Metabolic Regulations of Smilax china L. against ß-Amyloid Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Smilax china L. (Chinaroot) is a natural herb that has multiple uses, such as being used to make tea and food. Both its roots and leaves have different uses due to their unique components. In this study, we analyzed the extract of S. china. roots using LC-HRMS and evaluated the neuroprotective effects and metabolic regulation of S. china on Caenorhabditis elegans. Chinaroot extract prolonged the life span of healthy nematodes, delayed the paralysis time of transgenic CL4176, and reduced the level of ß-amyloid deposition in transgenic CL2006. The comprehensive analysis of metabolomics and qRT-PCR revealed that Chinaroot extract exerted neuroprotective effects through the valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation and fatty acid degradation pathways. Moreover, we first discovered that the expressions of T09B4.8, ech-7, and agxt-1 were linked to the neuroprotective effects of Chinaroot. The material exerted neuroprotective effects by modulating metabolic abnormalities in AD model C. elegans. Our study provides a new foundation for the development of functional food properties and functions.

Eudesmane sesquiterpenoid glycosides from the leaves of Pittosporum lenticellatum with anti-neuroinflammatory activity.

Chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract of the leaves of Pittosporum lenticellatum led to the isolation of twenty-five previously undescribed eudesmane sesquiterpenoid glycosides, pitlencosides A－Y (1-25); their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD spectra, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Among them, compounds 4, 5, 7, 8, 15 and 16 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 microglial cells by suppressing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, with IC50 values ranging from 7.95 to 25.88 µM, which showed stereo-chemical and substituent dependents. Western blot analysis and molecular docking simulation confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 4, 5, 7, 8, 15 and 16.

Zinc-catalyzed regioselective C-P coupling of p-quinol ethers with secondary phosphine oxides to afford 2-phosphinylphenols.

The zinc triflate-catalyzed highly regioselective C-P cross coupling reaction of p-quinol ethers with secondary phosphine oxides is reported. The reaction provides a facile alternative method for the synthesis of 2-phosphinylphenols in good to high yields. Mechanistically, zinc triflate may serve as an oxophilic σ-Lewis acid to activate the C-O bond in p-quinol ether first. Then the regioselective attack of the phosphorus nucleophile at the α-carbon position takes place to form the C-P bond and give the product. In addition, α-alkynyl substituted p-quinol ethers also react with secondary phosphine oxides in the same reaction mode to give 6-alkynyl 2-phosphinylphenols in the presence of the zinc catalyst.