Alkaloid fingerprinting resolves Huperzia selago genotypes in Iceland

The club moss family Lycopodiaceae produces a diverse array of bioactive lycopodium alkaloids (LAs). In particular, the alkaloid huperzine A (hupA) has grasped attention since it is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor of medical interest in Alzheimer's disease. Although the structural diversity and bioactivities of LAs have been studied to some extent, their chemotaxonomic value is mostly unexplored, especially to a lower taxonomic unit (e.g. subspecies or genotypes). This study focused on previously reported Icelandic Huperzia selago genotypes, and aimed to evaluate the chemotaxonomic value of LAs in resolving them. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), alkaloid fingerprints of H. selago taxa were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). Our results revealed that each genotype tends to have its own alkaloid profile. Genotype 1 and 3 form distinct groups in a PCA plot, where genotype 2 is an intermediate between the other two genotypes. HupA and its derivative, huperzine B, both contribute to the differentiation of genotype 3 from the others. Therefore, our study demonstrated the potential of alkaloid fingerprints in resolving deep taxonomic groups and selecting plant taxa of medicinal importance.     

Huperzia quadrifariata and Huperzia reflexa alkaloids inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in vivo in mice brain

Huperzine A, a Lycopodium alkaloid produced by Chinese folk herb Huperzia serrata (Lycopodiaceae), has been shown to be a promising agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease due to its potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, as well its efficacy in the treatment of memory of aged patients. Thus, the effects of two Huperzia species of habitats in Brazil (H. quadrifariata and H. reflexa) with described in vitro AChE inhibition activities were studied and their effects on mice brain AChE inhibition were determined after a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The alkaloid extracts were administered to mice in various doses (10, 1 and 0.5 mg/kg) and acetylcholinesterase activity was measured post mortem in two brain areas using the Ellman's colorimetric method. The AChE activity was found to be significantly reduced in both the cortex and hippocampus, although this activity was less potent than that of reference inhibitor huperzine A (0.5 mg/kg). Thus, it appears that H. quadrifariata and H. reflexa alkaloid extracts, shown to inhibit acetylcholinesterase in vitro, also have very potent in vivo effects, suggesting that the Huperzia species may still constitute a promising source of compounds with pharmaceutical interest for Alzheimer's disease.     

Evolution of Lycopodiaceae from results of sequencing spacer sequences of chloroplast rRNA genes

Nucleotide sequences of a chloroplast rDNA region including 8 bp from the 3' end of 23S rDNA-ITS2-4.5S rDNA-ITS3-5S rDNA-ITS4 (approximately 800 bp) were determined in 25 species of Lycopodiaceae and two species of the genus Isoetes. The rate of molecular evolution of spacers significantly varied in different Lycopsida taxa. A phylogenetic analysis by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method revealed that the family Lycopodiaceae is monophyletic. The topology of phylogenetic trees suggests the isolation of four or probably five genera in family Lycopodiaceae. For these genera, synapomorphic indels were detected. The obtained data were compared with the results of phylogenetic analysis of Lycopsida with regard to other sequences. The relationships of taxa within the family Lycopodiaceae is discussed.     

Evolution of Lycopodiaceae Inferred from Spacer Sequencing of Chloroplast rRNA Genes

Nucleotide sequences of a chloroplast rDNA region including 8 bp from the 3" end of 23S rDNA–ITS2–4.5S rDNA–ITS3–5S rDNA–ITS4 (approximately 800 bp) were determined in 25 species of Lycopodiaceae and two species of the genus Isoetes. The rate of molecular evolution of spacers significantly varied in different Lycopsida taxa. A phylogenetic analysis by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method revealed that the family Lycopodiaceae is monophyletic. The topology of phylogenetic trees suggests the isolation of four or probably five genera in family Lycopodiaceae. For these genera, synapomorphic indels were detected. The obtained data were compared with the results of phylogenetic analysis of Lycopsida with regard to other sequences. The relationships of taxa within the family Lycopodiaceae is discussed.     

石杉碱庚的结构鉴定

从石杉（Ｈｕｐｅｒｚｉａｓｅｒｒａｔａ（Ｔｈｕｎｂ．）Ｔｒｅｖ．）的正丁醇提取部分分离得到一个新的水溶性石杉类生物碱,通过ＩＲ、ＭＳ、１ＤＮＭＲ和２ＤＮＭＲ确定了其化学结构,命名为石杉碱庚（ｈｕｐｅｒｚｉｎｅＧ）。     

Structural Identification of Huperzine G

A new lycopodium alkaloid, huperzine G was isolated from the n-butanol fraction of Huperzia serrata (Thunb.) Trev. The structure of this alkaloid was determined through IR, MS, ID-and 2D-NMR spectral analyses.     

Four alkaloids, lucidine B, oxolucidine A, lucidine A, and lucidulinone from Lycopodium lucidulum

The structures of four alkaloids extracted from Lycopodium lucidulum (Lycopodiaceae) were established by X-ray and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The dihydro-derivative of oxolucidine A, which was obtained by NaBH4 reduction of oxolucidine A, was treated with p-bromobenzoyl chloride to afford crystals, whose X-ray crystallographic analysis established the stereostructure, including the absolute configuration. The 2D NMR spectra of tetrahydrodeoxylucidine B were fully analyzed to establish the full structure of lucidine B, and the hitherto unknown stereochemistry at the C-14 position was established as beta-H. The structure of a new alkaloid, lucidulinone, was determined by spectroscopic analysis to be luciduline lactam.     

Identification of a Huperzine A-producing endophytic fungus from Phlegmariurus taxifolius

Molecular Biology Reports - Highly prized huperzine A (Hup A), a natural alkaloid formerly isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Huperzia serrata, has been widely used for the treatment of...     

The evolution of pyrrolizidine alkaloid diversity among and within Jacobaea species

Plants produce many secondary metabolites showing considerable inter- and intraspecific diversity of concentration and composition as a strategy to cope with environmental stresses. The evolution of plant defenses against herbivores and pathogens can be unraveled by understanding the mechanisms underlying chemical diversity. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are a class of secondary metabolites with high diversity. We performed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of 80 pyrrolizidine alkaloids with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of leaves from 17 Jacobaea species including one to three populations per species with 4–10 individuals per population grown under controlled conditions in a climate chamber. We observed large inter- and intraspecific variation in pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration and composition, which were both species-specific. Furthermore, we sequenced 11 plastid and three nuclear regions to reconstruct the phylogeny of the 17 Jacobaea species. Ancestral state reconstruction at the species level showed mainly random distributions of individual pyrrolizidine alkaloids. We found little evidence for phylogenetic signals, as nine out of 80 pyrrolizidine alkaloids showed a significant phylogenetic signal for Pagel's λ statistics only, whereas no significance was detected for Blomberg's K measure. We speculate that this high pyrrolizidine alkaloid diversity is the result of the upregulation and downregulation of specific pyrrolizidine alkaloids depending on ecological needs rather than gains and losses of particular pyrrolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis genes during evolution.     

De Novo RNA Sequencing and Transcriptome Analysis of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026 Reveal Genes Related to Biosynthesis of Huperzine A

Huperzine A is important in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. There are major challenges for the mass production of huperzine A from plants due to the limited number of huperzine-A-producing plants, as well as the low content of huperzine A in these plants. Various endophytic fungi produce huperzine A. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026 was previously isolated from a huperzine-A-producing plant Huperzia serrata, and this fungus also produces huperzine A. In this study, de novo RNA sequencing of C. gloeosporioides ES026 was carried out with an Illumina HiSeq2000. A total of 4,324,299,051 bp from 50,442,617 high-quality sequence reads of ES026 were obtained. These raw data were assembled into 24,998 unigenes, 40,536,684 residues and 19,790 genes. The majority of the unique sequences were assigned to corresponding putative functions based on BLAST searches of public databases. The molecular functions, biological processes and biochemical pathways of these unique sequences were determined using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) assignments. A gene encoding copper amine oxidase (CAO) (unigene 9322) was annotated for the conversion of cadaverine to 5-aminopentanal in the biosynthesis of huperzine A. This gene was also detected in the root, stem and leaf of H. serrata. Furthermore, a close relationship was observed between expression of the CAO gene (unigene 9322) and quantity of crude huperzine A extracted from ES026. Therefore, CAO might be involved in the biosynthesis of huperzine A and it most likely plays a key role in regulating the content of huperzine A in ES026.     

Determination of huperzine A in formulated products by reversed-phase-liquid chromatography using diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.

A precise and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with diode-array detection for quantifying huperzine A in formulated products was developed and validated. A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC/MS) procedure was devised to confirm the HPLC method. Huperzine A was dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane, chromatographed on a YMCBasic C18 column, and detected at 308 nm. A gradient mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH = 3.5)--methanol was used. Identification was based on retention time, UV spectra and mass spectra by comparison with a commercial standard. The UV peak areas were used for quantitation of huperzine A content. The correlation coefficient (R2) of the calibration curve was 1 over the range 0.8-11.6 microg/ml. Overall recovery of huperzine A was 103.9% +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SD). Relative standard deviations for intra- and interday precision were < 2%.     

湘西蛇足石杉中石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量的测定

采用超声萃取法提取湘西蛇足石杉总生物碱,用高效液相色谱法同时测定其石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量,并分析其在植株不同部位的分布。结果表明:湘西4个样地蛇足石杉中石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量基本一致,分别达到0.5‰、0.3‰和0.04‰;但植株不同部位三种石杉碱含量差异显著,其中石杉碱甲和乙的分布均为叶>茎>根,石杉碱丙则是根大于叶和茎。由此可知,湘西蛇足石杉具有资源优势,石杉碱在植株的分布具有明显的部位选择性;采用HPLC可同时检测石杉碱甲、乙和丙,方法简单快速、准确可靠。     

Liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantitation of huperzine A in dog plasma

A rapid and sensitive LC-MS-MS method for the determination of huperzine A in dog plasma using huperzine B as internal standard has been developed and validated. The analyte and internal standard were extracted from plasma using n-hexane-dichloromethane-2-propanol (300:150:15, v/v/v), chromatographed on a C(18) column (5 microm, 50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-methanol-10mM ammonium acetate (35:40:25, v/v/v), and detected using a tandem mass spectrometer with a TurboIonSpray ionization interface. The run time was only 2 min. The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.05-20 ng/ml and intra- and inter-day precision over this range were <5.3% with good accuracy. The limit of detection in plasma was 0.01 ng/ml. The method was successfully applied to define plasma concentration-time curves of huperzine A in dogs after the last dose of an intramuscular injection (10 microg/kg per day for 15 days) of a sustained-release formulation of huperzine A.     

Huperzine A--human serum albumin association: chromatographic and thermodynamic approach

The synthesis of six new huperzine analogues was reported. Each product presents an amidification of the free amine on huperzine A. The synthesis strategy of these new huperzine A derivatives is based on a condensation with an acyl anhydride. The binding on HSA of two molecule series (huperzine and benzodiazepine, respectively) was investigated with high performance liquid affinity chromatography (HPLAC) using an HSA column. A thermodynamic approach showed that binding huperzine A on HSA involved hydrophobic and Van der Waals interactions. A comparative thermodynamic study with benzodiazepine molecules was carried out to determine the potential binding site of huperzine derivatives on HSA.     

Involvement of Intracellular and Mitochondrial Aβ in the Ameliorative Effects of Huperzine A against Oligomeric Aβ42-Induced Injury in Primary Rat Neurons

Considerable studies indicate huperzine A is a promising natural product to suppress neuronal damages induced by β-amyloid (Aβ), a key pathogenic event in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As an extension, the present study for the first time explored whether the beneficial profiles of huperzine A against oligomeric Aβ₄₂ induced neurotoxicity are associated with the accumulation and detrimental function of intraneuronal/mitochondrial Aβ, on the basis of the emerging evidence that intracellular Aβ is more relevant to AD progression as compared with extracellular Aβ. Huperzine A treatment was shown to significantly attenuate the neurotoxicity of oligomeric Aβ₄₂, as demonstrated by increased neuronal viability. Interestingly, our results proved that exogenous Aβ₄₂ could accumulate intraneuronally in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while huperzine A treatment markedly reduced the level of intracellular Aβ₄₂. Moreover, huperzine A treatment rescued mitochondrial dysfunction induced by oligomeric Aβ₄₂, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reduction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and membrane potential depolarization. Further study demonstrated that huperzine A also significantly reduced the level of Aβ₄₂ in the mitochondria-enriched subcellular fractions, as well as the Aβ₄₂ fluorescent signals colocalized with mitochondrial marker. This study indicates that interfering intracellular Aβ especially mitochondrial Aβ accumulation, together with ameliorating Aβ-associated mitochondrial dysfunction, may contribute to the protective effects of huperzine A against Aβ neurotoxicity. Above results may shed more light on the pharmacological mechanisms of huperzine A and provide important clues for discovering novel therapeutic strategies for AD.     

The Alkaloids of Fungi

Examination of different species of local fungi, grown on two nutritive solutions of different composition, for alkaloid formation was investigated. The formation of alkaloids was confined to four species, namely: Geotrichum candidum, Mucor hiemalis, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus nigricans. A comparative study of the growth as well as the formation of alkaloids by these species and by Claviceps purpurea NRRL was carried out. Methods were also described with which the different alkaloids produced by the experimental strains were identified. Peptides as well as clavine type alkaloids were detected in all cases except with Mucor hiemalis where a compound corresponding to ergosine was the only alkaloid present.     

影响九华山千层塔石杉碱甲含量的主要环境因子分析

为了确定九华山千层塔[Huperzia serrata（Thunb．）Trev．]的最佳采收期和采收部位,根据千层塔不同部位的石杉碱甲含量及各环境因子的变化趋势,运用灰色关联分析法对影响九华山千层塔石杉碱甲含量的主要环境因子进行了分析。结果表明,千层塔各部位的石杉碱甲含量不同,其中根中的含量最低,叶和茎中的含量较高;4月份叶和茎中的石杉碱甲含量最高,分别为0．0559％和0．0444％。影响九华山千层塔石杉碱甲含量的主要环境因子是根际土壤有机质含量、全氮含量和全磷含量,温度和降水量与石杉碱甲含量变化的相关性最小。研究结果表明,在九华山,千层塔的最佳采收期为4月份,最佳采收部位是叶和茎。     

石杉碱甲结构改造的研究进展

石杉碱甲是高效、高选择性的可逆性乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂,是治疗早老性痴呆症的一个有前景的药物.本文概述了石杉碱甲的性质、结构和构效关系,从结构简化、C10、吡啶酮环、脂桥环、环外双键和桥头氨基等方面综述了石杉碱甲结构改造的研究进展,并描述了所得的新型石杉碱甲类似物的抗乙酰胆碱酯酶的生物活性.在已合成的大量的石杉碱甲类似物中,部分类似物的活性优于天然石杉碱甲,石杉碱甲结构改造的研究取得了可喜的进展.     

Evolution of Lycopodiaceae (Lycopsida): estimating divergence times from rbcL gene sequences by use of nonparametric rate smoothing

By use of nonparametric rate smoothing and nucleotide sequences of the rbcL gene, divergence times in Lycopodiaceae are estimated. The results show that much extant species diversity in Lycopodiaceae stems from relatively recent cladogenic events. These results corroborate previous ideas based on paleobotanical and biogeographical data. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses recognized a split into neotropical and paleotropical clades in Huperzia, which contains 85-90% of all living species. Connecting this biogeographical pattern with continent movements, the diversification of this epiphytic group was suggested to coincide with that of angiosperms in the mid to Late Cretaceous. Results presented here are consistent with this idea, and the diversification of the two clades is resolved as Late Cretacous (78 and 95 Myr). In the related genera Lycopodium and Lycopodiella, the patterns are somewhat different. Here species diversity is scattered among different subgeneric groups. Most of the high-diversity subgeneric groups seem to have diversified very recently (Late Tertiary), whereas the cladogenic events leading to these groups are much older (Early to Late Cretaceous). Our analysis shows that, although much living species diversity stems from relatively recent cladogenesis, the origins of the family (Early Carboniferous) and generic crown groups (Early Permian to Early Jurassic) are much more ancient events.