Peng-Cheng Wang

Fatty acid synthase inhibitors of phenolic constituents isolated from Garcinia mangostana

Natural inhibitors of fatty acid synthase (FAS) are emerging as potential therapeutic agents to treat cancer and obesity. The bioassay-guided chemical investigation of the hulls of Garcinia mangostana led to the isolation of 13 phenolic compounds (1-13) mainly including xanthone and benzophenone, in which compounds 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 9 was a new natural product. These isolates possess strong inhibitory activity of FAS with the IC(50) values ranging from 1.24 to 91.07 μM. The study indicates that two types of natural products, xanthones and benzophenones, could be considered as promising FAS inhibitors.

Iridoids and Sesquiterpenoids from the Roots of Valeriana officinalis

Two new iridoids, volvaltrates A and B (1 and 2), and three new sesquiterpenoids, E-(-)-3beta,4beta-epoxyvalerenal (3), E-(-)-3beta,4beta-epoxyvalerenyl acetate (4), and mononorvalerenone (5), together with five known iridoids and two known sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis. The structures and relative configurations of 1-5 were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 was an unusual iridoid with an oxygen bridge connecting C-3 and C-10, forming a cage-like structure, and compound 5 was a mononorsesquiterpenoid.

Germacrane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia

Eight new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, volvalerenals A-E (2-6) and volvalerenic acids A-C (7-9), along with four known compounds, were isolated from a chloroform extract of the roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. The structures and relative configurations of 2-9 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. The effects of all compounds isolated on acetylcholinesterase were evaluated.

Volvalerelactones A and B, Two New Sesquiterpenoid Lactones with an Unprecedented Skeleton from Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia

Volvalerelactones A and B (1 and 2), two new sesquiterpenoid lactones with an unprecedented 3/7/6 tricyclic ring system, were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, and the absolute configuration was assigned by computational methods. The possible biosynthetic pathways of 1 and 2 were also proposed.

Anthraquinone derivatives from Rumex plants and endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus and their effects on diabetic nephropathy.

Two new oxanthrone C-glycosides, patientosides A (14) and B (15), together with three known ones (11-13), were isolated from Rumex patientia. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The absolute configuration for 14 and 15 were deduced by analysis of their CD spectra and comparison with those of known similar compounds. Compounds 11-15, and 14 known anthraquinones (1-4, 6-10, 16-20) previously isolated from Rumex nepalensis, Rumex hastatus, and endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus, respectively, as well as a commercially available compound rhein (5) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on IL-6 and extracellular matrix production in mesangial cells.

Sesquiterpenoids and Lignans from the Roots of Valeriana officinalis L.

Two new guaiane‐type sesquiterpenoids, valerol A (1) and kessyl 3‐acetate (2), together with nine known compounds, valeracetate (3), anismol A (4), orientalol C (5), spatulenol (6), 4α,10α‐epoxyaromadendrane (7), (+)‐8‐hydroxypinoresinol (8), pinorespiol (9), pinoresinol 4‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (10), and 8‐hydroxypinoresinol 4′‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (11) were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis. The structures and relative configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, MS, UV, and IR). These compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and enhancing activity on nerve growth factor (NGF)‐mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Phenols with anti-HIV activity from Daphne acutiloba.

The present paper describes the study of the phytochemical properties and anti-HIV activity of the phenolic isolates of the plateau medicinal plant Daphne acutiloba Rehd. (Thymelaeceae). Two new lignans named daphnenin (1) and daphnetone (2), along with 11 known ones, were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2DNMR spectroscopy aswell as HR‑ESI‑MS. In the anti-HIV activity study, daphnenin (1) and caffeic acid n-octadecyl ester (13) showed definite anti-HIVactivity with EC(50) values of 0.39 and 0.16 μg/mL, respectively.

Fatty acid synthase inhibitors isolated from Punica granatum L.

The aim of this work is the isolation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitors from the ethyl acetate extracts of fruit peels of Punica granatum L. Bioassay-guided chemical investigation of the fruit peels resulted in the isolation of seventeen compounds mainly including triterpenoids and phenolic compounds, from which one new oleanane-type triterpene (punicaone) along with fourteen known compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. Seven isolates were evaluated for inhibitory activities of FAS and two compounds showed to be active. Particularly, flavogallonic acid exhibited strong FAS inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 10.3 µmol L-1.

Phenolic compounds from the roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia

Uma nova neolignana benzofurânica, isovalerato de 9-di-hidrodesidrodiconiferila, alem de 10 compostos fenolicos conhecidos, olivil, pinoresinol, 8-hidroxipinoresinol, pinorespiol, 8-hidroxi-7epipinoresinol, acido trans-p-hidroxifenil-propenoico, acido cis-p-hidroxifenil-propenoico, acido isoferulico e isovanilina foram isolados a partir das raizes da Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Suas estruturas e configuracoes foram elucidadas com base em metodos espectroscopicos. A atividade inibitoria da acetilcolinesterase (AChE) e a atividade intensificada do fator de crescimento neural (NGF) mediada pelo crescimento de neurites em celulas PC12 pelos compostos isovalerato de 9-di-hidrodesidrodiconiferila e olivil foram avaliadas. A new benzofuran neolignan, dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-isovalerate, along with ten known phenolic compounds, olivil, pinoresinol, 8-hydroxypinoresinol, pinorespiol, 8-hydroxy7-epipinoresinol, trans-p-hydroxyphenyl- propenoic acid, cis-p-hydroxyphenyl-propenoic acid, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid and isovanillin were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Their structures and configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The inhibitory activity for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and enhancing activity on nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells of dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-isovaterate and olivil were evaluated.

Volvalerenol A, a New Triterpenoid with a 12-Membered Ring from Valeriana hardwickii

Volvalerenol A (1), an unprecedented type of triterpenoid with a 7/12/7 tricyclic ring system, was obtained from the ethanol extracts of the roots of Valeriana hardwickii. The structure and relative configurations were established by comprehensive analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. The possible biogenetic pathway of 1 was also deduced.