Alkyl-benzofuran dimers from Eupatorium chinense with insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory activities

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from the pericarps of Garcinia multiflora champ. ex Benth. with cytotoxic property

The phytochemical investigation on the pericarps of Garcinia multiflora resulted in the isolation of 12 previously undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs, 1-12) with a variety of skeletons. Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 6-9 possess a rare bicyclo[4.3.1]decane skeleton. Additionally, the anti-tumor activity of the 12 isolates was evaluated. The results indicated that compounds 5, 9, and 12 exhibited significant cytotoxicity in a wide range of cancer cell lines, including the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, human lung cancer A549 cells, human colon cancer SW480 cells and human ovarian cancer HEY cells. Further studies indicated that compound 5 induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, to inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together, these findings expand the chemical diversity of PPAPs and further demonstrate the potential of PPAPs as candidates for cancer treatment.

Linear and Angular Heteroannulated Pyridines Tethered 6-Hydroxy-4,7-Dimethoxybenzofuran: Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity

2-Chloropyridine-3-carbonitrile derivative 1 was utilized as a key precursor to build a series of linear and angular annulated pyridines linked to a 6-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxybenzofuran moiety. Reaction of substrate 1 with various hydrazines afforded pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines. Treatment of substrate 1 with 1,3-N,N-binucleophiles including 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, 5-amino-1H-tetrazole, 3-amino-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one and 2-aminobenzimidazole produced the novel angular pyrido[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine, pyrido[3,2-e][1,2,4]tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, pyrido[3',2':5,6] pyrimido[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazine and benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrido[3,2-e]pyrimidine, respectively. Reaction of substrate 1 with 1,3-C,N-binucleophiles including cyanoacetamides and 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylacetonitrile furnished 1,8-naphthyridines and benzoimidazonaphthyridine. Moreover, reacting substrate 1 with 5-aminopyrazoles gave pyrazolo[3,4-b][1,8]naphthyridines. Finally, reaction of compound 1 with 6-aminouracils as cyclic enamines yielded pyrimido[4,5-b][1,8]naphthyridines. Some of the synthesized products showed noteworthy antimicrobial efficiency against all types of microbial strains. Structures of the produced compounds were established using analytical and spectroscopic tools.

Chemical Constituents and Their Bioactivities of Plants from the Genus Eupatorium (2015-Present)

The genus Eupatorium belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family and has multiple properties, such as invasiveness and toxicity, and is used in folk medicine. The last review on the chemical constituents of this genus and their biological activities was published in 2015. The present review provides an overview of 192 natural products discovered from 2015 to the present. These products include 63 sesquiterpenoids, 53 benzofuran derivatives, 39 thymol derivatives, 15 fatty acids, 7 diterpenoids, 5 monoterpenoids, 4 acetophenones, and 6 other compounds. We also characterized their respective chemical structures and cytotoxic, antifungal, insecticidal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities.

Synthesis and inhibitory activity of euparin derivatives as potential dual inhibitors against α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)

Diabetes mellitus is a serious threat to human life and health. The α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were important targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this paper, euparin, a natural product from Eupatorium chinense possessed extensive pharmacological activities, was selected as the lead compound. It was derived into chalcone compounds with high efficiency, and the inhibitory activities of these 30 products on α-glucosidase and PTP1B were tested. The results showed that compounds 12 and 15 had good inhibitory activities against both enzymes. The IC50 value of 12 to inhibit α-glucosidase and PTP1B was 39.77 and 39.31 μM, and the IC50 value of 15 to inhibit α-glucosidase and PTP1B was 9.02 and 3.47 μM, respectively. In addition, molecular docking results showed that compounds 12 and 15 exhibited good binding affinities toward both α -glucosidase and PTP1B with negative binding energies. The results of the present study demonstrate that compounds 12 and 15 might be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Delirium after Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery under Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Parkinson's Disease Patients

BACKGROUND

Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with perioperative complications and mortality. Data on the risk factors for delirium after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) surgery is not clarified in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for delirium after STN-DBS surgery in PD patients.

METHODS

The retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 131 PD patients who underwent STN-DBS for the first time under total intravenous anesthesia from January to December 2021. Delirium assessments were performed twice daily for 7 days after surgery or until hospital discharge using the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factor of POD.

RESULTS

In total, 22 (16.8%) of 131 patients were in the POD group, while the other 109 patients were in the Non-POD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative Mini-mental State Examination score [odds ratio = 0.855, 95% confidence interval = 0.768-0.951, p = 0.004] and unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part 3 (on state) score (odds ratio = 1.061, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.104, p = 0.003) were independently associated with delirium after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective cohort study of PD patients, a lower Mini-mental State Examination score and a higher unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part 3 (on state) score were the independent risk factors for delirium after STN-DBS surgery in PD patients under total intravenous anesthesia.

New Benzofuran Oligomers from the Roots of Eupatorium heterophyllum Collected in China

The chemical constituents of two root samples of Eupatorium heterophyllum DC. collected in Yunnan Province, China, were investigated. Five new oligomeric benzofurans (1-5), nine new benzofuran/dihydrobenzofuran derivatives, and a new thymol analog were isolated, and their structures were determined using extensive spectroscopic techniques, such as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations of the CD spectra. Most of the new compounds, including oligomeric benzofurans (1-5), were obtained from only one of the root samples. Furthermore, this is the first example that produces oligomeric benzofurans in this plant. These results imply that diversification of secondary metabolites in E. heterophyllum is ongoing. Plausible biosynthetic pathways for 1-5 are also proposed.

A Review of the Application of Resorcinarenes and SBA-15 in Drug Delivery

Due to the diseases that people face today, scientists dedicate a part of their research to the synthesis, characterization, and study of functional compounds for controlled drug delivery. On the one hand, resorcinarenes are macrocycles obtained by condensation reactions of resorcinol and aldehyde. They include an upper and a lower rim functioning with different groups that confer solubility to the macrocycle and favor interactions with other compounds, therefore the hydroxyl groups on the upper rim improve the formation of hydrogen bonds. Additionally, resorcinarenes feature a cavity studied for forming host-guest complexes. SBA-15, on the other hand, is a mesoporous silica characterized by ordered pores in its structure and a large surface area. As a result of its properties, it has been used for several purposes, including absorbents, drug delivery, catalysis, and environmental processes. This review shows the recent advances in synthesis methods, characterization, micelle formation, interaction with other compounds, and host-guest procedures, as well as techniques for evaluating toxicity, drug retention, and their preliminary uses in pharmacology for macrocycles, such as resorcin[4]arenes and SBA-15.

Ten undescribed cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids from Eupatorium chinense

Ten undescribed cadinane-type sesquiterpenes (1-10) were isolated from the whole plant of Eupatorium chinense. Their planar structures were mainly elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data and DFT NMR calculations. The absolute configurations of 1, 2, and 3 were determined by TDDFT ECD calculations while those of compounds 4-7 and 9 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Compounds 2 and 3 are a pair of C-10 epimers, compounds 4 and 5 a pair of C-1 epimers, and compounds 9 and 10 a pair of compounds isomerized at both C-1 and C-10. A possible biosynthetic pathway for these new sesquiterpenes was proposed.

Caesalpinaxin, a cassane-type diterpenoid with a 21-carbon core skeleton from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax possessing pro-angiogenetic property

A novel cassane-type diterpenoid, caesalpinaxin (1), was isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance. The structure of caesalpinaxin was established by means of spectroscopic techniques (NMR, HR-ESIMS, UV and IR). The absolute configuration of caesalpinaxin was determined by quantum chemical calculations of its theoretical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum. Caesalpinaxin is the first cassane-type diterpenoid with 21 carbons core skeleton, containing an unusual δ-lactone ring. A plausible biosynthetic pathway was proposed for compound 1. Furthermore, caesalpinaxin was tested for the pro-angiogenetic activity on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs). The results indicated that this compound significantly stimulated migration and tuber formation through enhancing the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Thus, caesalpinaxin might be applied in accelerating wound healing.