Steroidal Constituents from Roots and Rhizomes of Smilacina japonica

Arylsulfonamides From the Roots and Rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis Baker

One new arylsulfonamide (1) and a novel natural product (2) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis Baker. Their structures were characterized by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods, as 2-[2-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonylamino)-benzoylamino]-benzoic acid methyl ester (1), 2-[([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)amino]-benzoic acid (2), respectively. Additionally, the cytotoxic activity of 1-2 was evaluated on human HCT116, HT29, A549, and H1299 tumor cell lines in vitro, respectively. Whereas, the result showed that these compounds displayed weak cytotoxicity in the human cancer cell lines.

Steroidal constituents from Helleborus thibetanus and their cytotoxicities

Thibetanosides E-H (1-4), four new steroidal constituents including three rare sulfonates (2-4), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Helleborus thibetanus, together with nine known steroidal compounds (5-13). Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical evidence. In this study, compounds 2-13 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against HCT116, A549 and HepG2 tumor cell lines in vitro. Among them, compound 8 (thibetanoside C) showed cytotoxicities against A549 cells(IC₅₀ 39.6 ± 1.9 μmol·L^-1) and HepG2 cells(IC₅₀ 41.5 ± 1.1 μmol·L^-1), respectively. Compound 9 (23S, 24S)-24-[(O-β-D-fucopyranosyl)oxy]-3β, 23-dihydroxy-spirosta-5, 25(27)-diene-1β-ylO-(4-O-acetyl- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→2)-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside) showed cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells(IC₅₀ 33.6 ± 2.1 μmol·L^-1).

Alkaloids with Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities from the Roots of Isatis tinctoria

As our ongoing research project on Ban Lan Gen (Isatis tinctoria roots), a total of 23 alkaloids were obtained. Compounds 1 and 2 contain an unusual C–C bond between the 2(1H)-quinolinone moiety and the phenol moiety and between the 2(1H)-quinolinone moiety and the 1H-indole moiety, respectively. Compound 3 possesses an unusual carbon skeleton and its putative biosynthetic pathway was discussed, and Compound 23 was deduced as a new indole alkaloid glycoside. Compounds 4–7 were identified as four new natural products by extensive spectroscopic experiments. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed based on nitric oxide (NO) production using Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Compounds 9, 15, and 17 showed inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values of 1.2, 5.0, and 74.4 μM.

Five new polyhydroxylated furostanol saponins from the rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis

Five new polyhydroxylated furostanol saponins were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis, and their structures were determined as tupistrosides J-N (1-5), together with four known furostanol saponins (6-9), on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis. Among them, compounds 3 and 5 showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines SW620 with IC₅₀ values of 72.5 ± 2.4 and 77.3 ± 2.5 μmol·L^-1, respectively. Compound 4 showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell line HepG2 with IC₅₀ value of 88.6 ± 2.1 μmol·L^-1.

Alkaloid Enantiomers from the Roots of Isatis indigotica

Five pairs of alkaloid enantiomers (1a/1b–5a/5b) were obtained from Isatis indigotica (I. indigotica) roots. Among them, 1a/1b, 2a/2b and 3a/3b were determined as three pairs of new alkaloid enantiomers. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations were deduced by comparison of their experimental circular dichroism (CD) and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, as well as by single-crystal X-ray crystallography using anomalous scattering of Cu Kα radiation. Alkaloids 1a and 1b possess an unpresented carbon skeleton and their putative biosynthetic pathways are discussed. Moreover, all of the alkaloids were tested for their nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory effects in RAW 264.7 cells, and 4a and 4b showed inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values of 76.97 μM and 65.88 μM, respectively.

Antifungal Activity of Crude Extract from the Rhizome and Root of Smilacina japonica A. Gray

This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Smilacina japonica A. Gray (SJA) against different fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for SJA was determined by the broth microdilution method. The antifungal effects of SJA against Candida albicans were further confirmed by cell growth test and time-kill curve test. The effects of SJA on the fungal morphology and ultrastructure were also evaluated. SJA has a broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The MICs of SJA against different fungi, including fluconazole-sensitive and -resistant Candida albicans, other Candida species, and Cryptococcus neoformans, ranged from 208 μg/ml to 1665 μg/ml. Furthermore, SJA displayed fungicidal activity against varied fungi and obviously inhibited the hyphal growth of fungi. The mechanism study revealed that the antifungal activity of SJA might be associated with its effect on the cell morphology and ultrastructure.

Cytotoxic steroidal saponins from the roots and rhizomes of Maianthemum henryi

Henryiosides F and G (1 and 2), two new steroidal saponins along with two known analogues (3 and 4) were obtained from the roots and rhizomes of Maianthemum henryi. Their structures were determined by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D-NMR, IR and HR-ESI-MS data analysis. Cytotoxic activity in human HepG2 and SW620 tumour cells were evaluated by the MTT method and all of the saponins exhibited cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 15.33 μM to 57.85 μM.

Three new steroidal saponins from the roots and rhizomes of Rohdea chinensis (Baker) N.Tanaka (synonym Tupistra chinensis Baker)

Three new steroidal saponins (1-3), together with four known compounds (4-7), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Rohdea chinensis Baker, and their structures were determined as (24S, 25 R)-1β-hydroxy-3β-[(β-D-glucopyranoside)oxy]-spirost-5-en-24-yl-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (24S)-spirost-25(27)-en-1β, 3β, 4β, 5β, 6β, 24β-hexahydroxy-24-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (22S, 25S)-1β, 3β, 4β, 5β, 26, 27-hexanol-furospirost-5, 26-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), together with four known compounds 3-epi-diosgenin-3-β-D-glucopyranosid (4), 3-epiruscogenin (5), 25(R)-1β-hydroxy-spirost-5-en-3α-yl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and tupichinin A (7), on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis. In this study, compounds 1-3 and 5-7 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against SW620, A549 and HepG2 tumor cell lines. Among them, compound 7 showed moderate cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines A549 and HepG 2 with IC₅₀ values of 25.3 ± 2.6 and 26.1 ± 2.5 μM, respectively.