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Objective: To identify inhibitors of nitric oxide production and NF-κB activity from Chromolaena odorata (C. odorata)., Methods: The 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., Results: Six 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 IC(50) 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., Conclusions: The 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., (Copyright © 2011 Hainan Medical College. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Several Mallotus species (Euphorbiaceae) are used in Vietnam as edible plants or as traditional medicines for different indications, some related to the treatment of inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the antioxidant activities of 33 samples from 17 Vietnamese Mallotus species. We also evaluated potential cytotoxic activity against human cervix carcinoma HeLa and human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells. Our aim is to develop safe dietary supplements with a protective effect against various diseases caused by tissue damage and the acceleration of the aging process linked to reactive oxygen species. These tests allowed the identification of non-cytotoxic plant species exhibiting significant antiradical properties. These antioxidant properties may be explained by their polyphenol composition. The antioxidant activity of the most active Mallotus species was further analyzed with and without tannins removal. We also identified by LC-ESI-MS some flavonoids responsible for a part of this activity.

Eight compounds were isolated from methanol extract of Plantago major L. leaves and investigated for their ability to inhibit angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity. Among them, compound 1 showed the most potent inhibition with rate of 28.06 ± 0.21% at a concentration of 100 μM. Compounds 2 and 8 exhibited weak activities. These results suggest that compound 1 might contribute to the ability of P. major to inhibit the activity of angiotensin I- converting enzyme.

By various chromatographic methods, one new phenylpropanoid, acanthopanic acid (1), and three known compounds, 1,2-O-dicaffeoylcyclopenta-3-ol (2), (4S)-α-terpineol 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and rutin (4), were isolated from the methanol extract of the Acanthopanax koreanum leaves. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical scavenging 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed significant scavenging capacity with IC(50) values of 3.8, 2.6, and 2.9 μM, respectively, and compound 3 showed weak scavenging capacity with the inhibition rate of 37% at 40 μM.

A phytochemical fractionation of the methanol extract of the Morus alba leaves led to the isolation of eleven flavonoids (1-11). The structure of the new 3'-geranyl-3-prenyl-2',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (1) was elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds against human cervical carcinoma HeLa, human breast carcinoma MCF-7, and human hepatocarcinoma Hep3B cells was evaluated. Of note, morusin (9) was the most potent with an IC(50) value of 0.64 μM against HeLa cells., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

One new C(29) sterol with a cyclopropane ring at C-25 and C-26, aragusteroketal B (1), and aragusterol B (2) were isolated from the Vietnamese marine sponge Ianthella sp. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Both 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, SK-Hep-1, and HeLa cell lines with IC(50) in the range of 12.8-27.8 microM.

Phytochemical study of the methanol extract of Mallotus anisopodus led to the isolation of two new megastigmane sulphonoglucosides, namely anisoposides A (1) and B (2), along with junipetrioloside A (3), bergenin (4), os-tocopherol, and N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide. Their structures were deduced by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods including 1D-, 2D-NMR, ESI-MS, and HRESI-MS.

Two new anthracene glycosides (1, 2) were isolated from aerial parts of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, along with three known compounds (3-5). The structures of two new compounds were established to be 4,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-2,3,7-trimethoxyanthracene-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 2,4,7,8,9,10-hexahydroxy-3-methoxyanthracene-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) based on spectroscopic and chemical methods. Among them, compound 1, 2, and 5 significantly (P<0.05) increased the alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and mineralization of the nodules of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells compared to those of the control, respectively.

A new coumaric acid derivative called acancifoliuside (1) and six known compounds as acteoside (2), isoacteoside (3), acanthaminoside (4), (+)-lyoniresinol 3a-O-beta-glucopyranoside (5), (-)-lyoniresinol (6), and alpha-amyrin (7), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Acanthus ilicifolius L. (Acanthaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and a comparison with the spectral data reported in the literature. The effects of the compounds on the function of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were tested. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 (30 microM) increased the growth and differentiation of osteoblasts significantly (P<0.05), indicating that A. ilicifolius leaves may help prevent osteoporosis.

A new triterpene (1) and six known pentacyclic terpenoids (2-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the dried leaves from Mallotus apelta. Based on the spectral and chemical evidence, their structures were determined to be 3alpha-hydroxyhop-22(29)-ene (1), hennadiol (2), friedelin (3), friedelanol (4), epifriedelanol (5), taraxerone (6), and epitaraxerol (7).

A new ceramide alomacrorrhiza A was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plant Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott. Its chemical structure was elucidated as (2S,3S,4R)-2N-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxy-hexacosanoyl]-tetradecane-1,3,4-triol based on extensive 1D, 2D NMR, EI-MS, FAB-MS, HR-FAB-MS spectroscopic data and chemical degradation studies.