Cytotoxic 9,19-cycloartane type triterpenoid glycosides from the roots of Actaea dahurica

Secondary Metabolites with Anti-Inflammatory from the Roots of Cimicifuga taiwanensis

The genus Cimicifuga is one of the smallest genera in the family Ranunculaceae. Cimicifugae Rhizoma originated from rhizomes of Cimicifuga simplex, and C. dahurica, C. racemosa, C. foetida, and C. heracleifolia have been used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic remedies in Chinese traditional medicine. Inflammation is related to many diseases. Cimicifuga taiwanensis was often used in folk therapy in Taiwan for inflammation. Phytochemical investigation and chromatographic separation of extracts from the roots of Cimicifuga taiwanensis has led to the isolation of six new compounds: cimicitaiwanins A-F (1-6, respectively). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis (1D- and 2D-NMR, MS, and UV) and comparison with the literature data. The effect of some isolates on the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was evaluated. Of the isolates, 3-6 exhibited potent anti-NO production activity, with IC50 values ranging from 6.54 to 24.58 μM, respectively, compared with that of quercetin, an iNOS inhibitor with an IC50 value of 34.58 μM. This is the first report on metabolite from the endemic Taiwanese plant-C. taiwanensis.

Systematically identifying the anti-inflammatory constituents of Cimicifuga dahurica by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology analysis

Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim, which is also regarded as the main origin of "Shengma" in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, has been used as a cooling and detoxification agent for thousands of years. Our previous phytochemical investigations of C. dahurica extracts (CDEs) led to the isolation of a series of 9,19-cycloalkane triterpenoids and phenolic acids showing a potential anti-inflammatory activity. However, the chemical profiling of CDEs and the material basis of its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo has not been clarified. In the present study, the CDE chemical profile and prototype components in rat plasma were identified via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As a result, a total of 106 components were identified or tentatively characterized in CDEs, including 54 triterpenoids, 35 phenolic acids, eight amides and nine other type constituents (39 compounds were confirmed with the reference standards). In addition, 20 prototype components (15 triterpenoids and five phenolic acids) were identified in rat plasma, which potentially related to the anti-inflammatory effects of CDEs. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities of the main prototype components were further evaluated by their inhibitory effects on the production of NO, as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which indicated that 9,19-cycloalkane triterpenoids may play an anti-inflammatory role by down-regulating the expression of iNOS.

Structural Determination of a New Cycloartane Glycoside from Asplenium ruprechtii

We characterized a new cycloartane glycoside, herein known as aspleniumside F (1), along with five known compounds as kaempferol-3-O-[(6-O-(E)-feruloyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-D-galacopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-[(6-O-(E)-feruloyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-[(6-O-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-[(6-O-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), and kaempferol-3-O-[(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), from Asplenium ruprechtii Sa. Kurata, a folk medicine widely used to treat Thromboangiitis obliterans in China, Japan, and Korea. Based on spectroscopic, mainly 1D-, 2D-NMR and (+)-HR-ESI-MS, analyses as well as through comparisons with previous reports, its chemical structure was determined as 3β,24,30-tri-β-D-glucopyranosyl-23,25-dihydroxycycloartane (= (23R,24R)-3β,24-bis-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-23,25-dihydroxy-9β-9,19-cyclolanostan-29-yl β-D-glucopyranoside). According to the ¹ H coupling constant of anomeric protons and co-TLC of the acid hydrolysate with D-glucose, all three glycoside groups in 1 were revealed as β-D-glucopyranosyl. Furthermore, SOD-like antioxidant activity evaluation via IC₅₀ of 12.43, 6.78, 9.12, 6.94 and 4.85 μM revealed that compounds 2-6 had bioactivity.

Germacranolides from Elephantopus scaber L. and their cytotoxic activities

Seven undescribed germacranolides, named as scabertopinolide A-G were obtained from whole herbs of Elephantopus scaber L. The determination of their structures was conducted via comprehensive spectroscopic analyses combined with experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic data and quantum mechanical ECD calculations. The absolute configuration of scabertopinolide A was determined by X-ray crystallography data analysis. The cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated against three human cancer cell lines HepG2, Hep3B (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines), and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line). Scabertopinolide G exhibited the most significant cytotoxic activities against the three cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values between 7.0 and 10.3 μM. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis has suggested that scabertopinolide G may cause death of cancer cells through apoptosis induction.

The Chemical Structure and Bioactivity of Cycloartane-type Compounds

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For decades now, compounds in the cycloartane-type series have been shown to have versatile pharmacological activities. However, no extensive review has been written to summarize these health-beneficial activities. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to systematically highlight the biological activities of these compounds, including their antitumor and anti-osteoporosis effects, their effects on receptors, cytokine release, and chronic renal failure, as well as their tyrosinase inhibitory, anticomplement, anti-parasite, anti-HIV, and antituberculosis activities. In this review, we have summarized the structures of over 200 compounds based on their characteristics and described their structureactivity relationships (SARs), and potential mechanisms of action.

Cytotoxic 9,19-cycloartane Triterpenoids from the Roots of Actaea dahurica

Eight undescribed 9,19-cycloartane type triterpenoid glycosides (cimdalglnoside A-H) and ten known analogues were obtained from the phytochemical research on the roots of Actaea dahurica (syn. Cimicifuga dahurica). All compounds were characterised by spectroscopic experiments, and chemical method. All the compounds isolated were assayed for cytotoxicity to five human cancer cell lines. Cimdalglnoside G showed promising cytotoxicities against Hela, and MCF-7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values at 7.7 and 12.2 μM.