Isolation of anticancer constituents from flos genkwa (Daphne genkwa Sieb.et Zucc.) through bioassay-guided procedures

BACKGROUND: Flos Genkwa (yuanhua in Chinese), the dried flower buds of Daphne genkwa Sieb.et Zucc. (Thymelaeaceae), is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb mainly used for diuretic, antitussive, expectorant, and anticancer effects. However, systematic and comprehensive studies on Flos Genkwa and its bioactivity are limited. RESULTS: After confirmation of the anti-tumor activity, the 95% ethanolic extract was subjected to successive solvent partitioning to petroleum ether, dichloromethane, n-butanol, and water soluble fractions. Each fraction was tested using the same biological activity model, and the dichloromethane fraction had the highest activity. The dichloromethane fraction was subjected to further chromatographic separation for the isolation of compounds 1–13. Among the 13 compounds, the diterpene esters (compounds 10–13) showed anticancer activity, whereas the flavonoids, lignanoids, and peptides showed moderate activity. Compound 13 was a new daphnane diterpenoid, which was named genkwanin VIII. The preliminary antitumor mechanism of yuanhuacine was studied by protein expression and cell cycle analysis in MCF-7 cancer cells. CONCLUSION: The present investigation tends to support the traditional use of Flos Genkwa for treating cancer. Through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation techniques, the CH(2)Cl(2) fraction was determined as the active fraction of the flower buds of D. genkwa, and the anti-tumor activity was ascribable to the compounds 10–13

Active anti-acetylcholinesterase component of secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungi of Huperzia serrata

Background: An endophytic fungus lives within a healthy plant during certain stages of, or throughout, its life cycle. Endophytic fungi do not always cause plant disease, and they include fungi that yield different effects, including mutual benefit, and neutral and pathogenic effects. Endophytic fungi promote plant growth, improve the host plant's resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and can produce the same or similar biologically active substances as the host. Thus, endophytic fungal products have important implications in drug development. Result: Among the numerous endophytic fungi, we identified two strains, L10Q37 and LQ2F02, that have anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, but the active compound was not huperzine A. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of secondary metabolites isolated from the endophytic fungi of Huperzia serrata . Microbial cultivation and fermentation were used to obtain secondary metabolites. Active components were then extracted from the secondary metabolites, and their activities were tracked. Two compounds that were isolated from endophytic fungi of H. serrata were identified and had acetylcholine inhibitory activities. In conclusion, endophytic fungal strains were found in H. serrata that had the same anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. Conclusion: We isolated 4 compounds from the endophytic fungus L10Q37, among them S1 and S3 are new compounds. 6 compounds were isolated from LQ2F02, all 6 compounds are new compounds. After tested anti acetylcholinesterase activity, S5 has the best activity. Other compounds' anti acetylcholinesterase activity was not better compared with huperzine A

Two New Iridoids from Verbena officinalis L.

Two new iridoids, 3-(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)butanoic acid, named verbeofflin I (1), and 7-hydroxydehydrohastatoside (2), were isolated from the aerial part of Verbena officinalis L, along with three known iridoids, verbenalin (3), 3,4-dihydroverbenalin (4), hastatoside (5) by means of various column chromatography steps. The structures of these compounds were elucidated through analysis of their spectroscopic data obtained using 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques. Verbeofflin I (1) is the new class of secoiridoid in the family Verbenaceae

Isoflavonoids from <i>Crotalaria albida</i> Inhibit Adipocyte Differentiation and Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Cells via Suppression of PPAR-γ Pathway

<div><p>Two 2″-isopropenyl dihydrofuran isoflavonoids (<b>1</b> and <b>3</b>), one 2″-isopropenyl dihydrofuran chromone (<b>2</b>), as well as 13 known compounds were isolated from the herbs of <i>Crotalaria albida</i>. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated via NMR and HRESIMS analyses. The 2″ S absolute configuration of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were deduced by comparing their NOESY spectra with that of <b>3</b>, which was determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction (CuKα). The 3R absolute configuration of <b>1</b> was determined by CD. Compounds <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, and <b>3</b> inhibit the adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 through down-regulation of PPAR-γ activity.</p></div

ORTEP Drawing (X-ray Analysis, CuKα) of 3.

<p>ORTEP Drawing (X-ray Analysis, CuKα) of 3.</p

¹H, ¹³C NMR (CD3OD) data of compound 1, 2, 3.^a

<p>^a (<i>J</i> in Hz); chemical shifts are given in ppm</p><p>^b 500/125 MHz</p><p>^c 400/100 MHz.</p><p>¹H, ¹³C NMR (CD3OD) data of compound 1, 2, 3.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0135893#t001fn001" target="_blank">^a</a></p

Compounds inhibit 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis related gene expression by inhibiting transcription activity of PPAR-γ.

<p>(A) Compounds inhibit the transcription activity of PPAR-γ. (B) Compound 1 suppresses 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation induced by differentiation medium. (C) Compound 2 suppresses 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation induced by differentiation medium. (D) Compound 3 suppresses 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation induced by differentiation medium. Differentiation medium includes 10 μg/ml insulin, 1 μM dexamethasone, and 10 μM rosiglitazone. Oil red O staining of 3T3-L1 cells was performed on day 10. Compounds were added to the medium at the beginning of induction of 3T3-L1 cells at the indicated concentration. (E) Real-time RT-PCR results of gene expression levels at day 10 in 3T3-L1 adipocyte. Cells were treated with compounds (50 μM) and differentiated for 10 days. Control: growth medium. I+D: insulin and dexamethasone. I+D+R: insulin, dexamethasone, and rosiglitazone. Mouse beta-actin was used as the control, and values representing mRNA of the untreated cells were defined as 1. Data are presented as means ± SE (n = 3). <i>*P</i> < 0.05, <i>**P</i> < 0.01.</p

Metabolite Profiling and Distribution of Militarine in Rats Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

Militarine, a natural glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalate, isolated from Bletilla striata, was reported with a prominent neuroprotective effect recently. The limited information on the metabolism of militarine impedes comprehension of its biological actions and pharmacology. This study aimed to investigate the metabolite profile and the distribution of militarine in vivo, which help to clarify the action mechanism further. A total of 71 metabolites (57 new metabolites) in rats were identified with a systematic method by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The proposed metabolic pathways of militarine include hydrolyzation, oxidation, glycosylation, esterification, sulfation, glucuronidation and glycine conjugation. Militarine and its metabolites were distributed extensively in the treated rats. Notably, six metabolites of militarine were identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which were highly consistent with the metabolites after oral administration of gastrodin in rats. Among the metabolites in CSF, five of them were not reported before. It is the first systematic metabolic study of militarine in vivo, which is very helpful for better comprehension of the functions and the central nervous system (CNS) bioactivities of militarine. The findings will also provide an essential reference for the metabolism of other glucosylated benzyl esters of succinic, malic, tartaric and citric acids

A Unique Naphthone Derivative and a Rare 4,5-seco-Lanostane Triterpenoid from Poria cocos

A previously undescribed naphthalenone derivative, sohiracillinone (1), and a novel 4,5-seco-lanostane triterpenoid, 11&beta;-ethoxydaedaleanic acid A (2) were isolated with two new lanostane triterpenoids, ceanphytamic acids A (3) and B (4), from the EtOH extract of Poria cocos along with 17 known compounds 5&ndash;21. The absolute configuration of sohiracillinone (1) was unambiguously identified by NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The structures of other new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR and mass spectroscopy (MS), and the cytotoxic activities of all the isolated components were evaluated

Active anti-acetylcholinesterase component of secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungi of Huperzia serrata

Background: An endophytic fungus lives within a healthy plant during certain stages of, or throughout, its life cycle. Endophytic fungi do not always cause plant disease, and they include fungi that yield different effects, including mutual benefit, and neutral and pathogenic effects. Endophytic fungi promote plant growth, improve the host plant's resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and can produce the same or similar biologically active substances as the host. Thus, endophytic fungal products have important implications in drug development. Result: Among the numerous endophytic fungi, we identified two strains, L10Q37 and LQ2F02, that have anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, but the active compound was not huperzine A. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of secondary metabolites isolated from the endophytic fungi of Huperzia serrata. Microbial cultivation and fermentation were used to obtain secondary metabolites. Active components were then extracted from the secondary metabolites, and their activities were tracked. Two compounds that were isolated from endophytic fungi of H. serrata were identified and had acetylcholine inhibitory activities. In conclusion, endophytic fungal strains were found in H. serrata that had the same anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. Conclusion: We isolated 4 compounds from the endophytic fungus L10Q37, among them S1 and S3 are new compounds. 6 compounds were isolated from LQ2F02, all 6 compounds are new compounds. After tested anti acetylcholinesterase activity, S5 has the best activity. Other compounds' anti acetylcholinesterase activity was not better compared with huperzine A