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The discovery of efficient and specific HIV-latency-reversing agents is critical for HIV therapy. Here, we developed wikstroelide E, a daphnane diterpene from the buds of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne, as a potential HIV-latency-reversing agent that is 2500-fold more potent than the drug prostratin. Based on transcriptome analysis, the underlying mechanism was that wikstroelide E regulated the MAPK, PI3K-Akt, JAK-Stat, TNF, and NF-κB signaling pathways. We clearly demonstrated that wikstroelide E reversed latent HIV infection by activating PKC-NF-κB signals, serving as a proxy for verifying the transcriptome data. Strikingly, the Tat protein contributes to the robust activation of latent HIV in wikstroelide-E-treated cells, producing an unexpected latency-reversing effect against latent HIV. This study provides the basis for the potential development of wikstroelide E as an effective HIV-latency-reversing agent.

Developing highly effective HIV latency-reversing agent is an inportmant approach for the treatment of AIDS via the "shock and kill" of latent HIV. In this study, two unreported modified daphnane-type diterpenes (chamaedaphnelide A and epi-chamaedaphnelide A) and one unreported tigliane-type diterpene (chamaedaphnelide B), along with four known daphnane-type diterpenes and one known tigliane-type diterpene were obtained from the leaves of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne. Chamaedaphnelide A and epi-chamaedaphnelide A represents the first A ring cleavage daphnane-type backbone. Chamaedaphnelide A, epi-chamaedaphnelide A, chamaedaphnelide B, and 6α,7α-epoxy-5β-hydroxy-12-deoxyphorbol-13-decanoate showed HIV latency-reversing activity, especially chamaedaphnelide B and 6α,7α-epoxy-5β-hydroxy-12-deoxyphorbol-13-decanoate displayed equally potential to positive drugs prostratin with reversing latent HIV on more than 100-fold compared to unstimulated cells. Furthermore, the activation of STAT1 was involved in the HIV latency-reversing activity of these diterpenes, firstly demonstrating that daphnane- and tigliane-type diterpenes can rapidly activate STAT1 activity. Indeed, these results also supported that activating STAT1 activity is a pathway for reversing latent HIV.

Three novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids named sarglanoids A-C (1-3), two undescribed monomeric sesquiterpenoids named sarglanoids D (4) and E (5), and seven known compounds (6-12), were isolated and characterized from Sarcandra glabra. Compound 1 represents the first heterodimeric sesquiterpenoid composed of a eudesmane and an eremophilane moiety. Compound 2 possesses two eremophilane monomers featuring an undescribed dimerization pattern. Compound 3 is a symmetric eudesmane dimer with a rare 1,4-epoxy bridge. The structures of 1-5 were fully identified by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Compounds 3 and 6 suppressed the LPS-triggered inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 cells.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing, and nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Phillygenin (PHI), a natural bioactive ingredient, isolated from Forsythiae Fructus, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and hepatoprotective activities. However, few reports provide direct evidence on the efficacy of PHI in improving colitis mice. The present study elucidated that the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis mice were alleviated after PHI administration, including body weight loss, the disease activity index, colon length shortening, colonic pathological damage, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. PHI treatment improved the intestinal mucosal barrier by protecting goblet cells, promoting gene expressions of Clca1, Slc26a3, and Aqp8, increasing tight junction proteins (TJs), and reducing epithelial cell apoptosis. In addition, the levels of oxidative stress (MPO, SOD, and MDA) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) were reversed by PHI in colitis mice. According to transcriptome and network pharmacology analysis, inflammatory pathway might be an important mechanism for PHI to improve colitis. Western blotting displayed that the PHI inhibited the activation of tyrosine kinase Src mediated by TLR4, and then reduced the phosphorylation of downstream proteins p38, JNK, and NF-κB in colitis mice. In summary, our results suggested that PHI might be an appropriate and effective drug candidate to protect colitis.

Forsythiae Fructus is divided into Qingqiao and Laoqiao due to different harvesting periods. So far, the accumulation of heavy metals in the two types of Forsythiae Fructus has not been reported. In this study, the residual levels of copper(Cu), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), arsenic(As), cadmium(Cd) and mercury(Hg) in 29 batches of Laoqiao and 60 batches of Qingqiao were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The samples were collected from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Hebei Provinces. In addition, the diversity and correlation of harmful elements in Qingqiao and Laoqiao were analyzed by multivariate statistical method. Furthermore, principal component analysis(PCA) was used to analyze the harmful elements concentrations of Qingqiao and Laoqiao. The results showed that there was a significant difference on the residual levels of heavy metals and harmful elements between Qingqiao and Laoqiao. Among them, the content of Pb in Laoqiao is significantly higher than that in Qingqiao(Plt;0.01), while the content of Cu is significantly lower than that in Qingqiao. However, the difference in harmful elements among different producing areas of Forsythiae Fructus is not significant. PCA analysis showed that Qingqiao and Laoqiao were successfully grouped into two categories. This study suggests significant difference in the residual levels of heavy metals and harmful elements between Qingqiao and Laoqiao. Besides, Forsythiae Fructus has a certain enrichment of Pb in the fruit ripening stage(Laoqiao). This study provides a reference for the quality classification and safety of Forsythiae Fructus.

Phytochemical study of the buds of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne Meisn. led to the isolation of seven previously undescribed diterpenes, including one tigliane diterpene (wikstchalide A), two daphnane diterpenes (wikstroelides W-X), and four lathyrane diterpenes (laurifoliosides A-B and 2-epi-laurifoliosides A-B), along with four known diterpenes. The structures of these compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic evidence and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Wikstchalide A possesses a 5,6-epoxy ring in the tigliane skeleton. Two compounds exhibited potential anti-hepatitis B virus activities, with IC50 values of 46.5 and 88.3 μg/mL against hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg), and six compounds showed certain inhibitory effects on HBV-DNA replication with the inhibition ratios ranging from 2.0% to 33.0% at the concentrations ranging from 0.39 to 6.25 μg/mL.

The Asteraceae plant Ageratina adenophora (also called Eupatorium adenophorum) has became the most destructive invasive species in China, especially the southwestern region, and is gravely threatening the native biodiversity. Its high reproductive capacity is partly due to the developed root system. From the roots of A. adenophora, ten compounds including three previously undescribed benzofuran derivatives (7-hydroxy-dehydrotremetone, 7,10,11-trihydroxy dehydrotremetone, 10-oxo-7-hydroxy-nordehydro-tremetone), a previously undescribed chromene derivative (5-beta-glucosyl-7-demethoxy-encecalin) and a previously undescribed monoterpene glucoside (8-hydroxy-8-beta-glucosy1-2-carene) were isolated and identified. The previously undescribed structures were established by spectroscopic studies including 1 D and 2D-NMR and HR-MS analyses. Antifungal activity of six compounds against one strain of pathogenic fungus of A. adenophora, Alternaria alternata, and other four strains of agricultural pathogenic fungi, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. musae, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum were investigated. The most abundant compound we isolated from A. adenophora roots was 7-hydroxy-dehydrotremetone, which showed significant broad-spectral inhibitory activity against the growth of all tested fungal strains, with diameter of inhibitory zones ranging from 13.90 +/- 1.05 mm to 17.28 +/- 0.46 mm at 50 mu g/disk (nystatin: 24.76 +/- 1.19 mm to 36.64 +/- 0.85 mm). Encecalin also showed weak inhibitory activity against F oxysporum f. sp. niveum, while other compounds were not active. Our results suggested that 7-hydroxy-dehydrotremetone might function as a constitutive defense compound in the roots of A. adenophora against pathogenic fungi. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An ongoing phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Wedelia trilobata, which is one of the 100 most invasive species in the world, led to the isolation of three new eudesmanolide δ-lactones wedelolides K-M (1-3). Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR).

The phenolic constituents of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne were investigated by various column chromatographic methods including silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,ODS and preparative HPLC,and their chemical structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectral analyses. Thirteen phenolic compounds were isolated and elucidated,including five flavonoids: luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1),luteolin 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(3),chrysoeriol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4),chrysoeriol(5); and eight lignans:(-)-secoisolariciresinol(6),acanthosessilin A(7),(-)-nortrachelogenin(8),(+)-isolariciresinol(9),sesamin(10),syringaresinol(11),(+)-epipinoresinol(12),and [3,3',4,4'-tetrahydro-6,6'-dimethoxy-3,3'-bi-2 H-benzopyran]-4,4'-diol(13). Compounds 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11 and 13 were obtained from the plants of W. chamaedaphne for the first time,and compounds 1,5,7,10 and 13 were obtained from the Wikstroemia genus for the first time.

In order to investigate the effect of various production processes on the quality of Safflower Injection, the biological activities of the intermediates were evaluated by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) induced platelet aggregation in vitro. Intermediates were produced by key processes, such as extraction, concentration, twice alcohol precipitation, water sedimentation and two sterilizations during the production of Safflower Injection. The content of main chemical components in intermediates was determined by HPLC. The results showed that with the advance of the preparation process of Safflower Injection, the inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation rate of each intermediate decreased gradually, and the trend of extending APTT activity decreased first and then increased. Meanwhile, the content of hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA) was gradually lowered, the content of p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid was increased, and new chemical component p-hydroxybenzaldehyde was produced. In conclusion, sterilization played a key role in the biological activity and HSYA content of Safflower injection.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have numerous chemical applications as environmentally green solvents due to their unique physicochemical properties. In this study, the stability of salvianolic acid B (SAB) from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae was investigated in four kinds of benign choline-based DESs modified with different hydrogen-bond donors (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol and 1,4-butanediol), and the degradation products of SAB were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Obviously, the stability test demonstrated that SAB was more stable in DESs than in water or ethanol solution at room temperature or high temperatures. And the optimum experiment proved that the stabilizing capacity of DESs suffered major influence from the water content in DES solution, minor influence from the structure of hydrogen-bond donors and minimal influence from the molar ratio of quaternary ammonium salts to hydrogen-bond donors. Finally, choline chloride–glycerol (molar ratio 1 : 2) was optimized to offer a satisfactory enhancement effect for the stability of SAB. Moreover, the mechanism of improving stability of SAB in DESs was also discussed by analyzing the content variation trends of degradation products. And the interaction between SAB and DES molecules was also demonstrated by the FT-IR spectrum. Therefore, DESs with stabilizing capacity have great prospects for their applications in the extraction of SAB, even may be further developed as carriers for cosmetic and liquid oral medicines.

In order to obtain the optimum method for content determination of Forsythia Fructus (FF), a variety methods for the sample preparation of FF were evaluated by the content determination methods of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. And an optimum method was screened and as follows: 30 times with 70% ethanol solution in ultrasonic extractor for half an hour. The method can achieve the best effect of simultaneously extracting forsythoside A and forsythin. Then, a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of forsythoside A and forsythin was established by methodology. The HPLC chromatographic conditions: the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A)-0.4% acetic acid solution (B) with gradient elution [0-33 min，15%A，33-43 min，15%-25%A，43-60 min，25% A] was at the flow rate of 1 mL·min⁻¹, the column temperature was 25 °C, and the detection wavelength was 330 and 277 nm. Moreover, the contents of forsythoside A and forsythin for 10 Green Forsythia Fructus (GF) and 5 Old Forsythia Fructus (OF) were determined by this method and Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The result not only displayed that the established method is effective, rapid, and simple, but also showed that the contents of forsythoside A and forsythin for GF and OF were significantly different. Which implied that the forsythoside A and forsythin limit standard for GF and OF should be controled by different values. This studies provide an important basis for the establishment of the content determination of FF and the quality control standard for GF and OF.

Safflower injection is well-known as a traditional Chinese medicine used to improve the blood circulation. In this study, seven safflower injection samples from different companies were evaluated for their in vitro anticoagulant activity by measuring their activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) against human plasma. The screening results suggested that the safflower injections exhibited a significant prolonging influence on APTT (p < 0.05 vs. the control group), but not on prolonging PT (p > 0.05 vs. the control group). The safflower injection was separated into four fractions, and among them, fraction four demonstrated the most anticoagulant activity, with an APTT of 95.4 ± 1.4 s at a concentration of 4.0 μg/μL (p < 0.01 vs. control group). In addition, three active components, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid, and (8Z)-decaene-4,6-diyne-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were isolated from fraction four with Sephadex LH-20 and C18 column chromatography. All three active components showed significant prolonging of APTT (p < 0.05 vs. control group). Among them, p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid exhibited the most activity (p < 0.01 vs. control group). The results indicated that safflower injection strongly affects the intrinsic coagulation system, and we suggest that this might be the mechanism by which the safflower injection activates and promotes blood circulation.

In the present study, one new cycloartane triterpenoid, named cycloccidentalic acid C (1) and its glucoside, cycloccidentaliside VI (2) were isolated from the whole plant of Cassia occidentalis. Their structures were elucidated by a combinational analyses of 1D and 2D NMR data and HRMS. Compound 2 showed modest anti-HIV-1 activity with EC50 value of 1.44 μmol·L-1 and TI (Therapeutic Index) value of 15.59.

Four new eburnamine-aspidospermine type bisindole alkaloids, namely, mekongenines C-F (1-4), along with 27 known indole alkaloids were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Bousigonia mekongensis. Their structures with the absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and ECD analyses. All new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Alkaloids 1-4 exhibited inhibitory effects with IC50 values comparable to those of cisplatin. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seven new phragmalin limonoids, chukvelutilides I-O (1-7), were isolated from the stem barks of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analy-sis. Among them, compound 1 showed moderate lethal activity against brine shrimp larvae, with an LC50 value of 84.1 mu M.

Sixteen daphnane diterpenoids, trigothysoids A-P, along with 15 known ones, were isolated from the methanol extract of the twigs and leaves of Trigonostemon thy rsoideum. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The anti-HIV-1 activity of the compounds was also evaluated in vitro, and five compounds demonstrated potent anti-HIV-1 activity, with EC50 values of 0.015-0.001 nM and TI values of 1618-17,619. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AIM: To study the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of the bulbs of Lycoris radiata. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques, and the chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. In addition, the antiviral activities of alkaloids 1-10 were evaluated using flu virus A. RESULTS: One new homolycorine-type alkaloid 2 alpha-methoxy-6-O-ethyloduline (1), together with nine known alkaloids 2 alpha-methoxy-6-O-methyloduline (2), trispherine (3), 8-O-demethylhomolycorine (4), homolycorine (5), 9-O-demethylhomolycorine (6), oduline (7), lycorenine (8), 6 alpha-O-methyllycorenine (9) and O-ethyllycorenine (10) were obtained. CONCLUSION: Alkaloid 1 is a new compound, and 1-3 were major alkaloids in this plant. Alkaloids 1-3 showed weak antiviral activities against flu virus A with IC50 values of 2.06, 0.69, and 2.71 mu g.mL(-1) and CC50 values of 14.37, 4.79, and 80.12 mu g.ml(-1), respectively.

Five new compounds (1-5), including two limonoids, one triterpenoid, one steroid, and one sesquiterpenoid, along with nine known limonoids (6-14), were isolated from the bark of Melia azedarach. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds as well as three acetylated derivatives of 9 were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480) by an MTT assay. Seven limonoids (1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9b, and 9c) showed significant inhibitory activities against tested cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.003 to 0.555 mu M, and their preliminary structure-activity relationships are also discussed.

Phytochemical investigation on the stems of Trigonostemon flavidus resulted in the isolation of five new 3,4-seco-diterpenoids, trigoflavidones A-E (1-5), structurally related to the main co-occurring known 3,4-seco-sonderianic acid (6) and 3,4-seco-sonderianol (7). Compound 4 possesses new 3,4-seco rearranged ent-pimarane skeletal type, characteristic of a vinyl group at C-8, while 5 features a unique five-membered ring (C-1) fused with a cyclopropane ring (C-2). The structures of the new compounds were established by a combination of spectroscopic data and computational methods. Compounds 1-7 were tested for their cytotoxicities on HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 human tumor cell lines. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Three new clerodane-type diterpenoids with a rare sulfoxide group, cleidbrevoids A-C (1-3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Cleidion brevipetiolatum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and the absolute configuration of compounds 1 and 3 was determined by X-ray analysis. Compound 3 showed weak inhibitory against HIV-1. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nine new phragmalin-type limonoids, heytrijumalins A-I (1-9), together with the known 15-acetyltrichagmalin E (10) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Heynea trijuga. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 6 and 10 showed insecticidal activity at 100 ppm, with corrected mortalities of 82.94 % and 96.02 %, respectively. Compounds 2 and 10 showed weak cytotoxicity against HL-60 and A-549 human tumor cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.55 to 25.27 µM.

Five new mexicanolide-type limonoids, heytrijunolides A–E (1–5) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Heynea trijuga. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 3 showed weak cytotoxicity against HL-60, SMMC-7721 and A-549 human tumor cell lines with the IC50 values of 21.88, 20.66 and 12.70 µM, respectively. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0040-1 and is accessible for authorized users.

Trigoflavidols A (1) and B (2), tetranorditerpenoid dimers possessing a rearrangement skeleton with a spiroketal core moiety, and trigoflavidol C (3), a hexanorditerpenoid, have been isolated from Trigonostemon flavidus along with two known compounds. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate antimicrobial activities (MIC values: 3.12-6.25 μg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus, 8(#)MRSA, and 82(#)MRSA, and 1, 2, and 5 showed weak activities (IC(50) values: 3.75-28.99 μM) against various human tumor cell lines.

Two new Daphniphyllum alkaloids, daphhimalenines C and D (1and 2) were isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum himalense. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR techniques.

Six β-carboline alkaloids including three new ones, trifilines A-C (1–3) were isolated from Trigonostemon filipes, along with a new β-carboline alkaloid, trigonoine C (7) isolated from Trigonostemon lii. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques. Trifilines A (1) and B (2) showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC50 values of 54.61 µg/mL and 9.75 µg/mL, along with TI (Therapeutic index) values of 1.52 and 1.42, respectively. This is the first time to report the chemical constituents of Trigonostemon filipes. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0028-x and is accessible for authorized users.

A phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Cassia occidentalis led to the isolation of two new cycloartane triterpenoids, cycloccidentalic acids A and B (1 and 2), and five new related saponins, cycloccidentalisides I-V (3-7), together with sixteen known compounds. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated through detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, and chemical methods. Compounds 2 and 5 showed modest anti-HIV-1 activities with EC50 values of 2.23 mu M and 4.36 mu M, respectively, in comparison to the positive control.

Two new cycloartane-type triterpenoids, glaucartanoic acids A (1) and B (2), together with five known compounds were isolated from the fruits of Caloncoba glauca. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques, by chemical evidence and by comparison with literature data. The new compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines. (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A phytochemical work on the alkaloid constituents from Trigonostemon lii Y.T. Chang was conducted to give six new beta-carboline alkaloids, trigonostemines A-F (1-6) and eight known beta-carboline alkaloids (7-14). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. All of the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against the HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 human cancer cell lines. Trigonostemines A and B (1 and 2) exhibited stronger inhibitory activities than the positive control (cisplatin) in some cell lines. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Four vobasinyl-ibogan type bisindole alkaloids, ervachinines A-D (1-4), along with 12 known terpenoid indole alkaloids, were isolated from the whole plant of Ervatamia chinensis. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR, and the absolute configurations of 1-4 were determined by CD exciton chirality method. All of the compounds were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480. Bisindole alkaloids 1-6 exhibited inhibitory effects, with IC50 values comparable to those of cisplatin. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two new biogenetically related yuzurine-type Daphniphyllum alkaloids of the rare (14R,15S) series, daphmalenines A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum himalense. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallographic, and computational methods. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 and 2 was also proposed.

A phytochemical investigation of Toona ciliata var. ciliata afforded three new polyynes, 1 - 3. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Only compound 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cell line with an IC(50) value of 6.7 +/- 0.27 mu M.

Three new terpenoid indole alkaloids, vidolicine (1), normacusine B N-oxide (2), and lochnerine N-oxide (3), together with seven known ones (4-10), were isolated from whole plants of Catharanthus roseus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS, UV, and IR). Cytotoxic activities of these isolates (1-10) were evaluated, but only compound 8 was active against HL-60, SMMC-7721, and A549 cell lines.

One new anthraquinone glycoside. 6-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)emodin (1). and two new sesquilignans. seslignanoccidentaliols A (2) and B (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Cassia occidentalis. The structures of the new compounds were established by means of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D-NMR data ((1)H.(1)H-COSY. HMQC, HMBC. and ROESY). as well as HR-ESI-MS analysis. One previously reported sesquilignan. crythro-guaiacylglycerol-beta-O-4'-(5')-methoxylariciresinol, was revised to be seslignanoccidentaliol A (2). The 6-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)emodin (1) exhibited moderate anti HIV-1 activity with an EC(50) value of 2.90 mu g/ml and a therapeutic-index (TI) value of 260.

One new limonoid, toonaciliatone A (1), and one new tirucallane-type triterpenoid, toonaciliatine A (4), along with three known compounds, methyl-3β-acetoxy-1-oxomelic-14(15)-enate (2), perforin A (3), and cholest-14-ene-3,7,24,25-tetrol-21,23-epoxy-21-methoxy-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenoate) (5), were isolated from the leaves of Toona ciliata. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods.

Three unprecedented indole alkaloids, trigonoliimines A-C (1-3) with a unique polycyclic system, were isolated from the leaves of Trigonostemon lii Y. T. Chang. The structures of 1-3 were determined by the spectroscopic, computational, and CD exciton chirality approaches. Trigonoliimine A showed modest anti-HIV-1 activity (EC(50) = 0.95 microg/mL, TI = 7.9).

The HPLC-DAD method was established to simultaneously determine the contents of four coumaroylspermidine[ N1, N5, N10-(Z)-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine (1), N1, N5-(Z)-N10-(E)-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine (2), N1(E)-N5-(Z)-N10-(E)-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine (3), and N1, N5, N10-(E)-tri-p-coumaroyl-spermidine (4) ] in Carthamus tinctorius. The method was performed on an Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) eluted with 47% methanol in an isocratic program. The flow rate was 1 mL•min⁻¹; the injection volume was 10 μL, and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The detective wavelength was 270, 280, 290, and 300 nm, respectively. Four coumaroylspermidine constituents showed a good linearity in the range of 0.002 1-0.041 6 (r=0.999 5), 0.002 6-0.051 2 (r=0.999 7), 0.002 7-0.054 0 (r=0.999 8) g•L⁻¹, and 0.005 0-0.100 4 (r=0.999 8) g•L⁻¹, respectively. The average recoveries of these four coumaroylspermidine constituents were in the range of 98.61%-100.9% (RSD 2.3%-3.0%). In conclusion, the method is simple, rapid, and sensitive, which could be used as a quantitative determination method for the four coumaroylspermidine components in C.tinctorius.

Two new coumarins (1) and (2), along with seven known coumarins 3-9, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Coriaria nepalensis Wall. The two new compounds were established as 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,8-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (1) and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (2), on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The known compounds 3, 6-9 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Three new phenanthrenone constituents, trigoxyphins U-W (1, 7 and 9), together with eight known ones, trigoxyphin M (2), 6,9-O-dimethyltrigonostemone (3), trigonstemone (4), thrigonosomone B (5), trigonochinene E (6), actephiiol A (8), epiactephilol A (10) and neoboutomannin (11), were obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves and stems of Trigonostemonlii. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by analysing the spectroscopic data (1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and IR). Compounds 1-6 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities on five human tumour cell lines by using the MTT method, and compound 1 exhibited inhibitory activity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 with IC50 values ranging from 3.77 to 14.51 μM.

Three new phenanthrenone constituents, trigoxyphins U–W (1, 7 and 9), together with eight known ones, trigoxyphin M (2), 6,9-O-dimethyltrigonostemone (3), trigonstemone (4), thrigonosomone B (5), trigonochinene E (6), actephiiol A (8), epiactephilol A (10) and neoboutomannin (11), were obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves and stems of Trigonostemonlii. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by analysing the spectroscopic data (1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and IR). Compounds 1–6 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities on five human tumour cell lines by using the MTT method, and compound 1 exhibited inhibitory activity against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 with IC50 values ranging from 3.77 to 14.51 μM.

Two novel alkaloids, trigonoine A containing a 2,8-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system and trigonoine B formed by a combination of a 2,3-dihydroquinolin-4-one and 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline rearranged from B-carboline skeleton were isolated from the leaves of Trigonostemon lii. Their structures were elucidated by 10 and 20 NMR spectroscopic methods. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.