New cytotoxic prostanoids from Taiwanese soft coral Clavularia viridis

Chemical investigation of the AcOEt/MeOH extract of Clavularia viridis collected in Taiwan has afforded four new prostanoids, named claviridins A-D (1-4, resp.). The structures of compounds 1-4 were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques, including COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. Pharmacological studies revealed that compounds 1-4 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against human cancer cells.     

Three new cytotoxic Diels-Alder-type adducts from Morus australis

Three new natural products, australisines A-C (1-3, resp.), were isolated from the stem bark of Morus australis, together with eight related compounds, including mulberrofurans E-G, J, and Q, mongolicin C, chalcomoracin, and kuwanon G. Their structures were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-3, mulberrofuran G, mongolicin C, and chalcomoracin showed moderate cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 4.6-9.2 microg/ml, as determined by MTT assay.     

Phenolic compounds from the whole plants of Gentiana rhodantha (Gentianaceae)

Gentiana rhodantha Franch. ex Hemsl. (Gentianaceae), an annual herb widely distributed in the southwest of China, has been medicinally used for the treatment of inflammation, cholecystitis, and tuberculosis by the local people of its growing areas. Chemical investigation on the whole plants led to the identification of eight new phenolic compounds, rhodanthenones A–D ( 1 – 4 , resp.), apigenin 7‐O‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), 1,2‐dihydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzene 1‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 6 ), 1,2‐dihydroxy‐4,6‐dimethoxybenzene 1‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 7 ), and methyl 2‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2,4,6‐trihydroxybenzoate ( 8 ), together with eleven known compounds, 9 – 19 . Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and cytotoxicity tests against five human cancer cell lines showed that only rhodanthenone D ( 4 ) and mangiferin ( 12 ) exhibited 18.4 and 13.4% of AChE inhibitory effects at a concentration of 10⁻⁴ M , respectively, while compounds 1 – 5 and the known xanthones lancerin ( 11 ), mangiferin ( 12 ), and neomangiferin ( 13 ) displayed no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 40 μM .     

D-ring-opened phragmalin-type limonoids from Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina

Five new D-ring-opened phragmalin-type limonoids, tabulalins A-E (1-5, resp.), were isolated from the stem bark of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina. In the structures of these new isolates, the D-ring (C(16)/C(17) δ-lactone ring) of phragmalins was cleaved, and rare C(16)/C(30) δ-lactone ring in 1-3 or C(16)/C(8) γ-lactone ring in 4 and 5 were formed. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated based on extensive 1D- and 2D-spectroscopic analyses (HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) and HR-ESI-MS. The major compounds, 2, 3, and 5, were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a macrophage (RAW264.7) cell line with IC(50) values of 15.3±0.6, 13.0±0.5, and 17.1±0.7 μM, respectively.     

New flavanones from the leaves of Cryptocarya chinensis and their antituberculosis activity

Four new flavanones, cryptoflavanones A-D (1-4, resp.), together with eight known compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Cryptocarya chinensis. The structures of these new compounds were determined by spectral analyses. Among the isolated compounds, pinocembrin (5) and cryptocaryone (6) exhibited antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37) Rv strain in vitro with MIC values of 3.5 and 25.0 μg/ml, respectively.     

New hepatoprotective coumarinolignoids from Mallotus apelta

Three new coumarinolignoids, malloapelins A-C (1-3, resp.), together with three known coumarinolignoids, cleomiscosin A (4), cleomiscosin B (5), and 5'-demethylaquillochin (6), were isolated from the roots of Mallotus apelta MUELL.-ARG. Compounds 1-6 are three pairs of regioisomeric coumarinolignoids. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence. Compounds 3 showed promising hepatoprotective activity against D-galactosamine-induced toxicity in WB-F344 rat hepatic epithelial stem-like cells.     

Cytotoxic withanolides from Physalis angulata L

Four new withanolides, physagulins L-O (1-4), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae), together with seven known withanolides, compounds 5-11. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including 1H-, 13C-NMR (DEPT), and 2D-NMR (HMBC, HMQC, 1H,1H-COSY, NOESY) experiments, as well as by HR-MS. All eleven compounds were tested for their antiproliferative activities towards human colorectal-carcinoma (HCT-116) and human non-small-cell lung-cancer (NCI-H460) cells. Compound 5 exhibited the highest anticancer activity against the HCT-116 cell line, with an IC50 value of 1.64+/-0.06 microM. Compound 9 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity towards the NCI-H460 cell line, with an IC50 value of 0.43+/-0.02 microM.     

Chemical constituents of the fermented broth of the ascomycete Theissenia cinerea 89091602

One new betaenone, theissenoic acid (1), together with three new acetogenins, theissenolactones A-C (2-4, resp.), were isolated from the fermented broth of Theissenia cinerea 89091602 isolated in Taiwan. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Biological tests revealed that 3 and 4 exhibited moderate growth-inhibitory activities against A549 lung cancer cell line with GI(50) values of 14.9 and 47.9 μM, respectively.     

New bioactive clerodane diterpenoids from the roots of Casearia membranacea

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the acetone extract of the roots of Casearia membranacea furnished three new clerodane diterpenes, caseamembrins S-U (1-3) and the known caseamembrin Q (4). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D-NMR. Compounds 1-4 were tested against human tumor cells, including HeLa (cervical epitheloid carcinoma), DLD-1 (colon carcinoma), Daoy (medulloblastoma), and KB (oral epidermoid carcinoma) cell lines. Caseamembrin T (2) exhibited the most potent activity against Daoy cells (ED(50)=10 ng/ml), superior to that of the standard drug mitomycin.     

Three new cytochalasins from the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans KLA03 by supplementing the cultures with L- and D-tryptophan

Three new cytochalasins Z₂₁–Z₂₃ ( 1 – 3 , resp.), together with five analogs, 4 – 8 , were isolated from Spicaria elegans KLA03 by the OSMAC (one strain‐many compounds) approach with adding L ‐ and D ‐tryptophan during its cultivation. The structures of new cytochalasins were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS analyses. Cytochalasins Z₂₁ and Z₂₂ ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and compound 5 showed cytotoxic activities against A‐549 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.2, 20.0, and 3.1 μM , respectively.     

6,7-seco-ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon sculponeatus with cytotoxic activity

Six new 6,7‐seco‐ent‐kaurane diterpenoids, sculponeatins N–S ( 1 – 6 , resp.), together with eleven known analogues, 7 – 17 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon sculponeatus. The structures of compounds 1 – 6 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments, as well as HR‐ESI‐MS analysis. All diterpenoids obtained were assayed for their cytotoxic activity against K562 and HepG2 human tumor cell lines. Among them, compound 1 showed the most significant cytotoxicity with the IC₅₀ values of 0.21 and 0.29 μM , respectively. The structure–activity relationships are discussed.     

Bioactive Xenicane Diterpenoids from the Taiwanese Soft Coral Asterospicularia laurae

Chemical investigation of the Taiwanese soft coral Asterospicularia laurae has led to the isolation of three new xenicane diterpenoids, named asterolaurins K–M ( 1 – 3 , resp.). Their chemical structures were determined through extensive spectroscopic analyses (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMBC, and NOESY). Compound 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HEp‐2, Daoy, MCF‐7, and WiDr tumor cells.     

Influence of (hydroxymethyl)pyridine and pyridine-carboxylic acids, in trans-position to the isopropylamine and amine ligands, on the cytotoxicity of platinum complexes

trans-Pt(II) Complexes with aliphatic amines and planar amines such as (hydroxymethyl)pyridines, and pyridine-3- and pyridine-4-carboxylic acids were synthesized and screened for their potential cytotoxic activity in different cancer cell lines used at the NCI for in vitro screens, i.e., MCF7, NCIH460, and SF268. The complexes studied were designed to differ in geometrical parameters such as the position of the phenyl-group substituents and the nature of the substituents themselves for gathering information about the structure-activity relationships in the trans-complexes. The variation of the substituents turns to be crucial for their biological activity, as both pyridine-3- and pyridine-4-carboxylic acids in trans-position to both amine and isopropylamine ligands provided complexes which displayed no specificity toward any type of cell tested, while (hydroxymethyl)pyridine in trans-position to isopropylamine ligands led to complexes that were clearly more effective against the cell lines tested.     

Novel alkaloids from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia

Four new Stemona alkaloids, sessilistemonamines A-C (1-3, resp.) and dihydrostemoninine (4), were isolated from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by means of in-depth 1D- and 2D-NMR-spectroscopic as well as mass-spectrometric experiments; and the structure of 4 was solved by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The stereoisomeric compounds 1-3 share an unprecedented tetracyclic decahydro-1H-furo[2',3':4,5]cyclopenta[1,2-b]pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine nucleus. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to be moderately active in terms of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibition, with IC50 values of 68.8+/-9.5 and 17.1+/-2.5 microM, resp.     

Three New Isomeric Indole Alkaloids from Nauclea officinalis

Three new isomeric monoterpene indole alkaloids, naucleofficines I–III ( 1 – 3 , resp.) were isolated from the stems (with bark) of Nauclea officinalis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and single‐crystal diffraction analyses. The cytotoxic activities of 1 – 3 against human colon cancer, human gastric cancer, and human hepatoma cells were also investigated.     

Novel Zierane‐ and Guaiane‐Type Sesquiterpenes from the Root of Melicope denhamii

Two novel zierane‐type sesquiterpenes, named melicodenones A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and three new guaiane‐type sesquiterpenes, named melicodenones C–E ( 3 – 5 ), were isolated from the root of Melicope denhamii (Seem. ) T. G. Hartley together with zierone ( 6 ). Their structures were established by extensive NMR‐spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1 – 6 were tested for cytotoxicity using human colon cancer DLD‐1 cells, and melicodenone A ( 1 ) was found to exhibit moderate activity.     

Triterpene Glucosides from the Leaves of Aralia elata and Their Cytotoxic Activities

Three new triterpene glucosides, named congmuyenosides C–E ( 1 – 3 , resp.), along with four known ones, were isolated from an EtOH extract of Aralia elata (Miq .) Seem . leaves. The structures of the new compounds were identified as 3‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}caulophyllogenin ( 1 ), 3‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}hederagenin 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 2 ), 3‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}echinocystic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 3 ) on the basis of spectral analyses, including MS, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and HSQC‐TOCSY experiments. All isolates obtained were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cell lines (HepG2, SKOV3, and A549). Compound 3 showed significant cytotoxicity against A549 cell line (IC₅₀ 9.9±1.5 μM ).     

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of novel dimethyl [1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-dicarboxylates bearing 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties

In search of novel anticancer agents, two series of dimethyl [1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-dicarboxylate derivatives, 8a-8k and 9a-9k, containing both methylenedioxy and 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties were designed and synthesized. Cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in vitro against five human tumor cell lines, i.e., HepG2, KB, A549, K562, and MCF-7. The results indicated that 8h, 8j, 8k, 9d, 9g, 9h, 9j, and 9k showed notable anticancer activities comparable to or stronger than that of 5-fluorouracil, a canonical anticancer drug. Structure-activity relationships were also discussed based on the experimental data obtained.     

Bioactive Diphenyl Ether Derivatives from a Gorgonian‐Derived Fungus Talaromyces sp.

Three new diphenyl ether derivatives, talaromycins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), together with six known analogs, 4 – 9 , were isolated from a gorgonian‐derived fungus, Talaromyces sp. The structures of the new compounds were determined by analysis of extensive NMR spectroscopic data. All of the isolated metabolites, 1 – 9 , were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antifouling activities. Compound 4 exhibited pronounced cytotoxicity against the tested human cell lines with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.3 to 9.8 μM . Compounds 3, 5, 8 , and 9 showed potent antifouling activities against the larval settlement of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite with the EC₅₀ values ranging from 2.2 to 4.8 μg/ml.