Kou Wang

Macrophyllionium and Macrophyllines A and B, Oxindole Alkaloids from Uncaria macrophylla

An unusual oxindole alkaloid inner salt, macrophyllionium (1), and a pair of new tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids, macrophyllines A (2) and B (3), together with six known alkaloids, were isolated from the aerial parts of Uncaria macrophylla. Corynantheidine (8) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 and SW480 cells with IC(50) values of 13.96 and 23.28 μM, respectively. Dihydrocorynantheine (9) exhibited significant vasodilating activity against phenylephrine-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta rings (IC(50) = 6.73 μg/mL). In addition, compounds 2, 6, and 9 showed weak inhibitory action on KCl-induced contraction.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols and chromone O-glucosides from Hypericum henryi subsp. uraloides.

Two new C(30)‐epimeric polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), named uralodins B and C (1 and 2, resp.), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum henryi subsp. uraloides together with two new chromone glucosides, urachromones A and B (3 and 4, resp.), as well as 16 known compounds. Their structures were established by extensive NMR techniques and MS analysis. The epimers 1 and 2 always behaved like a single compound when examined by TLC, and were separated by HPLC. Their configuration was distinguished by comparative analysis of the NMR data with known analogues together with the ROESY experiment. All the isolated PPAPs were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against HepG2, SGC7901, HL‐60, and K562 cell lines. Compound 1 showed modest cytotoxic activities against SGC7901 and HL‐60 cell lines, and 2 showed modest cytotoxic activities against HepG2, SGC7901, HL‐60, and K562 cell lines.

Hupehenols A-E, Selective 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11 beta-HSD1) Inhibitors from Viburnum hupehense

Five selective 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) competitive inhibitors, hupehenols A-E (1-5), were isolated from Viburnum hupehense. The structure elucidation indicated that compounds 1-5 are new 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammarane triterpenoids. Their structures were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analysis. Hupehenols A-E (1-5) showed inhibition against human 11β-HSD1, with hupehenols B (2) and E (5) having IC50 values of 15.3 and 34.0 nM, respectively. Moreover, hupehenols C (3) and D (4) are highly selective inhibitors of human 11β-HSD1 when compared to murine 11β-HSD1.

Four new labdane-type diterpenoid glycosides from Diplopterygium laevissimum

Four new labdane-type diterpenoid glycosides, laevissiosides A-D (1–4) were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of Diplopterygium laevissimum (Christ) Nakai, along with two known analogues, 18- β-D-glucopyranosyl ester-sclareol (5) and 18-hydroxy-sclareol (6). The structures of compounds 1–4 were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as high-resolution MS analyses. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects.

Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols and Cytotoxic Constituents of Hypericum androsaemum

Two new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), androforin A and hyperandrone A (1 and 2, resp.), together with twelve known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum androsaemum. Their structures were established by detailed spectral analysis. In the cytotoxic assay, 1,4‐O‐diferuloylsecoisolariciresinol (3) showed activities comparable with those of cisplatin, and acetyloleanolic acid (4) exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against HL‐60, SMMC‐7721, A‐549, MCF‐7, and SW480 cancer cell lines.