Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on ChinesePaeoniaSpecies

Metabolite profiling of four Tunisian Eucalyptus essential oils and assessment of their insecticidal and antifungal activities

Aphids (Aphidoidea) and Fusarium spp. are widely recognized as destructive pests that cause significant damage to crops on a global scale. This study aimed to ascertain the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) of four Tunisian Eucalyptus species and evaluate their toxicity against common aphids and phytopathogenic fungi. The EOs were obtained via hydrodistillation and subsequently analyzed using GC-MS. The chemical composition analysis revealed the presence of five distinct chemical classes in the EOs: monoterpene hydrocarbons (3.8-16.7 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (5.5-86.0 %), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (0.2-2.2 %), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (4.2-86.7 %), and non-terpene derivatives (0.1-14.1 %).Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of the Eucalyptus leaf EOs highlighted significant differences among them, leading to the generation of distinct HCA clades representing at least twelve major components. The statistical analysis clearly demonstrated a dose-response relationship, indicating the impact of the tested EOs on the growth of insects and fungal mycelium. The observed effects varied due to the variability in the chemical compositions of the EOs. Notably, among the EOs tested, Eucalyptus lesoufii Maiden exhibited particularly potent effects against the targeted insect and fungal species. This research contributes to the ongoing exploration of natural alternatives to chemical pesticides, providing further insights for potential industrial applications. It underscores the versatility of these EOs and their potential as valuable candidates in strategies for pest and disease management.

From Tea to Health: Exploring Abrus mollis for Liver Protection and Unraveling Its Potential Mechanisms

Abrus mollis Hance is a characteristic medicinal herb which is used in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of China for making soup, medicinal meals, and herbal tea to treat dampheat jaundice and rib discomfort. Current phytochemical study on A. mollis led to the isolation of four new flavones, mollisone A-D (1-4), and thirty two known compounds (5-36). Their structures were characterized by an extensive analysis of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR, as well as electronic circular dichroism calculation. In addition, in order to initially understand their biological activities for traditional applications, in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective tests were carried out, whose results illustrated that 25 compounds had significant free radical scavenging ability, and compounds 13 and 16 exhibited protective activities on D-GalN-induced LO2 cell damage than the positive control. Moreover, network pharmacological analysis revealed that the hepatoprotective activity of A. mollis involved multitargets and multipathways such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK-STAT pathways and various biological processes such as positive regulation of phosphorylation and regulation of kinase activity. These results suggested that this species could serve as a potential hepatoprotective agent for functional food or medicinal use.

Metabolomics analysis of peony root using NMR spectroscopy and impact of the preprocessing method for NMR data in multivariate analysis

Peony root is an important herbal drug used as an antispasmodic analgesic. To evaluate peony roots with different botanical origins, producing areas, and post-harvest processing, 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis was employed. Five types of monoterpenoids, including albiflorin (4), paeoniflorin (6), and sulfonated paeoniflorin (25), and six other compounds, including 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (18), benzoic acid (21), gallic acid (22), and sucrose (26) were detected in the extracts of peony root samples. Among them, compounds 4, 6, 18, and total monoterpenoids including 21 were quantified by quantitative 1H NMR (qHNMR). Compound 25 was detected in 1H NMR spectra of sulfur-fumigated white peony root (WPR) extracts indicating that 1H NMR was a fast and effective method for identifying sulfur-fumigated WPR. The content of 26, the main factor affecting extract yield, increased significantly in peony root after low-temperature storage for one month, whereas that in WPR did not increase due to the boiling treatment after harvesting. We investigated the impact of preprocessing methods to such analysis for NMR data from commercial samples, resulting that the data matrix transformed from qHNMR spectra and normalized to internal standard were optimum for multivariate analysis. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that among commercial samples derived from P. lactiflora, peony root samples in Japanese market (PR) had high contents of 18 and 22, and red peony root (RPR) samples had high content of monoterpenoids represented by 6; and among RPR samples, those derived from P. veitchii showed higher contents of 18 and 22 than those from P. lactiflora. The 1H NMR-based metabolomics method coupled with qHNMR was useful for evaluation of peony root and would be applicable for other crude drugs.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of the root bark of Paeonia x suffruticosa andrews: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Moutan Cortex (MC), commonly known as "Mu dan pi", refers to the dried root bark of Paeonia x suffruticosa Andrews and is broadly used as a traditional herbal medication in China, Japan, and Korea. For thousands of years, it has been utilized to treat female genital, extravasated blood, cardiovascular, and stagnant blood disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of this review article was to summarize information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of MC, as well as to outline the further research directions for the development of new drugs and the associations between traditional uses and pharmacological effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information involved in the study was gathered from a variety of electronic resources, including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, and Google Scholar. The date was from 1992 to 2022.

RESULTS

Approximately 163 chemical compounds have been extracted and identified from MC, including monoterpenes, monoterpene glycosides, triterpenes, phenolics, flavonoids, volatile oils, alkaloids, and others. In these categories, the monoterpene glycosides and phenols being the most common. A wide variety of pharmacological effects have been described for MC crude extracts and active molecules, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, antitumor, antidiabetic, organ protection, and neuroprotective activities, as well as treating cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacokinetics has been also used in the study of MC, including its crude extracts or chemical constituents, in order to explore the therapeutic mechanism, direct clinically appropriate application and provide new ideas for the exploitation of innovative medicines.

CONCLUSION

Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that MC, as a significant therapeutic resource, has the ability to heal a wide range of diseases, particularly female genital and cardiovascular problems. These researches propose therapeutic ideas for the development of novel MC medicines. Furthermore, preclinical and clinical study have verified several observed pharmacological properties related with the traditional usages of MC.

High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics for the Classification of Chuquiraga (Barnadesioideae, Asteraceae): New Phenylpropanoid Derivatives as Chemical Markers for Chuquiraga spinosa

Despite their relatively poorly investigated phytochemistry, species of the genus Chuquiraga are widely commercialized. The present study reports the use of a high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach coupled with exploratory and supervised multivariate statistical analyses for species classification and chemical marker identification of four species of Chuquiraga (C. jussieui, C. weberbaueri, C. spinosa, and Chuquiraga sp.) from Ecuador and Peru. Based on these analyses, a high percentage of correct classifications (87% to 100%) allowed the prediction of the taxonomic identity of Chuquiraga species. Through the metabolite selection process, several key constituents with the potential to be chemical markers were identified. Samples of C. jussieui displayed alkyl glycosides and triterpenoid glycosides as discriminating metabolites, while Chuquiraga sp. displayed high concentrations of p-hydroxyacetophenone, p-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-glucoside, p-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-(6-O-apiosyl)-glucoside, and quinic acid ester derivatives as the main metabolites. Caffeic acid was characteristic for C. weberbaueri samples, whereas C. spinosa displayed higher concentrations of the following new phenylpropanoid ester derivatives: 2-O-caffeoyl-4-hydroxypentanedioic acid (24), 2-O-p-coumaroyl-4-hydroxypentanedioic acid (34), 2-O-feruloyl-4-hydroxypentanedioic acid (46), 2,4-O-dicaffeoylpentanedioic acid (71), and 2-O-caffeoyl-4-O-feruloylpentanedioic acid (77).

Digital Database of Absorption Spectra of Diverse Flavonoids Enables Structural Comparisons and Quantitative Evaluations

Flavonoids play diverse roles in plants, comprise a non-negligible fraction of net primary photosynthetic production, and impart beneficial effects in human health from a plant-based diet. Absorption spectroscopy is an essential tool for quantitation of flavonoids isolated from complex plant extracts. The absorption spectra of flavonoids typically consist of two major bands, band I (300-380 nm) and band II (240-295 nm), where the former engenders a yellow color; in some flavonoids the absorption tails to 400-450 nm. The absorption spectra of 177 flavonoids and analogues of natural or synthetic origin have been assembled, including molar absorption coefficients (109 from the literature, 68 measured here). The spectral data are in digital form and can be viewed and accessed at http://www.photochemcad.com. The database enables comparison of the absorption spectral features of 12 distinct types of flavonoids including flavan-3-ols (e.g., catechin, epigallocatechin), flavanones (e.g., hesperidin, naringin), 3-hydroxyflavanones (e.g., taxifolin, silybin), isoflavones (e.g., daidzein, genistein), flavones (e.g., diosmin, luteolin), and flavonols (e.g., fisetin, myricetin). The structural features that give rise to shifts in wavelength and intensity are delineated. The availability of digital absorption spectra for diverse flavonoids facilitates analysis and quantitation of these valuable plant secondary metabolites. Four examples are provided of calculations─multicomponent analysis, solar ultraviolet photoprotection, sun protection factor (SPF), and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)─for which the spectra and accompanying molar absorption coefficients are sine qua non.

Characterization of Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Compounds of Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum and Optimization of Extraction Condition

Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum (Kurz.) Gogel (Guttiferae), called kuding tea, is widely distributed in Southeast Asia. In this study, the constituents and biological activity of C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum were investigated. Extract of its leaves, roots and stems showed antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Interestingly, comparison of the metabolite profiles of leaves, roots and stems of C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum by LC-MS analysis showed a great difference between the roots and leaves, whereas the roots and stems were quite similar. Purification of the roots and leaves of C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum through various chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of 25 compounds. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis as 18 xanthones, 5 flavonoids, a benzophenone and a phenolic compound. Among them, a xanthone (16) and a benzophenone (19) were first reported from nature. Evaluation of biological activity revealed that xanthones had a potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, while flavonoids were responsible for the antioxidant activity. To maximize the biological activity, yield and total phenolic content of C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum, extraction conditions such as extraction solvent, time and temperature were optimized using response surface methodology with Box-Behnken Design (BBD). Regression analysis showed a good fit of the experimental data, and the optimal condition was obtained as MeOH concentration in EtOAc, 88.1%; extraction time, 6.02 h; and extraction temperature 60.0 °C. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity, yield and total phenolic content under the optimal condition were found to be 72.2% inhibition, 10.3% and 163.9 mg GAE/g extract, respectively. These results provide useful information about C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum as functional foods for oxidative stress-related metabolic diseases.

Anti-influenza mechanism of phenolic phytochemicals from Canarium album (Lour.) DC. leaf extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Canarium album (Lour.) DC. belongs to the Burseraceae family. Its leaf, named as Ganlanye (GLY), was recorded to treat warm disease symptoms via clearing lung heat and toxicants in medical classics. Its aqueous extract had anti-influenza activity in our previous phenotypic screening. However, its active components and mechanism were not identified.

AIM

We aim to isolate the anti-influenza phytochemicals from GLY extract and explore its anti-flu mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Influenza A virus infected MDCK cells were used to test the compounds and fractions. Structural analyses of new compounds were performed via NMR calculation with the combination of DP4plus probability method and computed electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Hemagglutination inhibitory assay and neuraminidase inhibitory assay were performed to find the target protein. Molecular docking and recombinant virus were used to confirm the action site of the three new canaroleosides.

RESULTS

Three new phenolic glycosides, canaroleosides A-C (1-3), and three known flavonoids (4-6), were isolated from the GLY aqueous extract and their anti-influenza virus mechanism was revealed. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were determined by ECD method, with the structure of the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid moiety in 1 assigned by NMR calculation. Compound 1 was found to suppress both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase activities. Compounds 2, 3 4 and 6 inhibited neuraminidase, while compound 5 inhibited hemagglutinin. 1-3 could interact with Arg152 of the viral neuraminidase based on the result of molecular docking and reverse genetics.

CONCLUSION

Six phytochemicals were isolated from GLY aqueous extract and found to inhibit influenza A strains. They were found to interact with hemagglutinin or neuraminidase and canaroleosides 1-3 could interact with Arg152 of the viral neuraminidase. This study provided more evidence on the anti-influenza effect of Ganlan and laid the foundation for further generation of potent NA inhibitors.

Cathayanalactone G and other constituents from leaves and twigs of Callicarpa cathayana

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Constituents from the Fruiting Bodies of Trametes cubensis and Trametes suaveolens in Vietnam and Their Anti-Inflammatory Bioactivity

It is reported that various fungi have been used for medicine and edible foods. The tropical Trametes genus is popular and well-known in Vietnam for its health effects and bioactivities. In this study, the fruiting bodies of the edible fungi T. cubensis and T. suaveolens were collected in Vietnam. The preliminary bioactivity screening data indicated that the methanol extracts of the fruiting bodies of T. cubensis and T. suaveolens displayed significant inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. Therefore, the isolation and characterization were performed on these two species by a combination of chromatographic methods and spectrometric analysis. In total, twenty-four compounds were identified, and among these (1-3) were characterized by 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRMS analytical data. In addition, the anti-inflammatory potentials of some purified compounds were examined by the cellular model for the inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. Among the isolated compounds, (5,14), and (19) displayed significant anti-inflammatory potential. As the results suggest, the extracts and isolated compounds from T. cubensis and T. suaveolens are potential candidates for the further development of new anti-inflammatory lead drugs or natural healthy foods.

Aromatic Constituents from the Leaves of Actinidia arguta with Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

As the leaf of Actinidia arguta has shown antioxidant activity, a study was conducted to identify the active ingredients. Forty-eight compounds were isolated from the leaves of A. arguta through various chromatographic techniques. Further characterization of the structures on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data identified several aromatic compounds, including phenylpropanoid derivatives, phenolics, coumarins, flavonoids and lignans. Among them, five compounds were newly reported, naturally occurring, and named argutosides A-D (1-4), which consist of phenylpropanoid glycosides that are conjugated with a phenolic moiety, and argutoside E (5), which is a coumarin glycoside that is conjugated with a phenylpropanoid unit. The isolated compounds showed good antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with differences in activity depending on the structures. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated the interaction between the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups of compounds 1 and 5 with α-glucosidase. Taken together, the leaves of A. arguta are rich in aromatic compounds with diverse structures. Therefore, the leaves of A. arguta and their aromatic components might be beneficial for oxidative stress and glucose-related diseases.

Genus Paeonia: A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical application, and toxicology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paeonia, which comprises approximately 52 shrubs or herbaceous perennials around the world, is the only genus of the Paeoniaceae and is pervasively distributed in Asia, southern Europe, and North America. Many species of the genus Paeonia have been used for centuries in ethnomedical medical systems.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present study aims to summarize the traditional uses, clinical applications, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia, to critically evaluate the state-of-the-art phytochemical and pharmacological studies of this genus published between 2011 and 2020, and to suggest directions for further in-depth research on Paeonia medicinal resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Popular and widely used databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched using the various search strings; from these searches, a number of citations related to the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, clinical application, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia were retrieved.

RESULTS

The use of 21 species, 2 subspecies, and 7 varieties of the genus Paeonia as traditional herbal remedies has been reported, and many ethnomedicinal uses, such as the treatment of hematemesis, blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, epilepsy, spasms, and gastritis, have been recorded. The roots and root bark are the most frequently reported parts of the plants used in medicinal applications. In phytochemical investigations, 451 compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants to date, which contains monoterpenoid glucosides, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, triterpenoids and steroids, and phenols. Studies of their pharmacological activities have revealed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antibacterial, antiviral, cardiovascular protective, and neuroprotective properties of the genus Paeonia. In particular, some bioactive extracts and compounds (total glucosides of peony (TGP), paeonol, and paeoniflorin) have been used as therapeutic drugs or tested in clinical trials. In addition to the "incompatibility" of the combined use of "shaoyao" and Veratrum nigrum L. roots in traditional Chinese medicine theory, Paeonia was considered to have no obvious toxicity based on the available toxicological tests.

CONCLUSION

A large number of phytochemical and pharmacological reports have indicated that Paeonia is an important medicinal herb resource, and some of its traditional uses including the treatment of inflammation and cardiovascular diseases and its use as a neuroprotective agent, have been partially confirmed through modern pharmacological studies. Monoterpenoid glucosides are the main active constituents. Although many compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants, the biological activities of only a few of these compounds (paeoniflorin, paeonol, and TGP) have been extensively investigated. Some paeoniflorin structural analogues and resveratrol oligomers have been preliminarily studied. With the exception of several species (P. suffruticosa, P. ostii, P. lactiflora, and P. emodi) that are commonly used in folk medicine, many medicinal species within the genus do not receive adequate attention. Conducting phytochemical and pharmacological experiments on these species can provide new clues that may lead to the discovery of medicinal resources. It is necessary to identify the effective phytoconstituents of crude extracts of Paeonia that displayed pharmacological activities by bioactivity-guided isolation. In addition, comprehensive plant quality control, and toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies are needed in the future studies.

Antiplasmodial and antileishmanial inhibitory activity of triterpenes and steroidal alkaloid from the leaves of Funtumia elastica (Preuss) Stapf (Apocynaceae)

The phytochemical study of leaves of Funtumia elastica led to the isolation of three undescribed ursane derivatives, funtumic acids A, B and C (1-3), as well as one steroidal alkaloid, elasticine (4) and five other known compounds (5-9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR, MS, IR, UV spectroscopic data as well as by comparison with the literature. The compound 5-hydroxypyridine-3-carboxamide (9) was isolated for the first time from the Apocynaceae family. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiparasitic effects against 3D7 and Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum and promastigotes of Leishmania donovani (MHOM/SD/62/1S). Compounds 1-4 possessed good in vitro antimalarial activities against CQR Dd2 with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.68 to 5.36 μg/mL and moderate on CQS 3D7. Only compounds 1 and 2 showed leishmanicidal activities with IC₅₀ values ranging between 10.49 and 13.21 μg/mL. In addition, crude extract exhibited potent antiplasmodial (IC₅₀ 0.91 and 3.12 μg/mL) and antileishmanial (IC₅₀ 3.32 μg/mL) activities, thus demonstrating their potential synergistic action.

Root Extracts of Two Cultivars of Paeonia Species: Lipid Composition and Biological Effects on Different Cell Lines: Preliminary Results

The roots of two cultivars of Paeonia, namely Paeonia officinalis “Rubra Plena” and Paeonia “Pink Hawaiian Coral”, have been extracted with chloroform. The composition of the lipid fraction, analyzed by GC–MS technique, revealed the absence of paeonol and the presence of phenol, benzoic acid, fatty acid—and some sterol—derivatives. The chloroformic extracts have been tested on normal and several cancer cell lines but showed antiproliferative activity only on the ovarian carcinoma and the osteosarcoma. The biological activity of extracts was investigated mainly by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and quantum phase imaging. The results indicated that the root extracts induced a hyperpolarization of mitochondria and an increase in reactive oxygen species levels, without inducing cell death. These effects are associated to an increased doubling time and a retarded confluence.

Chemical Constituents from the Whole Plant of Cuscuta reflexa

Two new 2H-pyran-2-one glucosides, cuscutarosides A (1) and B (2), and one new steroidal glucoside, 7β-methoxy-β-sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (3), together with 12 known compounds (4-15) were isolated from the whole plant of Cuscuta reflexa (Convolvulaceae) collected from Myanmar. The chemical structures of these new compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis. The antiobesity activity of these isolates was evaluated using porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL), and the antiplatelet aggregation activity was screened using rabbit platelets induced by thrombin, platelet-activating factor (PAF), arachidonate (AA), or collagen. 7β-Methoxy-β-sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (3) showed weak PPL inhibitory activity. Cuscutaroside A (1), its acetylated derivative (1a), and scrophenoside B (8) showed weak inhibitory activity against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Compound 1a also showed inhibitory activity against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by AA.

Artemlavanins A and B from Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Their Cytotoxicity Against Hepatic Stellate Cell Line LX2

Two new sesquiterpenoids, artemlavanins A (1) and B (3), together with fifteen known compounds (2 and 4-17) were isolated from the EtOH extract of Artemisia lavandulaefolia. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and ECD calculations. Compound 1 was a sesquiterpenoid lactone possessing a rearranged eudesmane skeleton; compounds 2-5, 6-8, 9 and 10-12 belonged to the eudesmane, guaiane, oppositane and farnesane sesquiterpenoids, respectively; compounds 13-17 were the phenyl derivatives with a 4-hydroxyacetophenone moiety. Twelve compounds (1-3, 5-7, 10-12, 14, 15 and 17) displayed cytotoxicity against hepatic stellate cell line LX2 (HSC-LX2) with IC50 values ranging from 35.1 to 370.3 μM. Compounds 2, 7, 10-12 and 17 exhibited the stronger cytotoxicity than silybin (IC50, 169.6 μM) with IC50 values of 82.1, 35.1, 95.0, 83.8, 81.6 and 90.1 μM. Compound 7 as the most active one showed significant inhibition on the deposition of human collagen type I (Col I), human hyaluronic acid (HA) and human laminin (HL) with IC50 values of 10.7, 24.5 and 13.3 μM.

Diterpenoids and Flavonoids from the Twigs of Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina

Three new diterpenoids (a cephalotane, an abietane and a 9(10→20)-abeo-abietane) and one new flavonoid, together with 11 known compounds, were isolated from the twigs of Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina. The new compounds were identified by comprehensive spectroscopic (including 1D and 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS) analysis. Anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities of three new compounds were evaluated. 3β,20-epoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-3α,12-diol showed weak cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines NCI-H1975, HepG2, MCF-7, while fortalpinoid R and 3-acetonyl-3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy-2-methoxyflavanone were not active at 80 μM. None of these compounds showed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities.

Two new alkaloids isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Binglang the fruit of Areca catechu

Binglang, the fruit of Areca catechu L, has a long history as an important Chinese herbal medicine. Two new alkaloids (1 and 2), along with forty-one known compounds (3-43) were isolated from the dried fruit of Areca catechu L. The structures were elucidated on basis of the IR, UV, MS and 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 26 and 33 showed weak cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cell line (BGC-823) with IC₅₀ of 15.91 μM and 20.13 μM, respectively.

A new macrocyclic diterpenoid from Anisomeles indica

A new macrocyclic diterpenoid, 4β,5β-dihydroxyovatodiolide (1), together with twenty-two known compounds (2-23) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the dried aerial parts of Anisomeles indica (L.) O. Kuntze (Labiatae). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectral evidence. Phenylethanoids, acteoside (5) and isoacteoside (6) showed significant inhibitory to IL-2 secretion of with respect to phorbol myristate acetate and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody co-stimulated activation of human peripheral blood T cells.

Triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Cyathula officinalis and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

The present study was designed to investigate the chemical constituents of the roots of Cyathula officinalis. Compounds were isolated by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. One new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin, 28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] hederagenin (1), was isolated from the roots of Cyathula officinalis. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages cells. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 exhibited moderate anti-inflammatory activities.

Constituents of Fermented Male Flowers of Alnus sieboldiana (Betulaceae)

Fractionation of the ethyl acetate crude extract of the fermented male flowers of Alnus sieboldiana resulted in the isolation of two diarylheptanoids and six flavonoids. Yashabushidiol A, yashabushidiol B and naringenin were known constituents of the male flowers of A. sieboldiana while kaempferol, quercetin, pinocembrin dimethyl ether, 5,7-dimethoxy-3-hydroxyflavanone and 5,7-dimethoxy-3-hydroxyflavone were isolated for first time from the fermented male flowers of A. sieboldiana. The isolated compounds were characterized using NMR and HRMS and compared with available literature.

Anti-inflammatory flavonol acylglycosides from the aerial part of Lindera akoensis Hayata

Flavonol acylglycosides, linderakosides A–E (1–5) were characterized from L. akoensis. Compounds 1, 2, and 5 exhibited showed in vitro anti-inflammatory activity decrease the LPS-stimulated production of nitrite in RAW 264.7 cell.

Cytotoxic activity and chemical constituents of Anthemis mirheydari

Context The genus Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) comprises about 195 species which are widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Objective Anthemis mirheydari Iranshar, an endemic plant from Iran, was investigated for its cytotoxic properties and chemical constituents. Materials and methods The whole parts of the plant (320 g) were extracted by dichloromethane and methanol for four days, successively. The cytotoxic activity of both dichloromethane and methanol extracts were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric methods against three human cancer cell lines including LS180, MCF-7 and MOLT-4. Different concentrations (10-100 μg/mL) of the plant extracts were tested to obtain IC50 values. The dichloromethane extract of A. mirheydari was subjected to silica gel-column and thin layer chromatography for purification of its chemical constituents and the isolated compounds were further tested against MOLT-4 cells. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated using different spectral data including nuclear magnetic resonance and electron impact mass spectra. Results The IC50 values of the dichloromethane extract were 30.8 ± 6.7, 25.2 ± 6.5 and 8.6 ± 1.1 μg/mL (means ± standard error) for the above-mentioned cell lines, respectively. Two triterpenoids, taraxasterol (1) and pseudotaraxasterol (2), one sterol, β-sitosterol (3) and one coumarin, 7-methoxycoumarin (4) were isolated from the extract. The IC50 of the mixture of compounds 1 and 2 as well as compounds 3 and 4 were higher (>100 μM) than that reported for the dichloromethane extract against MOLT-4 cells. Conclusion The dichloromethane extract was the most active one among the tested material.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory components from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (duzhong)

Eucommia ulmoides leaves have been used as a functional food and drink in China. The purpose of this study was to identify the bioactive constituents with soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity and anti-inflammatory properties. Twenty-seven known compounds (1-27) were isolated from the leaves of E. ulmoides Oliver, and their structures were identified by NMR and ESIMS analysis; three of these, 2,5-dimethoxy-3-glucopyranosyl cinnamic alcohol (11), foliasalacioside E2 (26), and icariside F2 (27), were obtained from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1-7 exhibited soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity at 100 μM; among them, quercetin (1) and kaempferol (5) displayed potential activities with IC50 values of 22.5 ± 0.9 and 31.3 ± 2.6 μM, respectively, with noncompetitive inhibition mode. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated by the NF-κB liciferase assay in HepG2 cells. Compounds 1, 9, 20, and 27 displayed potent NF-κB inhibitory effects, with IC50 values of 15.14 ± 2.29, 15.23 ± 2.34, 16.88 ± 2.17, and 16.25 ± 2.19 μM, respectively, whereas other compounds showed weak inhibition of NF-κB transcriptional activity ranging from 17.54 to 92.6 μM. A structure-activity relationship of flavonoids 1-9 was also discussed. The results obtained in this work might contribute to the understanding of pharmacological activities of E. ulmoides leaves and further investigation on its potential application values for food and drug.

Revealing metabolomic variations in Cortex Moutan from different root parts using HPLC-MS method

INTRODUCTION

The distribution of metabolites in the different root parts of Cortex Moutan (the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) is not well understood, therefore, scientific evidence is not available for quality assessment of Cortex Moutan.

OBJECTIVE

To reveal metabolomic variations in Cortex Moutan in order to gain deeper insights to enable quality control.

METHODS

Metabolomic variations in the different root parts of Cortex Moutan were characterised using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and multivariate data analysis. The discriminating metabolites in different root parts were evaluated by the one-way analysis of variance and a fold change parameter.

RESULTS

The metabolite profiles of Cortex Moutan were largely dominated by five primary and 41 secondary metabolites . Higher levels of malic acid, gallic acid and mudanoside-B were mainly observed in the second lateral roots, whereas dihydroxyacetophenone, benzoyloxypaeoniflorin, suffruticoside-A, kaempferol dihexoside, mudanpioside E and mudanpioside J accumulated in the first lateral and axial roots. The highest contents of paeonol, galloyloxypaeoniflorin and procyanidin B were detected in the axial roots. Accordingly, metabolite compositions of Cortex Moutan were found to vary among different root parts.

CONCLUSION

The axial roots have higher quality than the lateral roots in Cortex Moutan due to the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites associated with plant physiology. These findings provided important scientific evidence for grading Cortex Moutan on the general market.

Chemical interaction between Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, the components of Jakyakgamcho-tang, using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method: herbal combination and chemical interaction in a decoction

The herbal combination is the basic unit of a herbal formula that affects the chemical characteristics of individual herbs. In the present study, a method of simultaneous determination of the 11 marker compounds in Jakyakgamcho-tang was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The validated analytical method was successfully applied to approach the chemical interaction between Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis in co-decoction. In P. lactiflora, the contents of gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, (+)-catechin, paeoniflorin, and benzoylpaeoniflorin were decreased, while those of albiflorin and benzoic acid were increased; in G. uralensis, the contents of liquiritin, isoliquiritin, ononin, and glycyrrhizin were decreased, when decocting two herbs together. Moreover, as the ratio between P. lactiflora and G. uralensis was increased, the contents of chemical contents from each herb were proportionally increased. However, each content of marker compound per the gram of herbal medicine was decreased as the ratio of combinative herbs increased. The results showed that P. lactiflora and G. uralensis affect the extraction efficiency of chemical compounds in a Jakyakgamcho-tang decoction. Overall, the method established in this study was simple, rapid, and accurate, and would be useful for the determination of marker compounds and for the investigation of the chemical interaction between herbal medicines.

Counteractive effect of Paeonia lactiflora root constituent mudanpioside E against suppressive effect of Shoseiryuto-extract on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shoseiryuto-extract (SST) is a herbal formula of Japanese traditional kampo medicine used to treat perennial nasal allergy, rhinitis, and bronchial asthma. SST contains eight crude drugs, and is registered in the 16th Edition of Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Previous studies reported anti-allergic effects of SST, but the contribution of the eight crude drugs in SST on these effects has not been evaluated. In the present study, we evaluated the contribution of the eight crude drugs in SST on anti-allergic effect using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mixture of crude drugs was decocted in water and lyophilized to prepare SST. To evaluate the active ingredients, compositions of crude drugs were modified and decocted. The PCA reaction was induced by intravenous injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and Evans blue 48 h after intracutaneous injection of anti-OVA serum in mice ears. The crude drug extract was orally administered to overnight-fasted mice 2h before induction of the PCA reaction. Ears were removed 30 min after induction, and the amount of Evans blue present was measured.

RESULTS

Oral administration of SST suppressed the PCA reaction in a dose-dependent manner. Among the eight crude drugs comprising SST, Asiasarum root, Pinellia tuber, and Glycyrrhiza contributed positively, and Peony root contributed negatively to the anti-allergic effects of SST. We isolated mudanpioside E from the extract of Peony root as the counteracting ingredient to exhibit the anti-allergic effects of Peony root-depleted SST.

CONCLUSIONS

When we used SST for the treatment of allergic diseases, removal of Peony root from the traditional formula could augment its effect.

Suffruyabiosides A and B, two new monoterpene diglycosides from moutan cortex

Two new monoterpene diglycosides, suffruyabiosides A (1) and B (2), and seven known compounds 3-9 were isolated from Moutan Cortex (root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews). The structures were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR spectral data. Suffruyabiosides A (1) and B (2) are rare monoterpene diglycosides, including a cellobiose in the molecules. Salicylpaeoniflorin (4) had a antiproliferation effect similar to paeoniflorin (3) on human lung adenocarcinoma epitherial A549 cells. Galloylpaeoniflorin (8) and salicylpaeoniflorin (4) revealed a more pronounced radical scavenging effect than α-tocopherol (positive control). An increase in the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups produced a more effective radical scavenging effect [8 > mudanpioside E (6) > oxypaeoniflorin (5)]. Comparison of the effects of 4 and 5 showed that o-substitution with a phenolic hydroxyl group was more effective than p-substitution. The results suggest that salicylpaeoniflorin (4) may be useful as a cytotoxic and a radical scavenging agent.

Antioxidant activities and phytochemical characteristics of extracts from Acacia confusa bark

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of bark extract of Acacia confusa and some of the isolated constituents from its ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction in various in vitro systems to gain mechanistic insights. Results from antioxidant assays together with authentic antioxidant standards revealed that EtOAc fraction showed strong superoxide radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ferrous ion-chelating ability. Following an in vitro antioxidant activity-guided fractionation procedure, 16 constituents including 12 benzoic acids, three cinnamic acids and one lignans were isolated and identified from the EtOAc fraction. We also evaluated the structure-activity relationships of benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives. Results obtained indicated that the bark extracts and the derived phytochemicals from A. confusa have a great potential to prevent disease caused by the overproduction of radicals and also it might be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant agent.

Characterization of compounds in the Chinese herbal drug Mu-Dan-Pi by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Cortex Moutan is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine derived from Paeonia suffruticosa ANDREWS. However, root cortices of P. delavayi and P. decomposita also are used under the name of this drug in some regions such as Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, respectively. In order to make a comparison of their chemical constituents, the compounds of the three Paeonia species were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection/electrospray ionization and quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2). A total of 50 compounds were observed in the 50% (v/v) methanolic extracts, including 17 monoterpenes, 14 galloyl glucoses, 10 acetophenones, 5 phenolic acids, 3 flavonoids and 1 triterpene. These chemical constituents were separated on a C18 column and identified or tentatively characterized based on UV spectra and MS fragmentation behavior. The chemical compositions of the three Paeonia species were found to have many differences. Paeonol was the predominant constituent of P. suffruticosa and P. decomposita, while P. delavayi contained albiflorin and more galloyl glucoses than the other two Paeonia species. Most of these identified compounds have been reported from P. delavayi and P. decomposita for the first time. The ESI-MS fragmentation behavior of monoterpene glycosides, acetophenones and galloyl glucoses was also investigated successively, and appropriate characteristic pathways were proposed. The large differences in chemical compounds among the three Paeonia species strongly encouraged further comparison of the bioactivities of these three species.

Determination of paeonol and paeoniflorin in Chinese medicine Cortex Moutan and 'Shuangdan' granule by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

An easy, simple and rapid micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for the separation of two active components paeonol (PN) and paeoniflorin (PF) within 7 min. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was performed using a 50.0 cm (42.0 cm to the detector window) x 75 microm i.d. fused-silica capillary. The optimal running buffer containing 10mM borate and 25 mM SDS at pH 9.54 was employed. The applied voltage 15 kV and the temperature 25 degrees C was used in CE separation. The linearities between peak areas and the concentrations of the analytes were investigated, and they exhibited excellent linear behavior over the investigated concentration ranges (R(2): 0.9945 for PN and 0.9992 for PF). The method was successfully applied to the determination of these two components contained in Cortex Moutan and 'Shuangdan' granule. The average recoveries ranged between 97.6 and 105.3% for PN and 95.3 and 106.1% for PF, respectively.