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Using combined chromatographic methods, two new sesquiterpene glucosides, vulgarosides A (1) and B (2), and two known analogs ainsliaside E (3) and pumilaside A (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris. Their chemical structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including one and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1 D and 2 D-NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). In addition, their cytotoxicity on five human cancer cell lines, including KB (epidermoid carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocarcinoma), MCF7 (breast carcinoma), SK-Mel-2 (melanoma), and LNCaP (prostate cancer) was also evaluated by the SRB assay. However, none of the tested eudesmane sesquiterpene glycosides showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50>100 µM).

Two new megastigmane glucosides namely trewiosides A (1) and B (2), along with 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one β-D-glucopyranoside (3), sugeroside (4), and schizandriside (5) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Alchornea trewioides. The structure elucidation was confirmed by extensive analysis of the one and two dimensional (1 and 2D) NMR, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) as well as high resolution electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (HR-ESI-QTOF) mass spectra. Noteworthily, the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 represents the second finding of megastigmane derivatives with a methoxycarbonyl group at C-5 to date. In addition, compound 3 showed weak cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines as A549 (lung carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocarcinoma), and MCF7 (breast carcinoma). Besides, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. Whereas, the remaining compounds 1, 4 and 5 showed weak inhibitory activity.

Chemical investigation of a peanut-associated fungal strain Aspergillus niger IMBC-NMTP01 resulted in isolation and identification of 14 secondary metabolites, including two new, epi-aspergillusol (1) and aspernigin (3), and 12 known compounds: pyrophen (2), 2-(hydroxyimino)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (4), aspergillusol A (5), rubrofusarin B (6), nigerasperone A (7), fonsecin (8), TMC-256C1 (9), pyranonigrin A (10), orlandin (11), nigerasperone C (12), asperpyrone A (13), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxylic acid (14). Compounds 9, 12-14 showed cytotoxicity toward all six human cancer cell lines, including HepG2, KB, HL-60, MCF-7, SK-Mel2, and LNCaP, with IC50 values ranging from 8.4 to 84.5 µM, compounds 3-5 were cytotoxic against five cancer cell lines except HepG2, whereas 1 exhibited cytotoxicity toward HepG2, KB, and MCF-7 cells. All of the compounds, except 2 and 13, inhibited NO overproduction in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In addition, all of the compounds displayed antimicrobial effects against Enterococcus faecalis, whereas 13 compounds, except 10, significantly inhibited the growth of the yeast Candida albicans.

Chemical investigation of the roots of Codonopsis javanica resulted in isolation of 12 compounds, including one new polyacetylene, codojavanyol (1), one new phenolic glycoside, codobenzyloside (7), and 10 known compounds, (2E,8E)-9-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)nona-2,8-diene-4,6-diyl-1-ol (2), lobetyol (3), lobetyolin (4), lobetyolinin (5), cordifolioidyne B (6), benzyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), (Z)-8-β-D-glucopyranosyloxycinnamic acid (9), syringin (10), syringaresinol (11), and tryptophan (12). Their structures were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses in comparison with the data reported in the literature. The stereochemistry of the C-2′ position of 1 was identified based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Among the isolates, compounds 3-5 were shown to have weak cytotoxicity toward three human carcinoma cell lines, including lung (A549), liver (HepG2), and breast (MCF7), with the induction of 41.4 to 55.6% cell death at the concentration of 100 µM.

In this study, with the aim of determining and assessing the influence of several culture conditions on the ligninolytic enzyme (LiP, MnP, and Lac) activity of bacteria, five lignin-degrading bacteria strains were isolated from two different soil samples and cultured on minimum salt medium agar containing alkaline lignin (MSML agar). Among the five isolated strains, DL1 and X3 expressed strong and stable ligninase enzyme activity at various temperature levels (30°C, 37°C, 50°C, and 60°C) and were selected for further study. Notably, at 60°C, the ligninase activity of both strains lasted until the seventh day before decreasing. The effects of the culture medium conditions, namely, carbohydrate sources, nitrogen sources, and pH, on the ligninolytic system illustrated that both X3 and DL1 were able to generate good enzymatic activity at a pH range of 3.0 to 7.0. These strains could use various sources of carbohydrates and nitrogen, derived from glucose, lactose, peptone, meat extract, and yeast extract. In addition, the analyses of biochemical characteristics revealed that X3 was capable of hydrolyzing starch and cellulose, while DL1 was not. Therefore, the results of this study suggested the potential of applying selected lignin-degrading bacterial strains on lignin treatments of agricultural wastes.

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata resulted in isolation of nine compounds, including a new ent-labdane diterpenoid, andrographic acid methyl ester (1), a new chalcone glucoside, pashanone glucoside (5), and seven known metabolites, andrograpanin (2), andrographolide (3), andropanolide (4), andrographidine A (6), andrographidine F (7), 6-epi-8-O-acetyl-harpagide (8), and curvifloruside F (9). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on comprehensive analyses of the spectroscopic data, including NMR and MS. Among the isolated compounds, andropanolide exerted cytotoxicity toward LNCaP, HepG2, KB, MCF7, and SK-Mel2 carcinoma cells, with IC50 values ranging from 31.8 to 45.9 µM. In addition, andropanolide significantly inhibited the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, with an IC50 value of 13.4 µM.

Three new glucosides, ziberthinosides A–C (1–3), and six known compounds, cleomiscosins A–D (4–7), sporogen AO-2 (8) and sapinofuranone A (9), were isolated from a methanol extract of Durio zibethinus fruit peels. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of their 1 D/2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data as well as by comparison with the literature values. The absolute configuration of sporogen AO-2 (8) was confirmed by ECD calculation. Of the isolates, compounds 8 and 9 were cytotoxic toward all MCF7, HepG2 and SK-LU-1 cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 10.7 to 34.9 μM. Our results contribute to better understanding of the chemical constituents of the high valued durian fruit and their pharmacological effect, such as cytotoxicity.

Phytochemical investigation of a methanol extract of Panax pseudoginseng flower buds resulted in the isolation of 22 dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, including three new compounds, pseudoginsenosides A-C (1-3), and 19 known analogs. Their chemical structures were identified by the comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1 D and 2 D NMR and mass spectra. In addition, their cytotoxic effects toward three human carcinoma cell lines, including liver (HepG2), breast (MCF7), and lung (A549) were also evaluated.

Two new phenolic glycosides, oroxylumosides A (1) and B (2), along with four known compounds darendoside A (3), leucosceptoside A (4), acteoside (5) and decaffeoylacteoside (6) were isolated from the stem bark of Oroxylum indicum. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of the 1 D and 2 D NMR as well as HR-ESI-QTOF-MS. In addition, compounds 1 − 4 exhibited inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cell line with IC50 values of 58.2 ± 2.9, 70.6 ± 3.5, 56.8 ± 2.8 and 61.1 ± 3.1 µM, respectively.

Sixteen sesquiterpenoids (1 – 16), including two new compounds namely saussucostusosides A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from the roots of Saussurea costus by various chromatographic separations. Their structures were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR and HR-QTOF-MS experiments. Among isolated compounds, costunlide (6), 3β-[4-hydroxymethacryloyloxy]-8α-hydroxycostunolide (10) and 11β,13-dihydrozaluzanin C (16) exhibited potent inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 7.08 ± 0.34, 2.40 ± 0.06 and 5.55 ± 0.24 µM, respectively.

International audience; Named entity recognition (NER) is an information extraction technique that aims to locate and classify named entities (e.g., organizations, locations,...) within a document into predefined categories. Correctly identifying these phrases plays a significant role in simplifying information access. However, it remains a difficult task because named entities (NEs) have multiple forms and they are context dependent. While the context can be represented by contextual features, the global relations are often misrepresented by those models. In this paper, we propose the combination of contextual features from XLNet and global features from Graph Convolution Network (GCN) to enhance NER performance. Experiments over a widely-used dataset, CoNLL 2003, show the benefits of our strategy, with results competitive with the state of the art (SOTA).

Using various column chromatographic methods, 5 triterpene tetraglycosides (1−5), including one new compound, namely holothurin A6 (1), were obtained from the water soluble part of the methanol extract of the sea cucumber Stichopus herrmanni. Their structures were confirmed by careful analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR, and HR ESI QTOF mass spectra. Noteworthily, 24-dehydroechinoside A (3) showed potent cytotoxicity to 5 human cancer cell lines {HepG2 (hepatoma cancer), KB (epidermoid carcinoma), LNCaP (prostate cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), and SK-Mel2 (melanoma)} with IC50 values ranging from 0.19 ± 0.03 to 1.17 ± 0.18 µM.

Two new megastigmane glucosides namely trewiosides A (1) and B (2), along with 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one β-D-glucopyranoside (3), sugeroside (4), and schizandriside (5) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Alchornea trewioides. The structure elucidation was confirmed by extensive analysis of the one and two dimensional (1 and 2D) NMR, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) as well as high resolution electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (HR-ESI-QTOF) mass spectra. Noteworthily, the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 represents the second finding of megastigmane derivatives with a methoxycarbonyl group at C-5 to date. In addition, compound 3 showed weak cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines as A549 (lung carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocarcinoma), and MCF7 (breast carcinoma). Besides, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. Whereas, the remaining compounds 1, 4 and 5 showed weak inhibitory activity.

Using various chromatographic separations, three new acylated flavonoid glycosides, namely barringosides G–I (1–3), were isolated from the water-soluble extract of Barringtonia racemosa branches and leaves. The structure elucidation was performed by extensive analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HR-QTOF-MS data. Of the isolated compounds, barringoside I (3) showed moderate inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells with an IC50 of 52.48 ± 1.04 µM.

Phytochemical investigation of the branches and leaves of Alchornea annamica led to isolation of ten secondary metabolites, including two new megastigmane glucosides alnamicosides A (1) and B (2). The structure elucidation was confirmed by 1 D and 2 D NMR, ECD as well as HR-QTOF-MS experiments. The megastigmane derivatives 1 − 3 exhibited inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 78.72 ± 1.90, 77.40 ± 9.40 and 82.16 ± 4.56 µM, respectively. This is the first report on chemical constituents and biological activity of the plant A. annamica.

Chemical investigation of the marine-derived endophytic fungus Ascomycota sp. VK12 resulted in isolation and identification of a new compound, (3R)-(3′,5′-dihydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one (1) and five known ones: AGI-7 (2), sescandelin (3), sescandelin-B (4), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5), and hydroxysydonic acid (6). The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by time-dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism, specific optical rotation, and NMR calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxicity towards HepG2, MCF-7, and SK-Mel2 carcinoma cells, with IC50 values ranging from 48.6 to 96.5 µM. Compounds 1, 2, 4–6 displayed NO inhibitory effects in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells, with IC50 values in a range from 24.2 to 76.5 µM. Compound 2 further inhibited PGE2 overproduction, with an IC50 value of 25.3 µM. The inhibitory effects of 2 towards NO and PGE2 overproduction were found to have a close relationship with its suppression of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression, respectively.

Seven anthraquinones including two new compounds namely capillasterquinones A and B (1 and 2) and one new butenolide namely capillasterolide (8) were isolated and structurally elucidated from the crinoid Capillaster multiradiatus. The inhibitory effect of compounds 1-8 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production as well as inhibition of 1 on expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) proteins in RAW264.7 cells were also evaluated. As the obtained results, capillasterquinone A (1) showed strong NO production inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 5.89±0.11 µM. In addition, compound 1 reduced the LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expressions in a dose-dependent manner.

Climate change induced sea-level rise (SLR) is on its increase globally. Regionally the lowlands of China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and islands of the Malaysian, Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos are among the world’s most threatened regions. Sea-level rise has major impacts on the ecosystems and society. It threatens coastal populations, economic activities, and fragile ecosystems as mangroves, coastal salt-marches and wetlands. This paper provides a summary of the current state of knowledge of sea level-rise and its effects on both human and natural ecosystems. The focus is on coastal urban areas and low lying deltas in South-East Asia and Vietnam, as one of the most threatened areas in the world. About 3 mm per year reflects the growing consensus on the average SLR worldwide. The trend speeds up during recent decades. The figures are subject to local, temporal and methodological variation. In Vietnam the average values of 3.3 mm per year during the 1993-2014 period are above the worldwide average. Although a basic conceptual understanding exists that the increasing global frequency of the strongest tropical cyclones is related with the increasing temperature and SLR, this relationship is insufficiently understood. Moreover the precise, complex environmental, economic, social, and health impacts are currently unclear. SLR, storms and changing precipitation patterns increase flood risks, in particular in urban areas. Part of the current scientific debate is on how urban agglomeration can be made more resilient to flood risks. Where originally mainly technical interventions dominated this discussion, it becomes increasingly clear that proactive special planning, flood defense, flood risk mitigation, flood preparation, and flood recovery are important, but costly instruments. Next to the main focus on SLR and its effects on resilience, the paper reviews main SLR associated impacts: Floods and inundation, salinization, shoreline change, and effects on mangroves and wetlands. The hazards of SLR related floods increase fastest in urban areas. This is related with both the increasing surface major cities are expected to occupy during the decades to come and the increasing coastal population. In particular Asia and its megacities in the southern part of the continent are increasingly at risk. The discussion points to complexity, inter-disciplinarity, and the related uncertainty, as core characteristics. An integrated combination of mitigation, adaptation and resilience measures is currently considered as the most indicated way to resist SLR today and in the near future.References Aerts J.C.J.H., Hassan A., Savenije H.H.G., Khan M.F., 2000. Using GIS tools and rapid assessment techniques for determining salt intrusion: Stream a river basin management instrument. 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Fifteen steroids, including two new compounds, leptosteroid (1) and 5,6β-epoxygorgosterol (2), were isolated and structurally elucidated from the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Their cytotoxic effect against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines was evaluated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. Significant cytotoxicity against hepatoma cancer (HepG2, IC50=21.13±0.70 µM) and colon adenocarcinoma (SW480, IC50=28.65±1.53 µM) cell lines were observed for 1 and against acute leukemia (HL-60, IC50=20.53±2.26 µM) and SW480 (IC50=26.61±1.59 µM) for ergost-5-en-3β,7β-diol (8). In addition, 3β,7β-dihydroxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene (13) showed significant cytotoxic activity on all tested cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 13.45±1.81 to 29.01±3.21 µM.

In our search for anti-inflammatory constituents from Vietnamese plants, the methanolic extract of Helicteres viscida was found to exhibit inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Phytochemical investigation of this plant led to isolation of four sulphated flavones (1���4), including one new compound 5,3���,4���-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-O-sulphate flavone (1), and two pregnane-type steroids (5 and 6), including one new compound 7-epi-heligenin B (5). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-QTOF-MS experiments. Among isolated compounds, heligenin B (6) exhibited potent inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 of 1.23 �� 0.05 ��M. The activity of 6 was comparable to that of the positive control cardamonin.

Two new pyrrole oligoglycosides, plancipyrrosides A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from methanol extract of the Vietnamese starfish Acanthaster planci using various chromatographic procedures. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one and two dimensional (1D- and 2D)-NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)-MS. The finding of 1 and 2 represents the third case of pyrrole oligoglycosides obtaining reported to date. Moreover, plancipyrroside B (2) exhibits a potent inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 of 5.94±0.34 µM, whereas plancipyrroside A (1) shows this inhibitory activity with IC50 of 16.61±1.85 µM.

Eight highly hydroxylated steroids (1-8), including three new compounds as sodium salts of (24S)-5α-cholestane-3β,4β,5,6α,7β,8,14,15α,24-nonaol 6-sulfate (1), (24E)-5α-cholest-24-ene-26-yde-3β,6α,8,14,15α-pentaol 15-sulfate (2), and 5α-cholest-3β,6α,8,14,15α,24,25,26-octaol 15-sulfate (3), were isolated and elucidated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese starfish Archaster typicus. The structure elucidation was done by spectroscopic methods including one and two dimensional (1D-, 2D-)NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)-MS. The isolated compounds can be used as chemical markers for taxonomic identification of the starfish A. typicus.

Eight limonoids (1-8), including 1 new compound named as axillariol A (1), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Choerospondias axillaris branches and leaves using various chromatographic separations. Their structures were confirmed by detailed analysis of the 1-dimensional (1D), 2D nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectra. In addition, toonaciliatins N (6) and toonaciliatins O (7) showed selective and significant cytotoxicity on the rhabdomyosarcoma human cancer cell line with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 9.12 and 7.79 µM, respectively.

Using combined chromatographic methods, two asterosaponins (compounds 1 and 2), including a new compound novaeguinoside E (compound 1), and six glycosylated polyhydroxysteroids (compounds 3-8) were isolated from a methanol extract of the starfish Culcita novaeguineae. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data ((1)H and (13)C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, (1)H-(1)H COSY, ROESY, and HRESI-MS) and by comparison with the literature values. The new compound 1 represents the third example of asterosaponins containing the 5α-cholesta-9(1l)-en-3β,6α,20,22-tetraol aglycone. Among isolated compounds, 4-7 exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines such as Hep-G2 (hepatoma), KB (epidermoid carcinoma), LNCaP (prostate cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), and SK-Mel2 (melanoma).

Ten biscembranoids (1-10), including the two new compounds sarcophytolides M and N (1 and 2), were isolated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Sarcophyton pauciplicatum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one dimensional (1D)- and 2D-NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), and circular dichroism (CD). The in vitro cytotoxic activity of all isolated compounds against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines including HepG2 (hepatoma cancer), HL-60 (acute leukemia), KB (epidermoid carcinoma), LNCaP (prostate cancer), LU-1 (lung cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), SK-Mel2 (melanoma), and SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma) was evaluated using the sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay. Among the isolated biscembranoids, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 exhibited significant cytotoxic effects and may be selected for further studies of their anticancer activity.

Five polar steroid derivatives, including one new glycosylated polyhydroxysteroid namely polyacanthoside A (1), were isolated from the water-soluble materials from the MeOH extract of the Vietnamese starfish Astropecten polyacanthus using various chromatographic separations. The structure elucidation was confirmed by spectroscopic experiments such as HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR. Among the isolated compounds, (20R,24S)-3β,6α,8,15β,24-pentahydroxy-5α-cholestane (3) showed significant cytotoxic effect against five human cancer cell lines as HepG2, KB, LNCaP, MCF7 and SK-Mel2 with the IC50 values from 18.03 ± 2.63 to 21.59 ± 3.23 μM.

Fifteen steroids, including two new compounds, leptosteroid (1) and 5,6β-epoxygorgosterol (2), were isolated and structurally elucidated from the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Their cytotoxic effect against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines was evaluated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. Significant cytotoxicity against hepatoma cancer (HepG2, IC

Using various chromatographic separations, three triterpene tetraglycosides (1–3), including one new compound, namely stichorrenoside E (1) along with thelenotoside B (2) and deacetyl thelenotoside B (3), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the Vietnamese sea cucumber Stichopus horrens. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic experiments, such as 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. Deacetylated thelenotoside B (3) is firstly isolated as a natural product. Among these compounds, thelenotoside B (2) showed strong cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines as HepG2, KB, LNCaP, MCF7 and SK-Mel2 with the IC50 values from 0.95 ± 0.08 to 1.90 ± 0.13 μM, whereas stichorrenoside E (1) and deacetyl thelenotoside B (3) exhibited significant activities with the IC50 values from 6.87 ± 0.25 to 11.62 ± 1.05 μM.

Two new guaiane sesquiterpene lactones, vulgarolides A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from Artemisia vulgaris aerial parts using various chromatographic separations. The structure elucidation was performed by combination of spectroscopic experiments including 1D and 2D NMR, HR ESI MS, and CD. Their in vitro cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines were also evaluated using SRB method.

Using various chromatographic methods, four new steroids, astropectenols A-D (1-4), along with three known compounds (5-7) were isolated from a methanol extract of the starfish Astropecten polyacanthus. The structure elucidation was confirmed by spectroscopic methods, including one dimensional (1D)-, 2D-NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). The CH2Cl2 fraction and compound 7 exhibit potent cytotoxic effects against HL-60 human leukemia cells with the IC50 of 8.29 µg/mL and 2.70 µM, respectively, comparing to the positive control, mitoxantrone (IC50=6.80 µM). When HL-60 cells were treated with the CH₂Cl₂ fraction or compound 7, several apoptosis events like chromatin condensation and the increase of the population of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells were observed. Investigations for the possible mechanism underlying the induction of apoptosis showed that CH₂Cl₂ fraction or compound 7 induced apoptosis through down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax, cleavage of caspase-9, cleavage of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in HL-60 cells. Furthermore, the apoptosis induction of HL-60 cell by CH₂Cl₂ fraction or compound 7 was attended by the decreasing of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and C-myc. These results indicated that the CH₂Cl₂ fraction and compound 7 could induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via the inactivation of ERK 1/2 and the decrease of C-myc. Our finding suggested the potential using of the CH₂Cl₂ fraction and compound 7 for leukemia treatment.

Eight highly hydroxylated steroids (1-8), including three new compounds as sodium salts of (24S)-5α-cholestane-3β,4β,5,6α,7β,8,14,15α,24-nonaol 6-sulfate (1), (24E)-5α-cholest-24-ene-26-yde-3β,6α,8,14,15α-pentaol 15-sulfate (2), and 5α-cholest-3β,6α,8,14,15α,24,25,26-octaol 15-sulfate (3), were isolated and elucidated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese starfish Archaster typicus. The structure elucidation was done by spectroscopic methods including one and two dimensional (1D-, 2D-)NMR and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)-MS. The isolated compounds can be used as chemical markers for taxonomic identification of the starfish A. typicus.

Three bisdesmosidic saponins 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), polyscioside D (2), and 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl}oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-galactopyranosyl ester (3) were isolated from a methanol extract ofPolyscias fruticosa(L.) Harms leaves. Compound1was obtained as a main constituent and compound3was reported for the first time and named as polyscioside I. Saponin1inhibited porcine pancreasα-amylase and yeastα-glucosidase activities while2and3were inactive. Synergistic inhibitory effect onα-amylase was observed from the combination of low concentrations of1and acarbose. The findings suggest the use ofP. fruticosaand its major saponin1for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Using combined chromatographic separations, two new steroid glycosides namely pentacerosides A (1) and B (2), and four known compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the starfish Pentaceraster gracilis. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data (1H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, ROESY, and FT-ICR-MS) and by comparing obtained results to the literature values. Among the isolated compounds, only maculatoside (5) showed significant cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 (IC50 = 16.75 ± 0.69 μM) and SK-Mel2 (IC50 = 19.44 ± 1.45 μM) cell lines and moderate effect on KB (IC50 = 36.53 ± 0.78 μM), LNCaP (IC50 = 39.75 ± 3.34 μM), and MCF7 (IC50 = 47.34 ± 7.01 μM) cell lines.

ObjectiveTo identify inhibitors of nitric oxide production and NF-κB activity from Chromolaena odorata (C. odorata).MethodsThe compounds isolated from the aerial parts of C. odorata by bioassay-guided fractionation were investigated for their inhibitory effects on the NO production and NF-κB activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.ResultsSix fatty acids (S)-coriolic acid (1), (S)-coriolic acid methyl ester (2), (S)-15,16-didehydrocoriolic acid (3), (S)-15,16-didehydrocoriolic acid methyl ester (4), linoleamide (5) and linolenamide (6) were isolated. All compounds inhibited the NO production at concentrations consistent with those required for NF-κB inhibition. Compound 2 was the most active with the IC50 values of 5.22 and 5.73 μM. The addition of a double bond in the fatty chain decreased the inhibitory effects while the methyl esterification increased the activities.ConclusionsThe fatty acid components in C. odorata with NF-κB inhibitory activity could explain the anti-inflammation property of this plant in traditional medicine. This study could also contribute to the better use of C. odorata for human health care.

Using various chromatographic separations, three cholestane-type steroids were isolated from the methanol extract of the octocoral Verrucella corona. Their structures were elucidated to be (22E)-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol-7-one (1), trans-liagosterol (2), and guggulsterol-II (3), by detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D-NMR data as well as comparison with those reported. Among them, compound 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against eight human cancer cell lines as HepG2, HL-60, KB, LNCaP, LU-1, MCF7, SK-Mel2, and SW480.

Detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR data and comparison with the reported values, the structures of attenuatoside B-1 (1), planciside A (2), and culcitoside C2 (3) from starfish Acanthaster planci were clearly elucidated. Culcitoside C2 (3) showed weak cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines including HepG2, KB, LNCaP, MCF7, and SK-Mel2.

Six iridoid derivatives (1–6), including two new compounds myrmecodoides A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from the ant-plant Myrmecodia tuberosa. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data (1H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, NOESY and HR-ESI-MS) and by comparison with the literature values. Among isolates, 3 and 4 exhibit weak antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus with MIC value of 100.0 μg/mL.