Ming-Jen Cheng

Cytotoxic compounds from the stems of Cinnamomum tenuifolium.

Three new butanolides, tenuifolide A (1), isotenuifolide A (2), and tenuifolide B (3), a new secobutanolide, secotenuifolide A (4), and one new sesquiterpenoid, tenuifolin (5), along with 16 known compounds were isolated from the stems of Cinnamomum tenuifolium. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 4 was found to induce apoptotic-related DNA damage, increase sub-G1 cells, and inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells, DU145. In addition, treatment with 4 significantly increased intracellular H2O2 and/or peroxide. The results show that 4 induced (a) noticeable reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim); (b) significant increase in the ratio of cytochrome c concentration (cytosol/mitochondria); and (c) subsequent activation of caspase-9/caspase-3. Antiproliferation caused by 4 was found to markedly decrease when pretreated with caspase-9/caspase-3 inhibitor. In ROS scavenging, antioxidant, NADPH oxidase, and NO inhibitor studies, pretreatment of DU145 cells with either DPI, dexamethasone, L-NAME, or mannitol decreased 4-induced intracellular DCF fluorescence of ROS. These results suggest that an increase of H2O2 and/or peroxide by 4 is the initial apoptotic event and 4 has anticancer effects on DU145 cells.

A novel normonoterpenoid from the stems of Cinnamomum reticulatum Hay

Reticuone (1), a novel Cinnamomum normonoterpenoid, has been isolated from Cinnamomum reticulatum Hay (Lauraceae), and its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

Isolation of a new monoterpenic ester from the leaves of Michelia compressa (Maxim.) Sargent var. formosana Kanehira (Magnoliaceae).

Pressafonin A (1) and pressafonin B (2), two new Michelia monoterpenic esters, have been isolated from Michelia compressa (Maxim.) Sargent var. formosana Kanehira (Magnoliaceae), and their structures are determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

(S*)-2,7,8-Trihydroxychroman-4-one

Reticumanone (1), a new chromanone, isolated from the leaves of Cinnamomum reticulatum Hay (Lauraceae), has been characterized as (S*)-2,7,8-trihydroxychroman-4-one, by means of spectroscopic methods.

Chemical constituents from the whole plant of Gaultheria itoana Hayata.

Two new diterpenoids, 14,18‐dihydroxyabieta‐8,11,13‐trien‐7‐one (1) and 13‐acetyl‐14,18‐dihydroxy‐podocarpa‐8,11,13‐triene (2), together with eight known compounds, i.e., gaultheric acid (3), vanillic acid (4), 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (5), cinnamic acid (6), stearic acid (7), palmitic acid (8), β‐sitosterol (9), and stigmasterol (10), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Gaultheria itoana Hayata (Ericaceae). The structures of the new constituents were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR) and by mass spectrometry (HR‐ESI‐MS). Among them, 1 and 2 were demonstrated to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against the LNCaP cell line.

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata var. mushaensis (Lu) Y.C. Liu.

One new lignan, machilolin-A (1), was isolated from the leaves of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata var. mushaensis (Lu) Y. C. Liu (Lauraceae), together with three known compounds, vanillin (2), β-sitosterol (3) and stigmasterol (4). The structure of 1 was elucidated based on chemical analysis and spectral methods (IR, 1D and 2D NMR, HR-FAB-MS, EI-MS).

Phytochemical Investigation and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Components of Leaves and Stems of Machilus zuihoensis var. mushaensis

From the MeOH extract of the leaves and stems of Machilus zuihoensis var. mushaensis, one new lignan, machilolin-B (1), together with 10 known compounds, zuonin B (2), (+)-9,9′-O-diferuloylsecoisolariciresinol (3), (E)-3-(3-hydroxybut-1-enyl)-2,4,4-trimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone (4), 5-[(1R,5R,8S)-8-hydroxy-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl]-3-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid (5), vanillin (6), rhamnetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (7), 2-hydroxy-3,4-dioxopentanal (8), a mixture of β-sitosterol (9) and stigmasterol (10), and β-sitosteryl-β-D-glucoside (11), have been isolated. Among them, compound 3 was demonstrated to have significant cytotoxic activity against the DU145, LNCaP, and A549 cell lines. Compound 11 also possessed moderate antiproliferative activities against DU145 cell lines.

Secondary metabolites from the stems of Synsepalum dulcificum

0009-3130/12/4801-0108 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 1) Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.; 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, R.O.C., fax: +886 7 7834548, e-mail: xx377@mail.fy.edu.tw. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, p. 100, January–February, 2012. Original article submitted December 2, 2010. Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Vol. 48, No. 1, March, 2012 [Russian original No. 1, January–February, 2012]

Isolation of a 2-oxetanone from the fruits of Synsepalum dulcificum

Ficumone (1), a 2-oxetanone isolated from the fruits of Synsepalum dulcificum, has been characterised as (R*)-4-hydroxy-2-oxetanone by means of spectroscopic methods.

Secondary metabolites from the stems of Artocarpus heterophyllus

(52), 403 (11),377 (13), 321 (100).1) School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 831, R.O.C., e-mail:low463@gmail.com; 2) Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Research and DevelopmentInstitute (FIRDI), Hsinchu, Taiwan 300, R.O.C., e-mail: cmj0404@gmail.com. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii,No. 4, pp. 538–539, July–August, 2010. Original article submitted March 23, 2009.