Neolignanamides, Lignanamides, and Other Phenolic Compounds from the Root Bark of <i>Lycium chinense</i>

Seven new neolignanamides (<b>1</b>–<b>7</b>), including two pairs of <i>cis</i>- and <i>trans</i>-isomers, and a new lignanamide (<b>8</b>) were isolated from the EtOAc-soluble fraction of an EtOH extract of the root bark of <i>Lycium chinense</i>, together with 22 known phenolic compounds (<b>9</b>–<b>30</b>), four of which were obtained from the genus <i>Lycium</i> for the first time. Compounds <b>5</b>, <b>6</b>, and <b>7</b> are unusual dimers having a rare connection mode between the two cinnamic acid amide units, while compounds <b>6</b>, <b>7</b>, and <b>8</b> are the first naturally occurring dimers derived from two dissimilar cinnamic acid amides. The cinnamic acid amides, neolignanamides, and lignanamides possess moderate radical-scavenging activity against the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and superoxide radicals

Anti-inflammatory Diterpenoids from the Root Bark of <i>Acanthopanax gracilistylus</i>

Five new <i>ent</i>-pimarane (<b>1</b>–<b>3</b>, <b>7</b>, and <b>8</b>) and three new <i>ent</i>-kaurane diterpenoids (<b>4</b>–<b>6</b>) and a new oleanane triterpene acid (<b>9</b>), together with 22 known compounds, were isolated from the root bark of the medicinal herb <i>Acanthopanax gracilistylus</i>. The structures of <b>1</b>–<b>9</b> were established based on the interpretation of high-resolution MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR data. The absolute configurations of <b>7</b> and <b>11</b> were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism analysis. Compounds <b>7</b> and <b>8</b> represent rare naturally occurring structures based on the devinyl <i>ent</i>-pimarane skeleton. Compounds <b>3</b>, <b>10</b>, <b>14</b>, <b>16</b>, and <b>17</b> exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells