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Two unusual phenanthrene derivatives related to aporphine alkaloids, artapilosines A (1) and B (2), as well as two biogenetically related known aporphine alkaloids, (−)-anonaine (3) and (−)-N-acetylanonaine (4), were separated and purified from Artabotrys pilosus. Artapilosine A (1) is the first compound representative of a new class of phenanthrene derivatives having an unprecedented carbon skeleton, in which the six-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure in a typical aporphine alkaloid was substituted with a unique five-membered carbocyclic ring. This is the first report of the formation of a carbon–carbon bond between C-5 and C-6a in 1with the loss of the nitrogen atom N-6 in the classic aporphine alkaloid. Artapilosine B (2) is a novel phenanthrene derivative having a hydroxyethyl as a substituent on the phenanthrene ring. Their chemical structures as well as absolute configurations were determined based on analysis of spectroscopic data. Additionally, the potential anti-HIV activities of all isolates 1–4were appraised. Artapilosines A (1) and B (2) showed notable anti-HIV reverse transcriptase affects, with EC50values of 20.93 and 125.29 nM, respectively. These results suggested that the discovery of these novel phenanthrene derivatives from A. pilosuswith remarkable anti-HIV effects could be essentially important for the researching and developing of new anti-HIV agents.

Artocarpus heterophyllus(jack tree) is an evergreen fruit tree belonging to the genus Artocarpus(Moraceae), which is widely distributed in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. Its fruits (jackfruit), well-known as the world’s largest tree-borne fruit, are being consumed in our daily diets as a very popular tropical fruit throughout the world and have been confirmed to hold various health benefits. In this study, five new prenylated chromones, artocarheterones A–E (1–5), as well as seven known prenylated chromones (6–12) were purified and isolated from the ripe fruits of A. heterophyllus(jackfruit). Their chemical structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic methods. This is the first report on prenylated chromones isolated from A. heterophyllus.The anti-HIV-1 effects of all isolated chromones were assessed in vitro. As a result, prenylated chromones (1–12) showed remarkable anti-HIV-1 effects with EC50values ranging from 0.09 to 9.72 μM. These research results indicate that the isolation and characterization of these prenylated chromones with remarkable anti-HIV-1 activities from the ripe fruits of A. heterophylluscould be significant to the discovery and development of new anti-HIV-1 drugs.

Toona sinensis, popularly known as Chinese toon or Chinese mahogany, is a perennial deciduous arbor belonging to the genus Toonain the Meliaceae family, which is widely distributed and cultivated in eastern and southeastern Asia. Its fresh young leaves and buds have been consumed as a very popular nutritious vegetable in China and confirmed to display a wide variety of biological activities. To investigate the chemical constituents and their potential health benefits from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis, a phytochemical study on its fresh young leaves and buds was therefore undertaken. In our current investigation, 16 limonoids (1–16), including four new limonoids, toonasinenoids A–D (1–4), and a new naturally occurring limonoid, toonasinenoid E (5), were isolated and characterized from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensis. The chemical structures and absolute configurations of limonoids 1–5were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses. All known limonoids (6–16) were identified via comparing their experimental spectral data containing mass spectrometry data, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data, and optical rotation values to the data reported in the literature. All known limonoids (6–16) were isolated from T. sinensisfor the first time. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of all isolated limonoids 1–16against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were assessed in vitro. Limonoids 1–16exhibited notable neuroprotective activities, with EC50values in the range from 0.27 ± 0.03 to 17.28 ± 0.16 μM. These results suggest that regular consumption of the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensismight prevent the occurrence and development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Moreover, the isolation and characterization of these limonoids that exhibit notable neuroprotective activities from the fresh young leaves and buds of T. sinensiscould be very significant for researching and developing new neuroprotective drugs used for the prevention and treatment of PD.

Manilkara zapota, usually known as Sapodilla, is a fairly slow-growing evergreen tropical tree which belongs to the genus Manilkara(Sapotaceae), indigenous to Central America, southern Mexico, and the Caribbean. The ripe fruits of M. zapotahave been widely consumed as an uniquely flavored tropical fruit and verified to hold a variety of health benefits. In order to investigate the potential health-promoting chemical compositions from the fruits of M. zapotacultivated in Hainan Island of China, a systematic and in-depth phytochemical study on this fruit was accordingly implemented. In our current study, three new prenylated coumarins, manizapotins A–C (1–3), together with seven known prenylated coumarins (4–10), were separated from the fruits of M. zapota. The chemical structures of new prenylated coumarins 1–3were unambiguously established by means of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and the known compounds 4–10were determined by comparing their experimental spectral data with those described data in the literature. This is the first time to discover prenylated coumarins occurring in M. zapota. The potential anti-inflammatory effects and anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activities of all these separated prenylated coumarins were assessed. Prenylated coumarins 1–10dispalyed remarkable inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with the IC50values equivalent to that of hydrocortisone in vitro. Meanwhile, prenylated coumarins 1–10exhibited pronounced anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activities with the EC50values in range of 0.12–8.69 μM. These results suggest that appropriate and reasonable consumption of the fruits of M. zapotamight assist people to prevent and reduce the occurrence of inflammatory diseases together with the infection of HIV. Furthermore, the discovery of these prenylated coumarins from the fruits of M. zapotaholding pronounced anti-inflammatory effects along with anti-HIV activities could be of great significance to the research and development of new natural anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV agents.

Ficus caricais an Asian species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Ficusof the family Moraceae, native to Western Asia and the Middle East. Its fruits, usually known as common fig or fig, have been consumed as a very popular health-promoting fruit worldwide since ancient times. To investigate the potential health-promoting chemical constituents of the fruits of F. carica, a systematic phytochemical study on its fruits was therefore carried out. In our study, four new structurally diverse prenylated isoflavone derivatives, ficucaricones A–D (1–4), along with 12 known analogues (5–16) were separated from the fruits of F. carica. Their chemical structures were ambiguously elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods. The anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities of these isolated prenylated isoflavone derivatives were tested. Prenylated isoflavone derivatives (1–16) displayed remarkable inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production with the IC50values ranging from 0.89 ± 0.05 to 8.49 ± 0.18 μM, comparable to that of the positive control (hydrocortisone). Furthermore, compounds 1–16also exhibited pronounced antiproliferative activities against diverse human cancer cell lines in vitro, holding the IC50values ranging from 0.18 ± 0.03 to 18.76 ± 0.09 μM. These findings indicate that regular consumption of the fruits of F. caricamay help to prevent the occurrence of inflammatory diseases and tumors. Moreover, the isolation and characterization of these prenylated isoflavone derivatives possessing remarkable anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities could be meaningful to the discovery of new anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents.

Clausena lansium, also known as wampee, is a species of strongly scented evergreen trees belonging to the genus Clausena(Rutaceae), which is native to southern China. Its ripe fruits have been consumed as a very popular fruit and reported to possess a range of biological activities. To study the potential health-promoting constituents from the fruits of C. lansium, a chemical investigation on its fruits was thus carried out. In this study, 16 carbazole alkaloids (1–16), including six new carbazole alkaloids, clausenalansines A–F (1–6), were separated from the fruits of C. lansium. The molecular structures of these isolated new carbazole alkaloids (1–6) were ambiguously established on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The known analogues (7–16) were determined via comparing their experimental data with those described in the literature, which were separated from C. lansiumfor the first time. All these isolated alkaloids were tested in vitro for their neuroprotective effects against 6-hydroxydopamine induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Carbazole alkaloids 1–16displayed remarkable neuroprotective effects possessing the EC50values ranging from 0.36 ± 0.02 to 10.69 ± 0.15 μM. These findings indicate that regular consumption of the fruits of C. lansiummay help people prevent the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, the separation and identification of these carbazole alkaloids possessing remarkable neuroprotective effects from the fruits of C. lansiumcould be extremely important to the discovery of new agents for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Four new anthraquinone derivatives (1–4) and four new alterporriol-type anthranoid dimers (14–17), along with 17 analogues, were isolated from the solid rice fermentation of the fungus Stemphyliumsp. 33231 obtained from the mangrove Bruguiera sexangula var.rhynchopetalacollected from the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations of 1, 3, and 4were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of their derivatives (1a, 3b, and 4a). The absolute configurations of the chiral 17–19were determined by comparing their CD spectra with 21. The inhibitory activities of most of the compounds against seven terrestrial pathogenic bacteria and two cancer cell lines were evaluated.

Two new bisindole alkaloids, angustifonines A (1) and B (2), comprising the union of a rearranged monoterpenoid quinoline and an aspidospermine alkaloid, as well as 27 known indole alkaloids were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Bousigonia angustifolia. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of MS, NMR, and computational methods. Angustifonines A and B exhibited cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines with IC50values of 2.71–16.22 μM. A possible biosynthesis pathway toward the new bisindole alkaloids 1and 2is presented.

To study the chemical constituents from the ripe fresh fruits of Syzygium samarangense(wax apple) and their potential health effects, a phytochemical investigation was undertaken. A new δ-lactone derivative, syzysamalactone (1), along with a known biogenetically related δ-lactone derivative, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (2), were isolated from the fresh ripe fruits of S. samarangense. Syzysamalactone (1) is an unusual 11-carbon δ-lactone derivative, and its chemical structure and absolute configuration were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. A plausible biogenetic pathway for 1was also proposed. Furthermore, the potential neuroprotective effects of compounds 1and 2were assessed. As a result, compounds 1and 2displayed notable neuroprotective effects with EC50values of 0.29 ± 0.03 and 1.28 ± 0.06 μM, respectively, using the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. This is the first report of δ-lactone derivatives showing significant neuroprotective activities.

A novel constant tension yarn feed control system for automatic winder is presented in this paper which is based on analyzing the principle of the generation of yarn tension and the factors which make the tension fluctuate. DSP28035 made by TI (Texas Instruments) is adopted as the main control unit of the system to acquire the real-time yarn tension which is transmitted from a yarn tension sensor. Intelligent PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm is also adopted to achieve a high-dynamic performance and an ultra-low inertia servo motor speed digital control to realize constant yarn tension feed. The system not only have the function of tension setting, over current protection, error detection and alarm, but also possess the features of simple structure, low cost, real-time control and high accuracy.

A unique prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid, clausanisumine (1), and two biogenetically related known monomer carbazole alkaloids, mukonal (2) and 3-methylcarbazole (3), were isolated from the fruits of Clausena anisum-olens. Clausanisumine (1) was an uncommon prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid, possessing an unprecedented carbon skeleton, which was composed of a simple carbazole alkaloid and a prenylated carbazole alkaloid. The chemical structure of 1was established by a combination of comprehensive spectral methods. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1was also proposed. Additionally, the potential anti-HIV activities of all isolates 1–3in vitrowere evaluated. Compound 1exhibited remarkable anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase effects showing an EC50value of 18.58 nM. The discovery of the prenylated bicarbazole alkaloid from C. anisum-olenswith notable anti-HIV activity would be meaningful to discovering and developing new anti-HIV drugs.

A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, ochroborbone (1), along with five known alkaloids (2–6), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Ochrosia borbonica. Among them, ochroborbone (1) is a rare C17-nor monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, and the known compounds (2-6) were isolated from Ochrosiafor the first time. These structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 1and 2exhibited inhibitory effects with IC50values comparable with those of cisplatin.

A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, ochroborbone (1), along with five known alkaloids (2–6), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Ochrosia borbonica. Among them, ochroborbone (1) is a rare C17-nor monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, and the known compounds (2-6) were isolated from Ochrosiafor the first time. These structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 1and 2exhibited inhibitory effects with IC50values comparable with those of cisplatin.