Chevalierinol A and B, two new neolignan sesquiterpenoids from Magnolia chevalieri.

Two new neolignan sesquiterpenoids, chevalierinol A (1) and chevalierinol B (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Magnolia chevalieri leaves, together with twelve known compounds (3-14). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data including 1D, 2D and mass spectra and compared with the reported data. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 were evaluated for their inhibitory effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Newly synthesised oxime and lactone derivatives from Dipterocarpus alatus dipterocarpol as anti-diabetic inhibitors: experimental bioassay-based evidence and theoretical computation-based prediction.

Dipterocarpus alatus-derived products are expected to exhibit anti-diabetes properties. Natural dipterocarpol (1) was isolated from Dipterocarpus alatus collected in Quang Nam province, Vietnam; afterwards, 20 derivatives including 13 oxime esters (2 and 3a-3m) and 7 lactones (4, 5, 6a-6e) were semi-synthesised. Their inhibitory effects towards diabetes-related proteins were investigated experimentally (α-glucosidase) and computationally (3W37, 3AJ7, and PTP1B). Except for compound 2, the other 19 compounds (3a-3m, 4, 5, and 6a-6d) are reported for the first time, which were modified at positions C-3, C-24 and C-25 of the dipterocarpol via imidation, esterification, oxidative cleavage and lactonisation reactions. A framework based on docking-QSARIS combination was proposed to predict the inhibitory behaviour of the ligand-protein complexes. Enzyme assays revealed the most effective α-glucosidase inhibitors, which follow the order 5 (IC50 of 2.73 ± 0.05 µM) > 6c (IC50 of 4.62 ± 0.12 µM) > 6e (IC50 of 7.31 ± 0.11 µM), and the computation-based analysis confirmed this, i.e., 5 (mass: 416.2 amu; polarisability: 52.4 Å3; DS: -14.9 kcal mol-1) > 6c (mass: 490.1 amu; polarisability: 48.8 Å3; DS: -13.7 kcal mol-1) > 6e (mass: 549.2 amu; polarisability: 51.6 Å3; DS: -15.2 kcal mol-1). Further theoretical justifications predicted 5 and 6c as versatile anti-diabetic inhibitors. The experimental results encourage next stages for the development of anti-diabetic drugs and the computational strategy invites more relevant work for validation.

Isolation, characterisation and biological evaluation of a phenoxazine, a natural dyestuff isolated from leaves of Peristrophe bivalvis.

Peristrophe bivalvis (L.) Merr. (Acanthaceae) is a wild growing and cultivated plant used for dyeing of foods by the ethnic minorities of Vietnam. The major component of the colour aqueous extract (CAE) of its leaves was identified as peristrophine by spectral analysis, especially the 2D NMR spectra (HSQC, HMBC and NOESY). Considering the widespread utilisation of the decoction of this plant for food dyeing, we evaluated the acute oral toxicity of the CAE. Based on the results in an acute toxicity study in mice, the LD50 value of the CAE was determined as 9100 ± 290 mg kg(-1) body weight. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxic assay showed an inhibition of peristrophine against Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2, IC503.90 µg mL(-1)). CAE and peristrophine (1) have also been tested for their ability to affect the cell number of the OCI acute myeloid leukaemia cell line. CAE and peristrophine significantly decreased the OCI cell number at different concentrations and times of treatment.

Novel flavanes from Livistona halongensis.

A study of the chemical constituents of a methanolic extract of the roots of Livistona halongensis (Arecaceae) led to the isolation of two new flavanes, 2S,3S-3,5,7,3'-tetrahydroxy-5'-methoxyflavane (1) and 3,7,3'-trihydroxy-5'-methoxyflavane 5-O-beta-glucopyranoside (2), together with trans-3,5,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxystilbene, saccharose and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.