ent-Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Chinese Liverwort Chiloscyphus polyanthus var. rivularis.

Seven new ent-eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-7) and six known analogues (8-13) were isolated from the Chinese liverwort Chiloscyphus polyanthus var. rivularis. Their structures were determined from analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A cytotoxic evaluation showed that compound 1 exhibited weak inhibitory activity against the A549 cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 27.7 µM.

Polyacetylated labdane-type diterpenoids, ptychantins P-R from Chinese liverwort Ptychanthus striatus.

Three new polyacetylated labdane diterpenoids ptychantins P-R (1-3) and four known compounds (4-7) were isolated from an EtOH extract of the Chinese liverwort Ptychanthus striatus (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Nees. Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data (IR, UV, HRESIMS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR).

Scapaundulin C, a novel labdane diterpenoid isolated from Chinese liverwort Scapania undulate, inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity.

In the present study, scapaundulin C (1), a new labdane diterpenoid, and four related known compounds scapaundulin A (2), 5α, 8α, 9α-trihydroxy-13E-labden-12-one (3), 5α, 8α-dihydroxy-13E-labden-12-one (4), and (13S)-15-hydroxylabd-8 (17)-en-19-oic acid (5), were isolated from the Chinese liverwort Scapania undulate (L.) Dum., using column chromatography. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory activity was evaluated using a bioautographic TLC assay and the cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the MTT method. All the compounds were reported for the first time to exhibit moderate AchE inhibitory activity with minimal inhibitory quantities ranging from 250 to 500 ng. All the compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines, A549, K562, A2780, Hela, and HT29, and compounds 3 and 4 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on the growth of A2780 cells.

Oligosaccharides composition in eight food legumes species as detected by high-resolution mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: As probiotics, soy oligosaccharides have become popular as healthy foods to reduce disease risk. However, comprehensive information about oligosaccharides in different food legumes is limited. RESULTS: In this study, eight oligosaccharides were well detected and quantified in different varieties of eight legume species using high-resolution mass spectrometry. It was determined that species could be distinguished by total content of oligosaccharides and their distribution modes. Among the studied species, Vigna unguiculata is a better resource of non-digestible oligosaccharides, while Vicia faba and black soybean (Glycine max) are at a disadvantage. Normally, stachyose predominates in non-digestible oligosaccharides, except in mung bean and broad bean, where verbascose predominates. For mung bean and green soybean, the seed coat should be taken into account for oligosaccharide consumption. The developed high-resolution mass spectrometry method greatly simplified the sample preparation process and permitted the identification of oligosaccharides without reference compounds. CONCLUSION: This work involved extensive sample collecting and provided useful information for consumers. The developed method may be useful for rapid quantification of oligosaccharides in related foods.

Steroids from Commiphora mukul display antiproliferative effect against human prostate cancer PC3 cells via induction of apoptosis.

Two new stigmastane-type steroids, stigmasta-5,22E-diene-3ß,11α-diol (1) and stigmasta-5,22E-diene-3ß,7α,11α-triol (2), together with eight known compounds, were isolated from the resinous exudates of Commiphora mukul. Their structures were established by extensive analysis of their HR-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) spectra. The isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against four human cancer cell lines. Compound 2 demonstrated inhibitory effects with IC(50) values of 5.21, 9.04, 10.94 and 16.56 µM, respectively, against K562, MCF-7, PC3 and DU145 human cancer cell lines. Further study showed that 2 was able to enforce the PC3 cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and induce the apoptosis of PC3 cells by activation of Bax, caspases 3 and 9, and by inhibition of Bcl-2. It was also found that 1 inhibited proliferation of PC3 cells via G0/G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle.

Determination of atropisomeric configurations of macrocyclic bisbibenzyls by HPLC-CD/UV and quantum chemical calculations.

Isoriccardin C (1) and riccardin D (2), isolated from the liverwort Reboulia hemisphaerica, were first characterized to be a mixture of two enantiomeric atropisomers by online chiral high-performance liquid chromatography-circular dichroism (HPLC-CD) analysis. Exemplarily for bisbibenzyls of the diarylether-biphenyl type, the absolute atropisomeric configurations of compunds 1 and 2 were determined by the analysis of their CD data coupled with quantum chemical CD calculations.

Synthesis of 4/5-deoxy-4/5-nucleobase derivatives of 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol as potential antiviral agents.

Using D-pinitol (= 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) as starting material, a concise synthesis of 4/5-deoxy-4/5-nucleobase derivatives 11-19 has been achieved. The key intermediate 9 was obtained in good yield via an epoxidation from mono-methanesulfonate of D-pinitol. The process of opening of the epoxide ring in 9 by nucleobases appeared to be regioselective in presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU). All the synthesized carbocyclic nucleosides were assayed against several viruses and tumors such as HIV-1, HSV-1, and HSV-2, and lung and bladder cancer. However, only compounds 14b, 14a, 16a, 16b, and 19 showed mild inhibitory effect against human lung cancer cell lines (PG) with IC50 values ranging from 50 to 100 microM, and the other compounds did not exhibit any significant antiviral activity or cytotoxicity even at concentrations up to 200 microM.

Terpenoids and bisbibenzyls from Chinese liverworts Conocephalum conicum and Dumortiera hirsuta.

Four new monoterpene esters, 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxybornane-2-cinnamate (1), 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxybornane-5-acetyl-2-cinnamate (2), 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxybornane-2-p-hydroxycinnamate (3) and 2alpha,5beta-dihydroxy-bornane-2-cis-p-hydroxycinnamate (4), together with a known compound 3,4-dimethoxystyrene (5) were isolated from Chinese liverwort Conocephalum conicum and six known compounds, 5,7-dihydroxycalamenene (6), 7-hydroxycalamenene (7), lunularin (8), riccardin C (9), marchantin C (10) and riccardin D (11) were isolated from Dumortiera hirsuta. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analysis and chemical correlations. Compounds 1 and 8 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human HepG2 cells with IC50 4.5 microg/ml and 7.4 microg/ml, respectively, while compound 8 also showed antimicrobacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration at 64 microg/ml.

Absolute configuration determination of angular dihydrocoumarins from Peucedanum praeruptorum.

From Peucedanum praeruptorum, one new khellactone ester (3'R)-O-acetyl-(4'S)-O-angeloylkhellactone (3), as well as four known angular dihydropyranocoumarins (1, 2, 4, 5) have been isolated. On the basis of NMR spectra and X-ray crystallography, their structures were determined. We have elucidated their absolute configuration by either chiral separation of their alkaline hydrolysis products with Rp-18 HPLC eluted with 5% hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (beta-HCD) or by measurement of their CD spectra. A general rule relating the position and absolute streochemistry of the khellactone esters to the sign of their Cotton effects in CD curves is proposed.

[Isolation and structure identification of grape seed polyphenols and its effects on oxidative damage to cellular DNA].

AIM: To isolate polyphenols from grape seeds and to evaluate their antioxidant effects. METHODS: Pure compounds were isolated by using Diaion HP20, Toyopearl HW40 chromatography repeatedly, as well as semi-preparative RP-HPLC, from ethyl acetate extract of grape seeds. IR, MS, NMR, CD, X-Ray crystal diffraction spectral analysis were used to identify the structures. The antioxidant effects of different type of structures were screened by reducing power and DPPH (alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging tests. Then, SCGE (single cell gel-electrophoresis) technique was used to investigate the effects of these potent antioxidant phytochemicals on cellular DNA oxidative damage with mice spleen cells, damage was induced by H2O2. RESULTS: Eleven compounds were obtained including 3 novel structures, viniferones A, B and C. Proanthocyanidin B4, catecin, epicatechin and gallic acid showed strong antioxidant power, and at lower concentration (10 micromol x L(-1), 25 micromol x L(-1)), they can prevent cellular DNA damage, while 150 micromol x L(-1) catechin induced damage by itself. CONCLUSION: Viniferones A, B and C were reported for the first time. That polyphenols investigated were shown to be good cellular DNA oxidative damage-preventing phytochemicals at lower concentration, could be used to explain the nutrient effect of grape seed polyphenols at certain degree. At the same time, higher concentration of polyphenols can induce oxidative damage, suggesting that dose is one factor to determine the nutrient effects.