Ningpoensines A–C: unusual zwitterionic alkaloids from Scrophularia ningpoensis

Unusual N-pyridinium amino acid-type alkaloids from roots and rhizomes of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep

Two previously undescribed amino acid-type alkaloids with unusual N-pyridinium cation (1-2) and six known alkaloids (3-8), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnea. Their structures were characterized by UV, IR, NMR, and HRESIMS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were established through comparison of their experimental ECD spectra to the theoretical spectra of 2 calculated by TDDFT method. The plausible biosynthetic pathway of pyridinium was also proposed. Moreover, compound 4 exhibited weak XOD inhibitory activity with the inhibition rate of 65.8% at concentration of 10 μM.

Synthesis of Non-natural Aza-Iridoids via Ynamides and Molecular Networking-Based Tracing of Their In Planta Bioconversion

A synthesis of new-to-nature aza-iridoids via ynamides is presented. ZrCl₄ proved to be the best acid to perform this transformation. Various ynamides were accommodated, and seco-iridoids could be obtained as well. Aza-iridoids were infiltrated into leaves of Scrophularia Nodosa, an iridoid-producing plant species. High-resolution mass spectrometry coupled to computational metabolomic approaches was employed for the detection of aza-iridoid bioconversion products.

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl: a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVES

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl (SNH) is a commonly used medicinal plant in East Asia. Scrophulariae Radix (SR) is the dried roots of SNH, and is one of the most commonly used medicinal parts of SNH, and is an essential traditional medicine and widely used in East Asia for more than 2000 years. SR is used for clearing away heat and cooling blood, nourishing Yin and reducing fire, detoxicating and resolving a mass. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics of SNH based on the surveyed and summarized literature.

KEY FINDINGS

Up to now, iridoids, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes and other compounds have been isolated and identified from SNH. The extract and chemical components of SNH exerts multiple pharmacological effects, such as hepatoprotective effect, anti-inflammatory effect, neuroprotective effect, anti-ventricular remodeling effect and other activities. Various methods have been developed for the quality control of SNH, mainly for SR. Some bioactive compounds in SNH exhibited different pharmacokinetic behaviours and individual metabolic transformation profiles.

SUMMARY

This review will contribute to understanding the correlation between the pharmacological activities and the traditional usage of SNH, and useful to rational use and drug development in the future.

Natural Products Research in China From 2015 to 2016

This review covers the literature published by chemists from China during the 2015-2016 on natural products (NPs), with 1,985 citations referring to 6,944 new compounds isolated from marine or terrestrial microorganisms, plants, and animals. The emphasis is on 730 new compounds with a novel skeleton or/and significant bioactivity, together with their source organism and country of origin.

Two pairs of unusual melibiose and raffinose esters from Scrophularia ningpoensis

A pair of unusual melibiose esters (1α/1β) and a pair of unusual raffinose esters (2α/2β), were isolated from Scrophularia ningpoensis. Structures of them were established by detailed spectroscopic analyses to be 6-O-(E)-cinnamoyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-α(β)-d-glucopyranose (1α/1β) and 6-O-(E)/(Z)-cinnamoyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fructofuranose (2α/2β), respectively. All these compounds were evaluated for antifouling activity against the settlement of Balanus amphitrite larvae, along with the cytotoxic effect against the proliferation of HeLa cell lines.

The genus Scrophularia: a source of iridoids and terpenoids with a diverse biological activity

CONTEXT

Scrophularia genus (Scrophulariaceae) includes about 350 species commonly known as figwort. Many species of this genus grow wild in nature and have not been cultivated yet. However, some species are in danger of extinction.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reviews the chemical compounds, biological activities and the ethnopharmacology of some Scrophularia species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All information was obtained through reported data on bibliographic database such as Scopus, United States National Agricultural Library, Biological Abstracts, EMBASE, PubMed, MedlinePlus, PubChem and Springer Link (1934-2017). The information in different Pharmacopoeias on this genus was also gathered from 1957 to 2007.

RESULTS

The structures of 204 compounds and their biological activity were presented in the manuscript: glycoside esters, iridoid glycosides and triterpenoids are the most common compounds in this genus. Among them, scropolioside like iridoids have shown potential for anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and wound healing activity. Among the less frequently isolated compounds, resin glycosides such as crypthophilic acids have shown potent antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities.

CONCLUSION

The Scrophularia genus seems to be a rich source of iridoids and terpenoids, but isolation and identification of its alkaloids have been a neglected area of scientific study. The diverse chemical compounds and biological activities of this genus will motivate further investigation on Scrophularia genus as a source of new therapeutic medications.