Highly oxygenated and structurally diverse diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia

ent-Abietane-type lactones with anti-inflammatory activity from Euphorbia helioscopia

Euphohelinodes D-I (1-6), six previously unreported ent-abietane lactones, along with two known analogues (7 and 8), were isolated from the anti-inflammatory fraction extracted from E. helioscopia by a bioactivity-guided isolation. Their structures were characterized using a combination of spectroscopic data interpretation, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ECD analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The most active candidate, euphohelinode H (5), had better inhibitory activity against NO production with an IC50 value of 30.23 ± 2.33 μM. Further study revealed that 5 significantly suppressed the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Two new jatrophane diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia with activity towards autophagic flux

Nine jatrophane diterpenoids were isolated from the whole plant Euphorbia helioscopia, including two new ones, helioscopnins A (1) and B (2). Comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and ECD calculations elucidated their structures, including absolute configurations. All compounds were evaluated for bioactivity towards autophagic flux by flow cytometry using HM mCherry-GFP-LC3 cells. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 significantly increased autophagic flux.

Diverse diterpenoids and a triterpenoid from Euphorbia spinidens Bornm. ex Prokh

Four previously unreported diterpenoids including three ent-atisanes (1-3) and one ent-abietane (4), along with one known linear triterpenoid (5) and five known diterpenoids including four myrsinanes (6-9), and one abietane (10) have been isolated from the roots of Euphorbia spinidens Bornm. ex Prokh. The structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR and comparison of the data with those reported in the literature. Antimicrobial potential of isolated compounds were also evaluated. Guionianol B (10) showed good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MIC value of 6.25 μg/mL.

Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Compounds Isolated from Plants of Euphorbia Genus

Euphorbia is a large genus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Around 250 species of the Euphorbia genus have been studied chemically and pharmacologically; different compounds have been isolated from these species, especially diterpenes and triterpenes. Several reports show that several species have anti-inflammatory activity, which can be attributed to the presence of diterpenes, such as abietanes, ingenanes, and lathyranes. In addition, it was found that some diterpenes isolated from different Euphorbia species have anti-cancer activity. In this review, we included compounds isolated from species of the Euphorbia genus with anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic effects published from 2018 to September 2023. The databases used for this review were Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer, and Google Scholar, using the keywords Euphorbia with anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic activity. In this review, 68 studies were collected and analyzed regarding the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of 264 compounds obtained from 36 species of the Euphorbia genus. The compounds included in this review are terpenes (95%), of which 68% are diterpenes, especially of the types ingenanes, abietanes, and triterpenes (approximately 15%).

LC-QToF chemical profiling of Euphorbia grantii Oliv. and its potential to inhibit LPS-induced lung inflammation in rats via the NF-κB, CY450P2E1, and P38 MAPK14 pathways

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening syndrome that causes high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aerial parts of Euphorbia grantii Oliv. were extracted with methanol to give a total methanolic extract (TME), which was further fractionated into dichloromethane (DCMF) and the remaining mother liquor (MLF) fractions. Biological guided anti-inflammatory assays in vitro revealed that the DCMF showed the highest activity (IC50 6.9 ± 0.2 μg/mL and 0.29 ± 0.01 μg/mL) compared to. celecoxib (IC50 of 88.0 ± 1 μg/mL and 0.30 ± 0.01 μg/mL) on COX-1 and COX-2, respectively. Additionally, anti-LOX activity was IC50 = 24.0 ± 2.5 μg/mL vs. zileuton with IC50 of 40.0 ± 0.5 μg/mL. LC-DAD-QToF analysis of TME and the active DCMF resulted in the tentative identification and characterization of 56 phytochemical compounds, where the diterpenes were the dominated metabolites. An LPS-induced inflammatory model of ALI (10 mg/kg i.p) was used to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of DCMF in vivo at dose of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg compared to dexamethasone (5 mg/kg i.p). Our treatments significantly reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and MPO), increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH), decreased the activity of oxidative stress enzyme (MDA), and reduced the expression of inflammatory genes (p38.MAPK14 and CY450P2E1). The western blotting of NF-κB p65 in lung tissues was inhibited after orally administration of the DCMF. Histopathological study of the lung tissues, scoring, and immunohistochemistry of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) were also assessed. In both dose regimens, DCMF of E. grantii prevented further lung damage and reduced the side effects of LPS on acute lung tissue injury.

ent-Atisane Diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia and Their Anti-inflammatory Activities

Phytochemical investigation on the anti-inflammatory fraction extracted from the whole plant of Euphorbia helioscopia L. led to the isolation of three new ent-atisane diterpenoids (1-3) and five known analogues (4-8). The structures and absolute configurations of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of the NMR, MS, IR, ECD, and X-ray crystallography. It is worth mentioning that compound 3 belongs to a rare class of ent-atisane diterpenoid featuring a hydroxyl group at C-9. Bioactivity investigation showed that compounds 4, 7, and 8 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates their anti-inflammatory potential.

Antimalarial and neuroprotective ent-abietane diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Phlogacanthus curviflorus

Six new ent-abietane diterpenoids, abientaphlogatones A-F (1-6), along with two undescribed ent-abietane diterpenoid glucosides, abientaphlogasides A-B (7-8) and four known analogs were isolated from the aerial parts ofPhlogacanthus curviflorus (P. curviflorus). The structures of these compounds were determined using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and quantum chemical calculations. Notably, compounds 5 and 6 represented the first reported instances of ent-norabietane diterpenoids from the genus Phlogacanthus. In the β-hematin formation inhibition assay, compounds 2, 4, 7-10, and 12 displayed antimalarial activity, with IC50 values of 12.97-65.01 μmol·L-1. Furthermore, compounds 4, 5, 8, and 10 demonstrated neuroprotective activity in PC12 cell injury models induced by H2O2 and MPP+.

Euphohelides A-C, ent-Abietane-Type Norditerpene Lactones from Euphorbia helioscopia and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Three unreported ent-abietane-type norditerpene lactones, euphohelides A-C (1-3), and 11 known analogs (4-14) were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia L. Euphohelide A (1) is an unprecedented 2-nor-ent-abietane lactone bearing a unique 5/6/6/5 tetracyclic system. Euphohelides B (2) and C (3) possess 2-nor-6/6/6/5 and 2,3-dinor-5/6/6/5 dilactone tetracyclic moieties, respectively. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, computational ECD, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. A biomimetic synthesis of 1 was achieved from precursor 4 based on the speculative biogenetic pathway. Compounds 1 and 5 significantly alleviated the release of LPS-induced NO with IC₅₀ values of 32.98 ± 1.13 and 33.82 ± 3.25 μM, which might be related to the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Phytochemical and pharmacological review of diterpenoids from the genus Euphorbia Linn (2012-2021)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Euphorbia is one of the major genera in angiosperms, which is widely distributed all over the world, including Asia, Africa and Central and South America. The roots or tubers of Euphorbia are famous for medicinal purposes, especially in China. Many of them, such as Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr, Euphorbia fischeriana Steud and Euphorbia Kansui S.L.Liou ex S.B.Ho. . are used as Chinese herbal medicines.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This paper reviews the diterpenoids isolated from the genus Euphorbia species and the pharmacological activities of these compounds to evaluate its traditional use and potential future development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on the studies of the genus Euphorbia Linn was collected from scientific journals, books and reports via library and electronic data search (Scifinder, Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, Google Scholar, Springer, Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, CNKI and Kew Plants of the Word Online). Meanwhile, it was also obtained from published works of material medica, folk records, ethnophmacological literatures, Ph.D. and Masters dissertations.

RESULTS

Known as the main constituents of the genus Euphorbia Linn, Diterpenoids possess many pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammation, antiviral activities and cytotoxicity. To date, various types of diterpenoids were identified from this genus, including isopimarane, rosane, abietane, ent-kaurane, ent-atisane. cembrane, casbane, lathyrane, myrsinane, jatropholane, tigliane, ingenane, jatrophane, paraliane, pepluane, and euphoractin.

CONCLUSIONS

This review describes 14 types of diterpenoid isolated from 45 Euphorbia species from 2012 to 2021, a total of 615 compounds. Among them, mainly include jatrophane (171), lathyrane (92), myrsinane (62), abietane (70), ent-atisane (36), ent-kaurane (7), tigliane (26) and ingenane (19). The possible biological pathways of these compounds were presumed. At the same time, more than 10 biological activities of these compounds were summarized, such as anti-inflammation, antiviral activities and cytotoxicity.

Jatrophane diterpenoids with cytotoxic activity from the whole plant of Euphorbia heliosocpia L

Eight undescribed jatrophane diterpenoids, euphohelinoids A-H, along with 11 known analogues were isolated from the whole plant of Euphorbia heliosocpia L. Among them, euphohelinoids A and B contain a rare type of jatrophane diterpenoid skeleton with a 7,8-seco scaffold. To the best of our knowledge, only two such jatrophane diterpenoids have been reported. In addition, euphohelinoids G and H belong to a rare class of jatrophane diterpene possessing a β-hydroxy group at C-11. Structure elucidation of these undescribed diterpenoids was performed by spectroscopic analysis, including NMR, HRESIMS, IR, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and DP4+ analysis. The cytotoxicity of 17 abundant jatrophane diterpenes was evaluated against HepG2, HeLa, HL-60, and SMMC-7721 cell lines. Seven compounds presented potent cytotoxicity against the four tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values from 8.1 to 29.7 μM. Moreover, preliminary structure-activity relationships for these jatrophane diterpenoids were discussed.

Euphorbia diterpenoids: isolation, structure, bioactivity, biosynthesis, and synthesis (2013-2021)

Covering: 2013 to 2021As the characteristic metabolites of Euphorbia plants, Euphorbia diterpenoids have always been a hot topic in related science communities due to their intriguing structures and broad bioactivities. In this review, we intent to provide an in-depth and extensive coverage of Euphorbia diterpenoids reported from 2013 to the end of 2021, including 997 new Euphorbia diterpenoids and 78 known ones with latest progress. Multiple aspects will be summarized, including their occurrences, chemical structures, bioactivities, and syntheses, in which the structure-activity relationship and biosynthesis of this class will be discussed for the first time.

New Diterpenes with Potential Antitumoral Activity Isolated from Plants in the Years 2017-2022

Diterpenes represent a wider class of isoprenoids, with more than 18,000 isolated compounds, and are present in plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals in both terrestrial and marine environments. Here, we report on the fully characterised structures of 251 new diterpenes, isolated from higher plants and published from 2017, which are shown to have antitumoral activity. An overview on the most active compounds, showing IC50 < 20 μM, is provided for diterpenes of different classes. The most active compounds were extracted from 29 different plant families; particularly, Euphorbiaceae (69 compounds) and Lamiaceae (54 compounds) were the richest sources of active compounds. A better activity than the positive control was obtained with 33 compounds against the A549 cell line, 28 compounds against the MCF-7 cell line, 9 compounds against the HepG2 cell line, 8 compounds against the Hep3B cell line, 19 compounds against the SMMC-7721 cell line, 9 compounds against the HL-60 cell line, 24 compounds against the SW480 cell line, and 19 compounds against HeLa.

On The Radical Scavenging and DNA Repairing Activities by Natural Oxygenated Diterpenoids: Theoretical Insights

Diterpenoids are abundant and important compounds in Euphorbia species owing to their structural diversity; therefore, in this study, we investigate the modern-concept antioxidant activities, including free-radical scavenging and oxidative DNA damage repairing, of highly oxygenated diterpenoids originating from the aerial part of Euphorbia helioscopia. Four compounds with structural types of ent-abietane, containing a fused furan ring in their structures, including euphelionolide A (1), euphelionolide D (2), euphelionolide I (3), and euphelionolide L (4) are selected. First, the radical-scavenging activity of these compounds was evaluated with two typical radicals HOO^• and HO^• in water and pentyl ethanoate (PEA, to mimic lipid environment) via three main mechanisms, namely, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), radical adduct formation (RAF), and single electron transfer. It is found that the studied compounds are able to scavenge free radicals at multiple reactive sites favorably via HAT and RAF mechanisms, in which the former dominates in the case with HOO^• while both mechanisms are competitive in the reaction with HO^•. Second, chemical repairing of DNA damage is modeled with the H-atom and single electron being transferred from the studied molecules to damaged 2'-deoxyguanosine (2dG) (i.e., 2dG^• radicals and 2dG^•+ radical cation). Among the four compounds, euphelionolide A is shown as the most effective radical scavenger and also the highest potential species for chemical repairing of radical-damaged DNA in both water and PEA.

Jatrophane Diterpenoids with Kv1.3 Ion Channel Inhibitory Effects from Euphorbia helioscopia

Chemical investigation of bioactive components from the whole plant of Euphorbia helioscopia resulted in the isolation and identification of 17 new jatrophane diterpenoids, namely, heliojatrone D (1) and helioscopids A-P (2-17), along with 11 known analogues (18-28). The structural elucidation of the new diterpenoids was achieved by the comprehensive analysis of HRESIMS, NMR, and X-ray crystallographic data, as well as using electronic circular dichroism. Structurally, heliojatone D (1) is the fourth natural diterpenoid with a rare bicyclo[8.3.0]tridecane skeleton. The inhibitory effect of the isolated diterpenoids against Kv1.3 ion channels was evaluated in a human embryonic kidney 293 cell model transfected with plasmid encoding Kv1.3, resulting in the identification of a series of potent Kv1.3 ion channel inhibitors, with the most active ones (2 and 15) showing IC₅₀ values of 0.9 μM.

Diterpenoids with Rearranged 9(10→11)-abeo-10,12-Cyclojatrophane Skeleton and the First (15S)-Jatrophane from Euphorbia helioscopia: Structural Elucidation, Biomimetic Conversion, and Their Immunosuppressive Effects

Two novel diterpenoids, one with a rearranged trans,trans-fused tricyclo[10.3.0.04,6]pentadecane framework (1) and the other with an unprecedented 15S configuration (2), were isolated from Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, quantum-chemical calculation, and X-ray crystallographic data. Biosynthetically, 1 has a unique "cyclopropane-shift-like" biogenesis involving an oxa-di-π-methane (ODPM) rearrangement, which inspired us to accomplish the biomimetic conversion of 3 to 1. Moreover, compound 1 displayed a potent immunosuppressive effect by inhibiting Kv1.3 voltage-gated channels.

Monoterpene indole alkaloids from Melodinus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr

Melodicochinines A - D (1-4), four new monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs), along with 21 known ones, were isolated from the stems and twigs of Melodinus cochinchinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. A ubiquitin-rhodamine 110 assay showed that 11-methyloxytabersonine had potential inhibitory effect against ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7).

Diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia and their enhancement of NK cell-mediated killing of NSCLC cells

Fourteen previously undescribed diterpenoids, including an unusual diterpenoid (1) with a 9,10-seco-jatrophane skeleton, ten jatrophane-type diterpenoids (2-11), two lathyrane-type diterpenoids (12, 13), and an abietane-type diterpenoid (14), together with thirty-six known ones (15-50), were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia L. The structures of the new isolates were characterized by spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and computational prediction of ECD and chemical shifts. Thirty-nine abundant diterpenoids were evaluated for their enhancement of NK cell-mediated killing of NSCLC cells. As a result, compounds 24, 33, and 41 were found to significantly enhance the killing activity of NK cells towards H1299-luci cells and A549-luci cells at the concentration of 2.5 μM.

Diterpenoids from the genus Euphorbia: Structure and biological activity (2013-2019)

Euphorbiaceae is one of the largest families of higher plants, including 7500 species, and many of them are used as medicines in China. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 455 previously undescribed diterpenoids were isolated from 53 species of Euphorbia, and some skeleton types were first discovered from the genus Euphorbia. Most of the diterpenoids isolated from Euphorbia spp. have been tested for their biological activity, and some of them were first reported for Euphorbia diterpenoids in recent years, such as neuroprotection, antimalarial activity and inhibition of osteoclast formation. In this review, we summarize all the isolated diterpenoids from the genus Euphorbia according to their skeleton types, classify all these diterpenoids into 26 normal classes and 37 novel skeleton types, and summarize their biological activity.

Antimicrobial ent-abietane-type diterpenoids from the roots of Euphorbia wallichii

Three previously undescribed ent-abietane-type diterpenoids, designated as 11β-hydroxy-14-oxo-17-al-ent-abieta-8(9),13(15)-dien-16,12β-olide (1), 11β,17-dihydroxy-12-methoxy-ent-abieta-8(14),13(15)-dien-16,12ɑ-olide (2), and 14ɑ-hydroxy-17-al-ent-abieta-7(8),11(12),13(15)-trien-16,12-olide (3), were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the roots of Euphorbia wallichii. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis (NMR, IR, UV, and MS). The isolated diterpenoids were tested in vitro for antimicrobial potentials against 6 pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, compounds 1-3 exhibited some antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration values less than 60 μg/ml.[Formula: see text].

Euphorbia helioscopia L.: A phytochemical and pharmacological overview

Euphorbia helioscopia L. which is called "Zeqi" in China, is a medicinal plant extensively distributed worldwide, especially in China, and has been widely used for decades to treat various diseases including edema, phlegm and cough, malaria, dysentery, scab, tuberculous fistula, osteomyelitis, and cancer. The present review aims to provide up-to-date information on E. helioscopia, including its traditional uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacological research, toxicology, and human studies in exploring future scientific and therapeutic potentials in disease treatment. So far, a total of 173 terpenoids, as well as polyphenols, steroids, lipids, and volatile oils have been isolated and identified from E. helioscopia. Among them, diterpenoids and flavonoids are the most important and abundant bioactive constituents. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that E. helioscopia has outstanding bioactivities especially on antiproliferative and multidrug resistance modulating. Nevertheless, most of these studies were carried out in vitro. The quality control, metabolites identification, in-depth in-vivo studies as well as toxicology and human studies for the crude extracts and active components are still very limited. Consequently, more well-designed pre-clinical and clinical studies are required to justify their reported therapeutic potential.

ent-Atisane diterpenoids: isolation, structure and bioactivity

Covering: up to 2020 ent-Atisane diterpenoids are a class of over 150 members with diverse structures and valuable bioactivities. These compounds share a curious history in which the synthesis of the archetypal member preceded its isolation from natural sources. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the isolation, structure, and bioactivity of ent-atisane diterpenoids from their discovery in 1965 to the present day.

Two new ent-abietane diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia

Two new ent-abietane diterpenoids, euphcopenoids A (1) and B (2), along with six known analogues (3 - 8), were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were determined by various spectroscopic methods (MS, UV, IR, and NMR), and the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by quantum chemical ECD calculations. All compounds were screened for the cytotoxicity against A549 and HEPG2 cancer cell lines, but were inactive.[Formula: see text].

Lathyrane diterpenoids from Jatropha podagrica and their antitumor activities in human osteosarcoma cells

Two new lathyrane-type diterpenoids, jatropodagins A and B (1 and 2), and five known analogues (3-7), were isolated from the stems of Jatropha podagrica. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and calculated ECD analyses. The cytotoxicities of all the lathyrane-type diterpenoids (1-7) were evaluated against two human osteosarcoma cell lines (Saos-2 and MG-63). Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against Saos-2 and MG-63 with IC₅₀ values of 8.08 and 14.64 μM, respectively. The IC₅₀ values for the positive control 5-FU against the Saos-2 and MG-63 cell lines were 19.01 and 25.00 μM, respectively. Morphological features of apoptosis activities were evaluated in 1-treated Saos-2 cells and the results confirmed apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Three new diterpenoids from Euphorbia peplus

Three new diterpenoids (1-3) (two abietane type diterpenoids and a paralianone type diterpenoid), together with four known compounds (4-7) were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia peplus. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis and physicochemical characteristics. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-7 against five human tumour cell lines were evaluated, however, they were inactive at the concentration of 40 μM. The compound 3 enhanced lysosomal biogenesis with Lyso Tracker staining intensity of 132.6%.

Alopecines A-E, five chloro-containing matrine-type alkaloids with immunosuppressive activities from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides

Alopecines A-E (1-5), five unusual matrine-type alkaloids featuring with an additional dichlorocyclopropane (1-3) or a di/tri-chloromethyl (4/5) attached on the D ring, were isolated from the seeds of Sophora alopecuroides. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques, and X-ray diffraction analyses or time-dependent density functional theory-based electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD) calculations. Alkaloid 4 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of ConA-induced T lymphocytes or LPS-induced B cells with IC₅₀ value of 3.98 or 3.74 μM, respectively.

An Antiproliferative ent-Kaurane Diterpene Isolated from the Roots of Mallotus japonicus Induced Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells

Mallotus japonicus has been evaluated for the treatment of dermatitis, inflammatory conditions, and cancer. Diterpenes, one of the major constituents of M. japonicus, possess various pharmacological effects. In this study, 2 known diterpenes, anomaluone (6) and 16-epiabbeokutone (7), along with other known compounds, 2-hydroxy ferulic acid (1), bergenin (2), gallocatechin (3), catechin (4), erythro,erythro-1-[4-[2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethoxy]-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-1,2,3- propanetriol (5), and gallincin (8), were isolated from M. japonicus. Cytotoxicity assays in blood cancer cell models demonstrated that M. japonicus compounds possess potent antiproliferative activity. In addition, treatment with compound 6 increased the number of apoptotic cells, led to cell-cycle arrest at the subG0/G1 phase, and decreased the number of cells in the S and G2/M phases. Compound 6 also displayed potent mitochondrial depolarization effects in Jurkat cells. These findings revealed that the cytotoxic effects of 6 were mediated by intracellular signaling, possibly through a mechanism involving upregulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Thus, compound 6 could be a potential multi-target therapeutic agent for leukemia.

Synthesis of New Lathyrane Diterpenoid Derivatives from Euphorbia lathyris and Evaluation of Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Euphorbia factor L₃ , a lathyrane diterpenoid extracted from Euphorbia lathyris, was found to display good anti-inflammatory activity with very low cytotoxicity. To find more potent anti-inflammatory drugs, two series of Euphorbia factor L₃ derivatives with fatty and aromatic acids were designed and synthesized. Among them, lathyrane derivative 5n exhibited most potent inhibition on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells with no obvious cytotoxicity. To determine the key characteristics of Euphorbia factor L₃ derivatives that contribute to anti-inflammatory activity, we conducted a structure-activity relationship study of these compounds.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Euphorbia helioscopia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine

Euphorbia helioscopia Linn. known as a traditional Chinese medicine of Euphorbiaceae, which contains terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, acetophenones, tannins, phenylpropanoids, cerebrosides and so on. Euphorbia helioscopia L. was used to treat malignant tumors and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as cough, phlegm-turbidity, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. The complete chloroplast genome was assembled by Illumina paired-end reads data. The length of circular cp genome distribution in 160,041 bp, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 88,832 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,145 bp and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,032 bp. In addition, 11 genes possess a single intron, while the other two genes (ycf3, clpP) have a couple of introns. The GC content of entire Euphorbia helioscopia L. cp genome, LSC, SSC and IR regions are 35.9, 33.1, 30.3, and 42.3%, respectively. From the NJ phylogenetic tree analysis showed that Euphorbia helioscopia L. and Euphorbia esula are closely related to each other within the family Euphorbiaceae.

NO inhibitory diterpenoids as potential anti-inflammatory agents from Euphorbia antiquorum

Two new ent-atisane-type diterpenoids (1 and 2), three new lathyrane-type diterpenoids (3-5), and seven known analogues (6-12) were isolated from Euphorbia antiquorum. The structures of these diterpenoids were established by analysis of their NMR, MS, and electronic circular dichroism data. The anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated biologically and compounds 1, 4, 7, 8, and 10 displayed strong NO inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values less than 40 μM. The potential anti-inflammatory mechanism was also investigated using molecular docking and Western blotting.

Bioactive Diterpenoids from the Stems of Euphorbia antiquorum

A total of 18 diterpenoids, including 10 new analogues (1-10), were isolated from Euphorbia antiquorum. The structures were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, and circular dichroism data analysis was adopted to confirm the absolute configurations of 1-10. Compounds 1-9 were classified as ent-atisane diterpenoids, and 10 was assigned as an ent-kaurane diterpenoid. The biological evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition was conducted, and all of these isolates showed the property of inhibiting NO generation in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 cells. Further research on molecular docking disclosed the affinities between the diterpenoids obtained and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum choisianum

Twenty-one polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, including three new compounds named as hyperichoisins A (3), B (14) and C (21), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum choisianum. The structures of those new compounds were elucidated by analysis of mass, NMR data, and chiroptical properties. A bioassay showed that otogirinin B had significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation of A549.

Diverse lignans with anti-inflammatory activity from Urceola rosea

Seventeen structurally diverse lignans, comprising six new compounds, ecdysanols A (1), B (11), C - E (13-15), and F (17), were isolated from the caulis of Urceola rosea. The structures and absolute configurations of these new compounds were elucidated by means of extensive analysis of mass and NMR data, as well as chiroptical properties. A bioassay in vitro showed that all lignans possessed anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of TNF-α, NO and/or IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Ecdysanol F (17) showed the most strongly effect against NO and IL-6 levels.

Euphorhelipanes A and B, Triglyceride-Lowering Euphorbia Diterpenoids with a Bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane Core from Euphorbia helioscopia

Euphorhelipanes A (1) and B (2), two Euphorbia diterpenoids with a new 4-(5,5-dimethylheptan-2-yl)-2,7-dimethylbicyclo[4.3.0]nonane skeleton, were isolated from a 95% ethanol extract of the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, quantum chemical calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first examples of Euphorbia diterpenoids with a 5/6 fused carbon ring system, and their plausible biosynthetic pathways originating from jatrophanes are proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 showed a triglyceride-lowering effect in oleic-acid-stimulated HuH7 cells at concentrations of 1-50 μM.

Anti-inflammatory constituents from Perilla frutescens on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. (Lamiaceae) is a traditionally medicinal herb in East Asian countries to treat various diseases. In present study, the low-polarity constituents of the aerial parts of P. frutescens were investigated and their anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were assayed. Three new furanoid monoterpenoids, named as frutescenones A - C (1-3), together with thirteen known compounds (4-16) were isolated and identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Among these components, 1 is an unusual monoterpenoid with 2,3'-bifuran skeleton, and 3 is a rare perillaketone-adenine hybrid heterodimer, while the revised NMR arrangements of 4 were reported at the first time. Furthermore, monoterpenoid 4 and alkaloid 15 showed remarkably inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory mediator (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and/or IL-6) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.