A convenient and efficient one-pot conversion of peimisine into cyclopamine

Efficient synthesis of cholic acid derivates through stereoselective C-H functionalization from hyodeoxycholic acid

Five cholic acid derivatives (including allo-ω-muricholic acid and CDCA) were synthesized from hyodeoxycholic acid via selective oxidation of C3- or C6-hydroxyl groups by IBX and NBS oxidants and stereocontrolled conversion. The hydroxyl group could be introduced through hydrolyzing α-Br keto with K₂CO₃ aqueous solution or through oxidizing the double bond by monoperoxyphthalic acid. The reduction of C6-O6 carbonyl to methylene could undergo with PTSH, NaBH₃CN and ZnCl₂ only at 5β configuration. A feasible synthetic route of CDCA from HDCA has been established to avoid the epimerization with the yield of 45% (8 steps). These strategies provided good yields, stereoselectivity and reproducibility for the preparation of cholic acid derivates and CDCA.

The Veratrum and Solanum alkaloids

This survey on steroidal alkaloids of the Veratrum and Solanum family isolated between 1974 and 2014 includes 187 compounds and 197 references. New developments in the chemistry and biology of this family of natural products with a special focus on the medicinal relevance of the jervanine alkaloid cyclopamine are discussed.

Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of peimisine in rats assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Peimisine, the common ingredient of "zhebeimu" groups and "chuanbeimu" groups, is responsible for the expectorant and cough relieving effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of peimisine in male and female SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats by a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method used carbamazepine as the internal standard after oral administration, carbamazepine was stated as an IS. The results showed that peimisine was slowly distributed, and eliminated from rat plasma and manifested linear dynamics in a dose range of 0.26-6.5 mg/kg. Tested by ANOVA, there were gender differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of AUC(0-t), AUC(0-∞) among a single dose of 0.26, 1.3, 6.5 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Drug blood and tissue levels in male rats were significantly higher than the female counterparts after oral administration, while both the males and the females showed high drug levels in spleen, kidney, lung, liver and heart. On the other hand, the peimisine levels that can be reached in uterus, ovary, testis and brain is low. The excretion study showed that little administered peimisine (<0.7%) was recovered in the male and female bile. Approximately 13.46 and 15.05% were recovered in female urine and feces, while 43.07 and 7.49% were recovered in male urine and feces, respectively, which indicated that the major elimination route of male rats was urine excretion. In addition, there was significant differences in total cumulative excretive ratio of peimisine in feces (P < 0.05) and no significant differences in the urine (P > 0.05) at a dose of 1.3 mg/kg.