Structural Study of Triptriolide Isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii

A novel diterpene bisepoxide, ,riptriolide was isolated from the root and leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook- f. Triptriolide was obtained as white cluster crystal, mp. 260-262℃. Its molecular formula is C20H26O7. The structure and stereochemistry of triptriolide were determined by UV, IR, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2d-NMR, 13C-NOE, NOE difference spectroscopy and direct X-ray crystallographic analysis. Preliminary pharmacologic assay revealed that triptriolide has a potent anti-inflammatory action.     

Structural Study of Dichlorotriptetraolide Isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii

A new chlorinated diterpene epoxide, dichlorotriptetraolide (L5) was isolated from the leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. Dichlorotriptetraolide was crystallized from CH3OH as colorless needle-like crystal, with amp of 252.0～253.5 ℃. Its molecular formula is C2oH26O7Cl2. The structure was identified on the basis of spectral analyses (UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR. 13C-NOE. 2D-cosy. LD/FTMS. EIMS, selective long-range DEPT spectrum and X-ray fluorescence spectrum) and computerization of molecular mechanics and molecular graph.     

Studies on Neotriptetraolide Isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.

A new diterpenoid bisepoxide, neotriptetraolide, was isolated from the leaves and root of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. Neotriptetraolide was crystallized from CH3OH as colorless needle-like crystal, with amp of 237～238 ℃. Its molecular formula was C20H2608. Its structure was elucidated by means of spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C- NMR, 2D-COSY, 2D-NOESY, 13C-NOE, and selective long-range DEPT spectroscopy) and the computation of molecular mechanics and molecular graph.     

雷公藤解毒持效双向发酵工艺的建立

采用双向发酵的原理,运用"发酵过程动态比较法"研究了灵芝接种于雷公藤药性基质上发酵不同时间所得菌质的化学成分、急性毒性和免疫功能的变化,以其确定雷公藤解毒持效双向发酵的最佳发酵终点。研究结果表明:发酵第30天所得的菌质(G30)总二萜的含量最低,为0.57%;与雷公藤生药比较,G30的LD50最高,且发酵第30天所得菌质的体液免疫和细胞免疫抑制作用最强。综合对成分含量、毒性及药效的动态数据联系比较、分析,确定了雷公藤解毒持效双向发酵的发酵终点与适宜的发酵周期是菌丝长满瓶后的第30天。     

Biosynthesis of salvinorin A proceeds via the deoxyxylulose phosphate pathway

Salvinorin A, a neoclerodane diterpenoid, isolated from the Mexican hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum, is a potent kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Its biosynthetic route was studied by NMR and HR-ESI-MS analysis of the products of the incorporation of [1-(13)C]-glucose, [Me-(13)C]-methionine, and [1-(13)C;3,4-(2)H2]-1-deoxy-D-xylulose into its structure. While the use of cuttings and direct-stem injection were unsuccessful, incorporation of (13)C into salvinorin A was achieved using in vitro sterile culture of microshoots. NMR spectroscopic analysis of salvinorin A (2.7 mg) isolated from 200 microshoots grown in the presence of [1-(13)C]-glucose established that this pharmacologically important diterpene is biosynthesized via the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate pathway, instead of the classic mevalonic acid pathway. This was confirmed further in plants grown in the presence of [1-(13)C;3,4-(2)H2]-1-deoxy-D-xylulose. In addition, analysis of salvinorin A produced by plants grown in the presence of [Me-(13)C]-methionine indicates that methylation of the C-4 carboxyl group is catalyzed by a type III S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent O-methyltransferase.     

Medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of genus Tripterygium (Celastraceae)

Plants in the genus Tripterygium, such as Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f., have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years there has been considerable interest in the use of Tripterygium extracts and of the main bioactive constituent, the diterpene triepoxide triptolide (1), to treat a variety of autoimmune and inflammation-related conditions. The main mode of action of the Tripterygium extracts and triptolide (1) is the inhibition of expression of proinflammatory genes such as those for interleukin-2 (IL-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The efficacy and safety of certain types of Tripterygium extracts were confirmed in human clinical trials in the US and abroad. Over 300 compounds have been identified in the genus Tripterygium, and many of these have been evaluated for biological activity. The overall activity of the extract is based on the interaction between its components. Therefore, the safety and efficacy of the extract cannot be fully mimicked by any individual constituent. This review discusses the biochemical composition and biological and pharmacological activities of Tripterygium extracts, and their main bioactive components.     

An acyclic diterpene from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata

Structure elucidation and total assignment of the ¹³C NMR spectrum of 12-(S)-hydroxygeranylgeraniol, a new acyclic diterpene from the grown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata, was accomplished through the use of ¹HNMR, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR spectroscope including 2D long range ¹H-¹³C chemical shift correlations.     

A diterpenoid from Elaeoselinum foetidum

A new diterpene acid has been isolated from the roots of Elaeoselinum foetidum. Its structure was established as ent-7α-senecioxy-15α-hydroxy-atis-16-en-19-oic acid by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies of its methyl ester derivative and confirmed by correlation with a margotianin derivative.     

Study of Sesquiterpene Alkaloids from Tripterygium wilfordii (IV)

Two sesquiterpene alkaloids,wilforine and wilfordsuine were isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. Wilfordsuine was a new alkaloid. The structures of wilforine and wilfordsuine were elucidated on the basis of spectral data,especially 2D-NMR techniques　(H'-'H COSY,H'-13C COSY, NOESY, COLOC methods).     

低磷胁迫对雷公藤幼苗叶片生理生化特性的影响

为研究雷公藤的耐磷胁迫性,对雷公藤（Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f.）一年生和三年生同一无性系扦插苗采用土培的方法进行了控制条件下的低磷胁迫实验,以KH2PO4为磷源,土壤中P2O5浓度为0、5、10、15、20、25（CK）mg/kg,低磷胁迫3个月和6个月后取叶片测定其丙二醛（MDA）、脯氨酸（Pro）含量以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性和酸性磷酸酶（APA）活性的变化。实验结果表明：低磷胁迫下一年生和三年生雷公藤叶片SOD、APA活性升高,MDA、Pro含量增加,并呈现随低磷胁迫加重和胁迫时间延长而上升趋势,低磷胁迫下各处理的一年生和三年生雷公藤叶片CAT、POD活性普遍低于对照,并随着低磷胁迫程度的加重而呈下降趋势。低磷胁迫下雷公藤幼苗叶片的几种保护酶活性、MDA、Pro含量以及APA活性响应都较为灵敏,保护酶系统在15、20 mg/kg处理下能够起到较好保护作用,表明雷公藤能通过自身生理调节来适应中度和轻度缺磷环境;综合各项生理指标,三年生雷公藤相对于一年生雷公藤显示了较强的抗氧化能力和渗透调节能力,具有较强的耐低磷能力,对磷较为缺乏的林地下套种雷公藤的苗龄选择有参考价值。     

Enzymatic (13)C labeling and multidimensional NMR analysis of miltiradiene synthesized by bifunctional diterpene cyclase in Selaginella moellendorffii

Diterpenes show diverse chemical structures and various physiological roles. The diversity of diterpene is primarily established by diterpene cyclases that catalyze a cyclization reaction to form the carbon skeleton of cyclic diterpene. Diterpene cyclases are divided into two types, monofunctional and bifunctional cyclases. Bifunctional diterpene cyclases (BDTCs) are involved in hormone and defense compound biosyntheses in bryophytes and gymnosperms, respectively. The BDTCs catalyze the successive two-step type-B (protonation-initiated cyclization) and type-A (ionization-initiated cyclization) reactions of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP). We found that the genome of a lycophyte, Selaginella moellendorffii, contains six BDTC genes with the majority being uncharacterized. The cDNA from S. moellendorffii encoding a BDTC-like enzyme, miltiradiene synthase (SmMDS), was cloned. The recombinant SmMDS converted GGDP to a diterpene hydrocarbon product with a molecular mass of 272 Da. Mutation in the type-B active motif of SmMDS abolished the cyclase activity, whereas (+)-copalyl diphosphate, the reaction intermediate from the conversion of GGDP to the hydrocarbon product, rescued the cyclase activity of the mutant to form a diterpene hydrocarbon. Another mutant lacking type-A activity accumulated copalyl diphosphate as the reaction intermediate. When the diterpene hydrocarbon was enzymatically synthesized from [U-(13)C(6)]mevalonate, all carbons were labeled with (13)C stable isotope (>99%). The fully (13)C-labeled product was subjected to (13)C-(13)C COSY NMR spectroscopic analyses. The direct carbon-carbon connectivities observed in the multidimensional NMR spectra demonstrated that the hydrocarbon product by SmMDS is miltiradiene, a putative biosynthetic precursor of tanshinone identified from the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. Hence, SmMDS functions as a bifunctional miltiradiene synthase in S. moellendorffii. In this study, we demonstrate that one-dimensional and multidimensional (13)C NMR analyses of completely (13)C-labeled compound are powerful methods for biosynthetic studies.     

A systematic review of randomised clinical trials of Tripterygium wilfordii for rheumatoid arthritis.

Tripterygium wilfordii is a Chinese herb with immunosuppressive effects and an established history of use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have carried out a systematic review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) which assess the effectiveness of T. wilfordii in this indication. We included only randomised and controlled studies which tested the effectiveness of T. wilfordii monopreparations in the treatment of RA. Studies in any language were included. A search of five electronic databases from inception to February 2005 identified 18 articles which could potentially meet our inclusion criteria. Only 16 of these could be retrieved from the scientific literature and after reading these in full, only two unique RCTs meeting our inclusion criteria were identified. Both indicated that T. wilfordii has beneficial effects on the symptoms of RA. However, the literature indicates that T. wilfordii is associated with serious adverse events which make the risk-benefit analysis for this herb unfavourable. Therefore, we cannot recommend its use.     

Biosynthesis of a neo-epi-verrucosane diterpene in the liverwort Fossombronia alaskana. A retrobiosynthetic NMR study

The biosynthesis of the diterpene 8alpha-acetoxy-13alpha-hydroxy-5-oxo-13-epi- neoverrucosane in the arctic liverwort Fossombronia alaskana was studied by incorporation experiments using [1-(13)C]- and [U-(13)C(6)]glucose as precursors. The (13)C-labeling patterns of acetyl-CoA, pyruvate, and phosphoenolpyruvate in intermediary metabolism were reconstructed from the (13)C NMR data of biosynthetic amino acids (leucine, alanine, phenylalanine) and were used to predict hypothetical labeling patterns for isopentenyl pyrophosphate formed via the mevalonate pathway and the deoxyxylulose pathway. The labeling patterns observed for the neoverrucosane diterpene were consistent with the intermediate formation of geranyllinaloyl pyrophosphate assembled from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and three molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate generated predominantly or entirely via 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate. The experimental data can be integrated into a detailed biosynthetic scheme involving a 1,5-hydride shift. The postulated involvement of the 1,5-hydride shift was confirmed by an incorporation experiment with [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose.     

九里香蛋白多糖的抗生育及其它生物活性

九里香蛋白多糖有明显的抗生育作用,小鼠腹腔注射剂量2.08mg/kg,抗早孕率达72—83％。能增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬功能,吞噬指数和吞噬百分数分别为对照组的5.42和1.70倍。能增加致敏动物血清中溶血素含量,小鼠HC_(50)为对照组的5.1倍。对大鼠新鲜红细胞有明显的促进凝集作用,凝集率为31.1％。能对抗环磷酰胺引起的白细胞减少,对照组和九里香蛋白多糖组白细胞下降率分别为42.7％和26.7％。对二甲苯所致小鼠耳部炎症也有对抗作用,抑制率达52％。有抗凝血作用,家兔静脉注射18mg/kg,凝血时间延长1.76分钟。毒性较低,小鼠腹腔注射LD_(50)为462±56.7mg/kg。     

Preparation of yuanhuacine and relative daphne diterpene esters from Daphne genkwa and structure-activity relationship of potent inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerase I

Two new daphne diterpene esters Yuanhuajine (2) and Yuanhuagine (4), together with three known daphne diterpene esters yuanhuacine (1), yuanhuadine (3), and yuanhuapine (5), were isolated and identified from Daphne genkwa, a traditional Chinese medicine. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of UV, IR, MS and NMR ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HSQC, and HMBC) spectra. In order to explore the structure-activity relationship, three compounds 6, 7, and 8 were prepared as three derivatives of 1. Inhibitory activities against DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) were assessed for the compounds 1-8. These compounds, except for 8, exhibited potent inhibitory activities against DNA topo I at IC(50) levels of 11.1-53.4 microM and they are new type of topo I inhibitors bearing different structures compared with the known topo I inhibitors. The agarose-gel electrophoresis experiments showed that the orthoester group of daphne diterpene esters was necessary for the inhibitory activity against DNA topo I, and the inhibition against DNA topo I is probably one of the anti-tumor mechanisms of daphne diterpene esters.     

Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive compounds from Tripterygium wilfordii

The extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF), which showed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities in human clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis, was subjected to the activity-guided fractionation and spectroscopic characterization of bioactives. A tetrahydrofuran lignan, tripterygiol (1), and eight known compounds, all capable of suppressing pro-inflammatory gene expression were identified. Most of the pharmacological activity of the extract can be attributed to triptolide, its most abundant and active component, with some contribution from tripdiolide.     

Antisecretory effects of galanin and its putative antagonists M15, M35 and C7 in the rat stomach.

The neuropeptide galanin has been reported to have a wide range of biological actions both in the central nervous system and in the gastrointestinal tract. Recent works led to the discovery of selective galanin receptor antagonists including M15 (galanin(1-12)-Pro-substanceP(5-11)-amide), M35 (galanin(1-12)-Pro-bradykinin(2-9)-amide) and C7 (galanin(1-12)-Pro-spantide-amide). These antagonists were shown to competitively inhibit actions of galanin in the central nervous system. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of galanin, M15, M35 and C7 on gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying. Pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion was inhibited by galanin (0.1-9 nmol x kg(-1) x h(-1), i.v.) in a dose-dependent manner (ID50 = 1.8 +/- 0.3 nmol x kg(-1) x h(-1)). When 9 nmol x kg(-1) x h(-1) galanin infusion was given, inhibition became almost complete. M15, M35 and C7 (1-9 nmol x kg(-1) x h(-1)) did not modify responses of the stomach to galanin, but acted as agonists of galanin on acid secretion. Neither galanin nor its putative antagonists affected the emptying of non-caloric liquids from the stomach. In conclusion, galanin may play an antisecretory role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion but not in the control of gastric emptying of liquids in rats. Its antisecretory action on the stomach is mediated by galanin receptors that are distinct from those in the central nervous system.     

“COSY”谱用于昆明山海棠生物碱的鉴定

昆明山海棠(Tripterygium hypoglaucum)的生物碱可从甲醇中结晶析出,是多元混合物。高压液相色谱分析出现5个峰,用制备性烷化硅胶RP-18薄层层析板分离纯化,5个生物碱逐一分开。用化学和光谱法证明为:雷公藤次碱、雷公藤碱乙、雷公藤碱丁、雷公藤碱及卫矛碱(1—5)。高压液相色谱分析指出,前二者为其中的主要成分。用高分辨核磁共振谱及COSY谱指定了它们的质子及其在分子中的取向,说明了它们之间结构和构型的关系。     

Isolation and structural determination of a novel bicyclic taxane diterpene from needles of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei.

A novel bicyclic taxane diterpene with a rare 12-membered ring was isolated from needles of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei, and its structure was established as (3E, 8E)-2 alpha, 7 beta, 9, 10 beta, 13 alpha, 20-hexaacetoxy-5(2'-acetoxy-cinnamoyloxy)-3,8-secotaxa -3,8,11-triene (1) with the help of 1D and 2D NMR data. The relative stereochemistry was deduced from a NOESY experiment.