Xinxuekang Regulates Reverse Cholesterol Transport by Improving High-density Lipoprotein Synthesis, Maturation, and Catabolism.

Di'ao Xinxuekang (XXK) is an herbal product in China and the Netherlands that has been clinically shown to attenuate atherosclerosis; however, the underlying antiatherosclerotic mechanism remains unclear. Because of its role in cholesterol homeostasis, reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a potential target for these beneficial effects. This study investigated the effects of XXK on RCT and related proteins.

A new triterpene and an antiarrhythmic liriodendrin from Pittosporum brevicalyx.

A new triterpene, 21-O-senecioyl-R(1)-barrigenol (1) and 13 known compounds were isolated from the ethanol extracts of the leaves and bark of Pittosporum brevicalyx (Oliv.) Gagnep. Their structures were elucidated based on spectral data.

Ligand fishing with functionalized magnetic nanoparticles coupled with mass spectrometry for herbal medicine analysis: ligand fishing for herbal medicine analysis.

The chemical composition of herbal medicines is very complex, and their therapeutic effects are determined by multi-components with sophisticated synergistic and/or suppressive actions. Therefore, quality control of herbal medicines has been a formidable challenge. In this work, we describe a fast analytical method that can be used for quality assessment of herbal medicines.

Rapid probe and isolation of bioactive compounds from Dioscorea panthaica using human serum albumin functionalized magnetic nano-particles (HSA-MNPs)-based ligand fishing coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The chemical diversity of secondary metabolites in medicinal plant makes it a huge challenge to isolate the bioactive compounds from herbal extracts, so quick recognition of the bioactive ones is of vital importance for improving the efficiency of isolation. In this study, a ligand fishing experiment based on human serum albumin functionalized magnetic nano-particles (HSA-MNPs) was performed to probe the bioactive components in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Dioscorea panthaica. The minor compounds fished out by HSA-MNPs were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and then separated from the extract of the whole plant by one or two steps of column chromatography under the guidance of ESI-MS.

Ligand fishing from Dioscorea nipponica extract using human serum albumin functionalized magnetic nanoparticles.

Dioscorea nipponica and the preparations made from it have been used for long to prevent and treat coronary heart disease in traditional Chinese medicine. A group of steroidal saponins present in the plant are believed to be the active ingredients. It has been a challenge to study the individual saponins separately due to the similarities in their chemical and physical properties.

Gold-catalyzed three-component tandem process: an efficient and facile assembly of complex butenolides from alkynes, amines, and glyoxylic acid.

An efficient and facile gold-catalyzed three-component tandem process for the assembly of two types of highly functionalized butenolides has been developed. In this reaction system, more than four chemical bonds are formed by a single gold catalyst. The present tandem protocol includes a direct coupling of alkynes, amines, and glyoxylic acid and subsequent exclusively endo-selective cycloisomerization of alkynoic acids along with intermolecular electrophilic trapping; it utilizes three simple and commercially available starting materials to assemble architecturally complex and appealing butenolide scaffolds bearing other reactive sites for further manipulation.

Synthesis and biological activities of novel nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists based on benzimidazole derivatives bearing a heterocyclic ring.

A series of benzimidazole derivatives bearing a heterocyclic ring imidazole (1), 5-chloroimidazole (2), 1,2,4-triazol (3), and imidazoline (4) were synthesized and evaluated for angiotensin II antagonistic activities. The synthetic compounds 1-4 were biologically evaluated in vitro using an AT(1) receptor binding assay, where compounds 1 and 3 provided weak binding affinity, compound 2 showed moderate binding affinity, and compound 4 showed good binding affinity. Moreover, compound 4 was found to be almost equipotent with telmisartan in vivo biological evaluation study.

(3aS,7S,9aS,9bR)-3a,6,6,9a-Tetra-methyl-2-oxoperhydro-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-7-yl acetate.

THE TITLE COMPOUND (COMMON NAME: 3β-acet-oxy-8-epi-sclareolide), C(18)H(28)O(4), is a sclareolide derivative, which was synthesized from 9(11)-en-3β-acet-oxy-8-epi-sclareolide. In the mol-ecular structure, the two six-membered rings display chair conformations and the five-membered ring displays an envelope conformation. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Abietane lactones and iridoids from Goldfussia yunnanensis.

Two new abietane diterpene lactones (1--2), three new abietane diterpene lactone glycosides (3--5) and a new iridoid glycoside (6), together with five known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Goldfussia yunnanensis. The new compounds were determined to be 18-hydroxyhelioscopinolide A (1), 18-oxohelioscopinolide A (2), 18-hydroxy-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylhelioscopinolide A (3), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylhelioscopinolide A (4), 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosylhelioscopinolide A (5), and 6-O-trans-cinnamoyl E-harpagoside (6) on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidence.

[Determination of citrinin in red kojic by HPCE].

Objective: To establish an instant determination method of citrinin in red kojic by high performance capillary electrophorphores for the first time.

Method: Red kojic was extracted with the mixtrue of Toluene and ethyl acetate (70:30). Separation was carried out in an uncoated fused silica capillary (50 microm x 45.

Three new limonoids from Cipadessa cinerascens.

Three new limonoids, cipadesins D--F (1--3), together with 8,15-dihydroxy-13E-labdane, beta-sitosterol and beta-daucosterol, were isolated from the leaves and bark of Cipadessa cinerascens. Their structures were elucidated by spectral evidence. X-Ray crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure of 1.

Chiral decalins: preparation from oleanolic acid and application in the synthesis of (-)-9-epi-ambrox.

A novel and versatile process was developed to prepare the trans-decalins Delta9(11)-3beta-acetoxysclareolide (2) and Delta9(11)-3beta-acetoxy-8-epi-sclareolide (3), respectively, with 4a-methoxycarbonyl-2,7,7-trimethyl-1-oxo-cis-decalin-2-ene (4) and its C-3 hydroxyl derivative 5 from oleanolic acid (3beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, 1). Three key steps were (a) introduction of the AcO-12 group and the C-9,C-11 double bond at ring C of methyl 3beta-acetoxyolean-12-en-28-oate (8) to afford the diene, methyl 3,12-diacetoxyolean-9(11),12-dien-28-oate (11); (b) photolytic cleavage of the C-8,C-14 bond in the diene to give an acetoxy-substituted triene 14; and (c) oxidative cleavage of the triene or its hydrolyzed alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone product with m-CPBA/TsOH to give the cis- and trans-decalins 2-5. Delata9(11)-3beta-Acetoxysclareolide (2) was stereospecifically reduced to give 3beta-acetoxy-9-epi-sclareolide (23), from which (-)-9-epi-ambrox (7) was synthesized.

Chaetocochins A-C, epipolythiodioxopiperazines from Chaetomium cochliodes.

Three new epipolythiodioxopiperazines, chaetocochins A (1), B (2), and C (3), along with dethio-tetra (methylthio) chetomin (4) and chetomin (5), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the solid-state fermented rice culture of the fungus Chaetomium cochliodes. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibited significant cytotoxicity in vitro against cancer cell lines Bre-04, Lu-04, and N-04.

Chaetoindicins A-C, three isoquinoline alkaloids from the fungus Chaetomium indicum.

[structure: see text] Chaetoindicins A-C (1-3), three isoquinolines with novel skeletons, were isolated from the solid-state fermented culture of Chaetomiumindicum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. X-ray crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure of 2.

[Synthesis of phenyloxyisobutyric acid derivatives and their antidiabetic activity in vitro].

Aim: To design and synthesize new phenyloxyisobutyric acid analogues as antidiabetic compounds.

Methods: Eight new target compounds were synthesized by combination of lipophilic moieties and acidic moiety with nucleophilic replacement or Mitsunobu condensation. The eight compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and MS.

Lupane triterpenoids and a diarylheptanoid from Clematoclethra actinidioides.

Three new compounds, actinidione ( 1), 3 beta,29-dihydroxylup-20(30)-en-28-al ( 2) and 3 beta- O- trans-caffeoyl-29-hydroxybetulin ( 3), along with twenty known compounds ( 4 - 23), were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Clematoclethra actinidioides Maxim. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectral data or comparison with authentic samples. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against Lu-06, N-04 and Bre-04 cell lines with GI (50) values of 15.

Phenolic and triterpene glycosides from the stems of Ilex litseaefolia.

Chemical investigation on the stems of Ilex litseaefolia afforded four new phenolic glycosides, litseaefolosides A-D (1-4), and two new triterpene glycosides, spathodic acid 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (5) and (20S)-niga-ichigoside F1 (6), along with 28 known compounds. The structures of 1-6 were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Litseaefoloside C (3) showed inhibitory activities in vitro for alpha-glucosidase and lipase with IC(50) values of 34.

Cipadesins A-C: novel tetranortriterpenoids from Cipadessa cinerascens.

[structure: see text] Three novel tetranortriterpenoids, cipadesins A-C (1-3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Cipadessa cinerascens. They possess a novel carbon skeleton, in which rings A and C were joined via C-10 and C-11. Their structures were elucidated by spectral evidence.

Four new benzofurans from seeds of Styrax perkinsiae.

Four new benzofurans trans-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2-[2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxy-2-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-benzofuran-5-yl]benzofuran (1), (E)-5-(2-formylvinyl)-7-methoxy-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)benzofuran (2), 5-(3-butanoyloxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)benzofuran (3), and 5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-hydroxy-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl) benzofuran (4) were isolated from the seeds of Styrax perkinsiae, together with egonol (5), demethoxyegonol (6), egonol acetate (7), demethoxyegonol acetate (8), egonol glucoside (9), egonol gentiobioside (10), egonol gentiotrioside (11), beta-sitosterol (12), and beta-daucosterol (13). Their structures were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited cytotoxic activity in vitro using two breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.

Sesterterpenoids, terretonins A-D, and an alkaloid, asterrelenin, from Aspergillus terreus.

Four new sesterterpenoids, terretonins A-D (1-4), and a new alkaloid, asterrelenin (5), together with five known compounds, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a solid-state fermented culture of Aspergillus terreus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The structures of 1, 2, and 5 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

A novel alkaloid from Mitrephora maingayi.

A novel alkaloid, maingayinine, together with dicentrinone, dicentrinene, L-2-O-methyl-chiro-inositol, allantoin, glaucine, N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, terephthalic acid and ayanin, was isolated from the twigs of Mitrephora maingayi Hook (Annonaceae). Their structures were established predominantly by IR, MS and NMR spectral data.

Two diterpenes and three diterpene glucosides from Phlogacanthus curviflorus.

Two new diterpene lactones, phlogacantholides B (1) and C (2), and three new diterpene lactone glucosides, phlogacanthosides A (3), B (4), and C (5), together with lupeol, beta-sitosterol, betulin, beta-daucosterol, (+)-syringaresinol, and (+)-syringaresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the roots of Phlogacanthus curviflorus. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The structure, including the relative configuration of phlogacantholide B (1), was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its diacetate (6).

Chemical study on Cyathula officinalis Kuan.

Four new compounds, 4-[(1-ethoxy-2-hydroxy)ethyl]phenol (1), 2,3-isopropylidene cyasterone (2), 24-hydroxycyasterone (3) and 2,3-isopropylidene isocyasterone (4), together with fourteen known compounds, have been isolated from the roots of Cyathula officinalis Kuan. Their structures have been elucidated predominantly by spectroscopic methods.

Anthraquinones from Gladiolus gandavensis.

Five new anthraquinones have been obtained from the ethanolic extracts of the subterranean corms of Gladiolus gandavensis Van Houtt. Their structures were elucidated as 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone (gandavensin D, 1), methyl 3,8-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone- 2-carboxylate (gandavensin E, 2), 2,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methoxymethyl-anthraquinone (gandavensin F, 3), 8-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (gandavensin G, 4) and 1,7-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-anthraquinone (gandavensin H, 5) on the basis of spectral data. The known compounds isolated for the first time from this plant have been determined to be methyl 3,6,8-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (6), methyl 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (7), 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (8), 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (9), 6,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (10), methyl 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (11) and methyl 3,7,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (12).

Two pyranocoumarins from the seeds of Calophyllum polyanthum.

Two new pyranocoumarin diastereoisomers, calopolyanolides C (1) and D (2), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the seeds of Calophyllum polyanthum, along with calopolyanolide A (3), calopolyanolide B (4), calanolide E2 (5), 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyisoflavone (6), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (7), 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (8), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (9), beta-sitosterol (10), beta-daucosterol (11), 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (12), 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (13), and ursolic acid (14). Their structures were determined by MS, UV, and IR data and HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments or by comparing them with authentic samples. X-ray crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure and relative configuration of 1.