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Artemisia argyi is a widely distributed and inexpensive plant resource, and study on its chemical compositions and biological activities will provide an important basis for its food applications and pharmaceutical developments. In this study, fourteen known guaiane-type sesquiterpenes (1-14), four known eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes (15-18), two known germacranolide-type sesquiterpenes (19, 20), and eight other types of terpenoids (20-28) were isolated from the leaves of A. argyi by polyamide and ODS CC and HPLC. The structures of all compounds are determined by 1 D NMR (1H-NMR、13C-NMR) and literature comparison. Among them, compounds 1 and 8 were isolated from Chinese folk medicine A. argyi for the first time. Besides, the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell model has been evaluated the anti-inflammatory activities in vitro by the Griess reagent. The results indicated that the guaianolide sesquiterpenoids obtained from A. argyi have an excellent ability to inhibit NO production, especially Argyin A, a guaianolide sesquiterpenoid with isovaleryloxy substitution.

A new abietane-type diterpenoid, rubesanolidic acid (1), alongside six known compounds including β-sitosterol (2), lupeol (3), betulinic acid (4) ursolic acid (5), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) were isolated from the roots of Burkea africana through column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR) data and by comparison with data from previous studies. The extract and compounds were tested for their α-amylase inhibition. The extract was more active than the isolated compounds with a percentage inhibition of 51.0 ± 2.5% at 400 µg/mL and was the only sample showing above 50% inhibition at this dose. Amongst the isolated compounds and at the dose of 400 µg/mL, the new diterpenoid Rubesanolidic acid exibited the highest percentage inhibition of α-amylase of 38.2 ± 2.0% while β-sitosterol showed the lowest inhibition of 9.6 ± 0.5%. The results indicate that B. africana is a potential source of antidiabetic compounds.

A new icetexane diterpenoid, 11, 12, 20α-trihydroxyl-7β-methoxyicetexa-8, 11, 13-triene-19, 10-lactone [Phyllane A (1)], and a new abietane diterpenoid, 7β, 20-epoxy-3β, 17-acetoxy-abieta-8, 11, 13...

A new ingol diterpenoid, namely 3-de-O-acetyleuphornan R (1), along with two known analogues, euphornans E (2) and N (3) were isolated from the seeds of Euphorbia marginata Pursh. The structure of ...

2β,3α,19-Triacetoxy-17-hydroxyspongia-13(16),14-diene (1), a novel acetoxy diterpenoid, and 18-nor-2,17-hydroxyspongia-1,4,13(16),14-quaien-3-one (2), belonging to the rare 18-nor-spongian carbon skeleton, together with six related known metabolites (3‒8), were isolated from the aquaculture Spongia officinalis Linnaeus, 1759. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculation of NMR parameters, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 3, 4, and 5 exhibited moderate inhibition against STAT3/NF-κB, HIF-1, Wnt signalling pathways. Compounds 1, 3, and 5 showed cytotoxicity activities against K562 cell line with IC50 values of 7.3, 3.5, and 6.4 μM, respectively.

A new C19-diterpenoid alkaloid named gyalanutine A (1) and fourteen known compounds 2-15 were isolated from the plant of Delphinium gyalanum C. Marquand & Airy Shaw. Compound 1 displayed an unusual lycoctonine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloid skeleton with the cleavage of N-C19 and C7-C17 bonds, and the construction of the N-C7 bond. Structures were identified by multiple spectroscopic analyses including 1 D, 2 D NMR, IR and HR-ESI-MS. Compounds were tested for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activity.

A new picrotoxane terpenoid glycoside, austrobuxusin N (1), together with four known compounds, austrobuxusin A-D (2-5), were isolated from the leaves of the Australian endemic plant Austrobuxus swainii (Beuzev. & C.T. White) Airy Shaw. The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, along with MS data. The sugar moiety in 1 was determined to be β-D-glucose by acid hydrolysis and subsequent comparison of its specific rotation with that of standard. The relative configuration of the aglycone was assigned by ROESY NMR experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculation of NMR data coupled with DP4 analysis. Cytotoxicity test revealed that compound 1 exhibited 71% inhibition against Caco-2 cell line at the concentration of 166 µM.

A new diterpenoid with an unusual capnosane skeleton, sinuhumilol A (1), alone with twelve known diverse compounds (2-13), were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia humilis. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations, and/or by the comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. In bioassay, compound 11 exhibited interesting specific cytotoxicity against the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 with IC50 value of 12.5 µM.

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the emerging multidrug- and pandrug-resistant pathogens. The aim of the study was to determine anti-A. baumannii activity of selected terpenes, terpenoids and phen...

The volatile composition of plants is of great importance because of its wide applications in aromatherapy, pharmaceuticals, perfumes and chemical ecology. This article describes the volatile fraction of Clerodendrum infortunatum L. leaves extracted by partitioning the hydro-distillate using hexane. A fatty acid derivative, 1-octen-3-ol is found as the main component in the volatile fraction ranging from 48.7 to 63.7%. Other compounds found with significant amounts were trans-3-hexenol, 1-hexanol, (3E)-hexen-1-ol acetate, 3-octanone, phenylacetaldehyde, linalool and methyl salicylate. Irregular terpenoid compounds like (E)-β-damascenone, (E)-β-ionone and isophorone are also present in the volatile part of C. infortunatum. The chemical composition of the volatile fraction was identified by spectroscopic analysis, GC and GC-MS.

A new diterpenoid, phyllane C (1), along with three known compounds, ovoideal E (2), spruceanol (3), and fluacinoid B (4) were isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus acidus growing in Thailand. The structures were determined by analysis of their MS and NMR data as well as by comparison with literature values. DFT-NMR chemical shift calculations and subsequent DP4/DP4+ probability methods were applied to define the relative configuration of 1. Compound 3 showed a weak cytotoxicity against K562 cell line (IC50 41.9 ± 2.31 µg/mL).

Two new lathyrane-type diterpenoids, jatropodagins A and B (1 and 2), and five known analogues (3–7), were isolated from the stems of Jatropha podagrica. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and calculated ECD analyses. The cytotoxicities of all the lathyrane-type diterpenoids (1–7) were evaluated against two human osteosarcoma cell lines (Saos-2 and MG-63). Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against Saos-2 and MG-63 with IC50 values of 8.08 and 14.64 μM, respectively. The IC50 values for the positive control 5-FU against the Saos-2 and MG-63 cell lines were 19.01 and 25.00 μM, respectively. Morphological features of apoptosis activities were evaluated in 1-treated Saos-2 cells and the results confirmed apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Three new diterpenoids, euphopanes A–C (1–3), including one ent-isopimarane (1), one ent-abietane (2) and one cembrane (3), along with five known compounds (4–8) were isolated from the roots of Eup...

The present investigation reports evaluation of phytochemical content, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer properties of the methanolic crude extracts prepared from Memecylon randerianum leaves. Qualitative evaluation showed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, phytosterols, terpenoids, diterpenoids and coumarins. Quantitative estimation for phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids indicated total phenolic content 11.95 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid content 20.34 mg QE/g and total alkaloid content 316.68 mg AE/g dry weight of the crude extract respectively. The methanolic extract demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The preparation also demonstrated good antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Anticancer activity was evaluated against breast (MCF), oral (KB) and lung (A-549) cancer cell lines and the respective IC50 values were found to be 159.81 ± 7.54 µg/mL, 240.21 ± 2.57 µg/mL and 124.17 ± 2.10 µg/mL which are comparable to IC50 values of Paclitaxel.

Cnidoscolus quercifolius is an Euphorbiaceae endemic to the northeast region of Brazil, which is used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibiotic. An ethanolic extract was prepared with the leaves from C. quercifolius, and also partitioned and chromatographed leading to the isolation of cyanoglucoside linamarin (1), cinnamic acid (2), as well as a mixture of steroids and terpenoids (3–6). Structural elucidation of the compounds was done by IR, MS and NMR analysis. For the cyanoglucoside (1) were also evaluated its antimicrobial and antileishmanial viabilities by plaque microdilution and MTT test, respectively. Both tests showed from moderate to zero activity against the organisms evaluated. In addition, the antiproliferative activity of compounds 1 and 5–6 were tested against tumor cells, which did not show statistically significant growth inhibition 50% (GI50). The obtained results suggested that further pharmacological studies should prove the folk medicinal uses.

Three new diterpenoids (1–3) (two abietane type diterpenoids and a paralianone type diterpenoid), together with four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia peplus. T...

Three new cyathane diterpenoids named stercorins A–C (1–3), including one with unusual 4,9-seco-carbon skeleton, together with two new drimane sesquiterpenoids named stercorins D (4) and E (5) were...

One new iridoid glycoside (1), shanzhiside N-L-phenylalanyl ester along with seven known compounds, mussaenoside (2), shanzhiside methyl ester (3), barlerin (4), mussaendodise G (5), mussaendodise U (6), mussaendodise P (7), and mussaglaoside B (8) have been isolated from Mussaenda pilosissima Valeton. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, 1 D-, 2 D-NMR, and mass spectra. Compounds 1-7 showed significant inhibitory activity on LPS-stimulated NO production in BV2 cells with the IC50 values ranging from 43.5 to 65.2 µM.

A novel hexanorditerpenoid, hedychin C (1), and a new diterpenoid, hedychin D (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Hedychium forrestii. Their structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously established by means of extensive spectroscopic data (IR, UV, HRMS, and NMR) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. This is the first report of naturally occurring labdane-type hexanorditerpenoid. Compound 1 was proved to have moderate cytotoxicity against XWLC-05 cell line with an IC50 value of 53.6 μM.

Two new highly-oxygenated neo-clerodane diterpenoids, 3S-acetoxyl-mollotucin D dilactone ester (1) and 6S-crotoeurin C (2), and a new lupane-type triterpene, 16β-hydroxyl-3β-O-trans-coumaroyl-betulin (6), as well as three known analogues (3–5) were obtained from the leaves of Croton laui. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, and their absolute configurations were determined by combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and literature data. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited inhibitory activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 1.2 and 1.6 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 6 exhibited activity against Col205 and HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values of 12.9 and 17.7 μM, respectively.

A new labdane-type diterpenoid, named vitexnegundin (1), along with seven known compounds, including vitexilactone (2), vitetrifolin D (3), 13-hydroxy-5(10),14-halimadien-6-one (4), (rel 3S,5S,8R,9R,10S)-3,9-dihydroxy-13(14)-labden-16,15-olide (5), artemetin (6), vitexcarpin (7) and penduletin (8), were isolated from the leaves of Vitex negundo L. Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallographic analysis and comparison with those reported in the literature. Moreover, all isolated compounds 1–8 were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strain and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The present study shows the variability in chemical profiles of three different varieties of Cannabis sativa extracts used in medicinal cannabis oil when using two different extraction and evaporation methods. Procedures were compared by analyzing rate of total terpenoids to the principal cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extraction of inflorescences using soxhlet method showed the highest mass of final extract. Also, the use of heating and the presence of oxygen when evaporating the solvents, greatly modified the final profiles due to evaporation or chemical reactions. These variations in chemical profiles must be carefully taken into account and standardized in the elaboration of medicinal oils. Fil: Pegoraro, César Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Nutter, Diego. Cameda; Argentina Fil: Thevenon, Mario Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Ramirez, Cristina Lujan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata. Grupo de Investigación del Departamento de Química de la Unmdp | Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata. Grupo de Investigación del Departamento de Química de la Unmdp; Argentina

A series of conjugates of diterpenoid isosteviol (16-oxo-ent-beyeran-19-oic acid) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was synthesised and their cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines (M-Hela, ...

Present investigation reports first phytochemical profile of Cordia sinensis Lam. stems utilising GC-FID and GC-MS analyses. Moreover, antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic and insecticidal potential of stems was also evaluated. Altogether 33 (∼69%) compounds were identified. n-Hexadecanoic acid (15.62-35.55%), methyl hexadecanoate (11.22-29.49%), methyl octadecanoate (4.10-8.66%) and n-octadecanoic acid (4.24-6.64%), present in all the fractions were the major components identified. Overall 4 hydrocarbons, 7 fatty acids, 12 fatty acid esters, 3 phytosterols, 2 terpenes, a terpenoid and 4 aromatics were identified. It is important to note that methanolic mother extract showed moderate phytotoxic activity at higher dose only. However, GC-MS identifications revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents with reported bioactive potential. Moreover, biogenetic correlation of identified phytoconstituents with other parts of plant confirms their natural existence. Newly identified secondary metabolites of C. sinensis stems may also serve as the chemotaxonomic markers and can be correlated with the genus Cordia and Boraginaceae.

A volatile alkaloid quinoline-4-carbonitrile (QCN) was isolated from the floral extract of Quisqualis indica. Major compounds were trans-linalool oxide (1.0, 4.5%), methyl benzoate (1.0, 4.0%), 2,2,6-trimethyl-6-vinyl-tetrahydropyran-3-one (7.4, 17.8%), 2,2,6-trimethyl-6-vinyl-tetrahydropyran-3-ol (1.0, 1.2%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (29.1, 16.1%), QCN (5.7, 1.3%) in live and picked flowers, respectively. Flower compositions were altered due to change in enzymatic reaction at the time of picking. Some rearrangements of oxygenated terpenoids occurred in the process of hydrodistillation to obtain essential oil. Chemical synthesis of QCN and its selectively reduced products derived from QCN were prepared through green reaction process. The catalytic modification of QCN has produced quinoline-4-methylamine; the later compound has shown enhanced bio-activities. QCN and floral extract (absolute) have shown potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Besides, floral absolute has shown significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities due to improved QCN (19.7%) content to synergize amongst terpenoids and benzenoids as compared to the essential oil with 1.1% of QCN.

A new rearranged clerodane diterpenoid, tinocrispide was isolated from the stems of Tinospora crispa along with thirteen known compounds including eight clerodane diterpenoids. Among the known comp...

A new ent-atisane diterpenoid, ent-3α-acetoxy-1β,16β,17-trihydroxyatisane (1), along with four known compounds, 3,3′,4′-tri-O-methylellagic acid (2), (R)-(+)-lasiodiplodin (3), taraxerol (4) and syringic acid (5) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia antiquorum L. The structure of compound 1 was identified by interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported in the literature.

The phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the bark of Croton oligandrus Pierre ex Hutch yielded a new clerodane-type diterpenoid crotoliganfuran (1) along with ten other compounds ...

The chemical analyses of ethyl acetate-methanol (EtOAc-MeOH) extract of muricid gastropod mollusk, Chicoreus ramosus from the southeastern coast of Indian peninsular led to the identification of unprecedented cembrane-type diterpenoid, which was characterized as (3E, 6E, 10E)-8a-butoxy-17(15→14), 20(12→11)-bis-abeo-cembra-3,6,10,14(17),15-pentaene (1). The structure of the studied cembrane was unambiguously assigned through the extensive spectroscopic experimentations. The antioxidant potentials of the bis-abeo cembrane as determined by in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt radical quenching potentials were greater (IC50 0.60 mg/mL). The pro-inflammatory anti-5-lipoxygenase potential of studied cembrane was higher (IC50 0.90 mg/mL).

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Leontopodium longifolium, led to the isolation of a novel norsesquiterpene, named as longifolactone (1), along with three known diterpenes. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of the new compound was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) using both experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Furthermore, their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells to determine their effects on the release of NO. Longifolactone (1) showed weak cytotoxicity towards two human cancer cell lines.

Novel hydrazones based on (‒)-carvone were synthesized via condensation of terpenoid with 4-R-phenoxyacetic acid hydrazides. The structure of target compounds was established by FT-IR, Raman, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral analysis, FAB/ESI mass spectrometry. (‒)-Carvone hydrazones were proven to exist as Z/E geometrical isomers about C = N bond using ion mobility-tandem mass spectrometry (IM-MS/MS). Single crystal X-ray diffraction study was applied to determine molecular and crystal structure of compound 3e. Hydrazones 3a-3e were evaluated as potential anticonvulsant agents after their oral administration against maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice. Analgesic activity of compounds was investigated by topical application on models of capsaicin and AITC-induced pain. The present findings indicate that (‒)-carvone derivatives afforded seizure protection both at short (1 h) and long (24 h) time period by blocking electroshock- and chemical-induced convulsions. Hydrazones binding to TRPA1/TRPV1 ion channels was proposed as possible mechanism explaining significant analgesic effect of compounds.

A new ester (1) and a terpenoid (2) were isolated from the dried whole plant of Disporopsis aspersa (HUA) ENGL. ex DIELS for the first time and their structures were elucidated, as well as their bi...

Using sclareol and sclareolide as starting materials, the guanidine derivatives of 12-amino-11-dihomodrimane-8α-ol and 13-amino-14,15-bis-dinorlabd-8(9)-ene were synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding amines with sodium hydrogencyanamide in ethanol – water solution. Monoacyl- and diacylguanidines were prepared from activated with N,N-carbonyldiimidazole Δ8,9-bicyclohomofarnesenoic acid by the reaction with guanidine. Their structures were confirmed by the 1H and 13C NMR, IR spectral and elemental analysis data. The compounds 12, 13 and 15 were screened for their antiproliferative and cytotoxicity activities against Colo 205, Colo 320 and MRC 5 human lung fibroblasts with respect to standard drug, Cisplatin. The compounds 12 and 15 exhibits excellent results than positive control. Hence these two compounds may be act as drug lead molecules in cancer chemotherapy.

A new abietane diterpenoid glycoside, ajugaside B (1), along with three known compounds (2–4), were isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga ovalifolia var. calantha. The structure of the new compound (1) was elucidated by means of spectroscopic analyses (HRESIMS, IR, NMR and ECD). All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antitumor activities against MGC803, MCF-7, A549, HT29 and HepG2 cell lines. Compounds 3–4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines with IC50 values of 1.8–7.3 μM.

The bioactive ingredients of many essential oils are complex and difficult to reproduce synthetically. In the present study, the influence of extraction method on relative extraction of bioactive compounds of essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (Thuja orientalis L. is a synonym of it) leaves gathered from semi-arid climate was studied. A higher yield of essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation (0.1%) as compared to steam distillation (0.07%) under newly optimized conditions. Initial analysis of these oils by TLC showed the presence of different polarity groups ranging from non-polar terpene hydrocarbons to polar terpenoid alcohols. GC-MS analysis revealed that major component of hydrodistilled essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves was α-pinene (17.83%) and steam distilled essential oil contained α-cedrol (12.44%). The results obtained in the present study emphasize that suitable extraction technique should be used to obtain particular component of interest.

Phytochemical investigation on the stems and leaves of Trigonostemon howii resulted in the isolation of a new abietane diterpenoid, trigohowimine A (1), along with seven known structurally diverse diterpenoids (2-8). The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the known compounds were identified by comparison with data reported in the literature. New compound 1 was evaluated for its cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480. Compound 1 showed significant inhibitory effects against various human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.82 to 8.53 μM.

In addition to known constituents of Telekia speciosa, an acetone extract from ray florets of the plant yielded: 5,5ʹ-dibutoxy-2,2ʹ-bifuran (1), 5,5ʹ-diisobutoxy-2,2ʹ-bifuran (2), α-tocopherol (3), β-tocopherol (4), loliolide palmitate (5), a mixture of calenduladiol esters - 16β-hydroxylupeol-3-O-palmitate (7) and 16β-hydroxylupeol-3-O-myristate (8), 1-epiinuviscolide (12), inuviscolide (13), 3-epiisotelekin (16), 4α-hydroxy-9β,10β-epoxy-1β(H)-11(13)-guaien-8α,12-olide (17), 4α-hydroxy-1β(H)-9(10),11(13)-guaiadien-8α,12-olide (18), loliolide (19) and 4β,10β-dihydroxy-1α(H),5α(H)-11(13)-guaien-8α,12-olide (20). Calenduladiol esters and asperilin (14) were the major constituents of the extract. Their cytotoxic effect on human normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT-2), human prostate carcinoma cell lines, human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and human melanoma cell lines was examined in vitro. Triterpene esters showed no cytotoxicity against nearly all cell lines tested, except for Du145 prostate carcinoma cells (IC50 – 62.0 μΜ). Asperilin displayed activity against the cell lines under study, especially against three tested lines of melanomas (A375, IC50 – 17.6 μΜ, WM793, IC50 – 28.2 μΜ and Hs 294T, IC50 – 29.5 μΜ).

Four diterpenoid alkaloids, namely, (a) hypaconitine, (b) songorine, (c) mesaconitine and (d) aconitine, were isolated from the ethanol root extract of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. The antiviral activities of these alkaloids against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were evaluated. Antiviral activity test in vivo showed that compounds a and c, which were C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, showed inactivation efficacy values of 82.4 and 85.6% against TMV at 500 μg/mL, respectively. By contrast, compound c presented inactivation activity of 52.1% against CMV at 500 μg/mL, which was almost equal to that of the commercial Ningnanmycin (87.1% inactivation activity against TMV and 53.8% inactivation activity against CMV). C19-Diterpenoid alkaloids displayed moderate to high antiviral activity against TMV and CMV at 500 μg/mL, dosage plays an important role in antiviral activities. This paper is the first report on the evolution of aconite diterpenoid alkaloids for antiviral activity against CMV.

A new denudatine-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloid, designated as sinchianine (1), together with eight known diterpenoid alkaloids, 12-acetyl-12-epi-napelline (2), 12-epi-napelline (3), neoline (4), talatisamine (5), 14-O-acetylsenbusine A (6) and benzoylaconine (7), songorine (8) and aconitine (9), were isolated from the whole herb of Aconitum sinchiangense W. T. Wang. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (NMR and HR-ESI-MS) and comparison with data reported in the literature.

The expression of biosynthesis controlling genes of crocin and safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus) can be influenced by ultrasonic waves. Sterilized saffron corms were cultured in a ½-MS medium supplemented by 2-4-D and BAP. Saffron callus cells were treated with ultrasonic waves in a cellular suspension culture under optimal growth conditions. The samples were collected at 24 and 72 hours after treatment in three replications. The secondary metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and the gene expression was analysed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results indicate that this elicitor can influence the expressions of genes CsBCH, CsLYC and CsGT-2; the ultrasonic waves acted as an effective mechanical stimulus to the suspension cultures. The analysis of variance of the ultrasonically produced amounts of safranal and crocin indicates that there is a significant difference between once- and twice-treated samples in that the amount of safranal was the highest within the samples taken from the twice-treated suspension culture at 72 h after the ultrasound treatment, and the crocin was maximised after 24 h passed the twice-applied ultrasound treatment.