Two New Resorcinol Derivatives with Strong Cytotoxicity from the Roots of Ardisia brevicaulisDiels

The complete chloroplast genome of Ardisia brevicaulis Diels 1900, one traditional medicinal plant in southern China

The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Ardisia brevicaulis Diels 1900, one traditionally medicinal plant usually used in southern China, was first assembled and reported in this study. The genome size is 156,742 bp (37.1% GC content), containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,329 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,417 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,998 bp. 134 genes (89 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes) are annotated in the whole cp genome, including 115 unique genes (81 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes). Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. brevicaulis is closely related to A. primulifolia and A. villosa, indicating their close phylogenetic relationship. The cp genome of A. brevicaulis could provide valuable genomic information for the phylogeny, molecular identification and discovery of new medicinal plant resources in Ardisia Swartz 1788.

The ethnomedicinal and functional uses, phytochemical and pharmacology of compounds from Ardisia species: An updated review

Medicinal plants are considered to be a critical source of novel compounds and pharmacophores. The genus Ardisia, consisting of approximately 500 species, is the largest genus in the Myrsinaceae family. Ardisia species are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world and have been used for the treatment of cancer, hypertension, irregular menstruation, gonorrhea, diarrhea and postnatal syndromes, among others. Phytochemical studies of Ardisia species have resulted in the isolation and identification of 111 compounds, including triterpenoid saponins, quinones, phenols, coumarins, cyclic depsipepetide and flavonoids. Crude extracts and isolates from Ardisia have been reported to have in vitro and in vivo efficacies, including but not limited to anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antithrombotic and antidiabetic, antitubercular compounds. This review focuses on the medical and functional uses, phytochemical profile and pharmacological efficacies of Ardisia species over the past 15 years. This review will provide information indicating that Ardisia species represent an invaluable source of potential therapeutic compounds.

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory resorcinol and alkylbenzoquinone derivatives from the leaves of Ardisia sieboldii

Medicinal plants belonging to the genus Ardisia are traditionally used to cure various human diseases including inflammation and cancer. This study aimed to purify and characterize cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory compounds from Ardisia sieboldii leaves. Bioassay-guided chromatographic analyses yielded three compounds, 2-methyl-5-(8Z-heptadecenyl) resorcinol (1), 5-(8Z-heptadecenyl) resorcinol (2), and ardisiaquinone A (3), whereas liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry chemical profiling revealed the presence of diverse resorcinol and alkylbenzoquinone derivatives in cytotoxic 70% methanol extracts. Chemical structures of 1-3 were confirmed by spectroscopic methods including 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), 13C NMR, and electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 and 2 were purified from A. sieboldii for the first time, and all three compounds showed cytotoxicity against a panel of cancer cell lines and brine shrimps in a dose-response manner. Among them, compound 2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity on cancer cells (IC50 values of 8.8-25.7 μM) as well as on brine shrimps (IC50 value of 5.1 μM). Compounds 1-3 exhibited anti-inflammatory effects through inhibiting protein denaturation (IC50 values of 5.8-9.6 μM), cyclooxygenase-2 activity (IC50 values of 34.5-60.1 μM), and nitrite formation in RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of 1-3 demonstrated in this study deserve further investigation for considering their suitability as candidates or leads to develop anticancer and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pharmacokinetic study of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma after intravenous administration by UPLC-MS/MS

In this work, a sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method for determination of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma was developed. Cyasterone used as an internal standard (IS) and protein precipitation by acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) was used to prepare samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 1083.5 → 407.1 for ardisiacrispin A and m/z 521.3 → 485.2 for IS. Calibration plots were linear throughout the range 5-2000 ng/mL for ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma. Mean recoveries of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma ranged from 80.4 to 92.6%. The values of RSD of intra- and inter-day precision were both <11%. The accuracy of the method was between 97.3 and 105.6%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of ardisiacrispin A after intravenous administration in rats.

Ardisiphenol D, a resorcinol derivative identified from Ardisia brevicaulis, exerts antitumor effect through inducing apoptosis in human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells

CONTEXT

The in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of ardisiphenol D, a natural product isolated from the roots of Ardisa brevicaulis Diels (Myrsinaceae), have been studied.

OBJECTIVE

Previously, we have isolated and identified some chemical constituents from this plant. Furthermore, these compounds showed significant inhibition of the proliferation of human pancreatic PANC-1, human lung A549, human gastrointestinal carcinoma SGC 7901, human breast MCF-7, and human prostate PC-3 cancer cells. In the present paper, a major resorcinol derivative called ardisiphenol D was further studied for its antitumor mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of A549 cancer cells. Apoptosis induced by ardisiphenol D was observed by Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining. Caspase-3 enzyme activity was measured by a commercial caspase-3 enzyme activity detection kit. Protein expression of bax, bcl-2, and caspase-3 was tested by Western blots. In vivo antitumor activity of ardisiphenol D was evaluated by determination of A549 tumor growth in nude mice.

RESULTS

Ardisiphenol D significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells with an IC50 of 0.997 μM with a 48 h treatment. Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining results indicated the apoptosis of A549 cells induced by 3.125 μM of ardisiphenol D. About 0.39 and 0.78 μM of ardisiphenol D also potently increased the caspase-3 enzyme activity in 24 h. Furthermore, 0.39-3.125 μM of ardisiphenol D induced the activation of caspase-3 protein and the up-regulation of the ratio of bax/bcl-2 protein expression in A549 cells. After i.p. injection, ardisiphenol D (5 mg/kg) also strongly suppressed the A549 tumor growth in nude mice.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Ardisiphenol D induced apoptosis of A549 cells via activation of caspase-3 and up-regulation of the ratio of bax/bcl-2 protein expression. Ardisiphenol D also strongly suppressed the A549 tumor growth in nude mice and exerted antitumor activity in vivo.

Alkylphenols from the roots of Ardisia brevicaulis induce G1 arrest and apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells

From the roots of Ardisia brevicaulis DIELS, two new alkylphenol derivatives, named ardisiphenol E (2) and F (3), have been isolated together with a known alkylphenol, ardisiphenol D (1). The structures of 1-3 were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited strong cytotoxicities on two human non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines (H1299 and A549). We found that compounds 1 and 2 upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers including C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), binding immunoglobulin protein (Bip) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) indicating 1 and 2 are novel natural ER stress inducers. Treatments with 1 and 5 µM of 1 or 2 triggered G1 arrest in H1299 and A549 cells with concomitant downregulation of ubiquitin fusion degradation protein 1 (Ufd1) and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) proteins and the accumulation of p27, the key axes of ER stress-mediated G1 arrest. Compounds 1 and 2 also induced apoptosis at high concentrations (10, 20 µM) which was shown to be coupled with the upregulation of CHOP and Bim, the activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. These results indicate that compounds 1 and 2 induce ER stress that subsequently causes G1 arrest and apoptosis in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells and they may have potential anticancer effects.

Two New Alkylresorcinols from Homalomena wendlandii and Their Cytotoxic Activity

In the course of our search for antineoplasic agents from Panamanian Flora, two new alkylresorcinols: 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)octan-1-one (1) and (+)-1-(3-(1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)butyl)-2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)octan-1-one (2), together with three known compounds, (1 R, 2 R)-1-(benzo[ d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)propane-1,2,3-triol (3), (+)-aptosimon (4) and (-)-sesamin (5), were identified from the leaves of Homalomena wendlandii Schott (Araceae). Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR and IR spectroscopic, and MS methods. Compound 2 exhibited IC50 values of 3.3, 5.8 and 4.0 μg/mL against MCF-7, SF-268 and H-460 cancer human cell lines, respectively.

Alkenylresorcinols and cytotoxic activity of the constituents isolated from Labisia pumila

Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Labisia pumila (Myrsinaceae), an important medicinal herb in Malaysia, has led to the isolation of 1-O-methyl-6-acetoxy-5-(pentadec-10Z-enyl)resorcinol (1), labisiaquinone A (2) and labisiaquinone B (3). Along with these, 16 known compounds including 1-O-methyl-6-acetoxy-5-pentadecylresorcinol (4), 5-(pentadec-10Z-enyl)resorcinol (5), 5-(pentadecyl)resorcinol (6), (-)-loliolide (7), stigmasterol (8), 4-hydroxyphenylethylamine (9), 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (10), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (11), (+)-catechin (12), (-)-epicatechin (13), kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-7-O-β-glycopyranoside (14), kaempferol-4'-O-β-glycopyranoside (15), quercetin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (16), kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (17), (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid (18) and stigmasterol-3-O-β-glycopyranoside (19) were also isolated. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy techniques (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HSQC, NOESY and HMBC experiments), mass spectrometry and chemical derivatization. Among the constituents tested 1 and 4 exhibited strongest cytotoxic activity against the PC3, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC₅₀ values ≤ 10 μM), and they showed selectivity towards the first two-cell lines relative to the last one.

Resorcinol ninhydrin complex: 1,5,9-trihy-droxy-8-oxatetra-cyclo-[7.7.0.0(2,7).0(10,15)]hexa-deca-2,4,6,10(15),11,13-hexaen-16-one

In the title compound, C₁₅H₁₀O₅, the cyclo­penta­none (r.m.s. deviation = 0.049 Å) and oxolane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.048 Å) rings make a dihedral angle of 67.91 (4)°. An intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond is observed. In the crystal, mol­ecules associate via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.

Ardisia: health-promoting properties and toxicity of phytochemicals and extracts

Ardisia species (Myrsinaceae) are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Traditional medicinal uses attributed to Ardisia include alleviation of liver cancer, swelling, rheumatism, earache, cough, fever, diarrhea, broken bones, dysmenorrhea, respiratory tract infections, traumatic injuries, inflammation, pain, snake and insect bites, birth complications and to improve general blood circulation, among others. Ardisia species are rich in polyphenols, triterpenoid saponins, isocoumarins, quinones and alkylphenols. A summary of the uses, potential health benefits, adverse reactions and important bioactive phytochemicals isolated from the Ardisia species is presented. Future research needs to include more toxicological studies, more comprehensive chemical characterization of extracts, bioavailability, extract standardization, investigation of possible herb-drug interactions, plant improvement with regards to bioactivity and composition, and additional human and animal studies to confirm the health-promoting properties claimed for Ardisia species. The information presented here exemplifies the potential of Ardisia species as a source of chemotherapeutic, chemo-modulating and/or chemopreventive agents.