(±)-Sarcanan A, a pair of new enantiomeric dihydrobenzofuran neolignans from the aerial parts of .

(+)-Sarcanan A () and (-)-Sarcanan A (), a pair of new dihydrobenzofuran neolignan enantiomers, together with six known compounds (-), were isolated from the aerial parts of . Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of and were determined by analyses of the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.

Reactive oxygen species altering the metabolite profile of the marine-derived fungus F31-1.

To investigate the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the secondary metabolites of the marine-derived fungus F31-1, hydrogen peroxide (HO) was added to the GPY culture medium. The HPLC chromatogram of the EtOAc extract of the culture broth was distinct from that of the HO free GPY medium. Further study of the metabolites in the GPY medium with HO resulted in the discovery of eight known compounds.

Chloraserrtone A, a Sesquiterpenoid Dimer from Chloranthus serratus.

Chloraserrtone A (1), a new sesquiterpenoid dimer with two lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid monomers bridged by two six-membered rings, was obtained from Chloranthus serratus. A combination of UV, IR, NMR, HRESIMS, and X-ray diffraction data were used to elucidate the structure of 1. Compound 1 represents the first lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid dimer with extremely unique C-15-C-15', C-4-C-6', and C-6-C-11' linkages to form two six-membered rings between the monomeric units.

Three new cassane diterpenes from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance.

Four fractions were prepared from the crude extract of Caesalpinia minax Hance and the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) production release of RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed obvious inhibitory effect.

Solanerioside A, an unusual 14,15-dinor-cyclophytane glucoside from the leaves of Solanum erianthum.

Solanerioside A (1), the first example of a diterpenoid glucoside featuring a 14,15-dinor-cyclophytane scaffold, together with three known terpene glucosides (2-4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Solanum erianthum (Solanaceae). The structure of 1 was mainly characterised on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially from the 2D NMR spectra. In addition, the spectroscopic data of (6E, 10E)-5,12-dihydroxy-β-nerolidol 5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) were reported for the first time.

Chlojaponilactone B from Chloranthus japonicus: Suppression of Inflammatory Responses via Inhibition of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of Chloranthus japonicus led to the isolation of the known lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid chlojaponilactone B (1). This compound exhibited pronounced inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Enantiomeric Neolignans and a Sesquiterpene from Solanum erianthum and Their Absolute Configuration Assignment.

One pair of new C-8-C-3'/C-7-O-C-4' linked neolignan enantiomers (1a/1b) and one new guaiane sesquiterpene (2) first featuring the 1(2),9(10)-conjugated double bond were isolated from the stems of Solanum erianthum (Solanceae). Their structures were characterized on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially from their 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The absolute configurations of 1a/2b were rigorously elucidated by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments combined with the reversed helicity rule for the 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan chromophore, and compound 2 is the first report on the sterochemical assignment of a guaiane sesquiterpene by using the allylic axial chirality rule for the conjugated diene chromophore in combination with the calculated ECD spectrum.

Diterpenoids from aerial parts of Flickingeria fimbriata and their nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitory activities.

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Flickingeria fimbriata (Bl.) Hawkes resulted in isolation of sixteen ent-pimarane diterpenoids, including five rare 16-nor-ent-pimarane diterpenoids, two 15,16-dinor-ent-pimarane diterpenoids and one ent-pimarane diterpenoid. Structures were mainly elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and their absolute configurations were unequivocally determined by the exciton chirality method, the modified Mosher's method, the CD experiments (including Snatzke's method) and chemical transformations, respectively.

Two new glycosides isolated from Sapindus mukorossi fruits: effects on cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in human lung carcinoma cells.

Two new glycosides (1, 2) and two saponins (3, 4) were isolated from the fruits of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. The two glycosides were designated as sapindoside G (1) and 4'',4'''''-O-diacetylmukurozioside IIa (2). All four compounds exhibited inhibitory effects against A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells with inhibition rates up to 69.

A new bibenzyl derivative with nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitory activity from Schefflera arboricola (Araliaceae).

A new bibenzyl derivative (1), 4-acetoxy-3,5,3',4'-tetramethoxybibenzyl, along with eight known compounds (2-9), was isolated from the twigs and leaves of Schefflera arboricola (Araliaceae). The isolated compounds were elucidated mainly by means of one-dimensional, two-dimensional NMR and MS, and by comparison with the literature data. Compounds 2-5 and 7-9 are first reported from this plant.

A new triterpenoid saponin and an oligosaccharide isolated from the fruits of Sapindus mukorossi.

A new triterpenoid saponin (1) and a new oligosaccharide (2), together with three known saponins (3-5), have been isolated from n-BuOH extract of the fruits of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. The structures were elucidated using detailed analysis of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectra along with their mass spectrometric data and the results of acid hydrolysis. Of the isolated compounds 1 and 3-5 displayed cytotoxic effects against human cancer cell lines in A-549 (lung carcinoma), MDA-231 (breast carcinoma) and PC-3 (prostatic carcinoma).

Thin-layer chromatographic identification of Chinese propolis using chemometric fingerprinting.

Introduction: Poplar tree gum has a similar chemical composition and appearance to Chinese propolis (bee glue) and has been widely used as a counterfeit propolis because Chinese propolis is typically the poplar-type propolis, the chemical composition of which is determined mainly by the resin of poplar trees. The discrimination of Chinese propolis from poplar tree gum is a challenging task.

Objective: To develop a rapid thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) identification method using chemometric fingerprinting to discriminate Chinese propolis from poplar tree gum.

Novel sorbicillin analogues from the marine fungus Trichoderma sp. associated with the seastar Acanthaster planci.

Two novel sorbicillinoid analogues, (4'Z)-sorbicillin (1) and (2S)-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-chroman-4-one (2), together with three known compounds, (2S)-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-2-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-chroman-4-one (3), sorbicillin (4), and 2',3'-dihydrosorbicillin (5), were isolated from the culture broth of the fungus Trichoderma sp. associated with the seastar Acanthaster planci. Their structures were determined by analysis of the NMR and MS data.

Structural characterization and anti-fatigue activity of polysaccharides from the roots of Morinda officinalis.

Three polysaccharides MP-1, MP-2, and MP-3 were isolated from hot water extract of Chinese medicine Morinda officinalis through 95% ethanol precipitation and gel-filtration chromatography (DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column and Sephadex G-75 or G-100 column). MP-1 was identified as an inulin-type fructan with simple linear (2-->1)-linked structure. Both MP-2 and MP-3 were acidic polysaccharides which consisted predominantly of galacturonic acid, arabinose and galactose.