New Iridoids from Scrophularia ningpoensis.

Five new compounds including five iridoids (1-5) and six known compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of Scrophularia ningpoensis. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR and IR, MS spectroscopic data analyses. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compound 11 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Liver Protection of Alisol F and 25-Anhydroalisol F through the Inhibition of MAPK, STAT3, and NF-κB Activation In Vitro and In Vivo.

Alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F isolated from Alisma orientale, were proved to exhibit anti-inflammatory potential in our previous work. In the current study, the anti-inflammatory effects and action mechanisms of alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F were investigated in vitro. Moreover, the pharmacological effects of alisol F in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (d-gal)-induced acute liver-injured mice were evaluated. The results demonstrated that alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F could suppress LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), as well as inhibit the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, we investigated the role of alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F in mediating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), signal transducers, and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways involved in the inflammation process of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and STAT3, and the NF-κB signaling pathway, were obviously suppressed in alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F treated cells. Results obtained from in vitro experiments suggested alisol F obviously improved liver pathological injury by inhibiting the production of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, and significantly decreasing the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in LPS/d-gal-induced mice. Furthermore, the reduction of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, as well as suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway, were also observed in liver tissues of the alisol F-treated mice model. Alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F may serve as potential leads for development of anti-inflammatory agents for acute liver failure treatment.

Four New Nanaomycins Produced by Streptomyces hebeiensis Derived from Lichen.

Four new nanaomycins (1 - 4), together with two known compounds, nanaomycin αA (5) and nanaomycin ßA (6) were isolated from a fermentation broth of Streptomyces hebeiensis derived from lichen. The structures of the new nanaomycins 1 - 4 were established using comprehensive NMR spectroscopic data analysis as well as UV, IR, and MS data. The antimicrobial activities of 1 - 6 were evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria and fungus. Compounds 5 and 6 showed antimicrobial activities against the test microorganisms, while 1 - 4 were inactive at 100 µg/ml.

New Metabolites and Bioactive Chlorinated Benzophenone Derivatives Produced by a Marine-Derived Fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis.

Four new compounds, including two isocoumarins, pestaloisocoumarins A and B (1, 2), one sesquiterpenoid degradation, isopolisin B (4), and one furan derivative, pestalotiol A (5), together with one known isocoumarin, gamahorin (3), and three chlorinated benzophenone derivatives, pestalachloride B (6), pestalachloride E (7) and a mixture of pestalalactone atropisomers (8a/8b), were isolated from a culture of the fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis associated with sponge Phakellia fusca. These new chemical structures were established using NMR and MS spectroscopic data, as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis and CD Cotton effects. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Isocoumarins 1-3, showed antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MIC values ranging from 25 to 100 µg/mL and weak antifungal activities. Chlorinated benzophenone derivatives 6-8 exhibited antibacterial activities against S. aureus and B. subtilis with MIC values ranging from 3.0 to 50 µg/mL and cytotoxicities against four human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 6.8-87.8 µM.

Structures and biological activities of the triterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids from Alisma orientale.

Sixteen triterpenoids and nine sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the rhizome of Alisma orientale. Structures of 16-oxo-11-anhydroalisol A 24-acetate, 13ß,17ß-epoxy-24,25,26,27-tetranor-alisol A 23-oic acid, 1αH,5αH-guaia-6-ene-4ß,10ß-diol, and alisguaiaone were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. The cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of isolated terpenoids were evaluated. Triterpenoids alisol A, alisol A 24-acetate, 25-O-ethylalisol A, 11-deoxyalisol A, alisol E 24-acetate, alisol G, alisol B 23-acetate and sesquiterpenoids 1αH,5αH-guaia-6-ene-4ß,10ß-diol, 10-hydroxy-7,10-epoxysalvialane exhibited cytotoxicities against the three tested human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 11.5 ± 1.7 µM to 76.7 ± 1.4 µM. Triterpenoids alisol A, 25-O-ethylalisol A, 11-deoxyalisol A, alisol E 24-acetate, alisol G, and 25-anhydroalisol F showed antibacterial activities against the Gram-positive strains Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 12.5-100 µg/mL. Sesquiterpenoid 4ß,10ß-dihydroxy-1αH,5ßH-guaia-6-ene exhibited antibacterial activity against B. subtilis with an MIC value of 50 µg/mL, and 10-hydroxy-7,10-epoxysalvialane exhibited activity against S. aureus with an MIC value of 100 µg/mL. Compounds 16-oxo-11-anhydroalisol A 24-acetate, alisol F, 25-anhydroalisol F, and alisguaiaone exhibited inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. None of the compounds showed obvious inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase.