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Sixty-three amide alkaloids, including three new, piperflaviflorine A (1), piperflaviflorine B (2), and sarmentamide D (4), and two previously synthesized ones, (1 E,3S)-1-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine (3) and N-[7'-(4'-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-2-methoxybenzamide (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of Piper flaviflorum and Piper sarmentosum. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and, in case of 3, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Most of the isolates were tested for their antifungal and antibacterial activities. Ten amides (6-15) showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 90113 with IC50 values in the range between 4.7 and 20.0 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minor phenolic compounds in licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) have recently been proved for diverse bioactivities and favorable bioavailability, indicating that they may play an important role in the therapeutic effects or herb-drug interactions of licorice. However, so far, their abundance in licorice remains unknown. In this study, a reliable solid-phase extraction coupled with a highperformance liquid chromatography and diode array detection method was established to determine the minor phenolic compounds in licorice. The analytes were enriched by a three-step solidphase extraction method, and then separated on a YMC ODS-A column by gradient elution. Five coumarins and flavonoids were identified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, and then quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and diode array detection. The amounts of glycycoumarin, dehydroglyasperin C, glycyrol, licoflavonol, and glycyrin in G. uralensis were 0.81 ± 0.28, 1.25 ± 0.59, 0.20 ± 0.08, 0.12 ± 0.04, and 0.17 ± 0.08mg/g, respectively. Abundances of these compounds in other Glycyrrhiza species (G. glabra, G. inflata, and G. yunnanesis) were remarkably lower than G. uralensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new steroidal glycosides, 1α,3α-dihydroxy-5β-pregn-16-en- 20-one 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and d1β,3β,27-trihydroxy-cholest-16-en-22-one 1,3-di-O-α-L-rhamnoside (2), along with seven known steroidal glycosides (3-9), were isolated from Reineckia carnea herba. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of their 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS spectra. Compound 9 was isolated for the first time from the Reineckia genus. Except for 8, compounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 displayed clear in vitro antitussive activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]