Constituents of Vittaria anguste-elongata and their biological activities

Chemical Constituents from Berchemia polyphylla var. Leioclada

One previously undescribed naphthoquinone-benzisochromanquinone dimer berpolydiquinone A (1), along with two previously undescribed naphthoquinone-anthraquinone dimers berpolydiquinones B and C (2-3), and one previously undescribed dimeric naphthalene berpolydinaphthalene A (4), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS), spectroscopic data, the exciton chirality method (ECM), and quantum chemical calculation. Notably, compounds (1-2 and 5) are dimeric quinones that share the same naphthoquinone moiety, specifically identified as 2-methoxystypandron. Compound (4) is a derivative of dimeric naphthalene with a symmetrical structure, which is a new structure type isolated from B. polyphylla var. leioclada for the first time. These findings suggest that B. polyphylla var. leioclada serves as a significant reservoir of structurally diverse phenolic compounds. This study provides a scientific foundation for regarding B. polyphylla var. leioclada as a potential source of "Tiebaojin".

Phytochemical investigation of aerial parts of Woodsia ilvensis and its plasmin-inhibitory activity in vitro

The fern plant Woodsia ilvensis (L.) R. Br. belongs to the Woodsiaceae family and its leaves are used to treat diarrhea, soft-tissue injuries, and external injuries. Investigations of the compounds obtained from the plasmin-inhibitory-active extracts of W. ilvensis led to the isolation of two undescribed maleimide N-glycosides, an undescribed stilbenoid glycoside, and five undescribed acetylated flavonol bisdesmosides, together with 19 known compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined using spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of the sugar moieties were determined via HPLC after acid hydrolysis. Among the isolated compounds, some flavonoids and stilbenoid glycosides exhibited plasmin-inhibitory activity.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antiproliferative Activity of Ulex gallii Planch. (Fabaceae), a Medicinal Plant from Galicia (Spain)

The genus Ulex comprises thirteen accepted species of perennial shrubs in the family Fabaceae. In Galicia (Spain) many of these are considered spontaneous colonizing species, which are easy to establish and maintain. Among them, Ulex gallii Planch. is used in traditional medicine for the same anti-infective, hypotensive and diuretic purposes as Ulex europaeus L., which is the most studied species. Likewise, some studies have described the antitumoral properties of several species. However, there are few scientific studies that justify the use of Ulex gallii Planch. and nothing has been reported about its composition to date. In our study, the entire plant was extracted with methanol and the crude extract was subjected to liquid phase extraction with distinct solvents, yielding three fractions: hexane (H), dichloromethane (D) and methanol (M), which were subsequently fractionated. The dichloromethane (D5, D7 and D8) and methanol (M4) sub-fractions showed antiproliferative activity on A549 (lung cancer) and AGS (stomach cancer) cell lines, and caspase 3/7 activity assessment and DNA quantification were also performed. Targeted analysis via UHPLC-QToF, in combination with untargeted analysis via MS-Dial, MS-Finder and Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS), allowed us to tentatively identify different metabolites in these sub-fractions, mostly flavonoids, that might be involved in their antiproliferative activity.

Four new glucosides from the aerial parts of Equisetum sylvaticum

Two previously undescribed megastigmane glucosides, (3S)-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-7,8-dihydro-β-ionone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (3S)-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-β-ionone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), an apocarotenoid glucoside named equiseoside A (3) and an unusual aromatic compound with a glucose-fused skeleton named equiseoside B (4), together with 35 known compounds (5-39) were isolated from the aerial parts of Equisetum sylvaticum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, CD, and HR-MS.

Phenolic Compounds From the Stems and Leaves of Berchemia lineata (L.) DC

Eight new phenolic compounds, named bercheminols A-H (1–8), and eleven known analogues were isolated from the stems and leaves of Berchemia lineata (L.) DC. Their structures including the absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical method, and quantum chemical calculations. Compound 1 possesses an unprecedented 3,4-dihydro-11H-benzo[b]pyrano[4,3-e] oxepin-11-one skeleton. The other new compounds belong to three structural types of natural products, including naphthopyrones (2–5), flavonoids (6–7), and bibenzyl (8). The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds were assayed. As a result, vittarin-B (9), rubrofusarin-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11), quercetin (14), kaempferol (15), and dihydrokaempferol (17) showed moderate inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 22.5, 28.0, 36.5, 32.7, and 31.9 μM, respectively.

Chemical Constituents of the Roots of Schisandra chinensis

One new phenylpropanoid schineolignin D (1), one new sesquiterpene (-)-(7S,10S)-3,11,12,13-tetrahydroxycalamenene (2), one new quinic acid 4-(E)-O-coumaroylquinic acid ethyl ester (3), and seven known compounds 4-10 were separated from the roots of Schisandra chinensis. The chemical structures of all compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopic experiments. All compounds were assessed for their neuroprotective effects on PC12 cell lines induced by H₂ O₂ . Compounds 1, 3-4, and 7 showed statistically significant neuroprotective activities with the negative control group at 12.5 μM.

Transfer-catalyst-free biomimetic asymmetric reduction of 3-sulfonyl coumarins with a regenerable NAD(P)H model

A novel transfer-catalyst-free biomimetic reduction of the tetrasubstituted olefins 3-sulfonyl coumarins with the chiral and regenerable [2.2]paracyclophane-based NAD(P)H model CYNAM has been developed, affording chiral 3-sulfonyl dihydrocoumarins with excellent enantioselectivities.

Coumarin-3-formylpyrazoles as 3-carbon synthons in cyclocondensation for the synthesis of spiro-fused pentacyclic spirooxindoles

Coumarin-3-formylpyrazoles have been synthesized and applied as 3-carbon synthons in reaction with 3-hydroxyoxindoles by using DABCO as the catalyst. A range of structurally diverse spiro-fused pentacyclic spirooxindoles, bearing a spirooxindole-γ-lactone and a 3,4-dihydrocoumarin substructure, could be smoothly obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent diastereoselectivities (all cases >20 : 1 dr). The asymmetric version of this tandem reaction was preliminarily investigated by using chiral organocatalysts.

Vascular Epiphytic Medicinal Plants as Sources of Therapeutic Agents: Their Ethnopharmacological Uses, Chemical Composition, and Biological Activities

This is an extensive review on epiphytic plants that have been used traditionally as medicines. It provides information on 185 epiphytes and their traditional medicinal uses, regions where Indigenous people use the plants, parts of the plants used as medicines and their preparation, and their reported phytochemical properties and pharmacological properties aligned with their traditional uses. These epiphytic medicinal plants are able to produce a range of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, and a total of 842 phytochemicals have been identified to date. As many as 71 epiphytic medicinal plants were studied for their biological activities, showing promising pharmacological activities, including as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. There are several species that were not investigated for their activities and are worthy of exploration. These epipythes have the potential to furnish drug lead compounds, especially for treating cancers, and thus warrant indepth investigations.

Absolute Configuration of a New Phenethylcyclohexanetriol and a New Natural Bibenzyl From Amomum celsum

Methanol extracts of the rhizomes or fruit of Amomum celsum Lamxay & M.F. Newman (Zingiberaceae) yielded 5 compounds one of which, 1,3 S,5 S-trihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenylethyl)cyclohexane (2), is new and one, 4-hydroxybibenzyl (1), is reported as a natural product for the first time. In addition, 3 known compounds, 5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (3), 3,5-diacetoxy-1,7- bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)heptane (4), and 1,4-hydroquinone (5), were also isolated. Their structures were determined by performing extensive analysis of high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 2 was unambiguously established by X-ray crystallography and Mosher’s method. Cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 2 against MCF-7 and Hep-G2 human cancer cell lines were tested in the sulforhodamine B cytotoxic assay. A plausible biosynthesis of 1 and 2 in A. celsum was proposed.

Cytotoxic activities of flavonoids from Centaurea scoparia

Phytochemical studies on the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Centaurea scoparia led to the isolation of two new flavonoids, 3′,4′-dihydroxy-(3′′,4′′-dihydro-3′′-hydroxy-4′′-acetoxy)-2′′,2′′-dimethylpyrano-(5′′,6′′:7,8)-flavone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3,3′,4′-trihydroxy-(3′′,4′′-dihydro-3′′,4′′-dihydroxy)-2′′,2′′-dimethylpyrano-(5′′,6′′:7,8)-flavone (2), along with eight known flavonoids isolated for the first time from this plant, cynaroside (3), Apigetrin (4), centaureidin (5), oroxylin A (6), 5,7-dihydroxy-3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone (7), atalantoflavone (8), 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,8-trimethoxy-2′′,2′′-dimethylpyrano (5′′,6′′:6,7)-flavone (9), and 3′,4′,5,8-tetramethoxy-2′′,2′′-dimethylpyrano (5′′,6′′:6,7)-flavone (10). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic tools including 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectroscopy. Cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated against human cervical carcinoma HeLa, human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, and human breast carcinoma MCF-7. Compound 2 was the most potent cytotoxic agent against HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ 0.079 μM.

Ferulates, amurenlactone A and amurenamide A from traditional Chinese medicine cortex Phellodendri Amurensis

Two new ferulate compounds, amurenlactone A (1) and amurenamide A (2), along with 11 known compounds have been isolated from the cortex of Phellodendron amurense. The structures of the new compounds were established based on 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectral analyzes. The known compounds were identified by comparison with authentic samples.

Antifungal dibenzofuran bis(bibenzyl)s from the liverwort Asterella angusta

Bioactivity-guided separation of an antifungal extract from the liverwort Asterella angusta afforded four bis(bibenzyl)s, asterelin A (1), asterelin B (2), 11-O-demethyl marchantin I (3), and dihydroptychantol A (4), together with six known ones. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D-NMR, MS), and that of 2 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of dibenzofuran bis(bibenzyl)s. The antifungal activity of the isolated bis(bibenzyl)s against the common clinical pathogenic fungus Candida albicans was evaluated using both the thin-layer chromatography bioautographic assay and the broth microdilution method. They showed moderate antifungal activities with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 16 microg/ml to 512 microg/ml.

Aldose Reductase and Advanced Glycation Endproducts Inhibitory Effect of Phyllostachys nigra

To evaluate active principles for diabetic complications from the black bamboo leaves, Phyllostachys nigra, eight compounds were isolated and tested for their effects on rat lens aldose reductase and advanced glycation endproducts. As a result, luteolin 6-C-(6''-O-trans-caffeoylglucoside) was found to show a strong aldose reductase and advanced glycation endproducts inhibition. This compound showed antioxidative activity measured in Photochem apparatus. It is concluded, therefore, that luteolin 6-C-(6''-O-trans-caffeoylglucoside) (6), a flavone of this plant, have antioxidative as well as aldose reductase and advanced glycation endproducts inhibitory effects. As a result, this compound could be offered as a leading compound for further study as a new natural products drug for diabetic complications.

Stilbenoids from Tragopogon orientalis

A phytochemical investigation of Tragopogon orientalis L. (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) yielded the natural products 6''-O-(7,8-dihydrocaffeoyl)-alpha,beta-dihydrorhaponticin, 3'-O-methyl-alpha,beta-dihydrorhaponticin, and (S)-3-(4-beta-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxyphtalide as well as known compounds alpha,beta-dihydrorhaponticin, 3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5,7-dimethoxyphthalide, p-dihydrocoumaric acid methyl ester, and 1-hydroxypinoresinol-1-O-beta-glucopyranoside. The structures were established by HR mass spectrometry, extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and CD spectroscopy. Moreover, the radical scavenging activities of the major compounds were measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The chemosystematic impact of the occurrence of stilbene derivatives in T. orientalis is discussed.