Jiang Hu

Alkaloids from Toddalia asiatica and their cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antifungal activities.

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the roots of Toddalia asiatica resulted in the isolation of eight new alkaloids, 8-methoxynorchelerythrine (1), 11-demethylrhoifoline B (2), 8-methoxynitidine (3), 8-acetylnorchelerythrine (4), 8,9,10,12-tetramethoxynorchelerythrine (5), isointegriamide (6), 1-demethyl dicentrinone (7), and 11-hydroxy-10-methoxy-(2,3)-methylenedioxytetrahydroprotoberberine (8), together with 10 known alkaloids. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and HR-ESI-MS. The isolated components were evaluated in vitro for cytotoxic activities against eight tumor cell lines, antimicrobial activities against two Gram-positive bacteria and five Gram-negative bacteria, and antifungal activities against five pathogens. Benzo[c]phenanthridine and secobenzo[c]phenantridine alkaloids exhibited significant cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

Limonoids isolated from Toona sinensis and their radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Abstract A phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem resulted in the isolation of ten new limonoids, toonasinenines A–J (1–10), together with two known compounds, toonafolin (11) and toonacilianin D (12). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The isolated components were evaluated in vitro for radical scavenging potential using ABTS⋅+ and DPPH test, anti-inflammatory activities for Cox-1 and Cox-2, and cytotoxicies against nine tumour cell lines (A549, BGC-823, CHG-5, HCT15, HeLa, HepG2, MDA-MB-231, SHG-44 and SGC-7901 cells). As a result, 4, 5 and 7–10 showed potent radical scavenging activities, while limonoids 1–4 and 11 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential.

Antinociceptive activity of Rhoifoline A from the ethanol extract of Zanthoxylum nitidum in mice.

AIM OF THE STUDY Antinociceptive activity of Rhoifoline A (RA), a benzophenanthridine alkaloid obtained from the ethanol extract of Zanthoxylum nitidum, was evaluated in mice using chemical and thermal models of nociception. MATERIALS AND METHODS RA was evaluated on anti-nociceptive activity in mice using chemical and thermal models of nociception. RESULTS RA administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg exhibited significant inhibitions on chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid and subplantar formalin, and on thermal nociception in the tail-flick test and the hot plate test. RA neither significantly impaired motor coordination in the rotarod test nor did spontaneous locomotion in the open-field test. RA did not enhance the pentobarbital sodium induced sleep time. These results indicated that the observed antinociceptive activity of RA was unrelated to sedation or motor abnormality. Core body temperature measurement showed that RA did not affect temperature during a 2-hour period. Furthermore, RA-induced antinociception in the hot plate test was insensitive to naloxone or glibenclamide but significantly antagonized by L-NAME, methylene blue and nimodipine. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, it is reasonable that the analgesic mechanism of RA possibly involved the NO-cGMP signaling pathway and L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Two new rhamnopyranosides of neolignans from Sanguisorba officinalis

Two new rhamnopyranosides of neolignans, (7S,8R)-4,9,5′,9′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-8-O-4′-neolignan-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (1) and (7S,8R)-4,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′,5′-trimethoxy-8-O-4′-neolignan-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (2), together with a known compound (7S,8R)-4,7,9,9′-tetrahydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-8-O-4′-neolignan (3), were isolated from the 80% EtOH extract of the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic analysis including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS, and chemical method.

Four new antioxidant phenylpropanoid glycosides from Microlepia pilosissima

Four new phenylpropanoid glycosides, 9-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-3,4-dimethoxy-cinnamic acid (1), 9-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-4-methoxycinnamic acid (2), 9-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-3,4-dimethoxy-cinnamic acid (3), and 9-O-[6-Oacetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid (4), together with three known compounds 9-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (5), 9-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-methoxycinnamic acid (6), and 9-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3,4-dimethoxy-cinnamic acid (7) were isolated from the 70% EtOH extract of the dry fronds of Microlepia pilosissima. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, 1 and 2 exhibited comparable scavenging activities with (±)-α-tocopherol against DPPH radicals, while compounds 3–7 displayed moderate antioxidant activities.

Chemical constituents from the ethanol extract of Viburnum ternatum

Phytochemical investigation of the 70% ethanol extract from Viburnum ternatum resulted in the isolation of three new compounds, vibsanol-9′-al (1), 4-methoxy-vibsanol (2), and 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavanone(8 → 3′)-5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone (4), together with a known compound vibsanol (3). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and HR-ESI-MS analyses.

Three new amides from Microlepia pilosissima

Phytochemical investigation of 70% EtOH extract of the dry fronds of Microlepia pilosissima has resulted in isolation of three new amides, (7E)-N-(3′-hydroxyl-4′-methoxy)-phenylethyl-4-hydroxyl-cinnamamide (1), (7E)-N-(3′,4′,5′-trihydroxyl)-phenylethyl-4-hydroxyl-cinnamamide (2), and (7E)-N-(3′,4′,5′-trihydroxyl)-phenylethyl-4-methoxy-cinnamamide (3). Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic analysis and chemical method, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS.

Amides from the Roots of Toddalia asiatica

A chemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the roots of Toddalia asiatica resulted in the isolation of three new amides, (7Z)-N-(4′-methoxyphenethyl)-3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamamide (1), (7Z)-N-(4′-hydroxyphenethyl)-3-methoxy-4,5-dihydroxycinnamamide (2), and (7E)-N-(4′-hydroxyphenethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxycinnamamide (3), together with one known amide (7Z)-N-(4′-hydroxyphenethyl-3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamamide (4). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) analyses.

Cytotoxic and anti–inflammatory tirucallane triterpenoids from Dysoxylum binectariferum

Four new tirucallane triterpenoids 1-4 along with two known compounds 5 and 6 were isolated from the stem bark of Dysoxylum binectariferum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential against eight tumor cell lines. Compounds 1-6 exhibited significant selective inhibition of Cox-1 and selectively significant cytotoxic against five tumor cell lines (A-549, HCT15, HepG2, SGC-7901 and SK-MEL-2), especially against HepG2 cell lines with IC₅₀ value of 7.5-9.5 μM.

Histological Observation of the Stomach of the Yellow-billed Grosbeak

Los estomagos del Pepitero de cola negra fueron examinados mediante microscopia optica. La membrana mucosa del proventriculo presento muchos pliegues y surcos. Los surcos estaban revestidos por celulas columnares simples con nucleos basales y un citoplasma claro acidofilo. Las glandulas proventriculares estaban constituidos por abundantes lobulos glandulares redondos o elipticos. Los surcos y conductos colectores de las glandulas tubulares compuestas mostraron una reaccion positiva e intensa a las tinciones de PAS y AB. La molleja estomacal se caracterizo por una cuticula de revestimiento resistente a la abrasion interna y una capa muscular gruesa. La cuticula, glandulas de la molleja y capa muscular en ambos lados eran mas gruesas que en la craneal y caudal.