Bioactive cardenolides from the stems and twigs of Nerium oleander.

Four new cardenolide monoglycosides, cardenolides N-1 (1), N-2 (2), N-3 (3), and N-4 (4), were isolated from Nerium oleander, together with two known cardenolides, 5 and 12, and seven cardenolide monoglycosides, 6-11 and 13. The structures of compounds 1-4 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1-13 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

Bioactive pregnanes from Nerium oleander.

Three new pregnanes, 21-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12,20-trione (1), 20R-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12-dione (2), and 16beta,17beta-epoxy-12beta-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione (3), were isolated from Nerium oleander, together with two known compounds, 12beta-hydroxypregna-4,6,16-triene-3,20-dione (neridienone A, 4) and 20S,21-dihydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12-dione (neridienone B, 5). The structures of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory activity in vitro of compounds 2-4 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and compound 4 was active.

Bioactive guaianolides from siyekucai (Ixeris chinensis).

Two new guaianolides, named chinensiolides D (5) and E (6), were isolated from Ixeris chinensis Nakai, and their structures were determined to be 10alpha-hydroxy-3-oxoguaia-11(13)-eno-12,6alpha-lactone (5) and 10alpha-hydroxy-3beta-O-[2,6-di(p-hydroxyphenylacetyl)-beta-glucopylanosyl]guaia-4(15),11(13)-dieno-12,6alpha-lactone (6). The first isolation of (11S)-10alpha-hydroxy-3-oxoguaia-4-eno-12,6alpha-lactone (4) from natural sources and its characterization are also reported. Chinenciolide E (6) showed significant growth inhibitory activity toward VA-13 malignant lung tumor cells (IC50 = 0.

Taraxasterane- and ursane-type triterpenes from Nerium oleander and their biological activities.

Two new taraxasterane-type triterpenes, 20beta,28-epoxy-28alpha-methoxytaraxasteran-3beta-ol (1) and 20beta,28-epoxytaraxaster-21-en-3beta-ol (2), were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Nerium oleander, together with ursane-type triterpenes, 28-nor-urs-12-ene-3beta,17beta-diol (3) and 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-aldehyde (4). The structures of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Anti-inflammatory activity of 1-4 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

A new taxoid from a callus culture of Taxus cuspidata as an MDR reversal agent.

A new taxoid, 5alpha,13alpha-diacetoxy-10beta-cinnamoyloxy-4(20),11-taxadien-9alpha-ol (1) along with its 9,10-isomer, taxinine NN-11 (2) were isolated from the callus cultures of Taxus cuspidata. The structures were identified by the analyses of the spectral data and chemical method. Their in vitro cytotoxicity against 3 cell lines (HepG2, WI-38 and VA-13) and multidrug resistance (MDR) reversal activity toward 2780AD tumor cells were preliminarily evaluated, the low cytotoxicities and potent MDR reversal activities suggested that they might be good lead compounds of tumor MDR reversal agent.

Taxoids and abietanes from callus cultures of Taxus cuspidata.

Seventeen known taxoids and 10 abietanes were isolated from the dark brown callus culture of Taxus cuspidata cultivated on a modified Gamborg's B5 medium with 0.5 or 1.0 mg/L NAA.

Three new triterpenes from Nerium oleander and biological activity of the isolated compounds.

New ursane-type triterpene 1, oleanane-type triterpene 2, and dammarane-type triterpene 15 were isolated from the leaves of Nerium oleander together with 12 known triterpenes, 3beta-hydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (ursolic acid, 3), 3beta,27-dihydroxy-12-ursen-28-oic acid (4), 3beta,13beta-dihydroxyurs-11-en-28-oic acid (5), 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-aldehyde (6), 28-norurs-12-en-3beta-ol (7), urs-12-en-3beta-ol (8), urs-12-ene-3beta,28-diol (9), 3beta-hydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (oleanolic acid, 10), 3beta,27-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (11), 3beta-hydroxy-20(29)-lupen-28-oic acid (betulinic acid, 12), 20(29)-lupene-3beta,28-diol (betulin, 13), and (20S,24R)-epoxydammarane-3beta,25-diol (14). On the basis of their spectroscopic data, the structures of the new compounds 1, 2, and 15 were established as 3beta,20alpha-dihydroxyurs-21-en-28-oic acid, 3beta,12alpha-dihydroxyoleanan-28,13beta-olide, and (20S,24S)-epoxydammarane-3beta,25-diol, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of the seven isolated compounds and methyl esters of ursolic acid and oleanoic acid in vitro was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

Production of biologically active taxoids by a callus culture of Taxus cuspidata.

Ten known taxoids, paclitaxel, 7-epi-taxol, taxol C, baccatin VI, taxayuntin C, taxuyunnanine C and its analogues (2-5), and yunnanxane (6), and an abietane, taxamairin A, were produced in the callus culture of Taxus cuspidata cultivated on a modified Gamborg's B5 medium in the presence of 0.5 mg/L NAA. After stimulation with 100 microM methyl jasmonate, five more taxoids, cephalomannine, 1beta-dehydroxybaccatin VI, taxinine NN-11 (1), baccatin I, and 2alpha-acetoxytaxusin, and one more abietane, taxamairin C, were found in addition to the above-mentioned compounds.

An efficient conversion of taxinine to taxinine NN-1, an anticancer agent and a modulator of multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

Taxinine NN-1 (1), which shows significant activities as a modulator of multidrug-resistant cancer cells and as an anticancer agent in an in vitro assay based on a HCC panel, was synthesized in order to obtain sufficient material for a higher order bioassay from easily available taxinine (2). The synthesis was achieved via intermediate 8, which was derived from 2 by the stepwise protection of a 9,10-dihydroxyl group as acetonide and a 2-hydroxyl group as a MOM protecting group. The temporary elimination of a cinnamoyl group at C-5 of 8 and successive reduction of a C-13 carbonyl group of the resulting 9 gave 10 and the undesired 13-epimer 11.