Hao Gao

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.

β‐Carboline alkaloids from the stems of Picrasma quassioides

Five new β‐carboline alkaloids, 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (1), 3,10‐dihydroxy‐β‐carboline (2), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (3), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1,2‐dihydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (4), and 6‐methoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxyl‐1‐ethoxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (5), and two new natural products, 6‐methoxy‐12‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycarbonyl‐β‐carboline (6) and 3‐hydroxy‐β‐carboline (7) were isolated from the stems of Picrasma quassioides along with 16 known β‐carboline alkaloids (8–23). The structures of new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the 1D and 2D NMR data of compounds 6, 7 and 10 were reported for the first time. The bioassays showed that only compounds 14 and 16 could enhance the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadiocytes accompanied by secretion of adiponectin proteins among these 23 compounds. Copyright

Terpenoid and phenolic metabolites from the fungus xylaria sp. associated with termite nests.

Three new sesquiterpene acids, xylaric acids A–C (1–3, resp.), and a new tetralone (=3,4‐dihydronaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one) derivative, 4, along with nine known compounds, xylaric acid D (5), hydroheptelidic acid (6), gliocladic acid (7), chlorine heptelidic acid (8), trichoderonic acid A (9), 16‐(α‐D‐mannopyranosyloxy)isopimar‐7‐en‐19‐oic acid (10), 16‐(α‐D‐glucopyranosyloxy)isopimar‐7‐en‐19‐oic acid (11), 5‐carboxymellein (12), and naphthalen‐1,8‐diol 1‐O‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside (13) have been isolated from the solid culture of the ascomycete fungus Xylaria sp. associated with termite nest. The structures of these compounds were elucidated primarily by NMR experiments. The absolute configurations of compounds 1–3 and 5–9 were determined by combination of X‐ray data and CD spectral analysis. The absolute configuration of 4 was assigned by Snatzkes method. Compounds 8 and 11 showed slight cytotoxicities against two cell lines A549 and SGC7901.

New antibacterial isocoumarin glycosides from a wetland soil derived fungal strain Metarhizium anisopliae

Eight new isocoumarin glycosides (1-8) were obtained from the solid culture of the wetland soil-derived fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (No. DTH12-10). Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of HR ESI-TOF MS, (1)H, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectra. The absolute configurations were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism (CD) spectrum, and chemical derivatization methods. In addition, inhibition of the biofilm formation and the secretion of virulence factor of the new isocoumarin glycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAOA (clinical isolates) were evaluated. The result revealed that compound 1 showed antibacterial activity comparable with (Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone (BF).

New Methymycin Derivatives of Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 15439 and Their Inhibitory Effects on Human T Cell Proliferation Mediated by PMA/ionomycin

Two new methymycin derivatives, 3′-demethylmethymycin (1) and 3′-demethyldeoxymethymycin (2), together with seven known ones (3–9), were obtained from the strain Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 15439. Their structures were determined on the basis of IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. In addition, the inhibitory effects of all the compounds on human T cell proliferation mediated by PMA/ionomycin were evaluated. The data suggested for the first time that methymycin derivatives have potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Polyphenols from Parabarium huaitingii and their positive inotropic and anti-myocardial infarction effects in rats

Eight phenolic compounds, including (-)-epicatechin (1) and seven proanthocyanidins (2-8), were obtained from the butanol extract of Parabarium huaitingii (PHB). Their chemical structures were identified based on analyses of mass spectra (MS), NMR, CD spectra, and partial acid catalyzed thiolytic degradation. The observation made by laser scanning confocal microscope found a significant increase of the concentration of intracellular Ca²+ ([Ca²+](i)) in single myocytes when the PHB was added, while compounds 1 and 3 had the same physiological effect. Further investigations showed PHB had a dose-dependent positive inotropic effect on isolated right atria and papillary muscle of left ventricle of the rat, while having no significant influence on the spontaneous beating rate of the isolated right atria. The inotropic effect of PHB could be greatly abolished by pretreating the myocardium in Ca²+-free solution. These findings indicated that PHB could significantly increase [Ca²+](i) in myocytes, which was greatly dependent on the influx of extracellular Ca²+. Compounds 1 and 3 might be the effective ingredients of the inotropic effect of PHB. In addition, PHB could also significantly decrease the infarct size of the heart on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model rats, which suggested its myocardial protective effect on ischemic myocardium. The positive inotropic effect of PHB, together with its myocardial protective effect on AMI, suggested that PHB had a promising potential for the prevention and treatment of heart failure, especially the one that was caused by AMI.