Naphthoquinone-lactones and extended quinones from Ventilago calyculata

New quinones have been isolated from the root bark of Ventilago calyculata. Ventilatones A and B are benzisochromanquinones, related to the ventiloquinones, which have an additional fused lactone ring while ventileins A and B are benzisochroman dimers having a dihydroxy-peri-xanthenoxanthenequinone chromophore.     

Chemical examination of the roots of Terminalia arjuna—the structures of arjunoside III and arjunoside IV,two new triterpenoid glycosides

The non-phenolic fraction of the alcoholic extract of the root bark of Terminalia arjuna yielded two new triterpenoid glycosides, arjunoside III and arjunoside IV in addition to arjunglucoside I and arjunetin. The structure of arjunoside III was established as the 28-β-d(+)-glucuronopyranoside of arjunic acid by a study of its chemical and spectroscopic (¹H and ¹³C NMR) data. Arjunoside IV was shown to be the 3-O-α- l(?)-rhamnoside of arjunic acid. Leucocyanidin, ellagic acid and gallic acid have been isolated from the phenolic part of the root extract.     

13-Oxomyricanol,a new [7.0]-metacyclophane from Myrica nagi

A new [7.0]-metacyclophane has been isolated from the root bark of Myrica nagi. On the basis of spectroscopy the constitution of the new compound is proposed to be 13-oxomyricanol.A new [7.0]-metacyclophane has been isolated from the root bark of Myrica nagi. On the basis of spectroscopy the constitution of the new compound is proposed to be 13-oxomyricanol.     

Polyavolinamide,an indolosesquiterpene alkaloid from Polyathia suaveolens

A new indolosesquiterpene alkaloid, polyavolinamide, has been identified in the stem of Polyathia suaveolens accompanied by the three previously isolated indolosesquiterpene alkaloids, polyavolensin, polyavolensinol, polyavolensinone, as well as an unidentified triterpene and an aporhine alkaloids. Polyavolinamide was also the major component of the root bark. Its structure was assigned on the basis of ¹¹H and ¹³C NMR, and mass spectrometry.     

Alcaloides d'Araliopsis soyauxii. Isolement d'un nouvel alcaloide,l'Araliopsine

Six alkaloids have been isolated from root bark of Araliopsis soyauxii. Five are known, maculine, flindersiamine, skimmianine, (?) ribalinine, (+) isoplatydesmine and the sixth, araliopsine is new; its structure has been established as hydroxyisopropyldihydrofuro-2-quinolone. From the trunk bark four alkaloids have been isolated: flindersiamine, kokusaginine (?) ribalinine, (+) isoplatydesmine.     

Alcaloïdes des ecorces de racines de Crioceras dipladeniiflorus

Eight alkaloids have been isolated from the root bark of Crioceras dipladeniiflorus. Five of them are new: Δ¹⁴-vincamine (I) epi-16 Δ¹⁴-vincamine (II) 12-methoxy-δ ¹⁴-vincamine (V) apo Δ¹⁴- vincamine (VI), and ditabersonine (VII), a dimeric alkaloid; the three others are known, voaphylline (III), tabersonine, (IV), and vobtusine (VIII).     

Amurensiosides A-K, 11 new pregnane glycosides from the roots of Adonis amurensis

Five new pregnane tetraglycosides, amurensiosides A-E (1-5), two new pregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides F (6) and I (9), two new 18-norpregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides G (7) and H (8), and two new pregnane octaglycosides, amurensiosides J (10) and K (11), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the roots of Adonis amurensis. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR data, and the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.     

3S,24S,25-Trihydroxytirucall-7-ene from Ailanthus excelsa

A new triterpene has been isolated from the root bark of Ailanthus excelsa (Simaroubaceae) and identified as 3S,24S,25-trihydroxytirucall-7-ene.     

Alkaloids of Strychnos rubiginosa

A new corynantheine-type alkaloid, strychnorubigine, was identified from root bark of Strychnos rubiginosa D.C. 11-Methoxydiaboline and normacusine B were also isolated and the ¹³C NMR spectral data of their O-acetyl derivatives are reported.     

New peptide alkaloids from Hovenia dulcis and H. tomentella

From the root bark of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. and H. tommentella (Makino) Nakai (Rhamnaceae), three peptide alkaloids, frangulanine, hovenins-A and -B have been isolated. Hovenin-A has been shown to be des-N-methylfrangulanine (II).     

Seven new vernocuminosides from the stem bark of Vernonia cumingiana Benth

Seven new stigmastane-type steroidal glycosides, vernocuminosides H-N, have been isolated from the stem bark of Vernonia cumingiana Benth. The structures of these compounds were determined by NMR spectrometric methods including HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, and NOE, as well as circular dichroism experiments. Anti-inflammatory activities of vernocuminosides I and K-N were determined.     

The cytotoxic norditerpene dilactones of Podocarpus milanjianus and Podocarpus sellowii

The cytotoxic norditerpene dilactones nagilactone F and its new congener nagilactone G have been isolated from the bark constituents of Podocarpus milanjianus and Podocarpus sellowii. The diterpenes totarol, 19-oxototarol and macrophyllic acid were also isolated.     

Englerarum (Araceae,Aroideae): a new genus supported by plastid and nuclear phylogenies

The new monotypic genus Englerarum Nauheimer & P.C.Boyce, with the only species Englerarum hypnosum (J.T.Yin, Y.H.Wang & Z.F.Xu) Nauheimer & P.C.Boyce, is here described. The new combination of Alocasia hypnosa J.T.Yin, Y.H.Wang & Z.F.Xu, with exclusion of Alocasia (Schott) G.Don and transfer into Englerarum, is based on molecular phylogenies using plastid and nuclear data. The plant occurs on forested limestone outcrops in tropical and subtropical continental Southeast Asia, ranging from Southwest China, through the Lao PDR, and into North and Southeast Thailand. Englerarum represents an isolated lineage in the basal Pistia-clade. Its inclusion into the phylogenetic framework provides new insights into the evolution of this clade, and into the morphological characters used to distinguish the close related genera Alocasia and Colocasia.     

5-Methoxy-1-oxo-tetrahydro-β-carboline,an alkaloid from Alstonia venenata

A new oxo-tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloid has been isolated from the root bark of Alstonia venenata. It was identified as 5-methoxy-1-oxo-tetrahydro-β-carboline.     

Discrimination of Kalopanax pictus from its varieties and other ‘Kalopanacis Cortex’ plants by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

‘Kalopanacis Cortex’ (KC) is an important medicinal material prescribed in Korea for the treatment of various ailments such as paralysis, arthritis, and rheumatism. In Korea, KC is defined as the dried stem bark of Kalopanax pictus. However, the stem barks of Zanthoxylum ailanthoides and Erythrina plants such as E. variegata have also been described as KC and prescribed for the same diseases. Since the pharmacological activities and contents of compounds isolated from the stem barks of these KC plants are obviously different, KC from K. pictus should be clearly discriminated from other stem bark in the best interest of public health. This study sequenced the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of 52 samples of the KC or KC plants collected from Korea, China, and Vietnam. On the basis of different nucleotide sequences of specific ITS regions among the KC plants, the primer set KP F2/KC R1 was designed to amplify a 398-bp DNA marker for discriminating K. pictus from its varieties and from other KC plants. This primer set, along with the primer sets ZR F1/ZR R4, KP F1/EV R2, and KPF1/KC R1, was successfully amplified with the DNA markers of the Z. ailanthoides, E. variegata, and K. pictus taxa, respectively. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction method developed here not only discriminates the stem bark of K. pictus from stem barks of other KC plants but also identifies KC plants that supply KC in a single process.     

An anthraquinone 3-neohesperidoside from Cassia sophera root bark

A new anthraquinone diglycoside has been isolated from Cassia sophera root bark and characterized as 1,8-dihydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone 3-neohesperidoside along with sitosterol, chrysophanol and physcion.     

Two anthraquinones from Ventilago calyculata

Two new anthraquinones have been isolated from the root bark of ventilago calyculata and their structures shown to be 2,4,8-trihydroxy-1-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone and 2,4,8-trihydroxy-1,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone.     

Structure of a limonoid antifeedant from Trichilia roka

A new limonoid, 7-acetyltrichilin A, has been isolated from the root bark of Trichilia roka and identified as an antifeedant against North American and Japanese pest insects.     

Amoradin,amoradicin and amoradinin,three prenylflavanones from Amorpha fruticosa

Three new prenylflavanones, amoradin, amoradicin and amoradinin, were isolated from the root bark of Amorpha fruticosa. Their structures were deduced from chemical and spectral evidence.     

A new alkaloid from Voacanga chalotiana

The structure of 3-hydroxyvoachalotine, a new indole alkaloid isolated from the root bark of Voacanga chalotiana, has been determined by spectroscopic analysis and by chemical correlation with voachalotine.