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Two new indole alkaloids, 1-methylindole-7-methoxy-3-carboxaldehyde (2) and 7-methoxyindole-3-carboxaldehyde (4), together with 7-methoxyindole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1) and 1-methylindole-3-carbaldehyde (3) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of wild Sanghuang mushroom Tropicoporus linteus (TL663). TLC, 1H-NMR and LC-MS chemical profiles of this mushroom compared with other three genera of wild Sanghuang mushroom extracts were investigated. The TLC, 1H-NMR and LC-MS profiles of TL663 and Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS664) were similar and significantly different from other mushrooms. These two samples indicated the same TLC chromatograms by showing prominent bands of 1 − 4 when observed under UV 254 nm and having sharp aldehyde proton signals of 3-carboxaldehyde indole type in 1H-NMR spectra. From LC-MS analyses, peaks of isolated compounds 1 − 4 and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (5) in TL663 extract and peaks of protocatechuic acid (6), caffeic aldehyde (7), caffeic acid (8) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (9) phenolic acids in TL663 fraction were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crosslinking hydrogel membranes were prepared by esterification reaction with different ratios of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The purpose of the study was to research the effect of the crosslinking agent PAA on the hydrogel properties of the membranes used for soilless cultivation. Increasing of PAA ratio resulted in a significant increase in the crosslinking density (ρx) and a decrease in the average molecular weight of the polymer chain between the crosslinks (M¯c) and the mesh size (ξ) of the hydrogel membranes. In addition, the ion permeability coefficient decreased when the PAA ratio increased. Increasing the PAA ratio significantly affected water uptake value, tensile strength, and elongation of the hydrogel membranes. A PVA:PAA ratio of 9:1 was suitable for plant cultivation. The cultivated plants germinated well and generated many small fine roots on the upper surface of the hydrogel membrane. These small fine roots adhered well to the hydrogel membrane to absorb the water and feed nutrient ions. This finding showed that the hydrogel membranes have the potential of being used for soilless cultivation in controlled experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Several studies demonstrated that anti-inflammatory remedies exhibit excellent anti-neoplastic properties. An extract of Pluchea odorata (Asteraceae), which is used for wound healing and against inflammatory conditions, was fractionated and properties correlating to anti-neoplastic and wound healing effects were separated. Methods. Up to six fractionation steps using silica gel, Sephadex columns, and distinct solvent systems were used, and eluted fractions were analysed by thin layer chromatography, apoptosis, and proliferation assays. The expression of oncogenes and proteins regulating cell migration was investigated by immunoblotting after treating HL60 cells with the most active fractions. Results. Sequential fractionations enriched anti-neoplastic activities which suppressed oncogene expression of JunB, c-Jun, c- Myc, and Stat3. Furthermore, a fraction (F4.6.3) inducing or keeping up expression of the mobility markers MYPT, ROCK1, and paxillin could be separated from another fraction (F4.3.7), which inhibited these markers. Conclusions. Wound healing builds up scar or specific tissue, and hence, compounds enhancing cell migration support this process. In contrast, successful anti-neoplastic therapy combats tumour progression, and thus, suppression of cell migration is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three naturally occurring prenylated pyranocoumarins, nordentatin (1), dentatin (2), and clausarin (3), isolated from the roots of Clausena excavata (Family Rutaceae), and O-methylclausarin (4) which was obtained by methylation of 3, were investigated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The mechanism of action and the in silico prediction of their physicochemical and ADMET properties as well as the molecular docking were also studied. Compounds 1-4 exhibited stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the positive control, acarbose, through a non-competitive mechanism. Among them, 3 exhibited the highest activity, with an IC 50 of 8.36 μM, which is significantly stronger than that of acarbose (IC 50 =430.35 μM). The prenyl group on C-3 and the hydroxyl group on C-5 in 3 may play important roles in enhancing the activity. Calculated physicochemical and ADMET parameters of 1-4 satisfied the Lipinski's and Veber's rules. Molecular simulation analysis indicated they are promising drug candidates with no hepatotoxicity. Compound 3 exhibited potent activity in the experiment and demonstrated good drug properties based on the calculations. A molecular docking study revealed that 3 showed H-bonding and π-π stacking interactions with selective Phe321, as well as interactions with thirteen other amino acid residues of the α-glucosidase., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Three new compounds, ferruginenes A (1) and B (2) and a mixture of C-5'(R) and C-5'(S) ferruginene C (3) diastereomers, have been isolated from a cytotoxic chloroform-soluble fraction of the leaves of Rhododendron ferrugineum together with 12 known compounds. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by analyses of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Compounds 1-3 were tested for their cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, namely, HL-60, HeLa-S3, and MCF-7.

Vertihemipterin A, the ascochlorin glycoside, and its aglycone, 4',5'-dihydro-4'-hydroxyascochlorin, were isolated from the insect pathogenic fungus Verticillium hemipterigenum BCC 2370. A new analog, 8'-hydroxyascochlorin, and five known compounds, ascochlorin, LL-Z1272delta, 8',9'-dehydroascochlorin, ascofuranone and ascofuranol, were also isolated from the same fermentation broth. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Stereochemistry of the known compound, 4',5'-dihydro-4'-hydroxyascochlorin, was addressed by NMR spectral analyses and the modified Mosher's method. Antiviral (HSV-1) and cytotoxic activities of these ascochlorin analogs were evaluated.