Tanshinone IIA: A Review of its Anticancer Effects.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically lipophilic active constituent isolated from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Bunge (Danshen). Tan IIA is currently used in China and other neighboring countries to treat patients with cardiovascular system, diabetes, apoplexy, arthritis, sepsis, and other diseases. Recently, it was reported that tan IIA could have a wide range of antitumor effects on several human tumor cell lines, but the research of the mechanism of tan IIA is relatively scattered in cancer.

Cytotoxic aspidosperma-type alkaloids from Melodinus suaveolens.

Four new aspidosperma-type alkaloids, melosuavines J-M (1-4) were isolated from the leaves of Melodinus suaveolens. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as ECD calculations and Mosher's method. Their cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines were also evaluated.

Melognine, a novel monoterpenoid indole alkaloid from that induce apoptosis in BT549 cells.

A novel monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, melognine () possessing an unprecedented skeleton with a 6/6/5/5/6/6 hexatomic rearranged ring system was isolated from the stems of . The structure with absolute configuration of was established by extensive spectroscopic analyses and quantum ECD calculations. Melognine showed significant cytotoxicity on human breast cancer BT549 cells with an IC value of 1.

New butenolides with anti-inflammatory activity from .

Two new butenolides, balanolides A () and B (), were isolated from the aerial parts of the parasitic plant . Their structures were established by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical ECD calculation. The new butenolides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.