Nai-Li Wang

Two New Megastigmane Glycosides, Physanosides A and B, from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii, and Their Effect on NO Release in Macrophages

Two new megastigmane glycosides, physanosides A and B (1 and 2, resp.), were isolated from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii, together with four known compounds (6S,9R)‐roseoside (3), (6S,9S)‐roseoside (4), (6R,9S)‐3‐oxo‐α‐ionol β‐D‐glucopyranoside (5), and citroside A (6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence, in‐depth NMR spectroscopic analysis, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and CD spectroscopy, and their inhibitory effect on NO production was also examined. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited strong inhibition on lipopolysaccharide‐induced NO release by macrophages with IC50 values of 9.93 and 7.31 μM, respectively.

Lignans from the stems of Sambucus williamsii and their effects on osteoblastic UMR106 cells

Three new lignans, sambucunol A (8) ((+)-erythro-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyloxypropanyl)-2-hydroxyphenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol), sambucunol B (9) ((+)-threo-1-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-cinnamoyloxy propanyl)-2-hydroxyphenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol) and buddlenol G (10) (2-{4-[2, 3-dihydro-3-hydroxymethyl-7-hydroxy-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyloxypropanyl)-2-benzofuranyl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy}-1-(4- hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -1, 3-propanediol), along with seven known ones, including ( − )-syringaresinol (1), ( − )-pinoresinol (2), 1, 2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy phenyl)-1, 3-propanediol (3), ( − )-erythro-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(3-hydroxy propanyl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol (4), ( − )-threo-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(3-hydroxypropanyl)-2-methoxy phenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol (5), ( − )-lariciresinol (6) and ( − )-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), were isolated from the 60% ethanol extract of stems of Sambucus williamsii Hance by chromatographic methods. Their structures were established by spectral analysis. The effects of isolated compounds on the osteoblast-like UMR106 cell proliferation and ALP activities were determined. Compounds 2, 7 and 10 showed stimulating effects both on UMR106 cell proliferation and ALP activity. Compounds 1, 3, 6 and 8 stimulated UMR106 cell proliferation, while compounds 4 and 5 induced ALP activity in UMR106 cell.

Four new biflavonoids from Selaginella uncinata and their anti-anoxic effect

The 60% ethanolic extract of Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring possessed potent anti-anoxic effect in the anoxic PC12 cell assay. A phytochemical study of its EtOAc-soluble part led to the isolation of four new and three known biflavonoids. Their structures were established on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined with the aid of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Compounds 4 and 5 showed potent anti-anoxic effect in the anoxic PC12 cell assay.

Three new bibenzyl derivatives from Dendrobium nobile

Three new bibenzyl derivatives have been isolated from the stems of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (Orchidaceae). Their structures were established as 4,5-dihydroxy-3,3′,α-trimethoxybibenzyl (1), 4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,α-tetramethoxybibenzyl (2) and 4-hydroxy-3,3′,4′,5,α-pentamethoxybibenzyl (3) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

Novel furostanol saponins from the bulbs of Allium macrostemon B. and their bioactivity on [Ca2+]i increase induced by KCl.

Chemical reinvestigation of the ethanol extract of the dried bulbs of Allium macrostemon B. led to the isolation of two novel furostanol saponins, named macrostemonoside M (1) and macrostemonoside N (2), together with six known saponins. The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR as (25R)-22-hydroxy-5β-furostane-1β,2β,3β,6α-tetraol-26-O-β-d -glucopyranoside and 22-hydroxy-5β-furost-25-(27)-ene-1β,2β,3β,6α-tetraol-26-O-β-d -glucopyranoside, respectively. The pharmacological activities of all the saponins on [Ca2+]i increase induced by KCl were evaluated.

Selective inhibition of the growth of cancer cells by diterpenes selected with embryonic cells of Xenopus

We used Xenopus embryo cells with a cell cycle of 20–30 min to detect inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. Inhibition of proliferation was observed when isolated embryonic cells were incubated for 16 h in a simple salt solution containing the well‐known anticancer drugs 5‐fluorouracil and adriamycin. In addition, three diterpene compounds isolated from the anticancer herbal medicine kansui: kansuinin B, 20‐OD‐ingenol Z, and 20‐OD‐ingenol E specifically inhibited the proliferation of isolated embryonic cells. The inhibitory compounds selected using the embryonic cells also inhibited proliferation of certain mammalian cell types.

Two new steroidal saponins from Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring and their protective effect against anoxia

Four steroidal saponins were isolated from the anti-anoxic fraction of the 60% EtOH extract of Selaginella uncinata, including two new compounds, (3β, 7β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-3, 7, 12-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (2α, 3β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-2, 3, 12-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and two known compounds, (3β, 12β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-3,12-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (3), (1α, 3β, 25R)-spirost-5-ene-2-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). The four compounds showed potent protective effect against anoxia in the anoxic PC12 cells assay, among which compounds 1 and 2 were the most active. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the steroidal saponins in the plant S. uncinata and demonstrate their protective effect against anoxia in PC12 cell assay.

Two new steroidal compounds from starfish Asterias amurensis Lutken

Two new sulfated steroidal compounds (1 and 2), along with three known steroidal saponins (3, 4, and 5) were isolated from the starfish Asterias amurensis Lutken. The structures of new compounds were elucidated as 3β-O-sulfated-cholest-5-ene-7α-ol (1) and (E) 25-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-26, 27-dinor-24(S)-methyl-22-ene-15α-O-sulfated-5α-cholest-3β,6α-ol (2) by extensive NMR experiments and chemical evidence. Their effects on UMR106 cell proliferation were screened by MTT method. The results indicated that compounds 2 and 2a (0.01–100 μM) significantly promoted the osteoblastic proliferation. The initial structure–activity relationship analysis suggests that the sugar moiety is the necessary group for the activity.

Phenylpropanoid and flavonoids from osteoprotective fraction of Drynaria fortunei.

A new phenylpropanoid (1), 12-O-caffeoyl-12-hydroxyldodecanoic acid, and a new chalcone (2), 3′-lavandulyl-4-methoxyl-2,2′,4′,6′-tetrahydroxylchalcone, together with eight known compounds including one chalcone (3), five flavanones (4–8) and two flavonols (9, 10), have been isolated from one of the osteoprotective fractions of Drynaria fortunei (Kunze) J. Sm., which is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of osteoporosis. All these compounds were found for the first time from the genus Drynaria. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

Two new ent-labdane diterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata

Two new ent-labdane diterpenoid glycosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata. Their structures were elucidated as 3-O-β-d-glucosyl-14-deoxyandrographiside (1) and 3-O-β-d-glucosyl-14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographiside (2) by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectral and chemical methods.