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.     

Margotianin,a new diterpenoid from Margotia gummifera

From the roots and aerial parts of Margotia gummifera a new natural diterpenic methyl ester, margotianin, has been isolated. Its structure was established as methyl ent-7α-angeloxy-15α-acetoxy-atis-16-en-19-oate almost exclusively by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Gummiferolic acid,a new ent-atis-16-ene diterpenoid from Margotia gummifera

From the roots of Margotia gummifera a new diterpenoid with the ent-atis-16-ene skeleton, gummiferolic acid, has been obtained in very high yield (2% of the dry plant), together with the known ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid.     

Peucelinendiol,a new acyclic diterpenoid from Peucedanum oreoselinum

A new diterpenoid has been isolated from roots of Peucedanum oreoselinum. Mainly by spectroscopic methods, its structure is shown to be (+)-(E)-7-hydroxymethyl-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-2,9,13-pentadecatrien-6-ol, yet without specification of stereochemistry at C-6 and C-7. Furthermore the roots afforded a high yield of falcarindiol, (+)-(Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3,8-diol.     

Teumarin a neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium marum

A new neo-clerodane diterpenoid, teumarin, was isolated from the aerial part of Teucrium marum. Its structure, 19-acetoxy-4α,18:15,16-diepoxy-2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12S-olide, was established by chemical and spectroscopic means and by comparison with closely related compounds.     

Teugin,a neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium fragile

From the aerial part of Teucrium fragile a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid, teugin, has been isolated. Its structure, 15,16-epoxy- 2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-3,13(16),14-triene-18,19:20,12S-diolide, was established mainly by spectroscopic means.     

Abietane diterpenoid dimers from the roots of Salvia prionitis

Three abietane diterpenoid dimers, bisprioterones A-C (1-3), were isolated from roots of the Chinese folk medicinal plant Salvia prionitis Hance (Labiatae). Compounds 1-3 possessed two different abietane diterpenoid skeleta, which were linked via either a C-C single bond (1 and 2) or an ether bridge (3). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The structure of 1 was further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination.     

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphiniumpentagynum

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids, dihydrogadesine, 14-acetyldihydrogadesine, pentagynine and dihydropentagynine, were isolated and identified in Delphinium pentagynum.     

The correct structure of salvifaricin a cis neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Salvia farinacea

The structure and absolute configuration of salvifaricin, a neo-clerodane diterpenoid isolated from Salvia farinacea, have been firmly established by extensive NOE experiments and by chemical correlation with salvifarin, another diterpenoid isolated from the same source. These results slightly modify the structure previously assigned to the compound.     

Structure of rabdolatifolin,a diterpenoid from Rabdosia umbrosa var. Latifolia

From the aerial part of Rabdosia umbrosa var. latifolia, a new diterpenoid, rabdolatifolin, was isolated together with the known compounds, shi     

Salvifarin,x-ray structure determination of a cis neo-clerodane diterpenoid from salvia farinacea

The structure and absolute configuration of salvifarin, a neo-clerodane diterpenoid isolated from Salvia farinacea, have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. This result modifies the structure previously assigned to this compound.     

The structure of leocardin,two epimers of a diterpenoid from Leonurus cardiaca

From the aerial part of Leonurus cardiaca a new labdane diterpenoid, leocardin, has been isolated and its structure was established by spectroscopic and chemical means. It has been shown to be 8β-acetoxy-9α,13α,15,16-bisepoxy-15-hydroxy-7-oxo-labdan-6β,19-olide present as a C-15 epimeric mixture.     

Oxidative functionalization of a halimane diterpenoid achieved by fungal transformation

Regio and stereoselective activation of sp³ CH bonds remain one of the major advantages of biocatalysis over traditional chemocatalytic methods. Herein, we describe the oxy-functionalization of halimane diterpenoid 1 by whole cells of three filamentous fungi, aiming to obtain derivatives with desirable biological properties. After incubating 1 with Fusarium oxysporum, Myrothecium verrucaria, and Rhinocladiella similis at different concentrations and incubation times, four known (3, 5, 6, and 7) and three new (2, 4, and 8) halimane derivatives were obtained and characterized. F. oxysporum catalyzed the hydroxylation of positions C-2 (2) and C-7 (4), while R. similis simultaneously mediated the 2-oxo-functionalization and the hydration of 13,14-(CC)double bond belonging to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system (8). Compounds 1–7 were non-cytotoxic against HCT-116 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines at tested concentrations. However, substrate 1 displayed moderate reduction ability against biofilm produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC35984 (84% at 1.6 mM), and this effect was retained to some extent by derivatives 4 and 7. These results emphasize the prominent potential of filamentous fungi associated with the microbiota of medicinal plants as versatile catalysts for singularly useful reactions through their complex enzymatic machinery, as well as the high susceptibility of halimane-diterpenoid substrates.     

Alkaloids and a pimarane diterpenoid from Strychnos vanprukii

From the stem of Strychnos vanprukii, a gluco-indole alkaloid, 3,4-dehydropalicoside, and a pimarane diterpenoid, 7 beta-hydroxypimara-8,15-dien-14-one, were isolated together with four known alkaloids: palicoside, 3,4,5,6-tetradehydropalicoside, akagerine and 17-O-methylakagerine. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence.     

Hydrogen sulfide releasing enmein-type diterpenoid derivatives as apoptosis inducers through mitochondria-related pathways

In this study, we combined two enemin-type diterpenoid derivatives with two well-established hydrogen sulfide moieties via ester or different anhydride linkers, to search apoptosis inducing drug candidate capable of hydrogen sulfide generating. Therefore, a series of hybrids were synthesized and superior antiproliferative efficacy accompanied with enhanced selectivity was observed under extensive pharmacological evaluations. A standard methylene blue (MB⁺) method was applied to measure the capacity for the hydrogen sulfide generation of all the target derivatives. One particular molecule A1, which contained α-thioctic acid moiety for hydrogen sulfide donating, manifested more potent antiproliferative activity. It exerted inhibitory effects against Bel-7402, SGC-7901 and A549 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 2.16, 5.07 and 6.98 μM respectively. While it exacted relatively low effects over human normal cell lines L-02 and PBMC with IC₅₀ values of 15.81 μM for the prior and 14.15 μM for the latter, and displayed better selectivity index (SI) than parent diterpenoids. A high dosage of H₂S release was also recorded. Hence, A1 was most suitable for mechanistic exploration on account of both safety and efficacy. The ensuing biological assays revealed central role of apoptosis in A1’s mode of action for antiproliferative efficacy, which led to further confirmation of G1 phase cell cycle arrest, mitochondria membrane potential collapse and apoptotic activation in Bel-7402 cells. Further western blot assay on intrinsic mitochondria pathway unlocked intricate interplay among a series of apoptotic related proteins in which Bax, caspase-3 and cytochrome c went through up-regulation, while Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and procaspase-3 undergone down-regulation. In a nutshell, a hydrogen sulfide releasing hybrid A1 was synthesized and antiproliferative evaluation identified it to be a worthy drug candidate for future in depth study.