Two new chemical constituents from the leaves of Illicium dunnianum.

One new phenolic glycoside (1) and one new benzofuran derivative (2) were isolated from the leaves of Illicium dunnianum. The structures of these compounds were established by using comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, including the 1D and 2D NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS, electronic circular dichroism and comparison with literature data. All isolates were evaluated for the inhibition against the production of NO by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Eight new phenolic acids from the leaves of Illicium dunnianum and their osteoprotective activities.

Eight previously unreported phenolic acids (1-8), including three new phenylpropenoid glycosides (1-3), and five undescribed shikimic acid derivatives (4-8), together with six known analogues (9-14), were obtained from the dried leaves of Illicium dunnianum. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D, 2D-NMR, HRESIMS, IR, UV) and chemical methods. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were tested for their promotion effect on osteoblastogenesis of pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis of RANKL-induced RAW264.7 cells. As a result, 1 and 4 exerted a promotion effect on osteoblastogenesis, but without activity on osteoclastogenesis. Our studies not only enrich the structural diversity of phenolic acids in nature, but also discover new lead compounds from folk plants with activities on osteoblastogenesis or osteoclastogenesis.

Two new chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Actaea dahurica.

A new phenylpropanoid allopyranoside (1) and a new indolinone alkaloid (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Actaea dahurica (syn. Cimicifuga dahurica). The structures of those two compounds were deduced as cimicifugaside F (1) and 3E,11E-(3-methyl-2-butenylidene acid)-2-indolinone-1-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2) by detailed analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D NMR data and comparison with literatures. Additionally, the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the production of NO by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Illiciumlignans G-O from the leaves of Illicium dunnianum and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Phytochemical investigations on the dry leaves of Illicium dunnianum have led to the isolation of 24 lignans. Illiciumlignans G-K (1-5) were five undescribed benzofuran lignans, illiciumlignan L (6) was one undescribed ditetrahydrofuran lignan, illiciumlignans M-O (7-9) were three new sesquilignans, and compounds 10, 12, 13, 15, and 18-21 were firstly isolated from the genus Illicium. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR) and CD experiments. All isolates were evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on PGE2, and NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.