Seed dormancy breaking diterpenoids from the liverwort Plagiochila sciophila and their differentiation inducing activity in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

To obtain the structural diversity of bioactive compounds similar to cotylenins and fusicoccins that modulate 14-3-3 protein-protein interactions in eukaryotes, screening tests were carried out using the lettuce seed dormancy breaking-assay. An acetone extract of the liverwort Plagiochila sciophila exhibited significant activity against the seeds in the presence of the plant hormone abscisic acid. Activity-guided fractionation of the extract afforded the isolation of seven novel fusicoccane-type diterpenoids, named fusicosciophins A-E (1-5), 8-deacetyl (6) and 9-deacetyl fusicosciophin E (7).

Seed dormancy breaking diterpenoids, including novel brassicicenes J and K, from fungus Alternaria brassicicola, and their necrotic/apoptotic activities in HL-60 cells.

To find new metabolites similar to cotylenins and fusicoccins from the fungus Alternaria brassicicola, screening tests were carried out using the lettuce seed dormancy breaking assay. Activity-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extract from the culture using the assay afforded the isolation of two novel fusicoccane diterpenoids named brassicicenes J (1) and K (2), along with three known brassicicenes A (3), B (4), and F (5). Their structures were elucidated from extensive NMR spectral data and by comparison of these with those reported in the literature.