Hui Cui

neo-Clerodane Diterpenoids from Scutellaria barbata with Activity against Epstein–Barr Virus Lytic Replication

Bioassay-guided fractionation was conducted on an EtOAc-soluble extract of the whole plants of Scutellaria barbata, monitored by inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic replication. Twenty-six neo-clerodane diterpenoids were isolated, of which 13 are new (1-13, scutolides A-L) and 13 previously known (14-26). The structures of 1-13 were elucidated by analysis of their NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the configurations of the new compounds 1 and 11 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for inhibitory effects against EBV lytic replication. Eleven compounds (3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, and 24) exhibited moderate to potent inhibition, with EC50 values from 3.2 to 23.6 μM and selective index (SI) values from 2.1 to 109.2. More specifically, the new compound 4 showed the most potent activity, with EC50 and SI values of 3.2 μM and 46.1, respectively, while compound 24 (EC50 = 16.4 μM) exhibited the highest SI of 109.2. This study is the first to report that neo-clerodane diterpenoids demonstrate significant inhibition against EBV lytic replication.

Potential Antiviral Lignans from the Roots of Saururus chinensis with Activity against Epstein–Barr Virus Lytic Replication

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the γ-herpes virus subfamily and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human malignancies. Bioassay-guided fractionation was conducted on an EtOAc-soluble extract of the roots of Saururus chinensis and monitored using an EBV lytic replication assay. This led to the isolation of 19 new (1-19) and nine known (20-28) lignans. The absolute configurations of the new lignans were established by Moshers ester, ECD, and computational methods. Eight lignans, including three sesquineolignans (19, 23, and 24) and five dineolignans (3, 4, 26, 27, and 28), exhibited inhibitory effects toward EBV lytic replication with EC50 values from 1.09 to 7.55 μM and SI values from 3.3 to 116.4. In particular, manassantin B (27) exhibited the most promising inhibition, with an EC50 of 1.72 μM, low cytotoxicity, CC50 > 200 μM, and SI > 116.4. This is the first study demonstrating that lignans possess anti-EBV lytic replication activity.

Alkaloids from the mangrove endophytic fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum SKS019

Six new alkaloids including four new chromeno[3,2-c]pyridines, diaporphasines A-D (1-4), and two new isoindolinones, meyeroguillines C and D (6-7), as well as three known compounds meyeroguilline A (5), 5-deoxybostrycoidin (8), and fusaristatin A (9), were isolated from an endophytic fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum SKS019. Their structures were determined by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-9 are alkaloid components reported for the first time from the Diaporthe sp., and diaporphasines A-D (1-4) are the third examples of alkaloids possessing the unique chromeno[3,2-c]pyridine nucleus. All isolated compounds 1-9 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in vitro using MDA-MB-435, HepG2, MCF10A, HCT116, and NCI-H460 human cell lines. Compound 8 exhibited cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-435 and NCI-H460 human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 5.32 and 6.57μM, respectively, and compound 9 showed growth-inhibitory activity against MDA-MB-435 human cancer cell line with IC50 value of 8.15μM.

Chrysanolide A, an unprecedented sesquiterpenoid trimer from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L

Chrysanolide A, a novel guaianolide-type sesquiterpenoid trimer (3), along with its biogenetically related monomer (Chrysanolide B, 1) and dimer (Chrysanolide C, 2), were simultaneously isolated from Chrysanthemum indicum L flowers. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated via spectroscopic and computational methods. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-HBV activities.

3-Arylisoindolinone and sesquiterpene derivatives from the mangrove endophytic fungi Aspergillus versicolor SYSU-SKS025

A pair of 3-arylisoindolinone enantiomers: (+)-asperglactam A (1), (-)-asperglactam A (1) and a pair of nor-bisabolane enantiomers: (+)-1-hydroxyboivinianic acid (2), (-)-1-hydroxyboivinianic acid (2), along with seven known compounds (3-8) were obtained from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor SYSU-SKS025. Their structures were determined on the basis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data, and X-ray diffraction. (+)-Asperglactam A (1) and (-)-asperglactam A (1) are the first optically pure examples in the 3-arylisoindolinone family, which are rarely found in natural sources. All isolated compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The enantiomers of 1-3 showed moderate inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranging from 50 to 190μM. Compound 7 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase with IC50 value of 7.5μM. In addition, compound 7 was found to inhibit nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 value of 12.5μM.

Chroman-4-one and pyrano[4,3-b]chromenone derivatives from the mangrove endophytic fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum SKS019

Seven new compounds: diaporchromanones A–D (1–4), (−)-phomopsichin A (5a), (+)-phomopsichin B (6a), and (±)-diaporchromone A (7), along with the known (+)-phomopsichin A (5b) and (−)-phomopsichin B (6b) were isolated from an endophytic fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum SKS019. The structures of the new compounds, including their absolute configurations, were determined on the basis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data, and experimental ECD and Rh2(OCOCF3)4-induced CD spectra analyses. Diaporchromanone A (1)/B (2), and C (3)/D (4) are two pairs of 3-epimers, and their structures possessing 3-substituted-chroman-4-one skeleton are rarely found in natural sources. (−)-Phomopsichin A (5a) and (+)-phomopsichin B (6a) are enantiomers of (+)-phomopsichin A (5b) and (−)-phomopsichin B (6b), respectively. All of the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against osteoclastogenesis in the RAW 264.7 cell line using luciferase reporter gene assays. Compounds 3–6b exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the receptor activator of NF-κB by ligand-induced NF-κB activation.

Diaporindenes A–D: Four Unusual 2,3-Dihydro-1H-indene Analogues with Anti-inflammatory Activities from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Diaporthe sp. SYSU-HQ3

Diaporindenes A-D (1-4), four unusual 2,3-dihydro-1 H-indene isomers, a novel isoprenylisobenzofuran A (5), two new isoprenylisoindole alkaloids diaporisoindoles D and E (6 and 7), and a new benzophenone derivative tenellone D (11), together with four known biogenetic agents (8-10 and 12), were all separated from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. SYSU-HQ3 guided by ultraperformance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configurations of 1-7 and 11 were defined by X-ray diffraction, quantum chemical calculations, and spectroscopic analysis. Diaporindenes A-D (1-4) possessed an unprecedented chemical skeleton featuring a 2,3-dihydro-1 H-indene ring and a 1,4-benzodioxan moiety. All of the isolates (1-12) were tested for their inhibitory effects on the production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial cells (RAW 264.7 cells). Compounds 1-5, 8, and 9 were found to exhibit significant inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production with IC50 values from 4.2 to 9.0 μM and SI values from 3.5 to 6.9. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of all compounds were summarized.

Peniisocoumarins A–J: Isocoumarins from Penicillium commune QQF-3, an Endophytic Fungus of the Mangrove Plant Kandelia candel

Ten new isocoumarins, named peniisocoumarins A-J (1-9 and 11), along with three known analogues (10, 12, and 13) were obtained from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus, Penicillium commune QQF-3, which was isolated from a fresh fruit of the mangrove plant Kandelia candel. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1-7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and modified Moshers method, and those of 8, 9, and 11 were assigned on the basis of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism data. Compounds 1 and 2 were unusual dimeric isocoumarins with a symmetric four-membered core. These isolated compounds (1-13) were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and enzyme inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB). Among them, compounds 3, 7, 9, and 11 exhibited potent inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranging from 38.1 to 78.1 μM, and compound 7 was found to inhibit MptpB with an IC50 value of 20.7 μM.

Ethylnaphthoquinone derivatives as inhibitors of indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase from the mangrove endophytic fungus Neofusicoccum austral SYSU-SKS024

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of the fungus Neofusicoccum austral SYSU-SKS024 led to the isolation of three new ethylnaphthoquinone derivatives, neofusnaphthoquinone A (1), 6-(1-methoxylethy1)-2,7-dimethoxyjuglone (2), (3R,4R)-3-methoxyl-botryosphaerone D (6), together with six known analogs (3-5 and 7-9). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Neofusnaphthoquinone A (1) is the third example of the unsymmetrical naphthoquinone dimer, which is rarely found in natural source. All of the isolates were evaluated for their indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitory activity, compounds 1-6 showed in vitro inhibitory effects against IDO with IC50 values ranging from 0.11 to 10.92μM. This is the first time naphthoquinone dimer (1), as a novel carbon skeleton possessing IDO inhibitory activity, was reported.