Abietane diterpenoids from Isodon lophanthoides var. graciliflorus and their cytotoxicity

Seven new (1–7) and three known (8–10) abietane diterpenoids were isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Isodon lophanthoides var. graciliflorus (Lamiaceae), a folk Chinese medicine and an herb for functional beverages. They were identified as 16-acetoxylsugiol (1), graciliflorin E (2), graciliflorin F (3), 15-O-methylgraciliflorin F (4), 15-hydroxy-20-deoxocarnosol (5), 3β-hydroxysempervirol (6), 15-hydroxy-1-oxosalvibretol (7), abieta-8,11,13-triene-14,19-diol (8), 6,12,15-trihydroxy-5,8,11,13-abietatetraen-7-one (9), and 3α-hinokiol (10) based on the spectroscopic data including COSY (correlated spectroscopy), HMBC (heteronuclear multiple bond correlation), and HR-ESI-MS (high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). All the compounds except 10 were obtained from I. lophanthoides for the first time. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), and HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 1.79–52.67 μM.     

Abietane diterpenoids of Rosmarinus officinalis and their diacylglycerol acyltransferase-inhibitory activity

Inhibition of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) has been proposed as one of the drug targets for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH-soluble extract of Rosmarinus officinalis yielded two new diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) inhibitory-abietane diterpenoids, 7β-hydroxy-20-deoxo-rosmaquinone (1) and 7β-methoxy-20-deoxo-rosmanol (2), along with six known components, carnosol (3), 7α-methoxyrosmanol (4), 7β-methoxyrosmanol (5), 12-methoxy-canosic acid (6), rosmanol (7), and rosmadial (8). Compounds 1–8 inhibited DGAT1 activity, with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 39.5 ± 0.6 to 144.2 ± 3.1 μM. In particular, carnosol (3), which is one of the major compounds of MeOH-soluble extract of R. officinalis exhibits inhibition of de novo intracellular triacylglycerol synthesis in human hepatocyte HepG2 cells.     

Jasmonoid glucosides,sesquiterpenes and coumarins from the fruit of Clausena lansium

The fruit of Clausena lansium (wampee) is popular in southern China and warm areas of the world. Our chemical study on the fruit yielded three jasmonoid glucosides, 12-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-6-epi-7-isocucurbic acid-1,6-lactone (1), 12-β-d-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid (2) and 12-hydroxyjasmonic acid (3), two sesquiterpenes, (+)-curcumen-12-oic acid (4) and (+)-(E)-α-santalen-12-oic acid (5), two coumarins, xanthotoxol (6) and indicolactone (7), in addition to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (8), 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde (9), isopropyl β-d-glucopyranoside (10) and stigmasterol (11). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 was a new metabolite and the others excluding 6 were reported from the species for the first time. Compounds 1–7 were evaluated for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Among them, compound 6 showed antioxidant activity in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging assays as well as antibacterial activity against Staphyloccocus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae, while compound 5 was active against Bacillus cereus.     

Identification and characterisation of anthocyanins in the antioxidant activity-containing fraction of Liriope platyphylla fruits

The objective of this study was to investigate antioxidant activities and anthocyanin profiles in the fruits of Liriope platyphylla, where these are considered functional substances in Korea. The acidic methanol extract of this species exhibited potent antioxidant activities, showing 83.9% DPPH scavenging activity and 92.5% ABTS scavenging activity at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Moreover, anthocyanins were identified by reversed-phase C₁₈ column chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, and HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis. Seven anthocyanins were characterised, including delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (1), delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside (2), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (3), petunidin-3-O-glucoside (4), petunidin-3-O-rutinoside (5), malvidin-3-O-glucoside (6), and malvidin-3-O-rutinoside (7). Among these, petunidin-3-O-rutinoside (5) (7302.2 μg/g) and malvidin-3-O-rutinoside (7) (5776.1 μg/g) were the predominant anthocyanins, whereas the least prevalent anthocyanin was found to be cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (3) (64.9 μg/g). Therefore, our results suggest that strong antioxidant activities of the acidic methanol extract of L. platyphylla fruits are correlated with high anthocyanin contents, particularly the petunidin-3-O-rutinoside (5) and malvidin-3-O-rutinoside (7).     

Identification of antioxidants from rhizome of Davallia solida

Davallia solida rhizome has long been used as an herb tonic to treat osteoporosis, arthralgia, and arthritis. The aqueous extract of D. solida rhizome contains a high content of phenolic compounds [210.8 ± 4.6 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g dry weight] and shows a strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 15.93 ± 1.21 μg dry weight/ml). Further solvent partition of the aqueous extract yielded chloroform, n-butanol, and water layers. Among them, n-butanol layer has the highest phenol content (806.3 ± 12.3 mg CE/g dry weight) and DPPH scavenging potential (IC₅₀ = 3.93 ± 0.31 μg dry weight/ml). Isolation and purification from the n-butanol layer identified 12 compounds. They included four new compounds: 3′-O-p-hydroxybenzoylmangiferin (1), 4′-O-p-hydroxybenzoylmangiferin (2), 6′-O-p-hydroxybenzoylmangiferin (3), and 3-O-p-hydroxybenzoylmangiferin (4); as well as eight known compounds: mangiferin (5), 2-C-β-d-xylopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (6), 4β-carboxymethyl-(−)-epicatechin (7), 4β-carboxymethyl-(−)-epicatechin methyl ester (8), eriodictyol (9), eriodictyol-8-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (10), icariside E₅ (11), and icariside E₃ (12). DPPH scavenging and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) analyses revealed that the most potent antioxidants are 1, 2, and 3, which exerted more than triple activity as compared with the positive controls, α-tocopherol and Trolox.     

Identification of phenolic antioxidants from Sword Brake fern (Pteris ensiformis Burm.)

Sword Brake fern (Pteris ensiformis Burm.) is one of the most common ingredients of traditional herbal drinks in Taiwan. In an effort to identify antioxidants from the aqueous extract of Sword Brake fern (SBF), the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity-guided isolation was employed. Three new compounds, kaempferol 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside-7-O-[α-d-apiofuranosyl-(1-2)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (1), 7-O-caffeoylhydroxymaltol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and hispidin 4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), together with five known compounds, kaempferol 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosid-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), caffeic acid (5), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (7) and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (8) were isolated and determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. HPLC with UV detector was further employed to analyze the content of each compound in SBF based on the retention time by comparison with isolated pure compounds. It was found that the most abundant phenolic compound was compound 3, followed by compounds 7 and 4. The di-O-caffeoylquinic acids (7 and 8) have the strongest DPPH scavenging potential with IC₅₀ around 10 μM and the highest Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) about 2 mM. This data indicates that SBF is rich in phenolic antioxidants.     

Pentadecyl ferulate,a potent antioxidant and antiproliferative agent from the halophyte Salicornia herbacea

An investigation of the chemical constituents of Salicornia herbacea has led to the isolation of one new natural product, pentadecyl ferulate (6), together with 11 known compounds, including phytol (1), stearolic acid (2), γ-linolenic acid (3), (3Z,6Z,9Z)-tricosa-3,6,9-triene (4), linoleic acid (5), stigmasterol (7), ergosterol (8), dioctyl phthalate (9), dibutyl phthalate (10), vanillic aldehyde (11), and scopoletin (12). The chemical structures of these materials were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic analysis. This work represents the first recorded example of the isolation of compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 from S. herbacea. The antioxidant experiments revealed that compound 6 possessed strong hydroxy radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities and was the principle antioxidant ingredient in the ethyl acetate extract. The antiproliferative results exhibited that compound 1 selectively inhibited HepG2 cells, whereas compounds 3 and 6 showed potent antiproliferative activities against HepG2 and A549 cells.     

Norditerpenoids from Agathis macrophylla

Three new norditerpenoids, (4S,5R,9S,10R)-methyl 19-hydroxy-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11E-dien-13-oxo-18-oate (1), (4R,5R,9R,10R,13S/R)-13-hydroxypodocarp-8(14)-en-19-oic acid (2/3) were isolated from Agathis macrophylla, together with 11 known diterpenoids. The structures of these compounds, 1-14, were established, mainly by spectroscopic analysis. The inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) by compounds 5-9 and 11-13 was tested and the cytotoxicity of compounds 1-14 against HL60 cell and SMMC-7721 cell were evaluated. Biological screening studies indicated that compounds 5, 7/8 and 9 were mild inactivators of PTP1B, whilst compounds 1, 4, 6, 7/8, and 10-12 exhibited moderate activity against both of the tested cell lines.     

Antioxidant polyketide phenolic metabolites from the edible mushroom Cortinarius purpurascens

Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of the edible macrofungus, Cortinarius purpurascens, led to the isolation of nine anthraquinone-related pigments, citreorosein 6,8-dimethyl ether (1), physcione (2), rufoolivacin (3), rufoolivacin C (4), rufoolivacin D (5), leucorufoolivacin (6), verbindung cr11 (7), verbindung cr60 (8) and 1-Hydroxy-3-methyl-2-isopropanyl-6,8-dimethoxyanthraquinone (9). The structures of these isolated compounds were characterised by spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. Among the tested compounds, 3–6 exhibited potent DPPH radical-scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values in the range of 3–8 μg/ml. The results indicated that the fungus is a possible source of natural products with potential antioxidant activity.     

Inhibitory effect of anthraquinones isolated from the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root on animal A-, B- and Y-families of DNA polymerases and human cancer cell proliferation

During the course of our studies to develop new uses for the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root, 10 anthraquinones, rubiadin (1), rubiadin 1-methyl ether (2), lucidin (3), damnacanthol (4), 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (5), 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (6), nordamnacanthal (7), damnacanthal (8), sorandidiol (9) and morindone (10), were isolated. Compounds 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 exhibited remarkable inhibition against the activities of animal pols, and compound 10 was the strongest inhibitor in the anthraquinones investigated. Among mammalian pols, compound 10 inhibited the pol activities of A- (pol γ), B- (pols α, δ and ε) and Y- (pols η, ι and κ) families, but did not influence the activities of X-family pols (pols β, λ and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase). The tendency of pol inhibition showed a positive correlation with the suppression of human colon cancer cell HCT116 growth. These results suggested that the Noni root containing anthraquinones may be used as an anticancer functional food.     

Bioactive sesquiterpenoids from the solid culture of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes growing on cooked rice

The edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes was cultivated on cooked rice. Six new cuparene sesquiterpenes, enokipodins E-J (1-6), and two new sterpurane sesquiterpenes, sterpurols A (10) and B (11), with four known sesquiterpenes, 2,5-cuparadiene-1,4-dione (7), enokipodins B (8) and D (9), and sterpuric acid (12), were isolated from the solid culture of F. velutipes. The structures of new metabolites were elucidated by NMR experiments. The absolute configurations in new compounds were assigned by X-ray crystallographic analysis, the modified Mosher method, and CD data analysis. Bioactivity screening indicated that compounds 5-9 displayed weak antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis; 2, 3, and 5 showed weak antifungal activity against Aspergilus fumigatus; 6-9 showed both moderate cytotoxicity against the human tumor cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, SGC7901, and A549) and antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging assay. These results suggest that the solid culture of F. velutipes on cooked rice could be a good functional food.     

Kumquat (Fortunella japonica Swingle) juice: Flavonoid distribution and antioxidant properties

The flavonoids composition of kumquat (Fortunella japonica) crude juice, obtained from uripe and ripe fruits, were investigated by reverse-phase LC-DAD-ESI-ITMS analysis. Thirteen compounds (C- and O-glycosyl flavonoids) were identified. Acacetin 3,6-di-C-glucoside (1), vicenin-2 (2), lucenin-2 4′-methyl ether (3) narirutin 4′-O-glucoside (4) and apigenin 8-C-neohesperidoside (5) were identified for the first time in kumquat juice. Furthermore, we report on the remarkable antioxidant properties of crude juice, of selected flavonoids fractions and of the main component, phloretin 3′,5′-di-C-glucoside (6).     

Phenolic constituents from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica and their 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activities

Thirteen phenolic constituents, luteolin (1), protocatechuic acid (2), caffeic acid (3), flavoyadorinin-B (4), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (5), luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (8), methyl chlorogenate (9), quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (11), rhoifolin (12), chlorogenic acid (13), and a novel phenolic glucoside benzoate, vanillic acid 4-O-β-d-(6-O-benzoylglucopyranoside) (6), were isolated from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica. Flavoyadorinin-B (4) was isolated for the first time from a Caprifoliaceae plant. The structures of 1–13 were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. These compounds were screened for their 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. Only luteolin (1) showed significant inhibitory activity against 5-LOX-catalysed leukotriene production.     

α-Glucosidase inhibitory effect by the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L.

Methanolic extracts from the medicinal parts of 50 traditional Chinese herbs were tested in screening experiments for rat intestinal α-glucosidase. The methanolic extract from flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. (Compositae) showed the highest maltase inhibitory activity, with maltose as a substrate. Enzyme assay-guided fractionation of this extract afforded 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3) and rutin (4), and the structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR data analyses. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed comparative maltase inhibitory activities, and the IC₅₀ values were 0.91 mM, 0.90 mM and 0.89 mM, respectively. Comparison of the activities of 1–3, chlorogenic acid (5), quinic acid (6) and caffeic acid (7) suggested that the number of caffeoyl groups attached to a quinic acid core were important for the potency. Rutin (4) showed moderate activity and inhibited 41% of maltase activity at a concentration of 1 mM. This is the first report on mammalian α-glucosidase inhibition of T. farfara and the isolation of 1, 2 and 3 from this herb species. These results suggest a use of the extract of T. farfara for antidiabetes.     

Dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoid glucosides from glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) and their antioxidative activity

Two novel antioxidant compounds, isoquercitrin 6″-O-methyloxalate (6) and methyl 4-caffeoyl-3-dihydrocaffeoyl quinate (salicornate, 7), were isolated from Salicornia herbacea L.. Six known compounds were also identified as 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1), quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), 3-caffeoyl-4-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid (3), methyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (4), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (5), and isorhamnetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (8). Their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic data from ESI–MS and NMR. The isolated dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives (1, 3, 4, 5, and 7) showed similar activities for scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals and inhibiting formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide during copper ion-induced rat blood plasma oxidation. The two flavonol glucosides (2 and 6), which have no substitutions in the B ring of their aglycones, also had similar activity. However, compound 8, which has the same structure as 2 except for the presence of a methoxyl group in the C-3′ position of the B ring, showed predominantly lower antioxidant activity than the other isolated compounds.     

Compounds from Angelica keiskei with NQO1 induction, DPPH scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities

A LC-MS method, which GSH was used as substrate, was employed to reveal the compounds with NQO1 induction activity from Angelica keiskei. Some compounds, proposed as isobavachalcone, xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin, have NQO1 induction activity. To make the actual structures and bioactivities of these compounds clear, 23 compounds, including above mentioned compounds and two new compounds 4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-(1,2,3-trihydroxybutyl)cyclohex-2-enone (18) and (Z)-2-(3-hydroxypent-1-ynyl)-3-(non-1-enyl)oxiran-2-ol (23), were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of A. keiskei. The bioassay results suggested the compounds had notable NQO1 induction activity. The radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of the isolated compounds were also tested. Compounds (E)-1-(2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (1), (E)-1-(3-((E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl)-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (2), 1-(3-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[α]phenanthren-17-yl)ethanone (17), 4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-(1,2,3-trihydroxybutyl)cyclohex-2-enone (18) could scavenge DPPH radical by more than 20%. Compounds (E)-1-(2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (1), (E)-1-(3-((E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl)-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (2), (E)-1-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (3), 7-hydroxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (5), 10-hydroxy-8,8-dimethyl-2-oxo-9,10-dihydropyrano[6,5-H]chromen-9-yl)-3-methylbut-2-enoate (9), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one (16), (10S,15R,Z)-10,15-dihydroxyheptadeca-8,16-dien-11,13-diynyl acetate (20), (3R,8S,Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyne-3,8-diol (21) exhibited excellent α-glucosidase inhibition activity.     

New benzenoids and anti-inflammatory constituents from Zanthoxylum nitidum

Zanthoxylum nitidum is commercially used in healthcare products for the improvement of tooth condition. Its fruit is also used as a spice. Three new benzenoids, (E)-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)benzaldehyde (1), (E)-methyl 3-(4-((E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)phenyl)acrylate (2), and (Z)-methyl 3-(4-((E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)phenyl)acrylate (3), have been isolated from the stem wood of Z. nitidum, together with 17 known compounds (4–20). The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Compounds 8–10, 13, 14, 17, and 18 exhibited inhibition (IC₅₀ ? 7.95 μg/ml) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Compounds 7–9, 13, 14, and 17 inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC₅₀ values ?7.45 μg/ml.     

Inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase by the fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz.

Mammalian α-glucosidase inhibitory activity by Terminalia chebula Retz. fruits was investigated. The aqueous methanolic extract was found to have potent rat intestinal maltase inhibitory activity, whereas neither intestinal sucrase nor isomaltase activity was inhibited by this extract. Using bioassay-guided separation, three active ellagitannins were identified as chebulanin (1), chebulagic acid (2) and chebulinic acid (3) and were shown to possess potent intestinal maltase inhibitory activity, with the IC₅₀ values of 690 μM, 97 μM and 36 μM, respectively. The intestinal maltase inhibitory activities of 2 and 3 were even higher than that of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (PGG) (4, IC₅₀=140 μM), which is a known potent α-glucosidase inhibitor. Comparison of the activities of 1–4, 1,2,3-O-trigalloyl-β-d-glucose (5), neochebulagic acid (6) and corilagin (7) suggested that the positions of chebulloyl and galloyl groups mostly affected the potency. Kinetic studies revealed that 2, 3, and 4 inhibited maltose-hydrolyzing activity of intestinal α-glucosidase, noncompetitively. This is the first report on mammalian α-glucosidase inhibition by 1, 2 and 3 isolated from T. chebula fruits. These results suggest a use of the extract of T. chebula fruits for managing Type 2 diabetes.