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Biologically active [1,5]diazocino[2,1-b]quinazolinones were synthesized via base-promoted [4 + 4] cycloaddition of 2-alkynyl quinazolinones with aza-ortho-quinone methides.

Two unprecedented spiro-bridged PPAPs, hyperispirones A and B (1 and 2), were isolated and characterized from the aerial parts of Hypericum beanii.

The emerging cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway plays a key role in regulating inflammation. Steroids are known to possess remarkable anti-inflammatory activity. However, the links between steroids and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway remain unidentified. In this study, eight steroids (1-8) featuring five different structural types were characterized from an endophytic fungus Aspergillus tennesseensis 1022LEF, and were subsequently evaluated for their potential role in regulating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. As a result, compound 8, with the best potency, showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity at the nanomolar to low micromolar level. Further pharmacological study indicated that 8 notably increased α7nAchR expression and inhibited the activation of its down-stream signaling pathways. Collectively, the present study not only highlighted the potential correlation between steroids and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, but also identified 8 as a dual-functional modulator via directly inhibition to acetylcholinesterase as well as up-regulation of α7nAchR expression.

Two novel prenylated acetophenones with new carbon skeletons, acronyrones A and B (1 and 2), and a new analogue, acronyrone C (3), together with two known compounds (4 and 5) were isolated from the leaves of Acronychia pedunculata. Their structures with absolute configurations were identified by interpretation of spectroscopic data, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first example of prenylated acetophenones possessed a C

Extensive phytochemical investigation on the methanol extract of the inflorescences, twigs, and leaves of Brucea javanica led to the isolation and identification of 27 triterpenoids, including 21 previously undescribed ones, named brujavanoids A-U (1-21). Their structures were determined based on comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Of these compounds, brujavanoid A (1) represents the first apotirucallane-type triterpenoid with a novel 19(10 → 9)abeo motif, and brujavanoids B and C (2-3) are the first apotirucallane-type triterpenoids with a rarely occurring 14-hydorxy-15,16-epoxy fragment. All the isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effect in an LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells model. Furthermore, the most active one, brujavanoid E (5), can suppress the transcriptional expression of typical pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the LPS- activated RAW264.7 cells.