β‑Dihydroagarofuran-Type Sesquiterpenes from the Seeds of <i>Celastrus monospermus</i> and Their Lifespan-Extending Effects on the Nematode <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>

Seventeen β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenes were isolated from the seeds of <i>Celastrus monospermus</i>, and, among them, 15 (<b>1</b>–<b>15</b>) were identified as new natural products. Nine isolates were evaluated for their lifespan-extending effect using the standard model animal nematode <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. As a result, all of the tested compounds prolonged the lifespan of <i>C</i>. <i>elegans</i> when compared to the blank control group (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Among them, celaspermin E (<b>5</b>) extended the average lifespan and maximum lifespan of <i>C</i>. <i>elegans</i>, with effects similar to those of rapamycin, a positive control that has been found experimentally to delay the aging process of yeasts, worms, fruit flies, and mice

Lithocarpic Acids A–N, 3,4-<i>seco</i>-Cycloartane Derivatives from the Cupules of <i>Lithocarpus polystachyus</i>

Fourteen new 3,4-<i>seco</i>-cycloartane-type triterpenes, lithocarpic acids A–N (<b>1</b>–<b>14</b>), together with one known compound, coccinetane E (<b>15</b>), were identified from the cupules of <i>Lithocarpus polystachyus</i>. The structures of <b>1</b>–<b>14</b> were determined by spectroscopic data analysis and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations of <b>1</b> and <b>4</b> were defined unequivocally by X-ray crystallography using Cu Kα radiation. Compounds <b>1</b>–<b>15</b> are the first examples of 3,4-<i>seco</i>-cycloartane derivatives isolated from the genus <i>Lithocarpus</i>. Among them, compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, <b>9</b> and <b>10</b>, and <b>11</b> and <b>12</b> were found to be three pairs of C-24 epimers, while compounds <b>7</b> and <b>8</b> represent the first examples of 3,4-<i>seco</i>-norcycloartane-type triterpenes. Compound <b>1</b>, as the major component of the plant extract, showed potent antibacterial activity against <i>Micrococcus luteus</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, with MIC values of 3.1 and 6.3 μg/mL, respectively, as well as inhibitory activity against human and mouse 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, with IC₅₀ values of 1.9 and 0.24 μM, respectively

Lithocarpic Acids A–N, 3,4-<i>seco</i>-Cycloartane Derivatives from the Cupules of <i>Lithocarpus polystachyus</i>

Fourteen new 3,4-<i>seco</i>-cycloartane-type triterpenes, lithocarpic acids A–N (<b>1</b>–<b>14</b>), together with one known compound, coccinetane E (<b>15</b>), were identified from the cupules of <i>Lithocarpus polystachyus</i>. The structures of <b>1</b>–<b>14</b> were determined by spectroscopic data analysis and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations of <b>1</b> and <b>4</b> were defined unequivocally by X-ray crystallography using Cu Kα radiation. Compounds <b>1</b>–<b>15</b> are the first examples of 3,4-<i>seco</i>-cycloartane derivatives isolated from the genus <i>Lithocarpus</i>. Among them, compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, <b>9</b> and <b>10</b>, and <b>11</b> and <b>12</b> were found to be three pairs of C-24 epimers, while compounds <b>7</b> and <b>8</b> represent the first examples of 3,4-<i>seco</i>-norcycloartane-type triterpenes. Compound <b>1</b>, as the major component of the plant extract, showed potent antibacterial activity against <i>Micrococcus luteus</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, with MIC values of 3.1 and 6.3 μg/mL, respectively, as well as inhibitory activity against human and mouse 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, with IC₅₀ values of 1.9 and 0.24 μM, respectively

Natural β‑Dihydroagarofuran-Type Sesquiterpenoids as Cognition-Enhancing and Neuroprotective Agents from Medicinal Plants of the Genus Celastrus

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible, multifaceted, and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Over the past 30 years, the search for anti-AD drugs has been primarily based on the cholinergic deficiency hypothesis and/or the β-amyloid (Aβ) cascade hypothesis. In this study, we report the identification of 16 new and 38 known β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids from Celastrus flagellaris and Celastrus angulatus. The β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids <b>58</b>, <b>59</b>, <b>61</b>, and <b>63</b> significantly attenuated scopolamine-induced prolonged escape latency and increased number of errors compared with the control group. At 10 μM, 21 of the 62 tested β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids rescued Aβ_25–35-induced SH-SY5Y cells from viability reduction, which increased the cell viability from 64.6% for the model to more than 74.0%. The majority of the β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids with ester groups exhibited stronger activity than those with free hydroxy groups or without substituents at the same positions. These results identified a new chemical skeleton as drug lead for the investigation of novel therapeutic agents against AD

Natural β‑Dihydroagarofuran-Type Sesquiterpenoids as Cognition-Enhancing and Neuroprotective Agents from Medicinal Plants of the Genus Celastrus

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible, multifaceted, and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Over the past 30 years, the search for anti-AD drugs has been primarily based on the cholinergic deficiency hypothesis and/or the β-amyloid (Aβ) cascade hypothesis. In this study, we report the identification of 16 new and 38 known β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids from Celastrus flagellaris and Celastrus angulatus. The β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids <b>58</b>, <b>59</b>, <b>61</b>, and <b>63</b> significantly attenuated scopolamine-induced prolonged escape latency and increased number of errors compared with the control group. At 10 μM, 21 of the 62 tested β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids rescued Aβ_25–35-induced SH-SY5Y cells from viability reduction, which increased the cell viability from 64.6% for the model to more than 74.0%. The majority of the β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenoids with ester groups exhibited stronger activity than those with free hydroxy groups or without substituents at the same positions. These results identified a new chemical skeleton as drug lead for the investigation of novel therapeutic agents against AD

Novel 3.9 V Layered Na₃V₃(PO₄)₄ Cathode Material for Sodium Ion Batteries

A new compound Na₃V₃­(PO₄)₄ is successfully synthesized for sodium ion batteries using a sol–gel method. Composition analysis through ICP-OES confirms the stoichiometry of Na₃V₃(PO₄)₄. Structural analysis based on XRD reveals that the new material crystallizes in a monoclinic system with a <i>C</i>2/<i>c</i> space group. The new compound exhibits a layered structure containing 3D Na⁺ ion channels allowing excellent cycling and rate performance. Even at a high current rate of 3C (1C = 45 mA/g), it still delivers 82% of the theoretical capacity. Meanwhile, 92% of its capacity is retained after 100 electrochemical cycles. The voltage profiles of Na₃V₃­(PO₄)₄ show that it can reversibly uptake nearly one Na⁺ ion with a 3.9 V voltage plateau, which is the highest value among Na-containing V-based orthophosphates ever reported