Chemical constituents from Saussurea cordifolia

Phytochemical constituents from root barks of Eleutherococcus henryi Oliv. and their anti-neuroinflammatory effect

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The cortex of Eleutherococcus henryi (EH, Araliaceae), also known as "Wu-Jia-Pi", is known for its effects such as dispelling wind and dampness, calming the mind and enhancing intelligence, removing heat and toxin, strengthening muscles and bones, and nourishing the liver and kidneys. Throughout Chinese history and tradition, it has been used for conditions like amnesia, mental fatigue, arthritis, hepatitis, and rheumatism. However, research evaluating its neuroprotective effects and pharmacological properties remains scarce.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The goal is to explore the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of EH in vitro and to discover precisely the bioactive natural products within the medicinal plant that are relevant to its traditional usage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Utilizing chromatographic techniques, a phytochemical exploration was conducted. The phytochemical structures of the natural products were then elucidated through an analysis involving comprehensive spectra and a comparison with relevant data from published studies. Network pharmacology combined with molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) and docking were applied to forecast potential anti-neuroinflammatory targets of active compounds. In vitro, the anti-neuroinflammatory efficacy was evaluated via the suppression of inflammatory mediators activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BV2 microglia.

RESULTS

The methanol extract of E.henryi (EHME) restrained the NO release in LPS-activated BV2 microglia, demonstrating anti-neuroinflammatory activity. Subsequently, chemical composition analysis revealed the separation and elucidation of 31 secondary metabolites, comprising 7 new compounds (1-7) and 1 new natural product (8). Based on LPS-induced BV2 cell in vitro activity tests, compounds 4-17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 29 and 31 were found to exhibit potential anti-neuroinflammatory activity, with compound 6 showing the highest efficacy. Furthermore, employing network pharmacology in conjunction with both molecular docking and MDs, potential anti-neuroinflammatory targets of compound 6 were predicted to include TLR4, Src, MAPK, and NF-κB. Finally, validation through in vitro experiments confirmed that the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism of compound 6 is associated with the TLR4/Src/MAPK p38/NF-κB p65 signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The study affirmed the traditional efficacy of E. henryi and unveiled novel lignans as potent agents against neuroinflammation.

Total Syntheses and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Syringin and Its Natural Analogues

Syringin (1), a natural bioactive glucoside isolated from the root of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. Maxim.) Harms, possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we have accomplished the total syntheses of syringin (1), along with its natural analogues 2-12, from a common starting material, syringaldehyde (13), in 4-8 steps with an overall yields of 11.8-61.3%. The anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were determined against NO production in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compounds 1-5, 7, and 9 exhibited different levels of anti-inflammatory activity.

Chemical constituents from the genus Saussurea and their biological activities

The genus

Tadehaginosides A-J, Phenylpropanoid Glucosides from Tadehagi triquetrum, Enhance Glucose Uptake via the Upregulation of PPARγ and GLUT-4 in C2C12 Myotubes

Ten new phenylpropanoid glucosides, tadehaginosides A-J (1-10), and the known compound tadehaginoside (11) were obtained from Tadehagi triquetrum. These phenylpropanoid glucosides were structurally characterized through extensive physical and chemical analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first set of dimeric derivatives of tadehaginoside with an unusual bicyclo[2.2.2]octene skeleton, whereas compounds 3 and 4 contain a unique cyclobutane basic core in their carbon scaffolds. The effects of these compounds on glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes were evaluated. Compounds 3-11, particularly 4, significantly increased the basal and insulin-elicited glucose uptake. The results from molecular docking, luciferase analyses, and ELISA indicated that the increased glucose uptake may be due to increases in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activity and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) expression. These results indicate that the isolated phenylpropanoid glucosides, particularly compound 4, have the potential to be developed into antidiabetic compounds.

Fomentarols A-D, sterols from the polypore macrofungus Fomes fomentarius

Four (1-4) hitherto unknown and seven (5-11) known ergostane-type sterols were isolated from the EtOH extract of the dried fruiting bodies of the polypore macrofungus Fomes fomentarius. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis, the structures of polyhydroxylated sterols 1-4 were elucidated to be (22E,24R)-3β,5α,6β,14α-tetrahydroxyergosta-7,9(11),22-triene (fomentarol A, 1), (22E,24R)-3β,5β,6α,7α-tetrahydroxy-8α,9α-dihydroergosta-14,22-diene (fomentarol B, 2), (22E,24R)-3β,5α-dihydroxy-6β-ethoxyergosta-7,22-diene (fomentarol C, 3), and (22E,24S)-3β,25-dihydroxy-15α-O-β-D-glucopyranosylergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (fomentarol D, 4), respectively. Rings A/B and B/C are in turn cis-fused in compound 2, which is uncommon in natural ergostane-type sterols. The potential biogenetic relationship of 2 and other ergostane-type sterols isolated from F. fomentarius was briefly discussed. Moderate cytotoxic effects of the isolated sterols against a small panel of human cancer cell lines were also established.

Natural products chemistry research 2010's progress in China

This article reviews the progresses made by Chinese scientists in the field of natural products chemistry in 2010. Selected compounds with unique structural features and/or promising bioactivities were described herein on the basis of structural types.

Triterpenoids and steroids from the fruits of Melia toosendan and their cytotoxic effects on two human cancer cell lines

Ten new triterpenoids, named meliasenins I-R (1-10), one new steroid (11), and 11 related known compounds (12-22) were isolated from fruits of Melia toosendan. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The relative configuration of 1, (20R*,23E)-25-hydroperoxyeupha-7,23-diene-3β,16β-diol (meliasenin I), was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All isolated triterpenoids (1-10, 12-15) and two steroids (11, 20) were tested for their cytotoxicity against U20S human osteosarcoma and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells using the MTT assay, and some of them were significantly cytotoxic (IC(50) <10 μg/mL). The insecticidal properties of compounds 1-15 and 20 were also briefly evaluated.