A new aromatic alkine from the tuber of Sparganium stoloniferum

A new aromatic alkine was isolated from the tuber of Sparganium stoloniferum . Its structure was assigned to be methyl 3,6-dihydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethynyl]benzoate (1) by spectroscopic methods.     

A new cerebroside from Polygala japonica

The isolation of a new cerebroside, 1-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,11E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxypalmitoylamino]-11-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (polygalacerebroside) (1), from the aerial part of Polygala japonica is reported.     

A new triterpenoidal ester from Celastrus rosthornianus

3-O-Palmitate of 1beta, 3beta, 11beta-trihydroxy-olean-12-ene (1),was isolated from the stalks of Celastrus rosthornianus. The structure was elucidated by MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments as well as by chemical degradation.     

A new phenolic glycoside from the aerial parts of Dryopteris fragrans

A new phenolic glycoside, 3,5-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-O-D-glucopyranosyl-oxy-acetophenone (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Dryopteris fragrans. The structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.     

A new 7-oxygenated coumarin from Clausena suffruticosa

A new coumarin, 7-[(2′E,6′E)-7′-carboxy-5′(ζ)-hydroxy-3′-methylocta-2′,6′-dienyloxy]-coumarin, was isolated from the leaf of Clausena suffruticosa. Its structure was established by means of spectroscopic data analyses, including mass spectrometry and both 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

A new flavonoid glycoside from the leaf of Cephalotaxus koreana

A new flavone glycoside, apigenin 5-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with four known flavonol glycosides (2-5), were isolated from the leaf of Cephalotaxus koreana. The new glycoside 1 showed inhibitory activity in superoxide radical scavenging assay with IC(50) value of 13.0 microM, while it showed weak activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Compounds 2-5 exhibited antioxidant activity in scavenging DPPH and superoxide radicals with IC(50) values ranging from 5.7 to 22.3 microM.     

A new coumarin from Sarcandra glabra

Sarcandracoumarin (1), the first coumarin having a 1-phenylethyl substituent at the C-3 position, was isolated along with eleven known phenolic compounds from the water extract of Sarcandra glabra. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compound 1 exhibited moderate or weak cytotoxicity against several tumor cell lines.     

A new phenolic glycoside from the aerial parts of Solidago canadensis

A new phenolic glycoside, 2'-hydroxy-4',6'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-butyrrophenone (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Solidago canadensis. The structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.     

A new protolimonoid from Capuronianthus mahafalensis

From stem barks of Capuronianthus mahafalensis (Meliaceae) endemic to Madagascar, a new protolimonoid named capulin containing a four membered ring in its side chain was isolated by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Its structure was determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution MS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a four-membered ring occurs in the side chain of protolimonoids.     

Benzofuran from seeds of Styrax officinalis

A new benzofuran was isolated from seeds of Styrax officinalis and has been identified as 5-[3"-(2-methylbutanoyloxy) propyl]-7-methoxy-2-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl) benzofuran (1) by means of spectroscopic analysis.     

Metabolism mediated interaction of α-asarone and Acorus calamus with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible interaction of the standardized extract of Acorus calamus (AC) with Cytochrome P450 enzyme, quantitative determination of the α-asarone in the AC rhizome was performed by RP-HPLC method. In vitro interaction of the plant extract was evaluated by CYP450-carbon monoxide complex (CYP450-CO) assay. Effect on individual isoforms such as CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 isozymes were analyzed through fluorescence product formation and respective IC₅₀ values were determined. CYP450-CO assay showed moderate interaction potential. Extract showed higher IC₅₀ values (46.84 ± 1.83-32.99 ± 2.21 μg/ml) comparing to the standard inhibitors and lower IC₅₀ value than α-asarone (65.16 ± 2.37-42.15 ± 2.45 μg/ml).     

A new cytotoxic xanthone from Garcinia rigida

A new xanthone, yahyaxanthone (1), was isolated from Garcinia rigida leaves. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed that 1 was inhibitory to L1210 cell, with an IC50 value 4.08 microg/ml.     

A new epicatechin gallate and calpain inhibitory activity from Orostachys japonicus

Calpains are calcium-dependent proteases that cleave a variety of intracellular substrates. The overactivation of mu-calpain is associated with a wide range of disease conditions. To search for calpain inhibitors from natural products, the phytochemical constituents of the ethyl acetate fraction of the whole plant of Orostachys japonicus (Crassulaceae) were studied. The various chromatographic separation of this fraction led to the isolation of a new tannin, (-)-epicatechin 5-gallate (1) along with 9 known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Among them, (-)-epicatechin 5-gallate (1) and kaempferol (9) exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against mu-calpain with IC(50) values of 18.0+/-2.9 and 15.4+/-2.0 microg/ml, respectively.     

Protection of spruce from colonization by the bark beetle, Ips perturbatus, in Alaska

Field bioassays were conducted in south-central Alaska in a stand of Lutz spruce, Picea × lutzii, to determine whether a semiochemical interruptant (verbenone and trans-conophthorin) and/or a defense-inducing plant hormone (methyl jasmonate, MJ) could be used to protect individual standing trees from bark beetle attack. During two experiments (initiated in May 2004 and 2005, respectively), attacks by Ips perturbatus on standing trees were induced by using a three-component aggregation pheromone (ipsenol, cis-verbenol, and ipsdienol) and prevented by using the interruptant. In 2005, treatments from 2004 were repeated and additional treatments were evaluated by using MJ spray or injection with and without the interruptant. Aggregation began before 3 or 7 June, and attack density was monitored through 3 or 16 August. During both years, tree mortality caused by I. perturbatus was recorded twice (in August, and in May of the following year). In both experiments, attack density was greatest on trees baited with the three-component attractive pheromone, but was significantly reduced by addition of the semiochemical interruptant to trees baited with the attractant. There were no significant differences in attack density between attractant + interruptant-treated trees and unbaited trees. In 2004, mortality was highest among attractant-baited trees, whereas addition of the interruptant significantly reduced the level of initial (10 week post-treatment) and final (54 week post-treatment) mortality. In 2005, no significant reduction in attack density occurred on trees baited with the attractant when MJ was sprayed or injected. The highest initial (10.6 week post-treatment) and final (49.4 week post-treatment) mortality was observed among trees that had been injected with MJ and baited with the attractant. Mortality at the final assessment was significantly lower in all other treatment groups. As in 2004, addition of the interruptant to attractant-baited trees significantly reduced the level of final mortality compared to attractant-baited trees. MJ was not attractive or interruptive to I. perturbatus or associated bark beetles in a flight trapping study. However, MJ-treated trees (sprayed or injected) exuded copious amounts of resin on the bark surface. Anatomical analyses of felled trees from four treatment groups [Tween (solvent)-sprayed, MJ-sprayed, Tween-injected, and MJ-injected + attractant baited] showed that treatment with MJ increased the number and size of resin ducts produced following treatment. These analyses also revealed a reduction in radial growth in MJ-treated trees. Our results show that during both years, treatment with a simple, two-component interruptant system of verbenone and trans-conophthorin significantly reduced I. perturbatus attack density and tree mortality on attractant-baited trees and provided a full year of protection from bark beetle attack.     

A new chromone glycoside from Polygonum capitatum

A new chromone glycoside (1), 7-O-(6'-galloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5-hydroxychromone was isolated from Polygonum capitatum.     

A new phenolic glycoside from Paeonia lactiflora

A new phenolic glycoside , 2-methoxy-5-(E)-propenyl-phenol-beta-vicianoside, was isolated from the root of Paeonia lactiflora. The structure of the new glycoside was elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

Two new cerebrosides from the pollen of Typha angustifolia

Two new cerebrosides, 1-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytricosanoylamino]-8-nonadecene-3,4-diol (1) and 1-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-(2S,3R,4E,8Z)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxynonadecanoylamino]-4,13-nonadecene-3-diol (2), were isolated from the pollen of Typha angustifolia. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral means. This is the first report on the occurrence of cerebroside in Typha (Typhaceae). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited effect on the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) induced by fatal bovine serum (FBS).     

A new dineolignan from Saururus chinensis root

A new tetrahydrofuradineolignan, called 4-O-demethylmanassantin A (1) was isolated from underground parts of Saururus chinensis together with three known dineolignans, 4-O-demethylmanassantin B (2), manassantin A (3) and manassantin B (4).     

A new antifungal coumarin from Clausena excavata

A new γ-lactone coumarin, named as excavarin-A, showing antifungal activity was isolated from the leaves of Clausena excavata by bioassay guided fractionation method. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and identified as 7((2E)-4(4,5-dihydro-3-methylene-2-oxo-5-furanyl)-3-methylbut-2-enyloxy) coumarin. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined against fifteen fungal strains pathogenic against plants and human. The least MIC was recorded against the human pathogen, Candida tropicalis and the plant pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Antifungal activities against the human pathogens, Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor circinelloides and plant pathogens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer were stronger than that of the standard antimicrobials.     

A new quinazolinedione alkaloid from the fruits of Evodia officinalis

A new quinazolinedione alkaloid, wuchuyuamide IV (1) was isolated from the fruits of Evodia officinalis.1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against Hela and HT1080 cell lines.