Picrachinentins A-F, 14-Membered Cyclopeptide Alkaloid-Type Burpitides with Uncommon N-Terminal Modifications from and Their Neuroprotective Activity.

Picrachinentins A-F (-, respectively), six novel cyclopeptide alkaloid-type burpitides (CPABs), were isolated and fully elucidated from the EtOH extract of the stems and leaves of . Structurally, compounds - have a 14-membered paracyclophane ring system that was closed through an ether bond between the β-hydroxy amino acid and tyrosine and modified with a 4,5-methylenedioxybenzoyloxy (MDBz, and ) or hexanoyl (Hexa, , , , and ) group at the N-terminus. Interestingly, this is the first report on the isolation and characterization of CPABs from plants of the Simaroubaceae family.

New sesquiterpenoids with neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo from the Picrasma chinensis.

Three undescribed sesquiterpenes, designed as pichinenoid A-C (1-3), along with nine known ones (4-12) were isolated from the stems and leaves of Picrasma chinensis. The new isolates including their absolute configurations were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments, as well as comparison with literature data. Structurally, compounds 1 and 2 are descending sesquiterpenes, while pichinenoid C (3) is a rare sesquiterpene bearing a 2-methylenebut-3-enoic acid moiety at the C-6 side chain.

Clerodane diterpenoids with in-vitro anti-neuroinflammatory activity from the tuberous root of Tinospora sagittata (Menispermaceae).

Twenty-six clerodane diterpenoids have been isolated from T. sagittata, a plant species of traditional Chinese medicine Radix Tinosporae, also named as "Jin Guo Lan". Among them, there are eight previously undescribed clerodane diterpenoids (tinotanoids A-H: 1-8), and 18 known diterpenoids (9-26).

New polychlorinated bibenzyls from Rhododendron minutiflorum.

Five new polychlorinated bibenzyls (1-5) along with 3 known compounds (6-8) were isolated from the stems and leaves of Rhododendron minutiflorum. The chemical structures of all the isolates were determined by spectroscopic methods, and compounds 1 and 2 were further verified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1-5 were halogenated compounds which bear three to five chlorine atoms in their chemical structures.

Terpenoids with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity from Rhododendron minutiflorum Hu.

Five undescribed triterpenoids, two unusual omphalane-type sesquiterpenoids together with twenty-five known compounds were isolated from the leaves and stems of Rhododendron minutiflorum Hu. The absolute configurations of 1-3 and 6 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 6-7 feature the rare omphalane-type sesquiterpene skeleton and are verified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for the first time.