Furanocoumarins from the aerial parts of Dorstenia contrajerva

A new glycosylated furanocoumarin, alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-bergaptol (1), has been isolated from Dorstenia contrajerva together with three known furanocoumarins, catechin and epicatechin. Their structures were established using high field 2D NMR techniques.     

New terpenoid glycosides obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis L. aerial parts

Five new terpenoid glycosides, named as officinoterpenosides A₁ (1), A₂ (2), B (3), C (4), and D (5), together with 11 known ones, (1S,4S,5S)-5-exo-hydrocamphor 5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), isorosmanol (7), rosmanol (8), 7-methoxyrosmanol (9), epirosmanol (10), ursolic acid (11), micromeric acid (12), oleanolic acid (13), niga-ichigoside F₁ (14), glucosyl tormentate (15), and asteryunnanoside B (16), were obtained from the aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HRESI-TOF-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Among the new ones, 1 and 2, 3 and 4 are diterpenoid and triterpenoid glycosides, respectively; and 5 is a normonoterpenoid. For the known ones, 6 was isolated from the Rosmarinus genus first, and 15, 16 were obtained from this species for the first time.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from the aerial parts of Inula oculus-christi

Pulchellin E (1) and gaillardin (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Inula oculus-christi, along with the flavone hispidulin. The 13C-NMR chemical shifts of 1 and 2 are reported.     

Bioactivity of gentiopicroside from the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea

Gentiopicroside (1), a secoiridoid glycoside isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea, has been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities. General toxicity of 1 has also been determined by brine shrimp lethality bioassay.     

A new flavonoid from the aerial parts of Tridax procumbens

A new flavonoid (procumbenetin), isolated from the aerial parts of Tridax procumbens, has been characterised as 3,6-dimethoxy-5,7,2',3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and by chemical means.     

A new flavonoid from the aerial parts of Chrysanthemum viscidehirtum

From the aerial parts of Chrysanthemum viscidehirtum, a new flavonoid, 2"-glucosyl-8-C-glucosyl-4'-O-methylapigenin (1) was isolated.     

Biologically active steroids from the aerial parts of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd

A new steroid, vernoanthelsterone A (1), and five known steroids were isolated from the aerial parts of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. Compound 1 possesses a Δ(8(14))-15-one moiety. To our best knowledge, few steroids with this moiety have been reported before. Compounds 1-6 were tested for their antibacterial activities and their effects on estrogen biosynthesis in human ovarian granulosa-like cells (KGN cells). Compound 2 showed the ability to promote estrogen biosynthesis with EC(50) of 56.95 μg/mL and also exhibited the antibacterial activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphyloccocus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with MICs ranging from 3.15 to 15.5 μg/mL. The structures of 1-6 were determined on the basis of IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR.     

New clerodane diterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Nannoglottis carpesioides

Three new clerodane diterpenoid glycosides with l-arabinose (1–3), together with ten known compounds including phytol-type diterpenes, cycloartane-type, ursane-type, and oleanane-type triterpenes, were isolated from the aerial parts of Nannoglottis carpesioides which a Chinese endemic genus. The structures of the new compounds 1–3 were identified based on chemical and spectroscopic studies, including one- and two-dimensional NMR, HRESIMS, UV, and IR results. Their absolute configurations were determined by the application of theory calculations of optical rotation, which were compared with the experimental data. New aglycone 1a and l-arabinose were obtained by acid hydrolysis of 1 and GC–MS analysis. The cytotoxicities of some isolated compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines were evaluated by the MTT assay. Clerodane diterpenoides are the characteristic chemical constituents and may be used as chemical markers of the genus Nannoglottis.     

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.     

Cytotoxic 9,19-cycloartane triterpenes from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga yunnanensis

Six new 9,19-cycloartane triterpenes (1–6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga yunnanensis. The new chemical structures were determined by extensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first 9,19-cycloartane triterpenes characterized by CH₃-18 shifting from C-13 to C-12 in the Cimicifuga spp. The evaluation of inhibition activity against human HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines indicated that compounds 1–6 showed different levels of cytotoxic activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.2 to 27.8 μm.     

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.     

Antibacterial activity of Leonurus sibiricus aerial parts

Different solvent extracts (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, acetone and methanol) of Leonurus sibiricus were studied for their antibacterial activity. Carbon tetrachloride and chloroform extracts showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.     

Two new triterpene saponins from the aerial parts of Paraquilegia microphylla

Two new triterpene saponins, paraquinosides A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Paraquilegia microphylla (Royle) Dromm. et Hutch, a Tibetan ethnic medicine distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. On the basis of 1D and 2D NMR evidence, their structure was elucidated as 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-15-dehydroxyl-16-O-methyl-24, 25-deoxy-26-hydroxylshengmanol-26-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3-O-α-L-Rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-15-dehydroxyl-16-O-methyl-24, 25-deoxy-26-hydroxylshengmanol-26-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (2), respectively.     

Antinociceptive activity of the aerial parts of Solanum xanthocarpum

The methanolic extract of Solanum xanthocarpum aerial parts, given orally at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed significant antinociceptive activity in mice.     

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of the aerial parts of Lithraea molleoides

The hydro-alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Lithraea molleoides, given orally at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, showed significant anti-ulcerogenic activity on ulcer induced by indomethacin and absolute alcohol in rats.     

Enmein-type diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Isodon rubescens and their cytotoxicity

Three new enmein-type diterpenoids, jianshirubesins A–C (1–3), together with ten known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon rubescens. Their structures were established by using spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All compounds except 3 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity by MTT assay, and compounds 5 and 10 exhibited significant inhibitory ability on selected cell lines.     

Antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts

Fractions of methanol, dichloromethane, water extracts and volatiles of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts given by oral route at a dose of 2 mg/kg showed significant antiinflammatory activities in rats. On the contrary, only the water fraction of MeOH extract possesses a significant analgesic activity.     

Analgesic activity of Peperomia pellucida aerial parts in mice

The methanol extract of Peperomia pellucida aerial parts, given orally at doses ranging from 70 to 210 mg/kg, showed a significant analgesic activity on acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.     

Essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of aerial parts of Grindelia robusta from Central Italy

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from Grindelia robusta aerial parts from central Italy was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and 45 components were identified. Borneol (15.2%), alpha pinene (10.3%), trans-pinocarveol (7.0%), bornyl acetate (4.5%), limonene (4.3%) were the main components. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated using the DPPH and 5-lipoxygenase tests.