A new alkaloid isolated from leaves of Carthamus tinctorius / 中草药

Objective To study the alkaloids from leaves of Carthamus tinctorius. Methods The alkaloids were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. Results A new β-carboline alkaloid, 4,9-dimethoxy-1-ethyl-β-carboline (1) along with one known analogue 4-methoxy-1-ethyl-β-carboline (2), were isolated from the leaves of C. tinctorius. Compounds 1 and 2 showed the cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values of (15.2 ± 0.58) μmol/L and (17.4 ± 0.33) μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion Compounds 1 and 2 are firstly obtained from Carthamus genus, and compound 1 is a new compound named carthine A. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines.

A new coumarin isolated from root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium / 中草药

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory components from the root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. The anti-inf1ammatory activity was evaluated by the levels of NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 tested by Griess reagent. Results: Four coumarins, namely zantholin A (1), 7-methoxycoumarin (2), isoscopoletin (3), and esculetin (4), were isolated from the root barks of Z. schinifolium. Compounds 1-4 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities on inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of (0.21 ± 0.03), (0.92 ± 0.16), (0.15 ± 0.02), and (0.26 ± 0.04) μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound, a rare terpenylated coumarin named zantholin A, and compounds 3 is obtained from this plant for the first time. All compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activities.

Study on alkaloids from Ervatamia hainanensis / 中草药

Objective: To study the alkaloids from Ervatamia hainanensis. Methods: The alkaloids were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. Results: Twelve alkaloids were obtained and identified as coronaridine (1), 19-epi-heyneanine (2), 9,10-dimethoxycoronaridine (3), vobasine (4), vobasine N(4)-oxide (5), 3-oxo-19-epi-heyneanine (6), strictamine (7), deacetylakuammiline (8), pandine (9), rhazicine (10), rhazicine N(4)-oxide (11), and rhazimine (12). Conclusion: Compounds 8 and 10-12 are isolated from the genus Ervatamia Stapf for the first time, while compounds 3 and 5-7 are firstly obtained from E. hainanensis.