A Novel Flavonoid Glucoside from Anoectochilus roxburghii （Wall,） Lindl.

Eight compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate- and n-butanol-soluble fractions of the ethanollc extract of the whole plant of Anoectochllus roxburghll（Wali.） Lindi. （Orchidaceee）. On the basis of spectroscopic methods, the structures of these compounds were elucidated as quercetin-7-O-β-D-[6＂-O-（trans-feruloyi）]- giucopyranosids （compound 1）, 8-C-p-HydroxybenzyiquerceUn （compound 2）, isorhamnetin-7-O-β-D- giucopyranoside （compound 3）, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-giucopyranoside （compound 4）, kaempferoi-3-O-β-D- giucopyranoside （compound 5）, kaempferoi-7-O-β-D-giucopyranoside （compound 6）, 5-hydroxy-3＇,4＇,7- trimethoxyfiavonoi-3-O-β-D-rutinoside （compound 7）, and isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-rutinoside （compound 8）. Of the compounds isoisted, compound 1 was a new flavonoid giucoside and exhibited strong scavenging activity against the 1,1-diphenyi-2-picryihydrazyi free radical, whereas the ethanolic extract showed weak activity. Compounds 2-8 were obtained from this family for the first time.     

New Isoflavonoid Glycosides from the Rhizomes of Iris leptophylla Lingelsh.

Two new isoflavonoid glucosides, 5-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-isoflavone-4＇-O-D-glucopyranosyl （2→〉l）-L-rhamnoside （irilone-bioside） （compound 1） and 5,4＇-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyisoflavone-3＇-O-β-D-glucoside （irisleptophyllidin） （compound 2）, together with five known compounds, nigricanin- 4＇-O-β-D-glucoside （compound 3）, irifloside （compound 4）, irigenin （compound 5）, 5, 3＇, 4＇-trimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyisoflavone （compound 6）, and nigricanin （compound 7） were isolated from the alcoholic extract of rhizomes of Iris leptophylla Lingelsh. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Chemical Constituents of Daphne giraldii Nitsche

In a search for structurally interesting substances from traditional Chinese medicines, eight compounds were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Daphne giraldii Nitsche. On the basis of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data, and chemical methods, their structures were determined to be 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one-8-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5-（2-oxo- 2H-1-benzopyran-7-hydroxy-8-yloxy） （compound 1）, 1-pentanone, 1-（4-hydroxyphenyl）-5-phenyl （compound 2）, octadecyl caffeate （compound 3）, （＋）syringaresinol-4,4＇-diglycoside （compound 4）, daphnetin-8-O-β-D- glucopyranoside （compound 5）, p-hydroxybenzoic acid （compound 6）, 7,7＇-dihydroxy-[6, 8＇-bi-2H-benzopyran]- 2, 2＇-dione （compound 7）, and daphnorin （compound 8）, respectively. Of the compounds isolated, compounds 1 and 2, which we named daphnolin and daphnolon, respectively, were new, and the others were obtained from this plant for the first time.     

Chemical Constituents of Siegesbeckia orientalis L.

The aerial parts of Siegesbeckia have been used as the traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis, hypertension, malaria, neurasthenia, and snakebite. In order to find new and bioactive compounds, the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of S. orientalis L. were investigated and two new compounds, namely β-D-glucopyranosyl-ent-2-oxo-15,16-dihydroxy-pimar-8（14）-en-19-oic-late （compound 1 ） and [1 （10） E,4Z]-8β-angeloyloxy-9α-methoxy-6α, 15-dihydroxy-14-oxogermacra-1 （10）,4,11 （13）-trien-12-oic acid 12,6-1actone （compound 2）, as well as five known ent-pimarane diterpenes （compounds 3-7） were isolated. The structures of the two new compounds were identified by their physicochemical properties and spectral analysis, particularly oneand two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectral methods.     

Two New Sesquiterpenoid Glucosides from the Aerial Parts of Saussurea involucrate

Two new sesqulterpenoid glucosides, namely α-hydroxycostic acid 6-β-D-glucopyranoside （compound 1） and 11 βH-11,13-dlhydrodehydrocostuslactone 8α-O-（6＇-acetyl）-β-D-glucopyranoside （compound 2）, along with 11 known sesqulterpenoids （compounds 3-13） were isolated from the aerial parts of Saussurea involucrate （Kar. et Kir.） Sch.- BIp. The structures of the new sesquiterpenoid glucosides were established by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry analysis.     

New Cytotoxic Saponins from Lysimachia davurica Ledeb.

To investigate the saponins from whole plants of Lysimachia davurica Ledeb., two new saponins named davuricoside I （compound 1） and E （compound 2） were isolated. Their chemical structures were elucidated as 3β, 16α, 28, 29-tetrihydroxy-olean-12-en-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-（1→2）-β-D-glucuronopyranoside （compound 1） and 3β, 16α, 29-trihydroxy-13, 28-epoxy-oleanane-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-（1→2）-β-D-glucuronopyranoside （compound 2） on the basis of their one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data, and chemical methods. Compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic activity against human A2780 cells.     

Triterpenoid Saponins from Pulsatilla cernua （Thunb.） Bercht. et Opiz.

To investigate saponins from the roots of Pulsatilla cernua （Thunb.） Bercht. et Opiz., two new compounds together with five known trlterpenold saponins were isolated. The structures of the two new trlterpenoid saponins, named cernuasides A and B, were elucidated as 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl（1-）2）]-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl（1-）4）]-α-L- arablnopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester （compound 1） and 3-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl（1→）3）]- [α-L-rhamnopyranosyl （1→）2）]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester （compound 2） by 1D, 2D-NMR techniques, ESIMS analysis, as well as chemical methods.     

Chemical Constituents of Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils.

Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils. is a traditional Chinese medicine. To search for new and bioactive components from traditional Chinese medicines and provide scientific evidence for taxonomy, the chemical constituents of the plant were investigated by various column chromatography methods (silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18). From the aerial parts of S. rubriflora, three new megastigmane glycosides,namely (3S, 5R, 6S, 9R)-megastigmane-3, 9-diol 3-O-[α-L-arabionfuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside](1), 7-megastigmene-3-ol-9-one 3-O-[α-L-arabionfuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (2), and megastigmane-3α, 4β, 9ξ-tfiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), along with 14 known compounds, were isolated.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

A New Pregnane from Munronia delavayi Franc （Meliaceae）

To search for pharmacologically active constituents of folk medicine, a new pregnane, 2α,3α,15β-trihydroxy-20（S）-tigloyl-pregnane （compound 1）, and nine known compounds, geranylgeraniol （compound 2）, β-daucosterol （compound 3）, 6-hydroxystigmast-4oen-3-one （compound 4）, sitoindoside Ⅰ （compound 5）, sitoindoside Ⅱ （compound 6）, β-sitosterol （compound 7）, kaempferol （compound 8）, quercetin （compound 9）, and rutin （compound 10）, were isolated from the ethanol extract of whole plants of Munronia delavayi Franch using chromatographic methods. The structures of compounds 1-10 were elucidated on the basis of spectral data.     

A Cytotoxic Neolignan from Schisandra propinqua （Wall.） Baill.

In the course of our study of bioactive natural products from Schisandra plants, we isolated a neolignan from an EtOAc extract of the stems of Schisandra propinqua （Wall.） Baill. The structure of the new com- pound was determined to be 4, 4-di （4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenly）-2, 3-dimethylbutanol （compound 1） on the basis of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra and 2D NMR methods. Eight known compounds, compounds 2-9, were also isolated and identified, of which compounds 3, 4, 6 and 9 were isolated for the first time from this plant. In addition, compounds 1-4 were evaluated for cytotoxicity by an 3-（4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl）-2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay. Compound 1 showed significant potential cytotoxic ability in the bioassay.     

Novel Neolignan from Penthorum chinense

A new neolignan （7＇E）-2＇,4,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-2,4＇-epoxy-8,5＇-neolign-7＇-en-7-one （1） was isolated from the whole plants of Penthorum chinense Pursh, along with Iupeol （2）, betulinic acid （3）, glyceryl monopalmitate （4）, β-sitosterol （5）, palmitic acid （5）, ursolic acid （7）, 2β,3β,23-trihydroxy-urs-12-ene-28-oic acid （8）, glyceryl monolaurate （9）, scopoletin （10）, （-）syringaresinol （11）, 9,9＇-O-diferuIoyl-（-）-secoisolariciresionl （12）, pinocembrin （13）, apigenin （14）, kaempferol （15）, Iuteolin （16）, β-daucosterol （17）, quercetin （18）, 1-O-（β-D-glucopyranosyl）-（2S, 2＇R, 3R,4E,8E）-2-（2＇-hydroxyhexadecanoy- lamino）-4,8-octdecadiene-1,3-diol （19）, gallic acid （20）, pinocembrin-7-O-β-D-glucoside （21）, and quercetin-3-O-β-D- glucoside （22）. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.     

A Diterpene Endoperoxide from Microtoena insuavis （Hance） Prain ex Dunn

A novel endoperoxlde diterpene, 7a-hydroxy-abieta-8（14）-en-18-oi 9α,13α-endoperoxide （compound 1）, was isolated from the stems of Microtoena insuavis （Hance） Prain ex Dunn, along with 4,4＇-dlhydroxytruxillic acid （compound 2）, gallic acid （compound 3）, ellaglc acid （compound 4）, 3-O-methylellaglc acid 3＇-O-α- rhamnopyranoslde （compound 5）, 3＂＇-O-methylcrenatoslde （compound 6）, crenatoslde （compound 7）, aptgenin （compound 8）, succinic acid （compound 9）, β-sitosterot （compound 10）, and β-daucosterol （compound 11）. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence.     

Glycosidic Inhibitors of Melanogenesis from Leaves of Passiflora edulis

A new flavonoid glycoside, chrysin 6‐C‐β‐rutinoside (chrysin α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐C‐β‐glucopyranoside; 2 ), and two new triterpene glycosides, (31R)‐31‐O‐methylpassiflorine ( 7 ) and (31S)‐31‐O‐methylpassiflorine ( 8 ), along with 14 known glycosides, including three flavonoid glycosides, 1, 3 , and 4 , six triterpene glycosides, 5, 6 , and 9 – 12 , three cyano glycosides, 13 – 15 , and two other glycosides, 16 and 17 , were isolated from a MeOH extract of the leaves of Passiflora edulis (passion flower; Passifloraceae). The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Upon evaluation of compounds 1 – 17 against the melanogenesis in the B16 melanoma cells induced with α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH), three compounds, isoorientin ( 1 ), 2 , and (6S,9R)‐roseoside ( 17 ), exhibited inhibitory effects with 37.3–47.2% reduction of melanin content with no, or almost no, toxicity to the cells (90.8–100.2% cell viability) at 100 μM . Western blot analysis showed that compound 2 reduced the protein levels of MITF, TRP‐1, and tyrosinase, in a concentration‐dependent manner while exerted almost no influence on the level of TRP‐2, suggesting that this compound inhibits melanogenesis on the α‐MSH‐stimulated B16 melanoma cells by, at least in part, inhibiting the expression of MITF, followed by decreasing the expression of TRP‐1 and tyrosinase. In addition, compounds 1 – 17 were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the Epstein? Barr virus early antigen (EBV‐EA) activation induced by 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) in Raji cells.     

Glycoside‐specific glycosyltransferases catalyze regio‐selective sequential glucosylations for a sesame lignan,sesaminol triglucoside

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds contain a large number of lignans, phenylpropanoid‐related plant specialized metabolites. (+)‐Sesamin and (+)‐sesamolin are major hydrophobic lignans, whereas (+)‐sesaminol primarily accumulates as a water‐soluble sesaminol triglucoside (STG) with a sugar chain branched via β1→2 and β1→6‐O‐glucosidic linkages [i.e. (+)‐sesaminol 2‐O‐β‐d ‐glucosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside‐(1→6)‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside]. We previously reported that the 2‐O‐glucosylation of (+)‐sesaminol aglycon and β1→6‐O‐glucosylation of (+)‐sesaminol 2‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside (SMG) are mediated by UDP‐sugar‐dependent glucosyltransferases (UGT), UGT71A9 and UGT94D1, respectively. Here we identified a distinct UGT, UGT94AG1, that specifically catalyzes the β1→2‐O‐glucosylation of SMG and (+)‐sesaminol 2‐O‐β‐d ‐glucosyl‐(1→6)‐O‐β‐d ‐glucoside [termed SDG(β1→6)]. UGT94AG1 was phylogenetically related to glycoside‐specific glycosyltransferases (GGTs) and co‐ordinately expressed with UGT71A9 and UGT94D1 in the seeds. The role of UGT94AG1 in STG biosynthesis was further confirmed by identification of a STG‐deficient sesame mutant that predominantly accumulates SDG(β1→6) due to a destructive insertion in the coding sequence of UGT94AG1. We also identified UGT94AA2 as an alternative UGT potentially involved in sugar–sugar β1→6‐O‐glucosylation, in addition to UGT94D1, during STG biosynthesis. Yeast two‐hybrid assays showed that UGT71A9, UGT94AG1, and UGT94AA2 were found to interact with a membrane‐associated P450 enzyme, CYP81Q1 (piperitol/sesamin synthase), suggesting that these UGTs are components of a membrane‐bound metabolon for STG biosynthesis. A comparison of kinetic parameters of these UGTs further suggested that the main β‐O‐glucosylation sequence of STG biosynthesis is β1→2‐O‐glucosylation of SMG by UGT94AG1 followed by UGT94AA2‐mediated β1→6‐O‐glucosylation. These findings together establish the complete biosynthetic pathway of STG and shed light on the evolvability of regio‐selectivity of sequential glucosylations catalyzed by GGTs.     

Chemical constituents from Gentianella turkestanorum (Gentianaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of Gentianella turkestanorum (Gentianaceae) afforded nineteen compounds, including six xanthones (1–6), two triterpenoids (7–8), eight flavones (9–16) and three iridoids (17–19). Here, we firstly reported that 1-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (4), 1, 8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (5), apigenin (9), quercetin (10), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (12) and three other compounds (1, 8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (5), apigenin-7-O-gluco (1″ → 3‴) glucoside (15) and luteolin-7-O-gluco (1″ → 3‴) glucoside (16)) could be isolated from G. turkestanorum. The occurrence of chemical data and the sequence data might be employed as common constituents of the genera Gentianella, Lomatogonium and Swertia.     

Biosynthesis of Coumarin Glycosides by Transgenic Hairy Roots of Polygonum multiflorum

To investigate the substrate specificity and regio-selectivity of coumarin glycosyltransferases in transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum, esculetin (1) and eight hydroxycoumarins (2–9) were employed as substrates. Nine corresponding glycosides (10–18) involving four new compounds, 6-chloro-4-methylcoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (15), 6-chloro-4-phenylcoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (16), 8-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (17), and 8-allyl-4-methylcoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (18), were biosynthesized by the hairy roots.