Lucidumol D, a new lanostane-type triterpene from fruiting bodies of Reishi (<i>Ganoderma lingzhi</i>)

<p>A new lanostane-type triterpenoid, lucidumol D (<b>1</b>) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of <i>Ganoderma lingzhi</i>. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR studies as well as mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of lucidumol D against proliferation of several cancer cells were assayed by using MTT method and the obtained result suggested selective anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, HepG2, HeLa, Caco-2, and HCT-116. In comparison to lucidumol C (<b>2</b>) isolated previously by our group, the structure-activity relationship indicated that carbonyl function at C-11 is necessary to enhance the cytotoxicity.</p

Effect of polyphenols from <i>Vicia faba</i> L on lipase activity and melanogenesis

<p>Two new flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6) (3′′-acetyl)-<i>β</i>-D-galactopyranoside <b>1</b> and kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-arabinopyranosyl-5-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-rhamnopyranoside <b>2</b>, along with six known ones <b>3–8</b> were isolated from the flowers of <i>Vicia faba</i> L. (Fabaceae). Methanol extract and the isolated compounds were tested against lipase and melanogenesis inhibition activities and resulted in that compound <b>2</b> showed 53 and 77% lipase inhibition activity in concentrations of 400 and 800 μg/mL, respectively. For melanogenesis, compounds <b>2</b>, <b>3</b> and <b>4</b> exhibited potent melanogenesis inhibition activity where the melanin content in melanoma cells was decreased to be about 57.5, 56 and 61%, respectively, with no obvious melanocytotoxicity. The rest of compounds showed weak to moderate activity. The results of melanogenesis inhibition activity of this study suggested the potential use of <i>Vicia faba</i> flowers as a skin-whitening agent and reveal the flowers to be a rich source of important phytochemicals with antilipase and melanogenesis inhibitory activity.</p

Forsskamide, a new ceramide from aerial parts of <i>Forsskaolea tenacissima</i> Linn.

<p>Although the various folk medicine uses and the biological activity of <i>Forsskaolea tenacissima</i> L., few chemical constituents of this plant have been reported, this provoked us to make our study. Forsskamide, a new ceramide was isolated from aerial parts of <i>F. tenacissima</i> L. (Urticaceae). The chemical structure was established by different spectroscopic methods (¹H, ¹³C-NMR, HMBC, HSQC, ROESY, FAB-MS and HR-FAB-MS). Forsskamide showed a moderate cytotoxic activity by (MTT) method against human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116) with IC₅₀ 33.25 μM in comparison with 5-fluorouracil IC₅₀ 26.42 μM. While, it did not show any activity against human hepatocarcinaoma cell line (HepG-2).</p