Li-Yan Wang

Stilbene and dihydrophenanthrene derivatives from Pholidota chinensis and their nitric oxide inhibitory and radical-scavenging activities

Two new stilbene derivatives, (E)-2′,3,3′-trihydroxy-5-methoxystilbene (1, Pholidotol C) and (Z)-3,3′-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene (2, Pholidotol D), were isolated from the air-dried whole plant of Pholidota chinensis Lindl., together with eight known dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, lusianthridin (3), cannabidihydrophenanthrene (4), coelonin (5), hircinol (6), erianthridin (7), 4,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (8), eulophiol (9), and 2,4,7-trihydroxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (10), and a benzoxepin derivative bulbophylol B (11). Their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical-scavenging activity were examined. Among these compounds, 11 exhibited the most potent activity toward NO production inhibition activity and radical-scavenging activity; moreover, 11 reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression.

Kadsuracoccinic acids A-C, ring-A seco-lanostane triterpenes from Kadsura coccinea and their effects on embryonic cell division of Xenopus laevis.

Three new 3,4- seco-lanostanes, kadsuracoccinic acids A-C ( 1- 3), were isolated from the medicinal plant Kadsura coccinea, in addition to the known compounds kadsuric acid ( 4) and micranoic acid A ( 5). The structures of 1- 3 were elucidated by analysis of their 2D-NMR spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the relative conformation of 1 was confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic study. This is the first report of a 3,4- seco-lanostane-type triterpene with a 17(20)-ene functional group. Treatment of cultured individual Xenopus laevis cells with 1 at the blastular stage arrested cleavage of these cells with an IC 50 of 0.32 microg/mL.