Two new baccharane triterpenes isolated from Rhus chinensis.

Two new baccharane triterpenes, 17,24-epoxy-23-en-baccharan-3-one (1) and 17,24(S)-epoxy-25-en-21-hydroxy-baccharan-3-one (2) were isolated from Rhus chinensis Mill. The structures were established on the basis of UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Four sesquiterpenes isolated from Taraxacum mongolicum.

One new sesquiterpene, (6S,7R,11S)-13-carboxy-1(10)-en-dihydroartemisinic acid (1), together with three known sesquiterpenes, ainsliaea acid B (2), mongolicumin B (3), and 11ß,13-dihydroxydeacetylmatricarin (4) were isolated from Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. The structures were established on the basis of UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, ECD spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 was found to have potential anti-inflammatory activity and could reduce LPS-induced NO levels in murine macrophage, with inhibitory rate of 37%.

Theoretical Insights into the Selective Separation of Am(III)/Eu(III) Using Hydrophilic Triazolyl-Based Ligands.

Designing ligands with efficient actinide (An(III))/lanthanide (Ln(III)) separation performance is still one of the key issues for the disposal of accumulated radioactive waste and the recovery of minor actinides. Recently, the hydrophilic ligands as promising extractants in the innovative Selective ActiNide Extraction (i-SANEX) process show excellent selectivity for Am(III) over Eu(III), such as hydroxylated-based ligands. In this work, we investigated the selective back-extraction toward Am(III) over Eu(III) with three hydrophilic hydroxylated triazolyl-based ligands (the skeleton of pyridine La, bipyridine Lb, and phenanthroline Lc) using scalar-relativistic density functional theory. The properties of three hydrophilic hydroxylated ligands and the coordination structures, bonding nature, and thermodynamic properties of the Am(III) and Eu(III) complexes with three ligands have been evaluated using multiple theoretical methods. The results of molecular orbitals (MOs), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIMs), and natural bond orbital (NBO) reveal that Am-N bonds possess more covalent character compared to Eu-N bonds. The thermodynamic results indicate that the complexing ability of Lb and Lc with metal ions is almost the same, which is stronger than that of La. However, La has the best Am(III)/Eu(III) selectivity among three ligands, which is attributed to the largest difference in covalency between Am-Ntrzl and Eu-Ntrzl bonds in MLa(NO3)3. This work provides an in-depth understanding of the preferential selectivity of the hydrophilic hydroxylated ligands with An(III) over Ln(III) and also provides theoretical support for designing potential hydrophilic ligands with excellent separation performance of Am(III)/Eu(III).

Two new sesquiterpene dimers isolated from the roots of Saussurea lappa (Yunmuxiang).

Two new sesquiterpene dimers, lappadimers A and B, were isolated from the roots of Saussurea lappa (Yunmuxiang). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods. They were found to have potential anti-inflammatory activity at 10 µM and could reduce LPS-induced NO levels in murine macrophage, with inhibitory rates of 67% and 47%, respectively.

Theoretical Insights into the Separation of Am(III)/Eu(III) by Hydrophilic Sulfonated Ligands.

In this work, we focused on the separation of Am(III)/Eu(III) with four hydrophilic sulfonated ligands (L) based on the framework of phenanthroline and bipyridine through scalar relativistic density functional theory. We studied the electronic structures of [ML(NO3)3] (M = Am, Eu) complexes and the bonding nature between metal and ligands as well as evaluated the separation selectivity of Am(III)/Eu(III). The tetrasulfonated ligand L2 with a bipyridine framework has the strongest complexing ability for metal ions probably because of the better solubility and flexible skeleton. The disulfonated ligand L1 has the highest Am(III)/Eu(III) selectivity, which is attributed to the covalent difference between the Am-N and Eu-N bonds based on the quantum theory of atoms in the molecule analysis. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the four hydrophilic sulfonated ligands are more selective toward Am(III) over Eu(III). In addition, these hydrophilic sulfonated ligands show better complexing ability and Am(III)/Eu(III) selectivity compared to the corresponding hydrophobic nonsulfonated ones. This work provides theoretical support for the separation of Am(III)/Eu(III) using hydrophilic sulfonated ligands.

A Non-Invasive Scoring System to Differential Diagnosis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) From Renal Angiomyolipoma Without Visible Fat (RAML-wvf) Based on CT Features.

BACKGROUND: Renal angiomyolipoma without visible fat (RAML-wvf) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have many overlapping features on imaging, which poses a challenge to radiologists. This study aimed to create a scoring system to distinguish ccRCC from RAML-wvf using computed tomography imaging. METHODS: A total of 202 patients from 2011 to 2019 that were confirmed by pathology with ccRCC (n=123) or RAML (n=79) were retrospectively analyzed by dividing them randomly into a training cohort (n=142) and a validation cohort (n=60). A model was established using logistic regression and weighted to be a scoring system. ROC, AUC, cut-off point, and calibration analyses were performed. The scoring system was divided into three ranges for convenience in clinical evaluations, and the diagnostic probability of ccRCC was calculated. RESULTS: Four independent risk factors are included in the system: 1) presence of a pseudocapsule, 2) a heterogeneous tumor parenchyma in pre-enhancement scanning, 3) a non-high CT attenuation in pre-enhancement scanning, and 4) a heterogeneous enhancement in CMP. The prediction accuracy had an ROC of 0.978 (95% CI, 0.956-0.999; P=0.011), similar to the primary model (ROC, 0.977; 95% CI, 0.954-1.000; P=0.012). A sensitivity of 91.4% and a specificity of 93.9% were achieved using 4.5 points as the cutoff value. Validation showed a good result (ROC, 0.922; 95% CI, 0.854-0.991, P=0.035). The number of patients with ccRCC in the three ranges (0 to <2 points; 2-4 points; >4 to ≤11 points) significantly increased with increasing scores. CONCLUSION: This scoring system is convenient for distinguishing between ccRCC and RAML-wvf using four computed tomography features.

[Advances in studies on structure and pharmacological activities of natural tirucallane-type triterpenoids].

The tirucallane-type triterpenoids, composed of six isoprene units, belong to a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids. Although the naturally-derived tirucallane-type triterpenoids were found in a small amount, the kind of compounds showed various structures, which consist of apo-type, linear said-chain-type and cyclolike said-chain-type and broad bioactivities, such as cytotoxicity, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and anti-plasmin, etc. This paper summarized origins, structures and bioactivities of tirucallane-type triterpenoids in recent ten years. The future research and exploration of tirucallane-type triterpenoids were discussed and prospected.

Potential suppressive functions of microRNA-504 in cervical cancer cells malignant process were achieved by targeting PAICS and regulating EMT.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-504 in cervical cancer. METHODS: Normal and cervical cancer tissue specimens derived from TCGA and GTEx databases were employed to analyze the miR-504 and PAICS (one of potential target gene of miR-504) expression. Kaplan-Meier strategy was applied to analyze the prognostic powers of miR-504 and PAICS. The proliferation, clonogenic ability, invasion, and migration of cervical cancer cells (C-33A and HeLa) were detected using Cell Counting Kit 8, colony formation, and transwell assays. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between miR-504 and PAICS, which was confirmed using luciferase reporter assay. The mRNA and protein levels were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. RESULTS: TCGA data revealed that miR-504 expression might be decreased in cervical cancer, which was correlated with unfavorable prognosis. Further experiments exhibited that abnormal miR-504 expression negatively affected malignant cellular behaviors in cervical cancer, including proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration. PAICS was identified as a putative target of miR-504, and negatively related with miR-504 expression. PAICS expression was increased in cervical cancer and its high-regulation-induced worse outcomes of patients with cervical cancer. Rescue experiments indicated that PAICS restricted the impacts of miR-504 in cervical cancer cells. Analysis of western blot suggested that overexpression of PAICS overturned the miR-504-induced EMT inactivation. CONCLUSION: Our observations elucidated that miR-504, acting as a suppressor for the progression of cervical cancer, inhibits cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and mediates EMT via negatively regulating PAICS.

Ganoderic acid A protects neural cells against NO stress injury in vitro via stimulating ß adrenergic receptors.

Excessive nitric oxide (NO) causes extensive damage to the nervous system, and the adrenergic system is disordered in many neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the role of the adrenergic system in protection of the nervous system against sodium nitroprusside (SNP) injury remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of ganoderic acid A (GA A) against SNP injury in neural cells and the role of adrenergic receptors in GA A neuroprotection. We found that SNP (0.125-2 mM) dose-dependently decreased the viability of both SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells and markedly increased NO contents. Pretreatment with GA A (10 µM) significantly attenuated SNP-induced cytotoxicity and NO increase in SH-SY5Y cells, but not in PC12 cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with GA A caused significantly higher adrenaline content in SH-SY5Y cells than in PC12 cells. In order to elucidate the mechanism of GA A-protecting SH-SY5Y cells, we added adrenaline, phentolamine, metoprolol, or ICI 118551 1 h before GA A was added to the culture medium. We found that addition of adrenaline (10 µM) significantly improved GA A protection in PC12 cells. The addition of ß1-adrenergic receptor antagonist metoprolol (10 µM) or ß2-adrenergic receptor antagonist ICI 118551 (0.1 µM) blocked the protective effect of GA A, whereas the addition of α-adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine (0.1 µM) did not affect GA A protection in SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggest that ß-adrenergic receptors play an important role in the protection of GA A in SH-SY5Y cells against SNP injuries, and excessive adrenaline system activation caused great damage to the nervous system.

[Constituents isolated from n-butanol extract of leaves of Moringa oleifera].

Seventeen compounds were isolated from n-butanol extract of the leaves of Moringa oleifera, using column chromatography over macroporous resin HP-20,Sephadex LH-20, and ODS. Their structures were identified as two carboline,tangutorid E(1) and tangutorid F(2); three phenolic glycosides,niazirin(3)，benzaldehyde 4-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside(4) and 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranosidebenzoic acid(5); four chlorogenic acid and derivatives,4-caffeoylquinic acid(6),methyl 4-caffeoylquinate(7),caffeoylquinic acid(8) and methyl caffeoylquinate(9); two nucleosids,uridine(10) and adenosine(11); one flavone,quercetin 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(12); five other types of compounds,phthalimidineacetic acid(13),3-pyridinecarboxamide(14),3,4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid(15),5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid(16) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde(17) by the spectral data of ¹H, ¹³C-NMR and MS. Among them,compounds 1-2,7,9-10,16 and 17 were isolated from M. oleifera for the first time.

Five new bioactive compounds from Chenopodium ambrosioides.

Five new bioactive compounds, chenopodiumamines A-D (1-4) and chenopodiumoside A (5), were isolated from the ethanol extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic means (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Compounds 1-3 had moderate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

[Chemical Constituents from Salvia przewalskii Root].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the root of Salvia przewalakii. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by means of chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: 17 compounds were isolated and identified as danshenxinkun B (1), danshenol C (2), isotanshinone (3), 1,2-dihydroisodihydrotanshinone-I (4), isotanshinone-II A (5), dihydrotanshinone-I (6), tanshinlactone (7), danshenol B (8), tanshinone-I (9), danshenspiroketallactone (10), ferrugino (11), epi-danshenspiroketallactone (12), danshenxinkun A (13), sapriolactone (14), 12-hydroxy-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-trien-6,7-diol (15), 6α-hydroxysugiol (16) and hypargenin B (17). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 - 8 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Triterpenoids of Ganoderma theaecolum and their hepatoprotective activities.

Five new lanostane triterpenoids, ganoderic acid XL1 (1), ganoderic acid XL2 (2), 20-hydroxy-ganoderic acid AM1 (3), ganoderenic acid AM1 (4) and ganoderesin C (5), together with five known triterpenoids (6-10) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma theaecolum. Chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D, 2D NMR, mass spectrometric data and circular dichroism spectra. Compounds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 (10 µM) exhibited hepatoprotective activities against DL-galactosamine-induced cell damage in HL-7702 cells.

[Studies on chemical constituents from fruits of Morus alba L].

Chemical investigation of fruits of Mours alba L. lead to the isolation of fifteen compounds by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-C18 column chromatography. Their structures were determined to be: 1-[5-(2-formlfuryl) methyl] dihydrogen 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate 2, 3-diethyl ester (1), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl] pyrrolidin-2-one (2), divaricataester A (3), methyl 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (4), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5), L-pyroglutamic acid (6), L-pyroglutamic acid ethyl ester (7), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (8), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (9), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (10), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (11), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (12), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (13), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (14), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (15), respectively, based on the spectral analysis such as NMR, MS etc. Compounds 1-14 were isolated from this genus for the first time, among which 1 was a new compound.

[Flavonoids from the seeds of Alpinia galanga Willd].

Ten flavonoids were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the seeds of Alpinia galanga Willd. with a combination of various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. On the basis of spectroscopic data analysis, they were elucidated as (2R, 3S)-pinobaksin-3-cinnamate (1), (2R, 3R)-pinobaksin-3-cinnamate (2), pinocembrin (3), pinobaksin (4), 3-O-acetylpinobaksin (5), galangin (6), galangin-3-methylether (7), kumatakenin (8), 3-methylkaempferol (9) and (2R, 3R)-3, 5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (10). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 2, 5 and 10 were isolated from the genus Alpinia for the first time, and others were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Two new Diels-Alder-type adducts from the stem barks of Morus yunanensis.

Two new Diels-Alder adducts, yunanensins B and D (1 and 2), were isolated from the stem bark of Morus yunanensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate antioxidant effects on liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)-Cys system, with inhibitory ratios of 57.1% and 67.9% at a concentration of 10(-5) mol/l.

[Chemical constituents of Poria cocos].

The chemical constituents of Poria cocos were studied by means of silica gel, ODS column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Thirteen compounds were isolated from this plant. By analysis of the ESI-MS and NMR data, the structures of these compounds were determined as tumulosic acid (1), dehydrotumulosic acid (2), 3beta, 5alpha-dihydroxy-ergosta-7, 22-dien-6-one (3), 3beta, 5alpha, 9alpha-trihydroxy-ergosta-7, 22-diene -6-one (4), ergosta-7, 22-diene-3-one (5), 6, 9-epoxy-ergosta-7,22-diene-3-ol (6), ergosta-4,22-diene-3-one (7), 3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-trihydroxyl-ergosta-7,22-diene (8), ergosta-5, 6-epoxy-7,22-dien-3-ol (9), beta-sitosterol (10), ribitol (11), mannitol (12), and oleanic acid 3-O-acetate (13), respectively. Compounds 3-13 were isolated from the P. cocos for the first time.

[Chemical constituents from Chenopodium ambrosioides].

Twelve compounds were isolated from the herb of Chenopodium ambrosioides, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods as kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol-3,7-di-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), patuletin (3), quercetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), grasshopper ketone (5), 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (6), syringaresinol (7), benzyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), dendranthemoside B (9), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (10), N-trans-feruloyl 4'-O-methyldopamine (11), and 4-hydroxy-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl] benzamide (12). Among them,compounds 3, 6-8,10, and 12 were isolated from the genus Chenopodium for the first time, and compounds 2-12 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Three new alkaloids from the fruits of Morus alba.

From the fruits of Morus alba, three new alkaloids, mulbaines A (1), B (2), and C (3) were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR).

Three new norsesquiterpenoids from the seeds of Alpinia galanga.

From the seeds of Alpinia galanga Willd., three new norsesquiterpenoid racemic mixtures, galanols A-C (1-3) were isolated, along with three known sesquiterpenoids (4-6). Their structures were elucidated by means of UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopic data.