Man Li Zhang

Chemical and pharmacological studies of the plants from genus Celastrus.

The plants of genus Celastrus, distributed in Asia, have been used as natural insecticides and folk medicines to treat fever, chill, joint pain, edema, rheumatoid arthritis, and bacterial infection in China for a long time. This contribution reviews the chemical constituents, 1–144, isolated from the plants in genus Celastrus in the past few decades, and their biological activities. The compounds listed are sesquiterpenes (β‐agarofurans), diterpenes, triterpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids.

Antitumour activities of sesquiterpene lactones from Inula helenium and Inula japonica.

3 Eight sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the roots of Inula helenium and fl owers of I. japonica. Among them, isoalantolactone () and santamarine (6) exhibited significant growth inhibitory activities against gynecologic cancer cell lines, while others weakly inhibited the growth of the cell lines (IC50 ≤ 100 μM). In addition, 3 significantly inhibited the tumour growth of S180 tumour-bearing mice. Compounds 3 and 6 were not toxic to human embryonic lung fibroblast cells in vitro. These results demonstrated that the antitumour activities are closely related to the structures of the compounds, that is, an α-exomethylene- γ-lactone ring is necessary for these activities.

A Novel Taxane 13-Glucoside and Other Taxanes from the Leaves of Taxus cuspidata

Three new taxanes, 2 α,9 α,10 β-triacetoxy-13 α-( β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)taxa-4(20),11-dien-5 α-ol, 5 α,10 β,13 α-triacetoxytax-11-ene-2 α,7 β,9 α,20-tetraol, and 5 α,10 β,13 β-triacetoxy-2 α,7 β-dihydroxy-2(3→20) abeotaxa-4(20),11-dien-9-one, were isolated from the leaves of the Japanese yew, Taxus cuspidata. Compound 1 is the first example of a taxane with 13-glycosidic linkage.

Xylomexicanins A and B, new Δ14,15-mexicanolides from seeds of the Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum.

Two new mexicanolide-type limonoids, named xylomexicanin A (1) and xylomexicanin B (2), were isolated from seeds of the Chinese mangrove Xylocarpus granatum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 exhibited antiproliferative activity against human breast carcinoma cells (KT), while 2 did not show inhibitory effects on eleven human tumour cell lines tested.

The first taxane peroxide from the rooted cuttings of Taxus canadensis

Abstract A new taxane peroxide, 4α,10β,13α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-7β,9α-epidioxy-5β,20-epoxytax-11-en-1β-ol (1), was isolated and characterized for the first time in rooted cuttings of the Canadian yew, Taxus canadensis.

Chemical and pharmacological research on the plants from genus Ajuga

Abstract The genus Ajuga, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is comprised of more than 300 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants mainly distributed throughout the temperate regions of Asia, Europe, Australia, North America and Africa. These plants are used as folk medicines effective for rheumatic fevers, dysentery, malaria, hypertension, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as anthelmintic, astringent, febrifuge diuretic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agents. A variety of constituents has been isolated from these plants. This review summarizes the phytochemical progress of the genus Ajuga and lists the compounds isolated up to 2014.

Structural modification of isoalantolactone and biological activity against the hepatoma cell lines

Abstract Structural modifications were performed on isoalantolactone in an effort to find compounds with potential anticancer activity. Seven previously unknown adducts of active methylene compounds with isoalantolactone were synthesized by the Michael reaction. Moreover, four derivatives of aryl-substituted isoalantolactone were prepared by the Heck reaction. All synthetic products were evaluated for toxic activities against three different hepatoma cell lines, Bel-7402, SMMC-7721, and Hep G2. Products prepared through the Heck reaction and 3a,b show potential antiproliferative activity against the Hep G2 cell.

Canataxpyran A, a novel 3,8-secotaxane with a 13,17-ether bridge from needles of Taxus canadensis

Abstract A novel 6/12-membered bicyclic taxane with a 13,17-ether bridge, named canataxpyran A, was isolated from the needles of Taxus canadensis. The structures were characterized as 7β,9,10β,20-tetracetoxy-13β,17-epoxy-3,8-secotaxa-3E,8E,11-triene-2α,5α-diol (designated as canataxpyran A, 1). This bicyclic taxane gradually decomposed in CDCl3to give the corresponding enones, 10β,20-diacetoxy-13β,17-epoxy-4α,5α-dihydroxy-3,8-secotaxa-2E,7E,11-trien-9-one (canataxpyran B, 2) and 5α,10β,20-triacetoxy-13β,17-epoxy-4α-hydroxy- 3,8-secotaxa-2E,7E,11-trien-9-one (canataxpyran C, 3). Compound 1 is the first example of a natural 3,8-secotaxane with 13,17-oxygen bridge.

Two new phytoecdysteroids from the needles of Taxus canadensis.

Two new phytoecdysteroids with a 20,22-acetal group were identified for the first time from the needles of the Canadian yew, Taxus canadensis. Their structures were characterized as ponasterone A 20,22-p-hydroxybenzylidene acetal (1) and ponasterone A 20,22-acetonide (2) on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR evidence and high-resolution FABMS analysis Graphical Abstract Two New Phytoecdysteroids from the Needles of Taxus canadensis

Chemical constituents from the genus Saussurea and their biological activities

Abstract The genus Saussurea (Asteraceae) contains about 400 species distributed around Asia and Europe and used in the traditional medicines of many cultures. The main compounds isolated from Saussurea species are terpenoids, in particular, sesquiterpenoids are dominant. This review lists 404 chemical constituents as well as their biological activity (111 references).