Chemical constituents from the fruits of Rhus typhina L. and their chemotaxonomic significance

This work describes the isolation and characterization of twenty-nine compounds from the fruits of Rhus typhina L., including eleven flavonoids (1–11), eleven phenols (12–22), two pentacyclic triterpenes (23–24), two organic acids (25–26), one lumichrome (27), one courmarin (28) and one pyrimidine (29) on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds apigenin (1), daidzein (4), orobol (5), 3′, 5, 5′, 7-tetrahydroxyflavanone (6), naringenin (7), butein (8), (-)-catechin (9), quercetin-3-O-α-L-(3″-O-galloyl)-rhamnoside (11), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (13), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (14), vanillin (15), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (16), 3,5-dihydroxybenzamide (18), tyrosol (19), caffeic acid (20), 3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one (21), phlorizin (22), friedelin (23), oleanolic acid (24), 4,4-dimethyl-heptanedioic acid (25), anthranilic acid (26), lumichrome (27), scoparone (28) and uracil (29) have not been recorded before in this plant. This is the first report on the occurrence of compounds 4–7, 9, 11, 13–14, 16, 18–21, 25–29 from the genus Rhus. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds was also summarized.     

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.     

Anti-HSV-1, antioxidant and antifouling phenolic compounds from the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor SCSIO 41502

Chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor SCSIO 41502 resulted in the isolation of three new anthraquinones, aspergilols G-I (1–3), one new diphenyl ether, 4-carbglyceryl-3,3′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethyldiphenyl ether (4), and one new benzaldehyde derivative, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-(4-methoxy-2-oxopentyl)-3-methylbenzaldehyde (5), along with 23 known phenolic compounds (6–28). The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 3 was established by CD spectrum and the modified Mosher method. Compounds 2, 3 and 9 had evident antiviral activity towards HSV-1 with EC₅₀ values of 4.68, 6.25, and 3.12 μM, respectively. Compounds 15, 18, 20 and 22–24 showed more potent antioxidant activity than l-ascorbic acid with IC₅₀ values of 18.92–52.27 μM towards DPPH radicals. Comparison of the structures and antioxidant activities of 1–28 suggests that the number of phenolic hydroxyl group that can freely rotate can significantly affect the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds. In addition, 4, 22–24 and 27 had significant antifouling activity against Bugula neritina larval settlement with EC₅₀ values of 1.28, 2.61, 5.48, 1.59, and 3.40 μg/ml, respectively.     

Chemical constituents from Ligularia purdomii (Turrill) Chittenden

The first phytochemical investigation on the roots of Ligularia purdomii led to the isolation and identification of 18 compounds, including two eremophilane sesquiterpenoids (1 and 2), three benzofuran derivatives (3–5), a triterpenoid (6), two steroids (7 and 8), nine phenolic components (9–17), and a monofatty glyceride (18). The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was performed by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. Compounds (−)-syringaresinol (11), scopoletin (13), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (14), and glycerol monolinoleate (18) have not been recorded in Ligularia genus previously. The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds has been summarized.     

Chemical constituents from Artemisia argyi and their chemotaxonomic significance

Twelve compounds, including one monoterpene (1), two sesquiterpene lactones (2–3), six flavonoids (4–9), one phenolic glycoside (10), one chromone (11) and one phenolic acid (12), were isolated and identified from the leaves of Artemisia argyi. Compounds 1–2, 4 and 6–7 have not been recorded before in this plant. Compounds 3, 9 and 11 were isolated from the genus Artemisia for the first time. This paper is the first report on the presence of compound 10 in species of Asteraceae. In addition, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic studies on Pteris wallichiana J. Agardh

A systematic phytochemical investigation of Pteris wallichiana J. Agardh resulted in the isolation of twenty compounds, including five sesquiterpenes (1–5), six flavonoids (6–11), seven phenolic acids (12–18) and two fatty acids (19 and 20). Their structures were deduced from MS, NMR and ORD data. This is the first report of compounds dehydropterosin B (2), (2R,3S)-pterosin C (4), (2R,3R)-pterosin L (5), apigenin (6), luteolin (7), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (10), caffeic acid (13), vanillin (14), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (15), chlorogenic acid (17), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (18), suberic acid (19) and azelaic acid (20) from P. wallichiana and of compounds 15, 19 and 20 from the family Pteridaceae. Furthermore, a chemotaxonomic study of the isolates was performed.     

Biotransformation of dianabol with the filamentous fungi and β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity of resulting metabolites

Biotransformation of the anabolic steroid dianabol (1) by suspended-cell cultures of the filamentous fungi Cunninghamella elegans and Macrophomina phaseolina was studied. Incubation of 1 with C. elegans yielded five hydroxylated metabolites 2–6, while M. phaseolina transformed compound 1 into polar metabolites 7–11. These metabolites were identified as 6β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (2), 15α,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (3), 11α,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (4), 6β,12β,17β-trihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (5), 6β,15α,17β-trihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (6), 17β-hydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3,6-dione (7), 7β,17β,-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (8), 15β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (9), 17β-hydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3,11-dione (10), and 11β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (11). Metabolite 3 was also transformed chemically into diketone 12 and oximes 13, and 14. Compounds 6 and 12–14 were identified as new derivatives of dianabol (1). The structures of all transformed products were deduced on the basis of spectral analyses. Compounds 1–14 were evaluated for β-glucuronidase enzyme inhibitory activity. Compounds 7, 13, and 14 showed a strong inhibition of β-glucuronidase enzyme, with IC₅₀ values between 49.0 and 84.9 μM.     

Triterpenoidal alkaloids from Buxus hyrcana and their enzyme inhibitory,anti-fungal and anti-leishmanial activities

From the aerial parts of Buxus hyrcana, three triterpenoidal alkaloids, 17-oxo-3-benzoylbuxadine (1), buxhyrcamine (2), and 31-demethylcyclobuxoviridine (3), along with 16 known compounds, cyclobuxoviridine (4), N_b-dimethylcyclobuxoviricine (5), E-buxenone (6), Z-buxenone (7), moenjodaramine (8), homomoenjodarmine (9), buxamine A (10), buxamine B (11), 31-hydroxybuxamine B (12), N₂₀-formylbuxaminol E (13), papillozine C (14), buxmicrophylline F (15), buxrugulosamine (16), cyclobuxophylline O (17), spirofornabuxine (18) and arbora-1,9(11)-dien-3-one (19) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by using NMR spectroscopic methods. All of the compounds exhibited moderate to weak acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase inhibitory activities. Compounds 1–19 also exhibited modest anti-fungal activities against Candida albicans. Compounds 1, 2, 8, 9 and 18 also exhibited weak anti-leishmanial activity.     

Chemical constituents from the aerial sections of Ajania potaninii

Nineteen compounds were isolated from Ajania potaninii, including one sulfur paraffin (1), one monoterpene (6), one lactone (3), one aliphatic acid (15), two sterols (8 and 10), one triterpenes (13), one alkaloid (18), eleven flavonoids (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17) and one cyclic amide (19). All of these compounds were obtained from A. potaninii for the first time. This is the first report of N-nonanemercaptan (1), 3-hydroxy-5-decanolide (3), cirsiliol (5), 1,2,4-trihydroxy-p-mentane (6), 6-methoxytricin (7), eriodictyol (11), pectolinarigenin (12), 3,3′-di-O-methylquercetin (14), tetradecanoic acid (15), lappaconitine (18) and 1,1′,1″,1‴,1‴'-tricontane lactam (19) from the genus Ajania. The occurrence of compounds 18 and 19 in A. potaninii warrants further study.     

Flavonoids and other constituents from Alpinia sichuanensis Z.Y. Zhu

Seven flavonoids (2, 4, 6, 10, 14–16), five phenolic acids (3, 5, 7–9), one monoterpene (11), two sterols (1 and 12) and an esters compound (13) were isolated from the whole plant of Alpinia Sichuanensis for the first time. Among them, compounds 7, 8 and 16, are reported from the family Zingiberaceae for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Two new cycloartane-type triterpenoids and one new flavanone from the leaves of Dasymaschalon dasymaschalum and their biological activity

Two new cycloartane-type triterpenoids, 3β-hydroxy-21-O-acetyl-24-methylenecycloartane (3) and 3β,21-dihydroxy-24,31-epoxy-24-methylenecycloartane (4), one new flavanone, 7-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavanone (5), two new natural products, 2-hydroxybenzyl benzoate (7) and 2-phenyl-2-acetoxyethyl benzoate (8), and ten known compounds, 3β-hydroxy-24-methylenecycloartane (1), 3β,21-dihydroxy-24-methylenecycloartane (2), desmosdumotin B (6), artabotrene (9), (?)-senepoxide (10), (+)-crotepoxide (11), (?)-1,6-desoxypipoxide (12), rotundol (13), cassipourol (14) and (+)-spathulenol (15) were isolated from the leaves of Dasymaschalon dasymaschalum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and of the known compounds by comparison of their physical, UV, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR data with those of published compounds. Antimycobacterial, antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of the isolates, except 8 and 10 were evaluated. Compounds 1, 4, 5, 11, 12 and 15 exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against human lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H187) with respective IC₅₀ values of 4.67, 7.82, 1.85, 6.33, 3.07 and 6.68 μg/mL.     

Chemical constituents from Phlomis bovei Noë and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical investigation of the leaves and roots of Phlomis bovei Noë (Lamiaceae) led to the isolation of sixteen compounds, including iridoids (1, 2, 3), megastigmanes (4, 5), phenylpropanoids (6, 7, 8, 9, 10), lignans (11, 12, 13, 14), a nortriterpene (15), and a phenyl glucoside (16). Compounds (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10) were obtained from the leaves and compounds (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) were isolated from the roots. Compounds 1 and 2 were found both in the leaves and in roots.The compounds were identified by analysis of 1D- (¹H, ¹³C), 2D-NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC) spectroscopic data, mass spectrometry (ESI- and HR-ESI-MS), and by comparison with previously reported spectral data.Compounds 5, 9, 10, 13 and 14 were isolated from the genus Phlomis for the first time. All these specialized metabolites were described here for the first time in the Algerian Phlomis bovei Noë species. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have appeared on the constituents of the roots of P.bovei Noë. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Phytochemical investigation of Eremostachys moluccelloides Bunge (Lamiaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Eremostachys moluccelloides Bunge led to the identification of a new diterpene, 2β,14-dihydroxy −11-formyl- 12-carboxy-13-des-isopropyl-13-hydroxymethyl-abieta-8,11,13- triene- 16(17)- lactone (1), along with the known compounds 12, 18-dicarboxy-14-hydroxy-13-des -isopropyl-13-hydroxymethyl- abieta-8,11,13-triene-16(17)-lactone (2), 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,7-trimethoxyflavone (3), 5-hydroxy-4’,7-dimethoxyflavone (4), luteolin-7-O-β-glucoside (5), verbascoside (6), luteolin 7-O-(6″-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl) -β-D-glucopyranoside (7), chlorogenic acid (8), echinacoside (9), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (10), p-coumaric acid (11), vanillic acid (12), apigenin-7-O-(6″-E-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (13), apigenin-7-O-(3″,6″-E-p-dicoumaroyl)-β-glucoside (14), lamalbide (15), 6β-hydroxy-7-epi-loganin (16), phloyoside II (17) The structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, UV, MS and by comparison with compounds previously reported in the literature. Compounds 1–4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 have not been reported previously from any species within the genus Eremostachys. Compounds 1–14, 17 were obtained from this species for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds is discussed.     

Phenolic compounds with radical scavenging and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activities from Dioscorea opposita

Phytochemical studies of the chloroform soluble fraction of Dioscorea opposita resulted in the isolation of four new compounds, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybibenzyl (1), 3,3′,5-trihydroxy-2′-methoxybibenzyl (2), 10,11-dihydro-dibenz[b,f]oxepin-2,4-diol (3), and 10,11-dihydro-4-methoxy-dibenz[b,f]oxepin-2-ol (4), together with an additional fifteen known compounds. The structures of 1–4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR. All of the nineteen isolated compounds were tested in the DPPH, superoxide anion radical scavenging assays and cyclooxygenases (COXs) inhibition assay. Of those, compounds 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 18 exhibited radical scavenging activities and compounds 2, 3, 8, 13, 15 and 16 showed selective inhibitory activities against COX-2.     

Chemical constituents from Orobanche cernua Loefling

Phytochemical study of Orobanche cernua Loefling afforded 17 compounds, including eleven phenylpropanoid glycosides (1–11), two flavonoids (12, 13), one lignan (14), and three phenolic acids (15–17) were isolated from the fresh whole plant of O. cernua. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature. This is the first report of isolation of compounds (6, 8, 9, 11, 14–16) from O. cernua and compounds (14, 15) from the family Orobanchaceae, respectively. Compound 14 was obtained from natural source for the first time, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Chemical constituents of Chimaphila japonica Miq

A phytochemical study of the whole plants of Chimaphila japonica Miq. led to the isolation of 23 compounds, including ten triterpenoids (1–10), six flavonoids (11–16), two sterols (17 and 18), two quinonoids (19 and 20), one saccharide derivative (21), one phenolic glycoside (22), and one megastigmane glycoside (23). The structures of these isolated compounds were identified using NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C) by comparison with previously reported data. All compounds, except 19 and 22, were reported from C. japonica for the first time. Among them, 16 compounds (1–4, 6–9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, and 23) were reported from genus Chimaphila for the first time, while compounds 12, 16, and 23 were isolated from the Ericaceae family for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was also discussed.     

Antiplasmodial anthraquinones and hemisynthetic derivatives from the leaves of Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae)

Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of the leaves of Tectona grandis led to the isolation of one new anthraquinone derivative, grandiquinone A (3-acetoxy-8-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone) (1), along with nine known compounds: 5,8-dihydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone (2), hydroxysesamone (3), 3-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone (4), quinizarine (5), betulinic acid (6), ursolic acid (7), tectograndone (8), corosolic acid (9) and sitosterol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated for the first time from the leaves of this plant, while 5 has never been reported from the genus Tectona. Hydroxysesamone (3) and tectograndone (8) were subjected to cyclisation and acetylation reactions to afford two hemisynthetic derivatives, 6,9-dihydroxy-2,2-(dimethyldihydropyrano)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[g]chromene-5,10-dione (11) and acetyltectograndone (12) respectively, which are reported here for the first time. The ethyl acetate-soluble portion, some of the isolated compounds and hemisynthetic derivatives were evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity against the multidrug-resistant Dd2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Compound 3 showed a prominent activity, while 2, 8, 9, 11 and 12 showed significant in vitro anti-malarial activity. Compound 1 was weakly active in this test. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparison of the data with the literature.     

Chemotaxonomic significance of lignans from Serissa japonica (Thunb.) Thunb

Sixteen known lignans were isolated from the 95% alcohol extract of the whole plant of Serissa japonica (Thunb.) Thunb., including nine furofurans (1–9), three tetrahydrofurans (10–12) and four arylnaphthalenes (13–16). In the present report, compounds (+)-epipinoresinol (1), (+)-1-hydroxy-6-epipinoresinol 4,4″-di-O-methyl ether (3), (−)-pinoresinol (4), (+)-8-hydroxypinoresinol (6), pseuderesinol (7), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol (8), (−)-(7′S,8S,8′R)-4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxy-7′,9-epoxylignan-9′-ol-7-one (10), wikstrone (11), 7'-(+)-oxomatairesinol (12), (+)-cycloolivil (13), (+)-isolariciresinol (14), 5-methoxy-(+)-isolariciresinol (15) and cyclolignans (16) were reported from the Serissa genus for the first time, and compounds (+)-lirioresinol A (2) and (−)-lirioresinol B (5) were firstly isolated from the plant. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds is discussed.     

Chemical constituents from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical study of the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim under the guidance of bioactivity led to the isolation of 18 compounds, including a new isobutylhydroxyamide (1) and 17 known compounds, i.e. six alkylamides (2–7), five coumarins (8–12), one benzene derivative (13), three flavonoids (14–16), and two sterols (17–18). Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments) and by comparison with literature data. New compound (1) and known compound (2) are cis-trans isomeric isobutylhydroxyamides. Among them, compounds 9, 10, and 12 were isolated for the first time from Z. bungeanum, compound 11 was firstly recovered from the genus Zanthoxylum, and compound 14 was reported for the first time from the Rutaceae family. The chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds from Z. bungeanum is discussed.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa

One new flavonoid, named (R)-2-hydroxynaringenin (1), along with fifteen known compounds, including six flavonoids (2–7), six lignans (8–13), two phenolic glycosides (14–15) and one alkaloid (16) were isolated from the roots of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D and 2D NMR, circular dichroism (CD) curve analysis, and by comparison with literature data. Compounds 2, 3 and 8–16 were found in Z. jujuba Mill. var. spinosa for the first time, while compounds 8, 10 and 13–15 were new to the Rhamnaceae family. In addition, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was discussed in this paper.