Alstoscholarisine L, a novel caged monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with antifungal activity from Alstonia scholaris.

Alstoscholarisine L is an architecturally complex monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with a unique ring fusion pattern, isolated from the leaves of Alstonia scholaris. The 6/5/5/6/6/6-membered rings contain two lactonic rings and one aminal carbon and possess seven contiguous aligned stereocenters, three of which are quaternary. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, quantum chemical computations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Cytotoxic monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana bovina.

Chemical investigation of the native medicinal plant Tabernaemontana bovina led to the isolation of five previously unreported monoterpenoid indole alkaloids tabernovinaines A-E (1-5) together with twenty-seven known analogs (6-32), including a bisindole alkaloid 1 with the (E)-4-aminobut-3-en-2-one fragment, as well as a unique cage skeleton 2 containing 6/5/8/6/6 ring system. The chemical structures of these unreported compounds were elucidated using mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism, density functional theory calculations, and derivatizations. The activity evaluation shows that the bisindole alkaloid 1 revealed a potential cytotoxic effect by inducing HepG2 cell apoptosis and damaging clonal sphere expansion.

Potential therapeutic use of plant flavonoids in AD and PD.

Background: Millions of people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide. Due to their complex pathology, no effective pharmacological treatment has been found to date, despite extensive research. Developing new, effective therapeutic agents to cure these disease remains a major challenge.

Structural Elucidation and Total Synthesis for the Pair of Unprecedented Polypyridines with Anti-AChE and HIV-1 Protease Activities from .

Unlike reported pyridine hybrids, 2 () and 2-alanginenmine A () from featuring an unprecedented piperidine-bridged polypyridine skeleton represented a pair of alkaloid subtypes with a unique multiple pyridine scaffold. Enlightened by the rare structural characteristics and possible biosynthetic pathway, (±)-alanginenmine A () have been achieved in ideal yield by gram-class total synthesis with four steps. In addition, both compounds and exhibited anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and HIV-1 protease activities in the biological activity evaluation.

Two new antimicrobial monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from the roots of .

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids 3-hydroxylochnerine () and 10-hydroxyvinorine () were isolated from the roots of . Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of spectroscopic data and ECD calculation. Both compounds exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against and , and their activities were comparable to the well-known antibacterial drug berberine.

Monoterpene indole N-oxide alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa and their antimicrobial activity.

Tabernaemontana corymbosa is a traditional folk medicine. In our research, six monoterpene indole N-oxide alkaloids and their parent alkaloids were obtained from the stem bark of T. corymbosa, including seven new alkaloids (1-7) and five known alkaloids (8-12).

Tabernaecorymine A, an 18-normonoterpenoid indole alkaloid with antibacterial activity from Tabernaemontana corymbosa.

Tabernaecorymine A, an 18-normonoterpenoid indole alkaloid with conjugated (E)-3-aminoacrylaldehyde fragment was obtained from the stem bark of Tabernaemontana corymbosa. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, and further verified by ACD/structure elucidator, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses and density functional theory (DFT) chemical shift predictions. The compound exhibited significant antibacterial bioactivity against Streptococcus dysgalactiae with an MIC value of 3.

New Monoterpenoid Indoles with Osteoclast Activities from .

The well-known toxic medicine is widely and historically used to treat bone fracture and skin ulcers by the folk people of China. Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, gelselegandines D and E, together with the known analogue gelegamine A were isolated from . Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemical calculations.

Alstoscholarisine K, an Antimicrobial Indole from Gall-Induced Leaves of .

Alstoscholarisine K, an indole alkaloid with eight chiral carbons and featuring a novel 6/5/6/6/6/6/6/5 octacyclic architecture, was found to be specific to the gall-infected leaves of . Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopy, computational analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The unusual highly fused cage-like pyrrolo[1,2-]pyrimidine structure with an additional -CN unit is possibly derived from a combination of monoterpenoid indole and polyamine pathways.

Synthesis of pterodontic acid derivatives and the study of their anti-influenza A virus (H1N1) activity.

Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Benth, a folk herb widely distributes in southwest China, especially in Yunnan Province, demonstrates anti-pathogenic microorganisms, anti-inflammatory, inhibition of Helicobacter pylori activities in vitro et al. Interestingly, previous studies have shown that pterodontic acid (1), a eudesmane-type sesquiterpene isolated from L.

New oxindole alkaloids with selective osteoclast inhibitory activity from .

A new alkaloid 14-hydroxygelseziridine (), along with four known oxindoles (), was isolated and characterized from the well-known toxic medicine . Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemistry calculations. Structurally, new compound has a three membered oxygen ring at -4/C-20.

Resina Draconis Reduces Acute Liver Injury and Promotes Liver Regeneration after 2/3 Partial Hepatectomy in Mice.

Aim: To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of action of resina draconis (RD) on acute liver injury and liver regeneration after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) in mice.

Methods: 2/3 PH was used to induce acute liver injury. Mice were divided into three groups: sham, vehicle + 2/3 PH, and RD + 2/3 PH.

Wip1 phosphatase deficiency impairs spatial learning and memory.

Spatial learning and memory are typically assessed to evaluate hippocampus-dependent cognitive and memory functions in vivo. Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by kinases and phosphatases play critical roles in spatial learning and memory. Here we report that the Wip1 phosphatase is essential for spatial learning, with knockout mice lacking Wip1 phosphatase exhibiting dysfunctional spatial cognition.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Neolamarckia cadamba and its bioactive monoterpenoid indole alkaloids.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Neolamarckia cadamba has been used traditionally to treat inflammation, fever, and pruritus in the Dai ethnopharmacy in Yunnan province, P.R. China.

Partial Synthesis of Crassicauline A from Yunaconitine.

Both Aconitum hemsleyanum and Aconitum geniculatun have abundant contents of yunaconitine (1). Yunaconitine (1) has similar skeleton to crassicauline A (3); the only difference between them is that 1 contains a α-hydroxyl group at C-3. Our team attempts to convert 1 into 3 because 3 owns pharmacological activity.

New aporphine alkaloids with selective cytotoxicity against glioma stem cells from Thalictrum foetidum.

Seven new isoquinoline alkaloids, 9-(2'-formyl-5', 6'-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1, 2, 3, 10-tetramethoxy dehydroaporphine (1), 9-(2'-formyl-5', 6'-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1, 2, 3, 10-tetramethoxy oxoaporphine (2), 3-methoxy-2'-formyl oxohernandalin (3), (-)-9-(2'-methoxycarbonyl-5', 6'-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1, 2, 3, 10-tetramethoxy aporphine (4), (-)-2'-methoxycarbonyl thaliadin (5), (-)-9-(2'-methoxyethyl-5', 6'-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1, 2, 3, 10-tetramethoxy aporphine (6), (-)-3-methoxy hydroxyhernandalinol (7), together with six known isoquinoline alkaloids (8-13) were isolated from the roots of Thalictrum foetidum. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant selective cytotoxicity against glioma stem cells (GSC-3 and GSC-18) with IC values ranging from 2.

Nepenthe-Like Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity from Ervatamia chinensis.

Two monoterpenoid indole alkaloid erchinines A (1) and B (2), possessing unique 1,4-diazepine fused with oxazolidine architecture and three hemiaminals, were isolated from Ervatamia chinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of intensive spectroscopic analysis, and a plausible biosynthetic pathway from ibogaine was proposed. Both compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Trichophyton rubrum and Bacillus subtilis, and their activities were comparable to the first line antifungal drug griseofulvin and antibiotic cefotaxime.

Antibacterial Indole Alkaloids with Complex Heterocycles from Voacanga africana.

Voacafricines A and B, two unique monoterpenoid indole alkaloids each bearing five fused heterocycles, were obtained from the fruits of Voacanga africana. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and computational studies. A plausible biogenetic pathway was proposed from a common precursor, 19- epi-voacristine.

Unprecedented sugar bridged bisindoles selective inhibiting glioma stem cells.

Unlike reported bisindoles linked by single bond directly, alstoniasidines A (1) and B (2), from Alstonia scholaris featuring unprecedented skeleton with two indole moieties bridged by a sugar, represented a novel bisindole type having strictosamide-glucopyranose-picraline scaffold. Both compounds exhibited selective cytotoxicity against human glioma stem cells (GSCs) and induced caspase-3 dependent extrinsic apoptosis by increasing the expression of interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and the cleaved caspase-3, while damaged the unlimited proliferation and self-renewal capacity of GSCs. This finding might provide new type of leads for the selective killing of human glioma stem cells.

Indole Alkaloids Inhibiting Neural Stem Cell from Uncaria rhynchophylla.

Uncaria rhynchophylla is commonly recognized as a traditional treatment for dizziness, cerebrovascular diseases, and nervous disorders in China. Previously, the neuro-protective activities of the alkaloids from U. rhynchophylla were intensively reported.

Three New Pyridine Alkaloids from Vinca major Cultivated in Pakistan.

Three new pyridine type alkaloids, (-)-vinmajpyridines A-C (1-3), along with two known alkaloids, have been isolated from the aerial parts of Vinca major cultivated in Pakistan. Their structures have been elucidated by means of NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data. The new alkaloids were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against glioma initiating cell lines (GITC-3 and GITC-18), glioblastoma cell lines (U-87MG and T98G), and lung cancer cell line A-549, but none of them was active at 20 μg/mL concentration.

The Anticancer Activities Phenolic Amides from the Stem of Lycium barbarum.

Four new phenolic amides, 4-O-methylgrossamide (1), (E)-2-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-{3-[(4-hydroxyphenethyl)amino]-3-oxopropyl}-phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)acryl-amide (2), (Z)-lyciumamide C (3), (Z)-thoreliamide B (4), together with thirteen known phenolic amides were identified from the stem of Lycium barbarum. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-cancer activities against human glioma stem cell lines.

Indole Glycosides from Aqueous Fraction of Strychnos nitida.

Three new indole glycosides 22-deoxystrictosamide (1), 22-deoxystrictosamide N -oxide (2) and vincosamide 2'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside-11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), together with four known analogues were isolated from aqueous fraction of Strychnos nitida. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. All the alkaloids were tested for their cytotoxic activity, but they did not show any exciting result.