Cheng-Bo Xu

C14-Polyacetylene glucosides from Codonopsis pilosula

Seven new C14-polyacetylene glucosides codonopilodiynosides A–G (1–7) were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Codonopsis pilosula roots. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods as (–)-(5S,6E,12E)-tetradeca-6,12-dien-8,10-diyn-1,5,14-triol 5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), (–)-(5S,6E,12E)-tetradeca-6,12-dien-8,10-diyn-1,5,14-triol 5-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), (–)-(5S,6E,12E)-tetradeca-6,12-dien-8,10-diyn-1,5,14-triol 5,14-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), (–)-(5S,6E)-tetradeca-6-en-8,10-diyn-1,5,14-triol 5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), (–)-(5S,6E,12E)-tetradeca-6,12-dien-8,10-diyn-1,5-diol 5-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), (–)-(6S,4E,12E)-tetradeca-4,12-dien-8,10-diyn-1,6-diol 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), and (–)-(5S,6E)-tetradeca-6-en-1,5-epoxy-8,10-diyn-14-ol 14-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), respectively. The absolute configurations of 1–7 were assigned by enzymatic hydrolysis followed by isolation of glucose and aglycones (1a and 4a–7a), and subsequent comparison of specific rotation, TLC, and 1H NMR data of the glucose with an authentic sugar sample and application of modified Moshers method based on the MPA determination rule of ΔδRS values for 1a and 4a, and ΔδS values for 6a. The configuration of 7 was assigned by electronic circular dichroism calculations based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory.

4-Hydroxybenzyl-substituted amino acid derivatives from Gastrodia elata

Seven new 4-hydroxybenzyl-substituted amino acid derivatives (1−7), together with 11 known compounds, were isolated from an aqueous extract of the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata Blume. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 1−3 are pyroglutamate derivatives containing 4-hydroxybenzyl units at the N atom and 4−7 are the first examples of natural products with the 4-hydroxybenzyl unit linked via a thioether bond to 2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid (4−6) and 2-hydroxy-4-mercaptobutanoic acid (7), which would be biogenetically derived from cysteine and homocysteine, respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 were verified by synthesis, while the absolute configurations of 4, 5 and 7 were assigned using Mosher’s method based on the MPA determination rule of ΔδRS values. The known compound 4-(hydroxymethyl)-5-nitrobenzene-1,2-diol (8) exhibited activity against Fe2+-cysteine induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with IC50 values of 9.99×10−6 mol/L.

Acetylenes and fatty acids from Codonopsis pilosula

Four new acetylenes (1–4) and one new unsaturated ω-hydroxy fatty acid (5), together with 5 known analogues, were isolated from an aqueous extract of Codonopsis pilosula roots. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The new acetylenes are categorized as an unusual cyclotetradecatrienynone (1), tetradecenynetriol (2), and rare octenynoic acids (3 and 4), respectively, and 3 and 4 are possibly derived from oxidative metabolic degradation of 1 and/or 2. The absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by comparison of the experimental circular dichroism (CD) spectrum with the calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of stereoisomers based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory, while the configuration of 2 was assigned by using modified Mosher׳s method based on the MPA determination rule of ΔδRS values for diols.

Antiviral glycosidic bisindole alkaloids from the roots of Isatis indigotica

Seven new glycosidic bisindole alkaloids, isatindigobisindolosides A–G (1–7), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Isatis indigotica roots. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, together with calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory. In the NMR spectra of 1–3, it is found that integration of H-2 and intensity of C-2 are affected not only by a substitution group at C-2 but also by solvents. Influences of the glucopyranosyloxy on the calculated ECD spectra of the glycosidic bisindole alkaloids are discussed. Compounds 2, 5, and 6 showed antiviral activity against both the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2) and Coxsackie virus B3 with IC50 values of 8.4–100.0 μM.

Sesquiterpene glycosides from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula

Three new sesquiterpene glycosides, named codonopsesquilosides A−C (1−3), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the dried roots of Codonopsis pilosula. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. These glycosides are categorized as C15 carotenoid (1), gymnomitrane (2), and eudesmane (3) types of sesquiterpenoids, respectively. Compound 1 is the first diglycoside of C15 carotenoids to be reported. Compound 2 represents the second reported example of gymnomitrane-type sesquiterpenoids from higher plants. The absolute configurations were supported by comparison of the experimental circular dichroism (CD) spectra with the calculated electronic CD (ECD) spectra of 1−3, their aglycones, and model compounds based on quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory. The influences of the glycosyls on the calculated ECD spectra of the glycosidic sesquiterpenoids, as well as some nomenclature and descriptive problems with gymnomitrane-type sesquiterpenoids are discussed.

Diglycosidic indole alkaloid derivatives from an aqueous extract of Isatis indigotica roots

Abstract Six new indole alkaloid diglycosides named isatigotindolediosides A-F (1–6), along with three known analogs (7–9), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Isatis indigotica roots (ban lan gen). Their structures including the absolute configurations were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, combined with enzyme or acid hydrolysis, and comparison of experimental circular dichroism (CD) and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. In the preliminary assays, compounds 3, 5, and 8 showed antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus B3.

Sulfur-enriched alkaloids from the root of Isatis indigotica

Five new sulfur-enriched alkaloids isatithioetherins A–E (1–5), and two pairs of scalemic enantiomers (+)- and (−)-isatithiopyrin B (6a and 6b) and isoepigoitrin and isogoitrin (7a and 7b), along with the known scalemic enantiomers epigoitrin and goitrin (8a and 8b), were isolated and characterized from an aqueous extract of the Isatis indigotica roots. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 2D NMR and theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Compounds 1–5 represent a novel group of sulfur-enriched alkaloids, biogenetically originating from stereoselective assemblies of epigoitrin-derived units. Isolation and structure characterization of 6a and 6b support the postulated biosynthetic pathways for the diastereomers 9a and 9bvia a rare thio-Diels–Alder reaction. Compounds 2 and 4 showed antiviral activity against the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2, IC50 0.60 and 1.92 μmol/L) and the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1, IC50 3.70 and 2.87 μmol/L), and 2 also inhibited Coxsackie virus B3 (IC50 0.71 μmol/L).

C 19 -Diterpenoid alkaloid arabinosides from an aqueous extract of the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii and their analgesic activities

Eight new C19-diterpenoid alkaloid arabinosides, named aconicarmichosides E–L (1–8), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii (Fu Zi). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods including 2D NMR experiments and acid hydrolysis. Compounds 1–8, together with the previously reported four neoline 14-O-arabinosides from the same plant, represent the only examples of glycosidic diterpenoid alkaloids so far. At a dose of 1.0 mg/kg (i.p.), as compared with the black control, compounds 1, 2, and 4–6 exhibited analgesic effects with >65.6% inhibitions against acetic acid-induced writhing of mice. Structure–activity relationship was also discussed.