Wen-Hua Dong

2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives from Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing.

Three new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives (1-3), together with thirteen known ones (4-16), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing, originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (Thymelaeaceae). The chemical structures of the new compounds were identified by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Compounds 1, 6, 15 and 16 exhibited inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, and compounds 15 and 16 showed inhibitory effects on Ralstonia solanacearum. Compounds 1-3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15 and 16 exhibited acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. A possible biogenetic pathway of compounds 1-16 was proposed to show the relationships between diepoxy-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, epoxy-tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones, tetrahydro-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, and 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones of the flidersia type, the four main types of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones found in agarwood, on the basis of their appearances in different stage of agarwood formation.

Five new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids from Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing.

Five new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-5), along with six known ones (6-11), were isolated from Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (Thymelaeaceae). The structures of the new sesquiterpenoids were established by spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR. Compounds 1, 3, 6 and 7 exhibited antibacterial activities against both Staphylococcus aureus and Ralstonia solanacearum, and compound 5 only showed an inhibitory activity towards S. aureus. Compounds 1, 6, 7 and 10 showed weak acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.

Meroterpenes from Endophytic Fungus A1 of Mangrove Plant Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea

Four new meroterpenes, guignardones F–I (1–4), together with two known compounds guignardones A (5) and B (6) were isolated from the endophytic fungus A1 of the mangrove plant Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. A possible biogenetic pathway of compounds 1–6 was also proposed. All compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus.

A new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone glycoside in Chinese agarwood “Qi-Nan” from Aquilaria sinensis

Abstract A new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone glycoside, 2-[2-(4-glucosyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (1), was isolated from the high-quality Chinese agarwood “Qi-Nan” originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Glig. The structure including the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR), MS analysis, PMP-labeling HPLC analysis methods, as well as comparison with literature data. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that chromone glycoside was discovered in agarwood, or even in the whole Aquilaria plants.

Characterization and determination of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood by GC-MS.

Agarwood is the fragrant resinous heartwood obtained from certain trees in the genus Aquilaria belonging to the family Thymelaeaceae. 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones and characteristic sesquiterpenes are the main classes of aromatic compounds isolated from agarwood. Although there are many sesquiterpenes, relatively few 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones have been determined in agarwood by GC-MS. After analysis of the MS spectra of eighteen 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives isolated from agarwood and identified by NMR spectroscopy, together with the reported MS data and characteristic of structures of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, the MS characterization, fragmentation patterns and characteristic fragment peaks for the compounds were deduced and a table summarizing MS characterization of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood is presented. All the 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones previously reported in agarwood are substituted by methoxy or/and hydroxy groups, except for one compound. Due to the fact they all possess the same basic skeleton (molecular weight: 250) and similar substituent groups (methoxy or hydroxy groups), a formula (30m + 16n = MW − 250) is provided to calculate the number of methoxy (m) or hydroxy (n) groups according to molecular ion peak or molecular weight (MW). We deduced that the characteristic fragmentation behaviors of the 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones are the cleavages of the CH2-CH2 bond between chromone moiety and phenyl moiety. Thus, characteristic fragment ions, such as m/z 91 [C7H7], 107 [C7H6+OH], 121 [C7H6+OCH3], 137 [C7H5+OH+OCH3] are formed by different substituted benzyl moieties, while characteristic fragment ions such as m/z 160 [C10H8O2], 176 [C10H7O2+OH], 190 [C10H7O2+OCH3], 220 [C10H6O2+OCH3×2] are formed by different substituted chromone moieties. Furthermore, rules regarding to the relationship between the positions of hydroxy or methoxy groups and the relative abundances of benzyl and chromone fragment ions have been deduced. Elucidation of how the positions of hydroxy or methoxy groups affect the relative abundances of benzyl and chromone fragment peaks is also provided. Fifteen unidentified compounds of an artificial agarwood sample analyzed by GC-MS, were preliminary determined as 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones by analysis of their MS characterization and by comparison of their MS spectra with those of 18 standard compounds or 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones reported in literature according to the above-mentioned methods and rules. This report will be helpful for the analysis and structural elucidation of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood by GC-MS, and provides fast and reliable characterization of the quality of agarwood.

Indole alkaloids from Kopsia hainanensis and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity.

Three new indole alkaloids, named kopsihainin D (1), kopsihainin E (2), and kopsihainin F (3), along with nine known compounds (4-12) were isolated from the twigs of Kopsia hainanensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS, UV, IR, and NMR. Compounds 1 - 3 and 5 showed inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus with an antibacterial circle diameter of 11.2, 9.1, 10.3 and 9.7 mm, respectively.

Cytotoxic Cardenolide Glycosides from the Seeds of Antiaris toxicaria

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract from the seeds of Antiaris toxicaria led to the isolation of three new cardiac glycosides named toxicarioside J, toxicarioside K, and toxicarioside L, together with a known glucostrophalloside. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS, UV, IR, and 1D, 2D NMR techniques. The cytotoxic activities of these cardiac glycosides against human gastric (SGC-7901) and human hepatoma (SMMC-7721) cell lines were evaluated, and all of them exhibited significant cytotoxicity.

2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone derivatives in artificial agarwood from Aquilaria sinensis.

Seven new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives (1-7) including a chlorinated one (4), together with eight known ones (8-15), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of artificial agarwood originating from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. All structures including the absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic (NMR, UV, IR, MS) methods, Moshers method, and comparison with reported data in the literatures. Among those, compounds 8, 12, and 14 exhibited significant inhibition against α-glucosidase in vitro with IC50 values of 0.15, 0.05, and 0.09 mM, respectively (with acarbose as the positive control; IC50: 0.98 mM). In addition, compounds 3, 9, 11, and 14 showed weak inhibitory activity against AChE; and compounds 12 and 13 displayed weak cytotoxicity against human gastric cell line (SGC-7901) among three types of tested human cancer cell lines (BEL-7402, K562, and SGC-7901).

Carbazole alkaloids from the peels of Clausena lansium.

A new carbazole alkaloid, claulansine K (1), together with six known carbazole alkaloids (2–7), was isolated from the peels of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels. The new compound was elucidated using a combination of 1D and 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, COSY, and ROESY) techniques, and HR-EI-MS analyses. Compound 1 showed in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 0.11 mM. Compound 2 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with the diameter of inhibition zone of 14.2 mm.

Five new sesquiterpenoids from Dalbergia odorifera.

Five new sesquiterpenes (1-5) along with ten known ones were isolated from the heartwood of Dalbergia odorifrea T. Chen. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques including MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR. Bioassay results showed that compounds 1 and 9 had inhibitory effect on Candida albicans, and compound 9 exhibited inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus by paper disk diffusion method.