05). The cell cycle was blocked at G1/S-interphase by triptolide dose dependently. Western blotting analysis showed TGF-ß1 induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation was inhibited by triptolide pretreatment, but ERK1/2 was not affected. No cytotoxic or pro-apoptotic effects were detected under the concentration of triptolide we used. CONCLUSIONS: Triptolide may function as an inhibitor of asthma airway remodeling by suppressing ASMCs proliferation and migration through inactivation of NF-κB pathway. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.