Flavonoids and arylbenzofurans from the rhizomes and roots of Sophora tonkinensis with IL-6 production inhibitory activity

Three new compounds (1–3) and 20 known compounds were isolated from the rhizomes and roots of Sophora tonkinensis, and all the isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity against IL-6 production in HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA plus ionophore, A23187. Of the tested compounds, compounds 1, 5, 9, and 21 were found to potently inhibit IL-6 production with IC₅₀ values of 1.62, 0.73, 3.01, and 4.02 μM, respectively.     

Chemical constituents from Sophora tonkinensis and their glucose transporter 4 translocation activities

Bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc fraction (ST-EtOAc) from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis resulted in the isolation of a new compound 6aR,11aR-1-hydroxy-4-isoprenyl-maackiain (1), along with 12 known compounds (2–13). The structure of the new compound was established by 1D and 2D NMR, MS data and circular dichroism analysis. Polyprenylated flavonoids 6–9 and 11–13 increased GLUT-4 translocation by the range of 1.35–2.75 folds. Sophoranone (8) exerted the strongest activity with 2.75 folds GLUT-4 translocation enhancement at the concentration of 10 μM. This is the first report of the GLUT-4 translocation activity of the plant Sophora tonkinensis.     

Phytochemical and network-based chemotaxonomic study of Lonicera japonica Thunb

Phytochemical research on the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb. led to the isolation of 15 compounds, including nine terpenoids (1–9), three phenylpropanoid glycosides (10–12), two alkyl glycosides (13–14) and an alkaloid (15). The structures of these compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy and comparison with data from previous literatures. Among them, eleven compounds (2–5, 8, 10 and 11–15) were reported from the genus Lonicera for the first time and compounds 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11–15 were firstly reported from the family Caprifoliaceae. Network analysis was carried out to explore the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds for L. japonica in this study.     

Chemical constituents from Euphorbia stracheyi Boiss

The chemical investigation of whole plants Euphorbia stracheyi Boiss. led to the isolation of 14 compounds, including eight diterpenes (1–8), one monoterpene (9), three coumarins (10–12), and two phenols (13–14). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with the literature. Compounds 1–6, and 8–12 were firstly isolated from E. stracheyi, while compounds 6, and 9 were isolated from Euphorbia genus for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these 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 of Peperomia tetraphylla (Forst. F.) Hooker et Arnott

Sixteen compounds were isolated from the whole herbs of Peperomia tetraphylla (Forst. F.) Hooker et Arnott by phytochemical methods, including eight flavonoids (1–3, 6, 7, 14–16), three lignans (8–10), three beta sitosterols (4, 5, 11), and two phenolic acids (12, 13). Their structures were identified by the analysis of NMR and MS, as well as the comparisons to the reported data. Among them, 2″-O-xylosylisoswertisin (14) was firstly isolated from the Piperaceae family, as well as ten compounds (1–4, 7, 10–11, 13, 15–16) were isolated from P. tytraphylla for the first time. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of constituents isolated from P. tytraphylla was also discussed.     

Chemical constituents isolated from the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis L. and their chemotaxonomic significance

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis L. led to the isolation of thirty-eight compounds, including seventeen triterpenoids (1–17), six monoterpenoid glycosides (18–23), six flavonoids (24–29), six phenols (30–35), two glycosides (36–37), and one lignan (38). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and by comparisons of spectroscopic data with reported values in the literature. Compounds 18, 29, and 36–37 were the first to be reported in the family Rosaceae, compounds 10, 12, 15, 27–28, and 38 were firstly identified from the genus Sanguisorba, and compound 11 was obtained from S. officinalis for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds has also been discussed.     

Chemical constituents from the Jasminum lanceolarium Roxb.

Twelve compounds (1–12) are isolated from Jasminum lanceolarium Roxb. Among them, compounds 5, 7, 8, 11 and 12 are reported here for the first time from J. lanceolarium, and compounds 6, 9, 10 are firstly isolated from Jasminum genus. The existence of iridoids and lignanoids might be regarded as valuable chemotaxonomic markers for further classification and subdivision of the genus of Jasminum.     

Chemical constituents from Laggera pterodonta

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of Laggera pterodonta resulted in the isolation and identification of fourteen compounds, including six sesquiterpenoids (1–6), five flavonoids (7–11), one lignan (12), and two pyrrole alkaloids (13, 14). Among them, compounds 1–3, 7–9, and 11 are the characteristic class of secondary metabolites of L. pterodonta. Compounds 4 and 5 were firstly isolated from L. pterodonta and this is the first report of the presence of compounds 6, 10, and 12 from the genus Laggera. Pyrrole alkaloids 13 and 14 may serve as potential chemotaxonomic markers for L. pterodonta and could be used to distinguish among species of Compositae.     

Chemical constituents from Cistanche sinensis (Orobanchaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of 70% aqueous EtOH extract of Cistanche sinensis led to the isolation of fifteen compounds (1–15), including nine phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs, 1–9), five iridoid glycosides (10–14), and one lignan glycoside (15). Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and by comparison with physical data of known compounds. Among the isolated compounds, 1 was identified as a new compound, three compounds (9, 14, and 15) were firstly reported from the genus Cistanche, and seven compounds (2–6, 11, and 12) were isolated from C. sinensis for the first time. PhGs with a 6′-O-rhamnosyl moiety such as cistansinenside B (1), poliumoside (7), and 2′-O-acetylpoliumoside (9) could serve as chemotaxonomic markers to differentiate C. sinensis from other species of Cistanche.     

Chemical constituents from Piper boehmeriifolium (Miq.) Wall. ex C. DC

The chemical investigation of whole plants Piper boehmeriifolium (Miq.) Wall. ex C. DC. led to the isolation of 22 compounds, including two lignans (1–2), sixteen amide alkaloids (3–18), one diterpene (19), two monoterpenes (20–21), and one phenylpropanoid (22). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses including NMR, MS, and by comparison with the literature. Compounds 1–2, 6–7, 11–12, 14, and 17–22 were firstly isolated from P. boehmeriifolium, while compounds 2, and 19–20 were isolated from Piper genus for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds is discussed.     

Limonoids from the bark of Toona ciliata var pubescens and their anti-tumor activities

Two previously undescribed B-ring seco-limonoids named toonacilinatin I (1) and toonacilinatin J (2), together with ten known analogues (3–12), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the bark of Toona ciliata var pubescens. All structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis involving IR, MS, and NMR. Among them, compounds 1–10, and 12 were discovered from this plant for the first time. All the compounds except 7 and 8 were evaluated for their anti-tumor activity by MTT method of MDA-MB-231 and A-673 cell lines, the bioassay results showed that compounds 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11 exerted superior inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values as 0.11–1.60 μM. Notably, those active compounds exhibited little effect on normal hepatocellular HL-7702 cells.     

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Ilex urceolatus

Eighteen compounds, including four hemiterpene glycosides (1–4), three triterpenoid saponins (5–7), four triterpenes (8–11), five sterols (12-16) and two monoterpene glucosides (17 and 18), were isolated from the leaves of Ilex urceolatus C. B. Shang, K. S. Tang et D. Q. Du, which was identified as a new species belonging to the genus Ilex. Among them, compounds 14–18 were firstly isolated from the genus Ilex, others were obtained from I. urceolatus for the first time. This work represented the initially phytochemical study on this plant. The isolated compounds have significant chemotaxonomic characteristics with the other species from this genus.     

Novel phenanthrene and isocoumarin from the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting (Dioscoreaceae)

The investigation of the constituents in the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting afforded one new phenanthrene 2,2′,7,7′-tetramethoxy-[1,1′-biphenanthrene]-4,4′,6,6′-tetrol (7) and one new isocoumarin diorosthornoumarin (8), together with 16 known compounds (1–6 and 9–18). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic evidences (IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR and optical rotation), as well as comparison with literature values. All the compounds 1–18 were firstly isolated from Dioscorea nipponica Makino subsp. Rosthornii (Prain et Burkill) C. T. Ting, and compound 9 was firstly obtained as a natural product from plants, while the compounds 11 and 14 were obtained from both the genus Dioscorea and the family Dioscoreaceae for the first time. Moreover, the antitumor activities of the compounds were tested against lung carcinoma NCI-H460 cell line. Compound 12, 13, 15 and 16 showed significant cytotoxic activities, whereas 7 displayed moderate cytotoxicity.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve

Twenty compounds, including three sterols (1–3), three phenols (4, 14 and 15), four anthraquinones (5, 7, 8 and 16), one chromone (6), two stilbenes (9 and 10), three amides (11–13), three flavonoids (17–19) and one organic acid (20), were obtained by modern phytochemical isolation methods. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and in comparison with the published data in the references. Among them, compound 2, 3, 11 and 13 were firstly discovered from genus Fallopia, and compounds 1, 5–8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 19 and 20 were obtained from F. convolvulus for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was also discussed, which revealed the relationships between F. convolvulus and some other species of Polygonaceae family.     

A new bicyclic sesquiterpenoid from Merremia yunnanensis

A new sesquiterpenoid, 1α,4β,8β,9β-eudesmane-tetrol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with nine known compounds (2–10), were isolated from Merremia yunnanensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and compared to data in the literature. All these compounds (1–10) were firstly isolated from this plant, and compounds 3, 5, 7, and 10 were reported from the Merremia genus for the first time. The significance of the chemotaxonomy for these compounds is described herein.     

Chemical constituents from the aerial part of Peganum multisectum

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial part of Peganum multisectum led to the isolation of thirteen compounds, including seven alkaloids (1–5, 7 and 12), two sterols (6 and 10), one phenylpropanoid (8), one lignanoid (11), one megastigman (9), and one phenol (13). Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods like UV, IR, MS and NMR, and in comparison with the published data in the references. Among them, compounds 10, 12 and 13 were firstly obtained from genus Peganum. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was also discussed, which revealed the relationships between P. multisectum and some other species of genus Peganum.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study on Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Dianella ensifolia led to the isolation of eleven known compounds, including two aromatics (1, 2), two chromones (3, 4), and seven flavonoids (5–11). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and comparison with data reported in literature. In the present research, all of the isolated compounds 1–11 were reported for the first time in the species D. ensifolia. Compounds 1–4 and 7–11 were firstly isolated from the genus Dianella. Compounds 1, 2, 8, and 9 have not been reported from any species in Liliaceae family. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds was summarized.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic studies on Phyllodium pulchellum (Leguminosae)

A phytochemical investigation on the aerial part of Phyllodium pulchellum led to the isolation of 16 compounds including five flavonoids (1–5), three lignans (6–8), four indole alkaloids (9–12), and four other-type compounds (13–16). Their structures were elucidated by their spectroscopic data analysis. Among them, 12 compounds (1, 2, 4–9, and 11–14) are reported from the genus Phyllodium for the first time, while compound 14 was isolated from the Leguminosae family for the first time and compound 11 was firstly reported in the plant kingdom. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was also summarized.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of Asarum sieboldii Miq. var. Seoulense Nakai

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol reflux extract of Asarum sieboldii Miq. var. Seoulense Nakai, including five phenanthrene derivatives (1–5), three isobutyl amides (6–8), three phenylpropanoids (9–11) and three lignins (12–14). The structures of these compounds were identified by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with the reported spectroscopic data. Among them, compounds 6 and 11 were firstly reported from the family Aristolochiaceae, and compounds 3 and 4 were reported for the first time from the genus Asarum. Additionally, compounds 1, 2 and 8 were isolated from A. sieboldii Miq. var. Seoulense Nakai for the first time. These compounds have shown chemical relationships between A. sieboldii Miq. var. Seoulense Nakai and other species of Asarum as well as those found in the genus Aristolochia in the family Aristolochiaceae.