Densely Functionalized Macrocyclic Sesquiterpene Pyridine Alkaloids from .

Eleven densely functionalized new dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenoid derivatives, named maytenoids A-K (-), as well as one known analog, were isolated and characterized from . Their structures were assigned based on analysis of spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallography. Compounds - are macrocyclic sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids generated by the respective acylation of the hydroxy groups at C-3 and C-13 of dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids via diverse pyridine dicarboxylic acids.

Two New Cytotoxic Maytansinoids Targeting Tubulin from Trewia nudiflora.

Two new maytansinoids, -methyltreflorine (1: ) and methyltrewiasine (2: ), were isolated from the dried fruits of , together with three known congeners (3:  - 5: ). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of 1: and 2: was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 1:  - 5: exhibited strong cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, including HeLa, MV-4 - 11, and MCF-7, with IC values ranging from 0.

Determination of maytansinoids in Trewia nudiflora using QuEChERS extraction combined with HPLC.

Three maytansinoids with strong cytotoxicities, dehydrotrewiasine, maytanbutine, and trewiasine, were isolated and identified from Trewia nudiflora, and maytanbutine was obtained from this plant for the first time. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established to determine the three maytansinoids in T. nudiflora.

Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, Southwest China.

Four new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, southwest China, are described and illustrated. They are , , , and . Diagnostic characters between the new species and their morphologically close relatives are provided.

Anticancer effect of the traditional Chinese medicine herb Maytenus compound via the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide; folk anticancer medicinal plants have applied for cancer treatment. The Maytenus compound tablet as traditional Chinese compound medicine has been approved for alleviating hyperplasia of mammary glands, whether it can inhibit cancer still unknown. The study was to evaluate the anticancer activity of the Maytenus compound tablet.