A phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Mitracarpus hirtus afforded thirteen compounds, including a new naphthoquinone di-glycoside (1), three isopentenyl isoflavones (2-4), four flavonoids (5-8), three iridoid glycosides (9 - 11) and two coumarins (12 and 13). Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses, chemical methods, and the comparison with the literature. Among them, compound 1 possesses a 2-(3-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)acetic acid core with two glucosyl groups, compounds 2-4 are the first three representatives from the Rubiaceae family, and compounds 9-11 and 13 were isolated from Mitracarpus genus for the first time. Additionally, compounds 2-4 displayed potent antibacterial activities against Helicobacter pylori G27/HP159/JRES00015 (MIC = 4-16 mu g/mL) , comparable to metronidazole. To date, wighteone (2) is the most active isoflavone with favourable predicted ADMET properties reported against H. pylori.

Thirteen novel polyoxygenated (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives, icacinolides A–G (1–7), oliviformislactones C–H (8–13), and two known analogs (14 and 15), were isolated from the leaves of Icacina oliviformis. Their structures were constructed by spectroscopic analysis, chemical method, 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis, ECD calculation, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction technology. Among them, compounds 1, 5, and 7 were the first three examples bearing a novel rearranged 3-epi-17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane carbon skeleton with a unique (11S)-carboxyl-9-oxatricyclo[5.3.1.02,7]dodecane motif with contiguous stereogenic centers, whereas their C-3 epimers, compounds 2–4 and 6 were the first four rearranged 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes possessing a unique 19,20-epoxy bridge. Additionally, compound 8 represented the first example of 16-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane in the Icacina genus, and its absolute configuration was constructed by the X-ray diffraction method of its 4-nitro-benzenesulfonamide derivative. In cytotoxicity bioassay, compound 14 showed broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity against HepG2, HT-29, and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 11.62, 9.77, and 4.91 μM, respectively. In particular, 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against HT-29 with IC50 values of 7.88 μM, which was stronger than the positive control drug 5-fluorouracil. Meanwhile, a preliminary structure-activity relationship suggested that 3,20-epoxy, 6,19-lactone, 2-OH, 7-OH, and 8-OH, in 9β-H)-pimarane derivatives might be active groups, whereas ring C aromatization may decrease the anti-tumor activity.

Thirteen previously undescribed (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives, icacinolides A-G (1-7) and oliviformislactones C-H (8-13), together with four known analogs (14-17), were isolated from the leaves of Icacina oliviformis. Their structures were constructed by extensive spectroscopic analysis, 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis, ECD calculation, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and chemical methods. These structurally diverse isolates were classified into six framework types: rearranged 3-epi-17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, rearranged 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 16-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 17,19-di-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, and (9β-H)-pimarane. Among them, compounds 1, 5, and 7 were the first examples of three rearranged 3-epi-17-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes featuring a unique (11S)-carboxyl-9-oxatricyclo[5.3.1.02,7]dodecane motif with contiguous stereogenic centers, whereas their C-3 epimers, compounds 2-4 and 6 were the second examples of four rearranged 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes. Additionally, compounds 8 and 12/13 represented the second examples of a 16-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane and two 17,19-di-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes, respectively. In cytotoxic bioassay, compound 2 exhibited significant cytotoxic against HT-29 with IC50 values of 7.88 μM, even stronger than 5-fluorouracil, and 15 showed broad-spectrum cytotoxic activities against HepG2, HT-29, and MIA PaCa-2 with IC50 values of 11.62, 9.77, and 4.91 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, a preliminary structure-activity relationship suggested that 3,20-epoxy, 6,19-lactone, 2-OH, 7-OH, and 8-OH in (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives might be active groups, whereas ring C aromatization may decrease the cytotoxic activities.

Polysaccharides are the most important effective components of Lycii fructus, which has a variety of biological activities and broad application prospects in the fields of medicine and food. In this study, we reported a novel arabinogalactan LFP-80-W1 with potential immunostimulatory activity. LFP-80-W1 was a continuous symmetrical single-peak with an average molecular weight of 4.58 × 104 Da and was mainly composed of arabinose and galactose. Oligosaccharide sequencing analyses and NMR data showed that the LFP-80-W1 domain consists of a repeated 1,6-linked β-Galp main chain with branches arabinoglycan and arabinogalactan at position C-3. Importantly, we found that LFP-80-W1 could activate the MAPK pathway and promote the release of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokines in vitro. Therefore, our findings suggest that the homogeneous arabinogalactan from Lycii fructus, can be used as a natural immunomodulator.

Seven new naphthoquinone diglycosides (1-7), three new anthraquinones (8-10), and eight known analogues were obtained from the aerial parts of Mitracarpus hirtus collected from West Africa in a bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation. All isolated compounds were elucidated by comparison with the literature and interpretation of spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations of the new naphthoquinone diglycosides (1-10) were confirmed by chemical methods and ECD calculations. Notably, compound 1 was found to be the first naphthoquinone diglycoside containing carboxylic acid and isopentenyl side chains isolated from a species in the genus Mitracarpus. Compounds 6-18 showed antibacterial activity against multiple Helicobacter pylori strains with MIC values ranging from 0.0625 to 64 μg/mL. Particularly, 1-hydroxybenzoisochromanquinone (17) and benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione (18), with MIC values of 0.0625 and 0.125 μg/mL, displayed 32-512-fold higher potencies than a positive control, metronidazole. Compound 18 also demonstrated high antibiofilm activity and killed biofilm-encased Helicobacter pylori cells more effectively than metronidazole.

目的:研究栀子蓝色素的化学结构及其对单胺氧化酶B(MAO-B)的抑制活性,为栀子环烯醚萜类资源性化学成分的合理利用及价值提升寻求潜在可行途径.方法:采用纤维素酶催化水解栀子环烯醚萜苷类化合物得到其苷元,经与氨基酸反应,D101型大孔树脂柱色谱及制备液相色谱分离纯化,获得栀子蓝色素单体,综合运用核磁共振波谱和质谱技术鉴定其结构;以苯甲胺为MAO-B反应底物,与栀子蓝色素单体体外孵育,采用高效液相色谱法检测苯甲胺的代谢产物苯甲醛生成量,以甲醇(A)-50 mmol·L-1磷酸钾缓冲液(B,pH 3.2)(2∶3)为流动相,检测波长245 nmn,以评价栀子蓝色素化合物对MAO-B的抑制效果.结果:合成并鉴定了8种栀子蓝色素(栀子蓝色素A～H).在MAO-B抑制试验中,与栀子苷比较,栀子蓝色素D,E的抑制活性明显增强(P＜0.05);与6β-羟基京尼平苷比较,栀子蓝色素G,H的抑制活性明显增强(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),这4种栀子蓝色素均表现出比原型化合物更好的MAO-B抑制活性.结论:栀子蓝色素为一分子氨基酸与一分子环烯醚萜形成的简单化合物,部分栀子蓝色素具有比原型化合物更好的MAO-B抑制活性,不同底物生产出的栀子蓝色素存在活性差异,可基于试验优选制备高价值栀子蓝色素,扩展栀子蓝色素的应用范围,丰富栀子环烯醚萜类成分的综合利用途径.

An undescribed C22-quassinoid named sergeolide A (1) and fifteen known quassinoids (2-16) were obtained from the seeds of Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae). All chemical structures were established based on spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction analysis. Sergeolide A (1) is the first example of a naturally occurring C22-quassinoid bearing a butenolide group fused the A ring of the bruceolide skeleton from Brucea genus. And this is the first report of the NMR data for desmethyl-bruceines B (2) and C (3) and the crystal structure for bruceolide (11). In addition, all isolates were evaluated for their anti-pancreatic adenocarcinoma activity by measuring the growth inhibitory of the MIA PaCa-2 cell lines. Consequently, compounds 1, 7-10, and 12-16 exhibited potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity in vitro (IC50 =0.054∼0.357 μM).

A novel macrolactam named oxalactam A (1), three known dipeptides (2–4) as well as other known alkaloids (5–7) were obtained from the endophytic fungus Penicillium oxalicum, which was derived from the tuber of Icacina trichantha (Icacinaceae). All chemical structures were established based on spectroscopic data, chemical methods, ECD calculations, and 13C-DP4+ analysis. Among them, oxalactam A (1) is a 16-membered polyenic macrolactam bearing a new skeleton of 2,9-dimethyl-azacyclohexadecane core and exhibited potent anti-Rhizoctonia solani activity with a MIC value of 10 μg/mL in vitro. The plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was also proposed via the alanyl protecting mechanism. Notably, three dipeptides (2–4) were first identified from the endophytic fungus P. oxalicum and the NMR data of cyclo(L-Trp-L-Glu) (2) was reported for the first time. In addition, the binding interactions between compound 1 and the sterol 14α-demethylase enzyme (CYP51) were studied by molecular docking and dynamics technologies, and the results revealed that the 16-membered polyenic macrolactam could be a promising CYP51 inhibitor to develop as a new anti-Rhizoctonia solani fungicide.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis, the dried stem and branch of Lonicera japonica Thunb., is a Chinese Materia Medica known as Ren Dong Teng in Chinese with long use history in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions. Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis possesses heat-clearing and detoxifying functions according to the TCM theory. In recent years, a large amount of experimental and clinical studies proved good anti-inflammatory effects of some heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs. The present study aims to reveal the anti-inflammatory property and functional substances of Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis. Materials and methods: For anti-inflammatory activity test, LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, DSS-induced SPF male C57BL/6J mice model, and LPS-induced SPF male ICR mice model were used in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The behavioral changes, organ damage, and the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNT-alpha and IL-6 mRNA expression were measured for activity evaluation. Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis samples were prepared by solvent extraction and subsequent column chromatography. The main components were identified and determined using UPLC-UV analysis as well as NMR interpretation after purification. To testify the contribution of main components for the anti-inflammatory activity, different samples were also prepared by compound-knockout strategy. Results: Ethanol extract of Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis could attenuate sickness symptoms in mice such as diarrhea, less activity, and depression. It could also alleviate multiple organ damage, and significantly inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IFN-gamma in mice. Furthermore, the isochlorogenic acid-rich and biflavonoid-rich fractions and isochlorogenic acids A and C, and ochnaflavone could significantly down-regulate the mRNA expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Conclusions: Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis possesses anti-inflammatory property. Its isochlorogenic acid-rich and biflavonoid-rich fractions do the major contribution. And their main components, isochlorogenic acids A and C, and ochnaflavone, take main responsibility for the anti-inflammatory property.

Two novel diterpenoids and ten known analogs were obtained from the tuber of Icacina trichantha. All compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori strains with MIC values ranging from 8 to 64 μg mL−1.

Phytochemical investigation of the fruit of Lycium barbarum L. has yielded nine alkaloids including one new compound, lycibarbarspermidine T together with eight known compounds. The structures were unambiguously determined by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. The chemophenetic significance of all these compounds was summarized. Among the known compounds, compounds 6 and 9 are reported from L. barbarum for the first time, whereas compounds 2-5 have previously been only found in this plant. The anti-inflammatory effects of all compounds were evaluated by measuring the NO production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that compounds 1-3 and compounds 5-9 could inhibit the NO release of RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS at 30 mu M.

Although coumaroyltyramine (CT) derivatives are one kind of phenolamides with remarkable biological activities, the low content in plants would inhibit their potential use in food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, it is necessary to screen an efficient method to produce CT derivatives. A green and efficient method by using lipase as catalyst to synthesize a series of CT derivatives, was thus proposed. To obtain optimum reaction conditions, the effects of various parameters on conversion rate were firstly evaluated. An in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory assay of synthesized compounds was then carried out, and the structure-activity relationship of these compounds was conducted. Under the optimum conditions (MTBE, Nu/S: 2/1, E/S: 20/1, 50 degrees C and 24 h), the conversion rates of synthesized compounds were above 65 %. The bioassay results indicated that N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine had potent activities against alpha-glucosidase with IC50 of 30.08 mu M and 31.94 mu M, respectively. The structure-activity relationship results showed that the presence of -OH or -OCH3 group at C-3 position could boost the activities of CT derivatives. Meanwhile, the presence of -OH group at C-4 position and double bound on caffeoyl moiety as well as the presence of -OH group at C-4' position was essential for the activities of CT derivatives.

Eleven pimarane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the tubers of Icacina oliviformis, including three new compounds, icacinlactone M (9), icacinlactone H 2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10), and icacinlactone N 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (11), together with an artifact of acrenol (8). Among the known structures, icacinlactone A (2), icacinlactone B (3), icacinlactone H (4), 12-hydroxyicacinlactone A (5), 14α-methoxyhumirianthol (6), and annonalide (7) are reported from I. oliviformis for the first time, whereas icacinol (1) has previously been found in this plant. Icacinol, 14α-methoxyhumirianthol, and annonalide displayed moderate cytotoxic activity in a panel of human cancer cell lines.

The antibacterial and antioxidant packaging films were fabricated by incorporating licorice residue extracts (LREs) into oxidized starch (OS) films. The bioactive fraction (BF) was firstly obtained from LREs by using bioassay-guided isolation method. The BF showed potent anti-Gram(+) bacteria effects, especially against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with MIC of 32.5 μg/mL. The present results also indicated that the addition of BF could significantly decrease the moisture content, water vapor permeability, light transmittance of OS films. Notably, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of OS films significantly enhanced with the concentration of BF increasing. Moreover, the films with the highest concentration of BF showed the lowest tensile strength (4.23 MPa) and the highest elongation at break (63.89%). Meanwhile, the bioactive films could release bioactive compounds such as licochalcone A and licochalcone B into the alcoholic and fatty food simulants. Taken together, the active OS films containing LREs have the potential for application in food packaging films, due to its potential against MRSA and antioxidant activity as well as good physicochemical properties.

目的 优选黄芩茎叶总黄酮制备工艺,为黄芩茎叶资源的合理利用开发提供依据.方法 以黄芩茎叶中8个黄酮类化合物的转移率为指标,采用单因素考察结合正交试验优选黄芩茎叶黄酮的提取工艺;比较酸沉法和大孔树脂法纯化茎叶总黄酮的转移率,并对大孔树脂纯化工艺进行优选.结果 以12倍量40％乙醇热回流提取3次,每次1 h,为最佳提取工艺.提取物的纯化结果显示,大孔树脂法中黄芩茎叶黄酮的总体转移率(92.53％)显著高于酸沉法(76.69％).在pH为1.01时,酸沉法虽然可以使野黄芩苷等化合物转移率达90％以上,但含量丰富的二氢黄酮类化合物异红花素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖醛酸苷、红花素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖醛酸苷的转移率仅为64.76％、68.57％,而使用大孔树脂法纯化,其转移率均可达90％以上,可以实现各目标成分的高效转移.经优选,0.26 g/mL药液上样,上样量为每10 g HP-20型干树脂上样2.08 g干燥提取物,树脂柱径高比为1:3,4 BV纯水除杂后,以30％乙醇洗脱4 BV,为最佳纯化工艺,所得总黄酮质量分数可达66.03％.结论 建立了稳定且环境友好型黄芩茎叶总黄酮制备工艺,可为黄芩茎叶的进一步开发利用提供参考.

为提升苦参资源的利用效率,本研究以苦参种子提取生物碱过程中产生的副产物油脂类物质为研究对象,筛选可利用苦参种子废弃油脂生产灵菌红素的菌株并优化其发酵工艺.利用UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS对纯化后的发酵产物进行分析,并通过单因素考察和响应面优化获得菌株利用苦参种子油发酵产灵菌红素的最佳工艺参数.筛选到的菌株经形态和16S rDNA测序鉴定为粘质沙雷氏菌,并命名为粘质沙雷氏菌L9.优化的最佳发酵工艺条件为:苦参种子油、牛肉膏和氯化钙的最佳浓度分别为13 g/L、9.5 g/L及0.3 g/L,温度30℃;在最佳发酵工艺条件下,灵菌红素最高产量约为317.21 mg/L,产率提高约3.2倍.本研究以苦参种子深加工过程产生的副产物为研究对象,对其油脂类成分进行资源化利用研究,在有效处置苦参种子固废物的同时产生灵菌红素高附加值产品,为以种子类药材深加工过程固废物的资源化利用提供了借鉴.

Bruceoside A, an abundant quassinoid glycoside in Fructus Bruceae, was chosen for the pharmacokinetic study. It is the first case report on the pharmacokinetic study of quassinoid glycosides so far. A sensitive, accurate, and repeatable UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of bruceoside A and its major metabolite. The results showed bruceoside A could be transformed into the potent anticancer component brusatol in vivo, rather than its direct deglycosylated metabolite bruceosin. And the intestinal bacteria were proposed to take a potential role during such transformation. Based on the present study, it could be concluded that the quassinoid glycosides possessing weak activities in vitro could do contribution to the anticancer properties of Fructus Bruceae in vivo via transforming into more active metabolites.