New cycloartanes and new iridoids from Dolichandrone spathacea collected in the mangrove forest of Soc Trang province, Vietnam.

Two new cycloartanes, named dolichandrone A (1) and dolichandrone B (2), as well as two new iridoids, named [6-O-[(E)-4-methoxycinnamoyl]-1ß-hydroxy-dihydrocatalpolgenin (3) and 6-O-[(E)-4-methoxycinnamoyl]-1α-hydroxy-dihydrocatalpolgenin (4), together with four known iridoids (5-8), were isolated from the leaves and barks of Dolichandrone spathacea. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive analysis of their HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. All of these compounds have been isolated for the first time from this plant. Compounds 1, 2, 5, and 7 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against four human cancer cell lines KB, Lu, HepG2, and MCF7. The results showed that only compound 2 exhibited a good cytotoxicity against KB cell line with IC50 of 18.77 µM.

Macrocyclic analogues of the diuretic insect neuropeptide helicokinin I show strong receptor-binding.

Helicokinin I, a diuretic neuropeptide of the relevant cotton pest Helicoverpa zea represents a promising target for the design of insect neuropeptide mimetics. Using a ring-closing metathesis reaction, N-terminal bridged macrocyclic helicokinin I analogues with different rigidity were prepared and tested in a helicokinin receptor assay. A partially peptidomimetic helicokinin analogue, containing two structural modifications provides a deeper insight into the structural-requirements for receptor-binding.