A simple monoselective C-H oxygenation approach for the synthesis of ursane triterpenoids.

Herein, we presented a simple approach for C-H oxidation in the C23 or/and C24 of ursane triterpenoids without any protection of a Δ12,13 double bond. As a result, from commercial ursolic acid (UA), six naturally occurring ursane triterpenoids were synthesized in overall yields of 3.4% to 36.8%, which implied the importance of this approach for the derivation of natural products and their application in biological activity.

Effects of processing on the efficacy and metabolites of Cistanche tubulosa using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Cistanche tubulosa (CT), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has always been processed with rice wine for the treatment of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS) since time immemorial. To explore the effect of processing on the efficacy and metabolites of CT in vivo, a comprehensive method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was established for the analysis of the altered endogenous metabolites in response to the intervention of the raw and processed CT in KYDS model and the metabolites of the absorbed compounds in rats after gastric perfusion. It was shown that CT could improve KYDS, and the effect of the processed product was more significant. A total of 47 differential metabolites were identified in urine. Pathway analysis proved that purine metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; and citrate cycle were the main pathways. Furthermore, 53 prototypes and 48 metabolites have been detected in rats. This was the first systematic research focus on the metabolites of raw and processed CT in vivo, which could provide a scientific basis for explaining the increasing efficiency of the processed CT. Moreover, it provides a valuable strategy for analyzing the chemical components and metabolites of other TCM prescriptions.

Cryptotanshinone alleviates radiation-induced lung fibrosis via modulation of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a major biological active ingredient extracted from root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), has shown several pharmacological activities. However, the effect of CPT on radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) is unknown. In this study, we explored the protective effects of CPT on RILF from gut-lung axis angle, specifically focusing on the bile acid (BA)-gut microbiota axis. We found that CPT could inhibit the process of epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and suppress inflammation to reduce the deposition of extracellular matrix in lung fibrosis in mice induced by radiation. In addition, 16S rDNA gene sequencing and BAs-targeted metabolomics analysis demonstrated that CPT could improve the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and BA metabolites in RILF mice. CPT significantly enriched the proportion of the beneficial genera Enterorhabdus and Akkermansia, and depleted that of Erysipelatoclostridium, which were correlated with increased intestinal levels of several farnesoid X receptor (FXR) natural agonists, such as deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, activating the FXR pathway. Taken together, these results suggested that CPT can regulate radiation-induced disruption of gut microbiota and BAs metabolism of mice, and reduce the radiation-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, CPT may be a promising drug candidate for treating RILF.

Delavatine A Attenuates OGD/R-Caused PC12 Cell Injury and Apoptosis through Suppressing the MKK7/JNK Signaling Pathway.

Delavatine A (DA) is an unusual isoquinoline alkaloid with a novel skeleton isolated from Chinese folk medicine Incarvillea delavayi. Studies conducted in our lab have demonstrated that DA has potential anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV-2 cells. DA, however, has not been studied for its protective effect on neuronal cells yet. Thus, to explore whether DA can protect neurons, oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-injured PC12 cell and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat model were used to assess the protective efficacy of DA against OGD/R damaged PC12 cells and MCAO/R injured rats. Our results demonstrated that DA pretreatment (0.31-2.5 µM) dose-dependently increased cell survival and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), whereas it lowered the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), intracellular cumulation of Ca2+, and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibited the apoptosis rate in OGD/R-injured PC12 cells. Western blot demonstrated that DA pretreatment lowered the expression of apoptotic proteins and repressed the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. It was also found that the neuroprotective efficacy of DA was significantly reversed by co-treatment with the JNK agonist anisomycin, suggesting that DA reduced PC12 cell injury and apoptosis by suppressing the MKK7/JNK pathway. Furthermore, DA oral administration greatly alleviated the neurological dysfunction and reduced the infarct volume of MCAO/R rats. Taken together, DA could ameliorate OGD/R-caused PC12 cell injury and improve brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage in MCAO/R rats, and its neuroprotection might be attributed to suppressing the MKK7/JNK signaling pathway.

Systematic analysis of chemical profiles of Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma in vitro and in vivo using UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE.

Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (S. tonkinensis) has been recorded as a 'poisonous' Chinese herbal medicine in Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020. The clinical reaction reports of S. tonkinensis indicated its neurotoxicity; however, there still exists dispute about its toxic substances. At present, no report is available on the blood and brain prototype research of S. tonkinensis. Most studies focused on alkaloids and less on other compounds. Moreover, the constituents absorbed into the blood and brain have been rarely investigated so far. This study established a rapid and efficient qualitative analysis method using UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE to characterize the ingredients of S. tonkinensis and those entering into the rat's body after oral administration. A total of 91 compounds were identified in S. tonkinensis, of which 28 were confirmed by the standards. In addition, 30 and 19 prototypes were also first identified in the rat's blood and brain, respectively. It was found that most flavonoids, except alkaloids, were detected in the rat's body and distributed in the cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that flavonoids may be one of the important toxic or effective substances of S. tonkinensis. This finding provides new clues and data for clarifying the toxicity or efficacy of this medicinal plant.

Xanthones from Calophyllum Polyanthum Wallich ex Choisy with CYP1 Enzymes Inhibitory Activity.

Three new xanthone compounds, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (1), toxyloxanthone E (2), dehydrocycloguanandin B (3) along with 15 known xanthones (4-18) were isolated from the aerial parts of Calophyllum polyanthum Wall. ex Choisy. Their structures were fully characterised using spectroscopic data, as well as comparison with the previous literature data. All isolated compounds had inhibitory effects against CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 enzymes at working concentration of 10 µM, 1 µM and 10 µM, respectively. Among them, compounds 10, 11, and 12 exhibited better CYP1A2 enzyme inhibitory effects than that of the positive control α-naphthoflavone, with 51.05 %, 56.82 % and 44.93 % inhibition, respectively.

Monoterpene Alkaloids from Incarvillea delavayi Bureau et Franchet and Their Inhibition against LPS Induced NO Production in BV2 Cells.

Three new monoterpene alkaloids, delavatines C-E (1-3), along with five known ones (4-8), were separated from the whole plants of Incarvillea delavayi. All compounds were deduced by interpretation of comprehensive NMR spectral data and X-Ray single crystal diffraction, in combination with a quantum chemical calculation of NMR chemical shift coupled with an advanced statistical procedure DP4+. Compounds 1-8 were assessed NO suppressive effect in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. Compounds 2, 3, 6, and 8 exhibited significant inhibition against NO production in LPS-induced BV2 cells with IC50 values of 25.62, 17.29, 19.94 and 23.88 µM, stronger than or comparable to the positive control (AG) with IC50 value of 26.13 µM.

Berberine regulates the Notch1/PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and acts synergistically with 17-AAG and SAHA in SW480 colon cancer cells.

CONTEXT: Berberine (BBR) is used to treat diarrhoea and gastroenteritis in the clinic. It was found to have anticolon cancer effects. OBJECTIVE: To study the anticolon cancer mechanism of BBR by connectivity map (CMAP) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CMAP based mechanistic prediction was conducted by comparing gene expression profiles of 10 µM BBR treated MCF-7 cells with that of clinical drugs such as helveticoside, ianatoside C, pyrvinium, gossypol and trifluoperazine. The treatment time was 12 h and two biological replications were performed. The DMSO-treated cells were selected as a control. The interaction between 100 µM BBR and target protein was measured by cellular thermal shift assay. The protein expression of 1-9 µM BBR treated SW480 cells were measured by WB assay. Apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of 1-9 µM BBR treated SW480 cells were measured by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining methods. RESULTS: CMAP analysis found 14 Hsp90, HDAC, PI3K or mTOR protein inhibitors have similar functions with BBR. The experiments showed that BBR inhibited SW480 cells proliferation with IC50 of 3.436 µM, induced apoptosis, autophage, MMP depolarization and arrested G1 phase of cell cycle at 1.0 µM. BBR dose-dependently up-regulated PTEN, while inhibited Notch1, PI3K, Akt and mTOR proteins at 1.0-9.0 µM (p < 0.05). BBR also acted synergistically with Hsp90 and HDAC inhibitor (0.01 µM) in SW480 cells at 0.5 and 1.0 µM. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The integrative gene expression-based chemical genomic method using CMAP analysis may be applicable for mechanistic studies of other multi-targets drugs.

[Metabolites and metabolic pathways of maackiain in rats based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS].

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to investigate the metabolites of maackiain in rats based on the prediction function of UNIFI data processing system and liver microsomal incubation in vitro. Ten metabolites of maackiain after oral absorption were reasonably deduced and characterized. It was found that the biotransformation of maackiain mainly included phase Ⅰ oxidation, dehydrogenation, phase Ⅱ sulfate conjugation, glucosylation conjugation, and glucuronic acid conjugation. Among them, the product of glucosylation conjugation, trifolirhizin, was identified by comparison with the reference for the first time. Liver microsomal incubation in vitro further confirmed the metabolites and metabolic pathways of maackiain in rats. The metabolites in the blood, urine, and feces complemented each other, which revealed the migration, metabolism, and excretion modes of maackiain in rats. This study lays a foundation for the further investigation of the metabolic mechanism of maackiain in vivo and the in-depth research on the mechanism of pharmacodynamics and toxicity.

Nitidine chloride exerts anti-inflammatory action by targeting Topoisomerase I and enhancing IL-10 production.

In the effort to identify natural products that regulate immunity and inflammation, we found that nitidine chloride (NC), an alkaloid from herb Zanthoxylum nitidum, enhanced IL-10 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated myeloid cells. While NC was shown to be capable of inhibiting topoisomerase I (TOP1), NC analogs that could not inhibit TOP1 failed to increase IL-10 production. Moreover, medicinal TOP1 inhibitors TPT and SN-38 also augmented IL-10 production significantly, whereas knockdown of TOP1 prevented NC, TPT, and SN-38 from enhancing IL-10 expression. Thus, NC promoted IL-10 production by inhibiting TOP1. In LPS-induced endotoxemic mice, NC and TOP1 inhibitors increased IL-10 production, suppressed inflammatory responses, and reduced mortality remarkably. The anti-inflammatory activities of TOP1 inhibition were markedly reduced by IL-10-neutralizing antibody and largely absent in IL-10-deficient mice. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and in peritoneal macrophages from endotoxemic mice, NC and TOP1 inhibitors significantly enhanced the activation of Akt, a critical signal transducer for IL-10 production, and inhibition of Akt prevented these compounds from enhancing IL-10 production and ameliorating endotoxemia. These data indicated that NC and TOP1 inhibitors are able to exert anti-inflammatory action through enhancing Akt-mediated IL-10 production and may assist with the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Total Synthesis of Hybridaphniphylline B.

Hybridaphniphylline B (1) is a Daphniphyllum alkaloid possessing 11 rings and 19 stereocenters. Here we report the first total synthesis of 1 featuring a late-stage intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a fully elaborated cyclopentadiene and asperuloside tetraacetate. The diene was prepared on the basis of a scalable route to daphnilongeranin B (4). Claisen rearrangement of an allyl dienol ether was exploited as a key step; the subtle variation of the substrate and use of protic solvents suppressed the undesired Cope rearrangement. Daphniyunnine E (6) and dehydrodaphnilongeranin B (7), two congeners of 4, were also synthesized. The dienophile arose from (+)-genipin through glycosylation and lactonization. A one-pot protocol was developed for the diene formation and Diels-Alder reaction; one of the cycloadducts was converted into 1 through reductive desulfurization and global deacetylation.

Delavatine A, an unusual isoquinoline alkaloid exerts anti-inflammation on LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines production by suppressing NF-κB activation in BV-2 microglia.

Delavatine A, an unusual isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from I. delavayi, was first studied for anti-inflammatory effect using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglia. In the present study, we found that delavatine A substantially suppressed the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in BV-2 microglial cells. These effects resulted from the inhibition of their regulatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1ß. In addition, we examined several pathways related to inflammation. The results revealed that delavatine A significantly decreased LPS-induced the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by suppressing the p65 subunits, and the phosphorylation of IκBα, while not related to PI3K/Akt or MAPK pathways.

[Chemical constituents from ethyl acetate-soluble extraction of Valeriana jatamansi].

Application of a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, led to the isolation of 173 compounds including irdidoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and simple aromatic derivatives from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the whole plants of Valeriana jatamansi(Valerianaceae), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR UV, IR, and MS techniques. Among them, 77 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of 68 new and 25 known compounds. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 9 new and 71 known compounds, the structure revision of valeriotriate A(8a), as well as cytotoxicity of some compounds.

Total Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignment of Delavatine A: Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Indene-Type Tetrasubstituted Olefins and Kinetic Resolution through Pd-Catalyzed Triflamide-Directed C-H Olefination.

Delavatine A (1) is a structurally unusual isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Incarvillea delavayi. The first and gram-scale total synthesis of 1 was accomplished in 13 steps (the longest linear sequence) from commercially available starting materials. We exploited an isoquinoline construction strategy and developed two reactions, namely Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of indene-type tetrasubstituted olefins and kinetic resolution of ß-alkyl phenylethylamine derivatives through Pd-catalyzed triflamide-directed C-H olefination. The substrate scope of the first reaction covered unfunctionalized olefins and those containing polar functionalities such as sulfonamides. The kinetic resolution provided a collection of enantioenriched indane- and tetralin-based triflamides, including those bearing quaternary chiral centers. The selectivity factor (s) exceeded 100 for a number of substrates. These reactions enabled two different yet related approaches to a key intermediate 28 in excellent enantiopurity. In the synthesis, the triflamide served as not only an effective directing group for C-H bond activation but also a versatile functional group for further elaborations. The relative and absolute configurations of delavatine A were unambiguously assigned by the syntheses of the natural product and its three stereoisomers. Their cytotoxicity against a series of cancer cell lines was evaluated.

Cytotoxic and Anti-inflammatory Sesquiterpenes from Ainsliaea henryi.

Three new sesquiterpenoids, 4α-hydroxyeudesm-11(13)-en-12-yl 3-methylbutanoate (1), diaspanolide E (2), and (13α)-germacra-1(10),4-dien-12,8α-olid-15-oic acid (3), along with eight known sesquiterpenoids (4 - 11), were isolated from the aerial parts of Ainsliaea henryi. The chemical structures of compounds 1 - 3 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis (1D-, 2D-NMR, MS and HR/MS). All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Compound 10 exhibited significantly inhibition against NO release with an IC50 value of 6.54 ± 0.16 µm. Also, all isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against three human tumor cell lines A549, MGC803, and HCT116, among which compound 5 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MGC803 cell lines with an IC50 value of 2.2 ± 0.2 µm.

Isolation, structure elucidation, and induction of hepatoma cell apoptosis of abietane diterpenoids from Abies faxoniana.

Two new abietane diterpenoids (1-2) and 13 known compounds (3-15) were characterized from the branches and leaves of Abies faxoniana. The chemical structures of the new diterpenoids (1-2) were determined through the analysis of various 1D/2D NMR techniques. Compound 3 is 151,617-trinor-abietane diterpenoid conjugated with a three-membered epoxide ring. The isolated diterpenoids were tested for their cytotoxicities. Among them, compound 3 exhibited the strongest antiproliferative effect against human hepatoma cell SMMC7721 with an IC50 value of 12.5 µM. To elucidate the preliminary mechanism responsible for compound 3-induced inhibition of cell proliferation, we investigated the effects of compound 3 on apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and reactive oxygen species generation in SMMC7721 cells. The results showed that compound 3 induced cell apoptosis and excessive ROS production, but did not change the cell cycle distribution in SMMC7721 cells.

Inhibition of HL-60 cell growth via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction by a cycloartane-labdane heterodimer from Pseudolarix amabilis.

Pseudolaridimer C (), a rarely encountered cycloartane-labdane Diels-Alder adduct was isolated from the cones of Pseudolarix amabilis. The structure and absolute configuration of were established by comprehensive NMR and CD spectral analysis. The WST-8 assay indicated that time and dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of human leukemia cells HL-60 at 1-10 µM. DAPI and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method, and DNA ladder experiments all proved that had significant dose-dependent effects on HL-60 cell apoptosis. A further mechanism study indicated that the apoptosis was associated with the cell cycle arrest during the G2/M phase, and the activation of caspase-9, -3, -7, and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP).

Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Absolute Configuration of Highly Oxygenated Germacranolides from Carpesium cernuum.

The new highly oxygenated germacranolides cernuumolides A-J (1-10) and the known compounds 11-20 were isolated from Carpesium cernuum. Among these compounds, 1-4 are 11-methoxymethylgermacranolides and 5-7 as well as 11-17 are 2,9-hemiacetal-linked germacranolides. Their structures were elucidated using NMR and HRESIMS analyses, and X-ray diffraction studies were used to confirm the absolute configurations of 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Cernuumolides A-J were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against the A549, HCT116, MDA-MB-231, and BEL7404 cell lines, and 8 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values in the 0.87-2.02 µM range.

Two new menthane monoterpenes from Illicium wardii.

Two new menthane monoterpenes, wardicines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the fruits of Illicium wardii A.C. Smith. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. Cytotoxicities of compounds 1 and 2 against three human tumor cell lines A549, HCT-116, and CCRF-CEM were also evaluated, but no significant activities were observed for the two compounds.

Terpenoids with neurite outgrowth-promoting activity from the branches and leaves of Illicium merrillianum.

Eighteen terpenoids (1-18) were isolated from Illicium merrillianum. Compound 1 was identified as new compound, and its structure was established by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds were evaluated for nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth activity using rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells as a model system of neuronal differentiation. Compounds 1, 3, 18 showed significant neurite outgrowth-promoting activity in the presence of 20 ng/ml NGF in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 1-100 µM after 24-h treatment. Subtle difference of functional groups at C-2 position in hopane-type triterpene resulted in enormous bioactivity difference, compound 1 was neurotrophic but 2 was cytotoxic.