Chepraecoxins A-G, ent-Kaurane Diterpenoids with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities from Chelonopsis praecox

Annoglabrin A-C, three new ent-kaurane diterpenoids from the Annona glabra fruit pulp

Three new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, namely annoglabrin A-C (1-3), were isolated from the Annona glabra fruit pulp. Their structures were clarified by widespread spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS). The relative configuration of these new compounds was established through the NOESY spectrum. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and were found with weak (1 and 3) or no effects (2), compared to those of positive control (acarbose, IC50 82.0 µM).

Natural products with potential hypoglycemic activity in T2DM: 2019-2023

As currently the most common metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has shown a continuous increase in the number of patients in recent decades. Most anti-T2DM drugs tend to cause some side effects. Given the pathogenesis of T2DM, natural products have emerged as an important source of anti-T2DM drugs. This article reviews natural products with potential hypoglycemic activity from 2019 to 2023. A total of 200 previously natural products were discovered on SciFinder, PubMed and Web of Science. These products were categorized based on their structural frameworks and their biological activities were summarized. Although the mechanisms of action of most compounds are unclear, these compounds could still serve as candidates for the development of lead compounds. Therefore, further structure and activity research of natural products will significantly contribute to the development of potential anti-T2DM drugs.

Artemidubolides A-T, cytotoxic unreported guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers against three hepatoma cell lines from Artemisia dubia

A random bioassay revealed that the EtOH extract and EtOAc fraction of Artemisia dubia Wall. (Asteraceae) exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells with inhibitory ratios of 57.1% and 84.2% at a concentration of 100.0 μg/mL. Bio-guided isolation combined by LC-MS-IT-TOF analyses of the active fractions led to the isolation of 20 previously undescribed guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers named artemidubolides A-T (1-20). Their structures and the absolute configurations were determined by comprehensive spectral analyses, comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra, and seven compounds (artemidubolides A, B, D, F, K, O and R) were confirmed unequivocally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Structurally, artemidubolides A-Q were [4 + 2] Diels-Alder adducts of two monomeric guaianolides, and artemidubolides R-T were linked though an ester bond. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their hepatomatic cytotoxicity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines to demonstrate that 18 compounds exhibited obvious cytotoxicity against three tested hepatoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 5.4-87.6 μM. Importantly, artemidubolides B, D, and M exhibited hepatoma cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 5.4, 5.7, and 9.7 (HepG2), 8.2, 4.3, and 12.2 (Huh7), and 13.4, 8.4, and 12.9 μM (SK-Hep-1), respectively. Mechanism investigation in HepG2 cells suggested the most active artemidubolide D dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion, induced G1/M cell cycle arrest by down-regulating proteins CDK4, CDK6 and CyclinD1 and up-regulating the level of protein P21; and induced apoptosis by down-regulated of PARP-1 and BCL-2 expression and up-regulating Bax and cleaved PARP-1 levels.

Norlignans as potent GLP-1 secretagogues from the fruits of Amomum villosum

The dried fruit of Amomum villosum (Amomi Fructus) is an important spices and traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the EtOH extract of Amomi Fructus was revealed with hypoglycemic effects on db/db mice by increasing plasma insulin levels. After extracted with EtOAc, the EtOAc fraction showed increased activity in stimulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion compared with the EtOH extract. In order to clarify the antidiabetic constituents, four undescribed norlignans, amovillosumins A‒D, were isolated from the EtOAc fraction, and the subsequent chiral resolution yielded three pairs of enantiomers. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, IR, UV and [α]_D) and ECD calculations. Amovillosumins A and B significantly stimulated GLP-1 secretion by 375.1% and 222.7% at 25.0 μM, and 166.9% and 62.7% at 12.5 μM, representing a new type of GLP-1 secretagogues.

Potential of Diterpenes as Antidiabetic Agents: Evidence from Clinical and Pre-Clinical Studies

Diterpenes are a diverse group of structurally complex natural products with a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antidiabetic potential. In the last 25 years, numerous diterpenes have been investigated for antidiabetic activity, with some of them reaching the stage of clinical trials. However, these studies have not been comprehensively reviewed in any previous publication. Herein, we critically discussed the literature on the potential of diterpenes as antidiabetic agents, published from 1995 to September, 2021. In the period under review, 427 diterpenes were reported to have varying degrees of antidiabetic activity. Steviol glycosides, stevioside (1) and rebaudioside A (2), were the most investigated diterpenes with promising antidiabetic property using in vitro and in vivo models, as well as human subjects. All the tested pimaranes consistently showed good activity in preclinical evaluations against diabetes. Inhibitions of α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) activities and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR-γ) agonistic property, were the most frequently used assays for studying the antidiabetic activity of diterpenes. The molecular mechanisms of action of the diterpenes include increased GLUT4 translocation, and activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent signaling pathways. Our data revealed that diterpenes hold promising antidiabetic potential. Stevioside (1) and rebaudioside A (2) are the only diterpenes that were advanced to the clinical trial stage of the drug discovery pipeline. Diterpenes belonging to the abietane, labdane, pimarane and kaurane class have shown promising activity in in vitro and in vivo models of diabetes and should be further investigated.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of (20S,24R)-epoxy-dammarane-3β,12β,25-triol derivatives as α-glucosidase and PTP1B inhibitors

The dammarane triterpenoid (20S,24R)-epoxy-dammarane-3β,12β,25-triol obtained from Cyclocarya paliurus in our previous study showed inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase in vitro with an inhibitory ratio of 32.2% at the concentration of 200 μM. In order to reveal the structure-activity relationships (SARs) and get more active compounds, 42 derivatives of (20S,24R)-epoxy-dammarane-3β,12β,25-triol were synthesized by chemical modification on the hydroxyls (C-3 and C-12), rings A and E, and assayed for their α-glucosidase and PTP1B inhibitory activities. Two compounds (8, 26) increased activity against α-glucosidase, and four compounds (8, 15, 26, 42) significantly inhibited PTP1B. It was noted that compounds 8 and 26 could inhibit both α-glucosidase and PTP1B as dual-target inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 489.8, 467.7 μM (α-glucosidase) and 319.7, 269.1 μM (PTP1B). Compound 26 was revealed to be a mix-type inhibitor on α-glucosidase and a noncompetitive-type inhibitor on PTP1B based on enzyme kinetic study. Furthermore, compound 42 could selectively inhibited PTP1B as a mix-type inhibitor with IC₅₀ value of 134.9 μM, which was 2.5-fold higher than the positive control, suramin sodium (IC₅₀ 339.0 μM), but not inhibit α-glucosidase.

Six New 3,5-Dimethylcoumarins from Chelonopsis praecox, Chelonopsis odontochila and Chelonopsis pseudobracteata

Ten 3,5-dimethylcoumarins (1-6 and 8‒11) involving six new ones (1-6), together with a known 3-methylcoumarin (7), were isolated from the aerial parts of three Chelonopsis plants, C. praecox, C. odontochila, and C. pseudobracteata. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. According to the substitution at C-5, these coumarins were classified into 5-methyl, 5-hydroxymethyl, 5-formyl, and 5-nor types. All the isolates were assayed for their inhibition on α-glucosidase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, and T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase in vitro.

Chemical profiling and antidiabetic potency of Paeonia delavayi: Comparison between different parts and constituents

Paeonia delavayi (Paeoniaceae), an endemic plant mainly distributed in southwest China, is always used as the substitute of P. suffruticosa due to their morphological and pharmacological similarity. In the previous study, P. suffruticosa was revealed with antidiabetic potency, whereas the chemical difference and antidiabetic property between different parts of P. delavayi has not yet been studied. This paper was designed to clarify the chemical constituents and antidiabetic potency of P. delavayi by LCMS analysis and enzyme inhibition on α-glucosidase, PTP1B, TCPTP, and DPP4. By interpretation of their UV absorptions and MS fragmentations, and/or comparison with reference samples, 57 constituents comprising 15 flavonoids, 10 monoterpene glycosides, eight triterpenoids, seven galloyl glucoses, six N-containing compounds, five gallic acids, two acetophenones, and four other types of compounds were identified from the different parts of P. delavayi. Moreover, two new monoterpene aglycones (42 and 47) and one new noroleanane triterpenoid (51) were speculated by their MS/MS fragmentation rules. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested the chemical resemblance between root core and root bark which could be well differentiated with the leaves and stems by their characteristic constituents (monoterpene glycosides, flavonoids, and acetophenones). All the four parts (200 μg/mL) showed obvious inhibition on α-glucosidase and PTP1B (81.2%-98.5%), but moderate to weak inhibition on TCPTP and DPP4 (19.5%-34.9%). Nine compounds representing five main types of constituents in Paeonia plants were assayed for their antidiabetic effects, indicating flavonoids and triterpenoids were the main active substances regarding to the four enzymes. Luteolin displayed obvious activity on α-glucosidase, PTP1B, and TCPTP with IC₅₀ values of 94.6, 136.3, and 157.3 μM, and akebonic acid could inhibit α-glucosidase and PTP1B with IC₅₀ values of 73.5 and 57.8 μM. Luteolin and akebonic acid were recognized as competitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase, but anticompetitive and mix-type inhibitors of PTP1B, respectively. Docking study demonstrated akebonic acid as PTP1B (over TCPTP) selective inhibitor by bonding to the catalytic sites (B/C) of PTP1B. This LCMS combined with enzymatic comparison opens new sights for recognizing the chemical profiles and antidiabetic potency of P. delavayi.

Diarylheptanoid-chalcone hybrids with PTP1B and α-glucosidase dual inhibition from Alpinia katsumadai

The EtOH extracts of the dried seeds of Alpinia katsumadai were revealed with hypoglycemic effects on db/db mice at the concentration of 200 mg/kg. In order to clarify the antidiabetic constituents, 16 new diarylheptanoid-chalcone hybrids, katsumadainols A₁-A₁₆ (1-16), together with 13 known analogues (17-29), were isolated from A. katsumadai under the guidance of bioassay. Most of the compounds showed α-glucosidase and PTP1B dual inhibition, among which compounds 1-3, 5-7, 11-14, 21-25, and 27 showed PTP1B/TCPTP selective inhibition with IC₅₀ values ranging from 22.0 to 96.7 μM, which were 2-10 times more active than sodium orthovanadate (IC₅₀, 215.7 μM). All compounds exhibited obvious inhibition against α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 2.9-29.5 μM, indicating 6-59 times more active than acarbose (IC₅₀, 170.9 μM). Study of enzyme kinetics indicated compounds 1, 3, and 12 were PTP1B and α-glucosidase mixed-type inhibitors with K_i values of 13.1, 12.9, 21.6 μM, and 4.9, 7.4, 3.4 μM, respectively.

Nineteen New Flavanol-Fatty Alcohol Hybrids with α-Glucosidase and PTP1B Dual Inhibition: One Unusual Type of Antidiabetic Constituent from Amomum tsao-ko

The dried fruits of Amomum tsao-ko were first revealed to have hypoglycemic effects on db/db mice at a concentration of 200 mg/kg. In order to clarify the antidiabetic constituents, 19 new flavanol-fatty alcohol hybrids, tsaokoflavanols A-S (1-19), were isolated and determined by extensive spectroscopic data and ECD calculations. Most of the compounds showed α-glucosidase and PTP1B dual inhibition, among which 1, 2, 6, 11, and 18 exhibited obvious activity against α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 5.2-9.0 μM, 20-35 times stronger than that of acarbose (IC₅₀, 180.0 μM); meanwhile, 6, 10-12, and 19 were PTP1B/TCPTP-selective inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 56.4-80.4 μM, 2-4 times stronger than that of suramin sodium (IC₅₀, 200.5 μM). Enzyme kinetics study indicated that compounds 1, 2, 6, and 11 were α-glucosidase and PTP1B mixed-type inhibitors with K_i values of 13.0, 11.7, 2.9, and 5.3 μM and 142.3, 88.9, 39.2, and 40.8 μM, respectively. Docking simulations proved the importance of hemiacetal hydroxy, the orientation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl, and the length of alkyl in binding with α-glucosidase and PTP1B.

Amomutsaokols A-K, diarylheptanoids from Amomum tsao-ko and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

Eleven undescribed diarylheptanoids, amomutsaokols A‒K (1-11), together with 13 known ones (13-24), were isolated from the active fraction of the fruits of Amomum tsao-ko. The structures of the undescribed compounds were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and ECD calculations. Compounds 3-5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 19 showed obviously α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 12.9 to 48.8 μM. An enzyme kinetic analysis indicated that compounds 8 and 9 were α-glucosidase noncompetitive inhibitors with K_i values of 18.5 and 213.0 μM, respectively. This study supported diarylheptanoids as the active constituents of A. tsao-ko with α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

New calogenin pregnane glycoside derivative from Huernia saudi- arabica and its Lipase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

As ongoing investigation of Huernia saudi-arabica D.V.Field (Asclepiadaceae), a new steroidal pregnane glycoside (Huernioside A) was isolated from dichloromethane fraction (DCM); it was identified as 3β, 11, 14β, 20(R)-tetrahydroxy-pregna-5,9(11)-diene-3-O-β-D-thevetopyranosyl-(1-4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside(HCP) through analysis of 1D, 2D NMR besides ESI-MS data. The alcoholic extract of the aerial part (ALE), DCM and HCP showed inhibitory potential against pancreatic lipase compared to orilstat. Among the tested samples, the ALE and HCP exhibited a promising pancreatic lipase inhibitory commotion through IC₅₀ values of 0.61 ± 0.15, 1.23 ± 0.07 mg/ml (equivalent to 88.8 μM), respectively. HCP was prevailed to have a mixed mode of inhibition as exposed by enzyme kinetic studies. Hydrophobic interactions were the major forces involved in ligand enzyme interactions. In contrast, moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were evidenced for ALE and HCP (% inhibition: 24.8 ± 1.8 and 26.6 ± 2.5, respectively) compared to acarbose. This investigation is the first to report on the possible in vitro anti-obesity and anti-diabetic impact of H. saudi-arabica.

Integrated multi-spectroscopic and molecular modelling techniques to probe the interaction mechanism between salvianolic acid A and α‑glucosidase

α-Glucosidase (AG) is an important drug target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans due to the potential effect of down regulating glucose absorption in patients. In our previous study, salvianolic acid A (SAA) was found to exhibit potent AG inhibitory activity, whereas the interaction mechanism was still ambiguous. Herein, the interaction mechanism of SAA and AG was investigated by multi-spectroscopic methods along with molecular docking. As a result, it was found that SAA reversibly inhibited AG in a competitive manner with IC₅₀ of 16.44 ± 0.18 μM, and the inhibition belonged to a multi-phase kinetics process with a first-order reaction. The intrinsic fluorescence of AG could be strongly quenched by SAA through a static quenching mechanism. The negative Gibbs free energy change and positive values of enthalpy and entropy change revealed that the binding of SAA to AG was spontaneous and dominated mainly by hydrophobic interactions, and only a single binding site was determined for them. Analysis of synchronous fluorescence, ANS-binding fluorescence, circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested that the binding of SAA to AG induced rearrangement and conformational changes of the enzyme. Besides, further molecular modelling validated that SAA could bind to the active domain and prevent the entrance of substrate, resulting in the inhibition of AG activity. These findings provide new insights into understanding the interaction mechanism of SAA on AG.