The chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Clausena excavata were isolated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties, spectroscopic analysis, as well as the comparisons with the data reported in literature. Nineteen compounds were isolated from the 90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves of C. excavata, which were identified as methyl orsellinate(1), syringaresinol(2), lenisin A(3), scopoletin(4), osthenol(5), N-benzoyltyrarnine methyl ether(6), N-p-coumaroyltyramine(7), aurantiamide acetate(8), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(9), furostifoline(10), clausenalansine E(11), 3-formylcarbazole(12), clausine L(13), clausine E(14), methyl carbazole-3-carboxylate(15), glycosinin(16), murrayafoline A(17), clausine H(18) and 2,7-dihydroxy-3-formyl-1-(3'-methyl-2'-butenyl)carbazole(19). Among these isolated compounds, compounds 1-11 were isolated from C. excavata for the first time, and compounds 1, 2 and 10 were isolated from the genus Clausena for the first time. In addition, this study evaluated the anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of compounds 1-19 by measuring their anti-proliferative effects on synoviocytes in vitro according to MTS method. Compounds 10-19 displayed remarkable anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities, which exhibited the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MH7 A synovial fibroblast cells with the IC_(50) values ranging from(27.63±0.18) to(235.67±2.16) μmol·L~(-1).
A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, ochroborbone (1), along with five known alkaloids (2–6), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Ochrosia borbonica. Among them, ochroborbone (1) is a rare C17-nor monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, and the known compounds (2-6) were isolated from Ochrosia for the first time. These structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory effects with IC 50 values comparable with those of cisplatin.
The phytochemical investigation on the fruits of Morinda citrifolia led to the isolation and characterization of a new anthraquinone, moricitrifone (1), along with seven known anthraquinones (2-8). The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectral analyses. The known compounds (2-8) were identified by comparing their spectral data with those reported in the literature. The antiproliferative activities of all isolated anthraquinones (1-8) against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 were evaluated in vitro. Compounds 1-8 exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.26 ± 0.05 to 16.58 ± 0.18 μM, which were comparable to those of doxorubicin.
Bauhinia championii (Benth.) Benth. is a traditional medicinal plant used in China to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in She ethnic minority group. This study focused on the active constituents from the rattan of B. championii (Benth.) Benth., which possess potential apoptosis effects. A conventional phytochemical separation method for the isolation of compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of B. championii was developed. The procedure involved extraction, liquid-liquid partitioning with ethyl acetate, and subsequent compound purification, respectively. Additionally, cell viability of dihydrokaempferol found abundantly in it was evaluated in vitro by MTS, and the antiapoptosis effect was evaluated by annexin V/PI staining (Flow Cytometry Analysis) and western blot. The results showed that nine flavonoids, and five other compounds, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of B. championii and were identified as β-sitosterol (1), 5,6,7,3',4',5'-hexamethoxyflavone (2), 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (3), 5,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (4), 4'-hydroxy-5,7,3',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (5), apigenin (6), liquiritigenin (7), 5, 7-dihydroxylcoumarin (8), 3',4',5,7, -pentamethoxyflavone (9), n-octadecanoate (10), lupine ketone (11), dibutylphthalate (12), dihydrokaempferol (13), and 5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-6-methylflavanone (14). Among these compounds, 5-14 were isolated for the first time from B. championii. In addition, apoptosis effects of abundant dihydrokaempferol were evaluated in vitro. Dihydrokaempferol exhibited inhibitory effects on the proliferation of synoviocytes. Furthermore, dihydrokaempferol promoted Bax and Bad expression, as well as the cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP. Meanwhile, it inhibited Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. These findings indicate that dihydrokaempferol isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of B. championii effectively promotes apoptosis, which is an important process through suppression of apoptotic activity. The results are encouraging for further studies on the use of B. championii in the treatment of RA.
Ficus carica is an Asian species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Ficus of the family Moraceae, native to Western Asia and the Middle East. Its fruits, usually known as common fig or fig, have been consumed as a very popular health-promoting fruit worldwide since ancient times. To investigate the potential health-promoting chemical constituents of the fruits of F. carica, a systematic phytochemical study on its fruits was therefore carried out. In our study, four new structurally diverse prenylated isoflavone derivatives, ficucaricones A-D (1-4), along with 12 known analogues (5-16) were separated from the fruits of F. carica. Their chemical structures were ambiguously elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods. The anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities of these isolated prenylated isoflavone derivatives were tested. Prenylated isoflavone derivatives (1-16) displayed remarkable inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production with the IC50 values ranging from 0.89 ± 0.05 to 8.49 ± 0.18 μM, comparable to that of the positive control (hydrocortisone). Furthermore, compounds 1-16 also exhibited pronounced antiproliferative activities against diverse human cancer cell lines in vitro, holding the IC50 values ranging from 0.18 ± 0.03 to 18.76 ± 0.09 μM. These findings indicate that regular consumption of the fruits of F. carica may help to prevent the occurrence of inflammatory diseases and tumors. Moreover, the isolation and characterization of these prenylated isoflavone derivatives possessing remarkable anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities could be meaningful to the discovery of new anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents.
The chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Clausena emarginata were separated and purified by column chromatographies on silica gel,ODS,Sephadex LH-20,and PR-HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis,as well as comparisons with the data reported in the literature. Sixteen compounds were isolated from the 90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves of C. emarginata,which were identified as siamenol( 1),murrastanine A( 2),3-formyl-1,6-dimethoxycarbazole( 3),3-methoxymethylcarbazole( 4),3-methylcarbazole( 5),murrayafoline A( 6),3-formylcarbazole( 7),3-formyl-1-hydroxycarbazole( 8),3-formyl-6-methoxycarbazole( 9),murrayanine( 10),murrayacine( 11),girinimbine( 12),nordentatin( 13),chalepin( 14),8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin( 15) and ethyl orsellinate( 16). Compounds 1-4,14-16 were isolated from C. emarginata for the first time. Among them,compounds 1,2,15 and 16 were isolated from the genus Clausena for the first time. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60,SMMC-7721,A-549,MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 12 and 14 showed significant inhibitory effects against various human cancer cell lines with IC_(50) values comparable to those of doxorubicin.
Two new bisindole alkaloids, angustifonines A (1) and B (2), comprising the union of a rearranged monoterpenoid quinoline and an aspidospermine alkaloid, as well as 27 known indole alkaloids were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Bousigonia angustifolia. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of MS, NMR, and computational methods. Angustifonines A and B exhibited cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 2.71–16.22 μM. A possible biosynthesis pathway toward the new bisindole alkaloids 1 and 2 is presented.