Unusual new phenylethanoid and phenylpropanoid diglycosides from the leaves of Chloranthus spicatus (Thunb.) Makino

Chloranthus spicatus (Thunb.) Makino (Chloranthaceae) has been used to treat aches, trauma, and bleeding in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of this plant led to the isolation an unusual new phenylethanoid diglycoside, spicaoside (1), and a new phenylpropanoid diglycoside, 1-allyl-3-methoxy-4- [apiofuranosyl(1 ⿿ 2)-glucopyranosyloxybenzene] (2), along with two known sesquiterpenoid glycosides, chloranoside A (3) and chloranthalactone E 8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4). Their structures were established by spectroscopic means. New compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate tyrosinase inhibitory activities with the IC₅₀ value of 15.4 μM and 29.1 μM. This study represents the first report of glycoside from C. spicatus.     

Two polymethoxylated flavonoids with antioxidant activities and a rearranged clerodane diterpenoid from the leaf exudates of Microglossa pyrifolia

Three novel compounds; two polymethoxylated flavonoids, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,3′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone (1), 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,8,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone (2), and a clerodane diterpenoid; 8-acetoxyisochiliolide lactone (3) were characterized from the leaf exudates of Microglossa pyrifolia. In addition, three known polymethoxylated flavonoids including; 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,3′-trimethoxyflavone (4), 5,3′4′-trihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (5), 5,3′4′-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (6) and a clerodane diterpenoid; 7,8-epoxyisocholiolide lactone (7) were identified. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. All the compounds did not exhibit antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities at 47.6 μg/mL and were not cytotoxic at 5 μg/mL. Compound 6 exhibited modest antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ value of 13.13 μg/mL with 5 and 7 showing activities with IC₅₀ values of 31.13 and 38.00 μg/mL, respectively, therefore inactive. The flavonoids (quercetin derivatives, 4 and 5) showed similar antioxidant activities, using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with IC₅₀ values of 6.2 ± 0.3 μg/mL for 4 (17.3 μM) and 5 (17.8 μM) respectively. These activities were comparable to that of the standard quercetin (IC₅₀ value of 6.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL (19.9 μM)), irrespective of methylation of the characteristic hydroxyl groups expected to be responsible for activity and additional substitution at C-8 in ring A of the flavonoid ring. These studies revealed that the presence of an hydroxyl group at C-4′ positions and oxygenation at C-3 in flavone skeleton, appears to be necessary for good antioxidant activities as encountered in compounds 1, 4 and 5. Substantial reduction in antioxidant activity was shown by methoxylation of the 4′-OH as observed in compound 2 with an IC₅₀ value of 8.79 ± 0.3 μg/mL (24.4 μM).     

Triterpenes from the roots of Lantana montevidensis with antiprotozoal activity

Bioassay guided fractionation of the roots of Lantana montevidensis (Verbenaceae) has resulted in the isolation and identification of three new triterpenoids; 13β-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-11-en-28-oic acid (1), 12β,13β-dihydroxyolean-3-oxo-28-oic acid (2) and 12β,13β,22β-trihydroxyolean-3-oxo-28-oic acid (3) in addition to nine known compounds: oleanonic acid (4), oleanolic acid (5), 3β,25β-dihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), lantadene A (7), 19α-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (8) pomolic acid (9), camaric acid (10) together with β-sitosterol (11) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (12). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as HR-ESI–MS. The extracts and the isolated metabolites were evaluated for their antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities. Compound 2 showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant S. aureus with IC₅₀ values against both organisms of 2.1 μM and compound 10 showed activity against same organisms with IC₅₀ values 8.74 and 8.09 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control ciprofloxacin (IC₅₀ = 0.3 μM against S. aureus and MRSA). Compounds 1, 4, 5, 6, and 10 showed moderate antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ values ranging between (2.54–14.95 μM) and IC₉₀ values ranging between (11.90–19.47 μM), using pentamidine as a control (IC₅₀ values 2.09 ≥ 16.8 μM) and IC₉₀ values ranging between (4.72 ≥ 16.8 μM). These compounds also showed highly potent antitrypanosomal activity with IC₅₀ values ranging between (0.39–7.12 μM) and IC₉₀ values ranging between (1.91–10.51 μM), which are more efficient than the DFMO, the antitrypanosomal drug employed as positive control (IC₅₀ and IC₉₀values 11.82 and 30.82 μM).     

Cytotoxic triterpene saponins from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus

Three new compounds, 3β,6β,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), kalopanaxsaponin L (2), and kalopanaxsaponin M (13), as well as eleven known compounds (3–12 and 14), were isolated from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus. Their structures were determined on the basis of extentive spectroscopic analyses and acid hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated in three human carcinoma cell lines, including HL-60, HCT-116, and MCF-7. Compounds 1, 5–8, 10, and 11 exhibited significantly cytotoxic activity toward HL-60 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.1 to 6.9 μM. Compounds 4–7 and 14 showed significant cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.4 to 9.2 μM. Remarkably, the cytotoxic activities of compounds 5–7 against HCT-116 cells were greater than that of the anticancer chemotherapy drug, mitoxantrone (IC₅₀ = 3.7 μM). Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 14 were cytotoxic toward MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values in a range of 7.4–14.5 μM.     

Isolation,structural characterization and neuraminidase inhibitory activities of polyphenolic constituents from Flos caryophylli

Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the key surface proteins of the influenza virus, which is an important target for anti-influenza therapy. In the present study, bioassay-guided fractionation led to isolation of two new compounds, rhamnetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronide-6″-methyl ester (1) and rhamnazin-3-O-β-d-glucuronide-6″-methyl ester (2), along with seventeen known compounds (3-19), from the MeOH extract of Flos Caryophylli using in vitro NA inhibition assay. These isolated compounds exhibited significantly inhibitory effects on the NA with IC₅₀ values ranging from 8.4 to 94.1 μM and were found to protect MDCK cells from A (H1N1) influenza infections (EC₅₀ = 1.5–84.7 μM) with very low cytotoxicity to the host cells (CC₅₀ = 374.3–1266.9 μM)), with selective index (SI) ranging from 7 to 297. The primary structure-relationships of these isolates were also discussed.     

Xanthine oxidase inhibitory terpenoids of Amentotaxus formosana protect cisplatin-induced cell death by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in normal human urothelial and bladder cancer cells

The diterpenoids (+)-ferruginol (1), ent-kaur-16-en-15-one (2), ent-8(14),15-sandaracopimaradiene-2α,18-diol (3), 8(14),15-sandaracopimaradiene-2α,18,19-triol (4), and (+)-sugiol (5) and the triterpenoids 3β-methoxycycloartan-24(24¹)-ene (6), 3β,23β-dimethoxycycloartan-24(24¹)-ene (7), 3β,23β-dimethoxy-5α-lanosta-24(24¹)-ene (8), and 23(S)-23-methoxy-24-methylenelanosta-8-en-3-one (9), isolated from Amentotaxus formosana, showed inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase (XO). Of the compounds tested, compound 5 was a potent inhibitor of XO activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.8 ± 0.4 μM, while displaying weak ABTS radical cation scavenging activity. Treatment of the bladder cancer cell line, NTUB1, with 3–10 μM of compound 5 and 10 μM cisplatin, and immortalized normal human urothelial cell line, SV-HUC1, with 0.3–1 μM and 10–50 μM of compound 5 and 10 μM cisplatin, respectively, resulted in increased viability of cells compared with cytotoxicity induced by cisplatin. Treatment of NTUB1 with 20 μM cisplatin and 10 or 30 μM of compound 5 resulted in decreased ROS production compared with ROS production induced by cisplatin. These results indicate that 10 or 30 μM of compound 5 in NTUB1 cells may mediate through the suppression of XO activity and reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by compound 5 cotreated with 20 μM cisplatin and protection of subsequent cell death.     

Labdane and norlabdane diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus

A new labdane diterpenoid, leojaponicin (1), a novel norlabdane, methyl 15,16-dinor-7-oxolabda-8-ene-14-oate (2), along with four known labdanes, hispanone (3), leoheteronins A (4) and B (5), 15-methoxyleoheteronin B (6), and three norlabdanes, 14,15,16-trinor-7-oxolabda-8-ene-13-oic acid (7), methyl 14,15,16-trinor-7-oxolabda-8-ene-13-oate (8), 14,15-dinor-8-labdene-7,13-dione (9), and a steroid, stigmast-4-ene-3-one (10), were isolated from a hexane extract of Leonurus japonicus. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic methods, mainly 1-D and 2-D NMR. Compounds 7 and 8 were previously semisynthesized but are reported here for the first time as naturally occurring compounds. In addition, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated and compound 6 exhibited the strongest effect with IC₅₀ value of 26.7 μM (compared with the positive control acarbose, IC₅₀ = 214.5 μM).     

Isolation of antiplasmodial anthraquinones from Kniphofia ensifolia,and synthesis and structure–activity relationships of related compounds

Bioassay-guided separation of the South African plant Kniphofia ensifolia for antiplasmodial activity led to the isolation of two new anthraquinones, named kniphofiones A and B (3 and 4), together with three known bioactive anthraquinone monomers (1, 2 and 5), and four known bisanthraquinones (6–9). The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated based on analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and mass spectrometric data. The dimeric compounds 6 and 7 displayed the strongest antiplasmodial activity among all the isolated compounds, with IC₅₀ values of 0.4 ± 0.1 and 0.2 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. The two new compounds displayed modest activities, with IC₅₀ values of 26 ± 4 and 9 ± 1 μM, respectively. Due to the synthetic accessibility of the new compounds and the increased activity shown by the dimeric compounds, a structure–activity relationship study was conducted. As a result, one analogue of kniphofione B (4), the caffeic acid derivative of aloe-emodin, was found to have the highest activity among all the aloe-emodin derivatives, with an IC₅₀ value of 1.3 ± 0.2 μM.     

New bioactive derivatives of nonactic acid from the marine Streptomyces griseus derived from the plant Salicornia sp.

Three new compounds, butyl homononactate (5), butyl nonactate (6), 8-actyl homononactic acid (7), along with four known compounds homononactic acids (1), nonactic acid (2), homononactyl nonactate (3), homononactyl homononactate (4) were isolated from the marine Streptomyces griseus RSH0407, derived from the plant Salicornia sp., Chenopodiaceae. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques and by comparison with data reported in the literature. The absolute configuration of 3 was first reported by using X-ray copper radiation. Compound 5 exhibited cytotoxic activities against the HCT-8, A2780, BGC-823, BEL-7402, and A549 cell lines in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 2.87 ± 0.20, 4.90 ± 0.30, 2.19 ± 0.32, 5.07 ± 0.23 and 1.78 ± 0.18 μM, respectively, and compounds 4–7 showed weak antibacterial activities against four bacterials respectively.     

Three new chlorinated phenolic glycosides from Przewalskia tangutica

Three new chlorinated phenolic glycosides, namely przewatangosides A-C (1-3), along with one known compound, globosumoside A (4), were isolated from the whole plants of Przewalskia tangutica. Their structures were unequivocally determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical method. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated phenolic glycosides (1-4) were evaluated against the five human cancer cell lines A549, MCF-7, SMMC-7721, HepG2 and HL-60. Przewatangoside A (1) exhibited weak cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 with the IC₅₀ value of 38.1 μM. All the tested compounds were inactive (IC₅₀ > 50 μM) to the normal human hepatocyte cell line (L02).     

Acylated iridoid glycosides and acylated rhamnopyranoses from Gmelina arborea flowers

Nine acylated iridoid glycosides (1–9), five acylated rhamnopyranoses (10–14) and verbascoside (15) were isolated from Gmelina arborea flowers, including 5 new compounds (1, 2, and 10–12). The cytoprotective activity of 11 selected compounds (1–8, 10, 11, and 15) against CCl₄-induced cytotoxicity on liver was determined. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 15 displayed hepatoprotective activity. 6-O-α-l-(2″, 3″-di-O-trans-p-hydroxycinnamoyl)rhamnopyranosylcatalpol (2) exhibited the most potent cytoprotective effect with an EC₅₀ value of 42.5 μM (SI = 19.3) compared with biphenyldimethylesterate (DDB, EC₅₀ = 277.3 μM, SI = 9.8) and bicylo-ethanol (EC₅₀ = 279.2 μM, SI = 12.2). Among the acylated iridoid glycosides, the compounds (2 and 8) containing phenolic hydroxy groups were more active than were those lacking them.     

Acridone alkaloids from Vepris verdoorniana (Excell & Mendonça) Mziray (Rutaceae)

Two new acridone alkaloids, verdoocridone A (1) and B (4), together with fifteen known compounds were isolated from methanol extracts of the roots and leaves of Vepris verdoorniana. The structures of all compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, EI- and ESI–MS). The ¹³C NMR values of 1,2,3,5-tetramethoxy-N-methylacridone (2) and 5-methoxyaborinine (3) are also reported. The crude extracts and compounds (1-6) were tested for their antimicrobial activity. The test delivered moderate activities for crude extracts and compounds 1, 5 and 6 against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungi Mucor meihei and Candida albicans with MIC values between 115 and 180 μg/mL for extracts and between 21.3 and 29.4 μM for compounds, compared to gentamycin with 0.2 μM and nystatin with 5.2 μM against both fungi. The determination of the radical scanvenging activity using 1,1-dephenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay gave moderate antioxidant values for all tested compounds, with IC₅₀ between 0.29 and 0.41 μM, compared to the standard 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) displaying 0.03 μM.     

Two new anti-HBV lignans from Herpetospermum caudigerum

Two new lignans, named (+)-(7′S, 7″S, 8′R, 8″R)-4, 4′, 4″-trihydroxy-3, 5′, 3″-trimethoxy-7-oxo-8-ene [8-3′, 7′-O-9″, 8′-8″, 9′-O-7″] lignoid (1) and (1S)-4-Hydroxy-3-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1-hydroxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (2), along with five known (3–7) ones, have been isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. The structures of the new compounds, including the absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic and CD analysis. Compounds 1, 2, and 7 displayed inhibitory activities on HBsAg secretion with IC₅₀ values of 20.5, 0.34, and 4.89 μM, while 1, 2, and 7 displayed inhibitory activities on HBeAg secretion with IC₅₀ values of 3.54, 4.83 × 10⁻⁴, and 8.02 μM, and cytotoxicity on HepG 2.2.15 cells with CC₅₀ values of 12.7, 2.96 × 10⁵, and 11.4 μM, respectively.     

Comparing anti-HIV,antibacterial, antifungal,micellar, and cytotoxic properties of tricarboxylato dendritic amphiphiles

Three series of homologous dendritic amphiphiles—RCONHC(CH₂CH₂COOH)₃, 1(n); ROCONHC(CH₂CH₂COOH)₃, 2(n); RNHCONHC(CH₂CH₂COOH)₃, 3(n), where R = n-C_nH_2n+1 and n = 13–22 carbon atoms—were assayed for their potential to serve as antimicrobial components in a topical vaginal formulation. Comparing epithelial cytotoxicities to the ability of these homologues to inhibit HIV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Candida albicans provided a measure of their prophylactic/therapeutic potential. Measurements of the ability to inhibit Lactobacillus plantarum, a beneficial bacterium in the vagina, and critical micelle concentrations (CMCs), an indicator of the potential detergency of these amphiphiles, provided additional assessments of safety. Several amphiphiles from each homologous series had modest anti-HIV activity (EC₅₀ = 110–130 μM). Amphiphile 2(18) had the best anti-Neisseria activity (MIC = 65 μM), while 1(19) and 1(21) had MICs against C. albicans of 16 and 7.7 μM, respectively. Two measures of safety showed promise as all compounds had relatively low cytotoxic activity (EC₅₀ = 210–940 μM) against epithelial cells and low activity against L. plantarum, 1(n), 2(n), and 3(n) had MICs ? 490, 1300, and 940 μM, respectively. CMCs measured in aqueous triethanolamine and in aqueous potassium hydroxide showed linear dependences on chain length. As expected, the longest chain in each series had the lowest CMC—in triethanolamine: 1(21), 1500 μM; 2(22), 320 μM; 3(22), 340 μM, and in potassium hydroxide: 1(21), 130 μM; 3(22), 40 μM. The CMC in triethanolamine adjusted to pH 7.4 was 400 μM for 1(21) and 3900 μM for 3(16). The promising antifungal activity, low activity against L. plantarum, relatively high CMCs, and modest epithelial cytotoxicity in addition to their anti-Neisseria properties warrant further design studies with dendritic amphiphiles to improve their safety indices to produce suitable candidates for antimicrobial vaginal products.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of focused compound libraries from the natural product lead,oroidin

Oroidin (1), (E)-N-(3-(2-amino-1H-imidazol-4-yl)allyl)-4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide, is a pyrrole alkaloid isolated from the marine sponge Agelas oroides. Routine screening in a panel of twelve cancer cell lines revealed 1 to be poorly cytotoxic with the 50% growth inhibition concentration (GI₅₀) of 42 μM in MCF-7 (breast) cells and 24 μM in A2780 (ovarian) cells and >50 μM in all other cell lines tested. The development of eight focused libraries comprising thirty compounds total identified N-(biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (4l), N-benzyl-4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (5a) and N-(biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (5l) as potent inhibitors of cell growth in our panel of cell lines. Of these compounds GI₅₀ values of <5 μM were observed with 4l against HT29 (colon) and SW480 (colon); 5a against HT29; and 5l against HT29, SW480, MCF-7, A431 (skin), Du145 (prostate), BE2-C (neuroblastoma) and MIA (pancreas) cell lines. As a cancer class, colon cancer appears to be more sensitive to the oroidin series of compounds, with analogue 5l being the most active.     

Antiviral anthraquinones from the roots of Knoxia valerianoides

Three new anthraquinones, (2S)-8-carboxy-9-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,2-dihydroanthra[2,1-b]furan-6,11-dione (1), 1,2,3,6-tetrahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (2), and 1,2,3,5,6-pentahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (3), as well as four known 9,10-anthraquinones (4–7) and five known triterpenes (8–12), were isolated from the roots of Knoxia valerianoides. Their structures and the absolute configuration of 1 were determined through interpretation of spectroscopic data, including UV, IR, NMR and CD spectra. The isolates were evaluated for their antiviral activities, and compounds 1 and 4 showed inhibitory effects on Coxsackie virus B3 replication with IC₅₀ values of 19.24 μM and 11.11 μM, respectively. Compound 4 showed activity against influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 with an IC₅₀ value of 11.11 μM.     

Cytotoxic naphthoquinone and a new succinate ester from the soil fungus Fusarium solani PSU-RSPG227

A new naphthoquinone, solaninaphthoquione (1), and a new succinate ester derivative, 4-(4-hydroxyphenethoxy)-4-oxobutanoic acid (2), were isolated from the soil fungus Fusarium solani PSU-RSPG227 together with five previously reported compounds; javanicin (3), monaspilosin (4), aspergillol B (5), tyrosol (6) and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (7). Their structures were elucidated primarily by NMR spectroscopic data. Due to paucity of materials, compounds 2, 4 and 5 as well as analogues of 5 were prepared for biological activity evaluation. Compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic activity against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells and mild cytotoxic activity against oral human carcinoma (KB) cells (IC₅₀ values of 21.3 and 22.6 μM, respectively) compared to standard compounds. Compound 1 also displayed weak antimalarial activity (IC₅₀ of 26.1 μM).     

Melanogenesis inhibitory activity of a 7-O-9′-linked neolignan from Alpinia galanga fruit

An aqueous acetone extract from the fruit of Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae) demonstrated inhibitory effects on melanogenesis in theophylline-stimulated murine B16 melanoma 4A5 cells (IC₅₀ = 7.3 μg/mL). Through bioassay-guided separation of the extract, a new 7-O-9′-linked neolignan, named galanganol D diacetate (1), was isolated along with 16 known compounds including 14 phenylpropanoids (2–15). The structure of 1, including its absolute stereochemistry in the C-7 position, was elucidated by means of extensive NMR analysis and total synthesis. Among the isolates, 1 (IC₅₀ = 2.5 μM), 1′S-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (2, 5.0 μM), and 1′S-1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate (3, 5.6 μM) exhibited a relatively potent inhibitory effect without notable cytotoxicity at effective concentrations. The following structural requirements were suggested to enhance the inhibitory activity of phenylpropanoids on melanogenesis: (i) compounds with 4-acetoxy group exhibit higher activity than those with 4-hydroxy group; (ii) 3-methoxy group dose not affect the activity; (iii) acetylation of the 1′-hydroxy moiety enhances the activity; and (iv) phenylpropanoid dimers with the 7-O-9′-linked neolignan skeleton exhibited higher activity than those with the corresponding monomer. Their respective enantiomers [1′ (IC₅₀ = 1.9 μM) and 2′ (4.5 μM)] and racemic mixtures [(±)-1 (2.2 μM) and (±)-2 (4.4 μM)] were found to exhibit melanogenesis inhibitory activities equivalent to those of the naturally occurring optical active compounds (1 and 2). Furthermore, the active compounds 1–3 inhibited tyrosinase, tyrosine-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 mRNA expressions, which could be the mechanism of melanogenesis inhibitory activity.     

Natural ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from aged Korean fermented soybean paste as potent tyrosinase and melanin formation inhibitors

Natural o-dihydroxyisoflavone (ODI) derivatives with variable hydroxyl substituent at the aromatic ring of isoflavone and three known isoflavones were isolated from five-year-old Korean fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) and evaluated as potent inhibitors on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in melan-a cells comparing with other known isoflavones, 7,8,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone (1) and 7,3′,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone (2) inhibited tyrosinase by 50% at a concentration of 11.21 ± 0.8 μM and 5.23 ± 0.6 μM (IC₅₀), respectively, whereas, 6,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone (3), daidzein (4), glycitein (5) and genistein (6) showed very low inhibition activity. Furthermore, those compounds significantly suppressed the cellular melanin formation by 50% at a concentration of 12.23 ± 0.7 μM (1), 7.83 ± 0.7 μM (2), and 57.83 ± 0.5(6) and show more activity than arbutin. But, compounds 3, 4, and 5 showed lower inhibition activity. This study shows that the position of hydroxyl substituent at the aromatic ring of isoflavone plays an important role in the intracellular regulation of melanin formation in cell-based assay system.     

Two new rotenoids from the roots of Millettia speciosa

Two new rotenoids, named millettiaosas A–B (1–2), together with four known compounds were isolated from the roots of Millettia speciosa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HRESIMS. Evaluation of the two new compounds for cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116, A549 and HepG-2) showed moderate activities (10 μM < IC₅₀ < 26 μM).