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The rapa whelk Rapana venosa, an economically important marine fishery resource in China but a major invader all over the world, changes from a phytophagous to a carnivorous form following settlement and metamorphosis. However, the low settlement and metamorphosis rates (1%) of larvae limit the abundance of R. venosa. This critical step (settlement and metamorphosis) remains poorly characterized but may be related to how larvae perceive the presence of shellfish, their new source of food. Here, we report that larvae may use olfactory perception to sense shellfish. Olfactory receptor (OR) genes are involved in odor sensing in animals. We identified a total of 463 OR genes, which could be grouped into nine clades based on phylogenetic analysis. When assessing the attraction of larvae at different developmental stages to oyster odor, R. venosa showed active settlement and metamorphosis behavior only at the J4 stage (competent larva, 1000-1500 μm shell length) and in the presence of shellfish odor at the same time. Expression of OR gene family members differed between stage 2 (four-spiral whorl stage) and stage 1 (single- to three-spiral whorl stage), indicating significant changes in the olfactory system during larval development. These findings broaden our understanding of olfactory perception, settlement, and metamorphosis in gastropods and can be used to improve R. venosa harvesting, as well as the sustainable development and utilization of this resource.

HBV infection is a major global health burden that needs novel immunotherapeutic approaches. Herein, we show that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) is a novel drug target for HBV infection. We reveal the new target with highly selective probes of PAC5, a natural sesquiterpene derivative. PAC5 show potent anti-HBV activity in vivo and in vitro. Further studies on its mode of action indicate that PAC5 binds to the residue Asp49 and a deep groove in the RNA recognition motif1 (RRM1) region of hnRNPA2B1. PAC5-bound hnRNPA2B1 is activated, dimerized, and translocated to the cytoplasm where it activates the TBK1-IRF3 pathway, leading to the production of type I interferons (IFNs). Furthermore, PAC5 also suppresses other viral replications, such as SARS-CoV-2 and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Our results indicate that PAC5 is the first small molecule agonist of hnRNPA2B1, a drug target potentially valid for broad-spectrum viral infections, providing a novel strategy for viral immunotherapy.

The genus Piper is one of the largest genera in the Piperaceae, with most species widely distributed globally, covering all continents. To date, many Piper species have been scientifically investigated for their chemical diversities and interesting broad spectrum of bioactivities, including central nervous system (CNS), pesticidal, antifungal and antibacterial effects. This review systematically summarizes the scaffolds of the alkaloids reported, the major chemicals isolated from Piper spp., and their biological activities. Besides the alkaloids, some neolignans with rearranged skeletons show structural diversities, while the chalcones, flavonoids and kava-pyrones have some potential activities. Herein, the sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds from Piper species and their bioactivities are also surveyed.

Pepper is one of the most popular spices over the world and is called the King of Spices. Its essential oils (EOs) could alleviate neuronal ailments due to the inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In this study, the chemical compositions of 26 EOs prepared from white and black pepper collecting from 6 different cultivars were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 133 compounds were identified in the white and black pepper EOs. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were found to be riched in these EOs, of which α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, 3-carene, limonene, and ( E)- β-caryophyllene were the major constituents. Most of pepper EOs showed potential AChE inhibitory activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the range of 0.5-182.5 µg/mL. Comparison of chemical constitutes of pepper EOs from different cultivars suggested that α-pinene, β-pinene, and 3-carene with an IC50 value of 3.2, 53.3, and 2.9 µg/mL, respectively, might be used as Quality-marker (Q-marker) of pepper oil in inhibiting AChE.

The term ginseng refers to the dried roots of several plants belonging to the genus Panax of the Araliaceae family. The 3 major commercial ginsengs are Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (Notoginseng), P. ginseng C.A. Meyer (Ginseng), and P. quinquefolius L. (American ginseng), which have been used as herbal medicines. Over 18,000 papers on ginsengs have been published on the basis of their structural diversity and biological activities. Many reviews have summarized the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical use of ginsengs, but the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of ginsenosides from ginsengs in autophagy is unavailable. Herein, we review the structural diversity of ginsenosides, especially the ones in notoginseng, and the SAR in autophagic activity is discussed in detail.

A detailed chemical investigation of the red resins from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Chinese dragon’s blood) yielded five new flavonoid oligomers, named cochinchinenins D-H (1–5), together with a known biflavonoid, cinnabarone (6), and a mixture of two known biflavonoids, socotrin-4′-ol (7) and homoisosocotrin-4′-ol (8). Of these new compounds, 1–3 were biflavonoids and 4 and 5 were triflavonoids. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity (Cdc25), antibacterial (PEPT) and antifungal (YNG) activities. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0020-5 and is accessible for authorized users.

Investigation of the fruits of Schisandra sphenanthera led to the isolation of two new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, methylgomisin O (1) and chloromethyl schisantherin B (2), together with twelve known lignans (3 - 14). Their structures were elucidated by using extensive spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compound 2 was identified as a cyclooctadiene moiety substituted with a chloromethyl group, which is rarely found in natural products, especially in terrestrial higher plants. Among these isolates, compounds 1 and 7 exhibited considerable inhibitory activity against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production, and did not display any cellular toxicity against RAW264.7 cells.

The genus Piper is one of the largest genera in the Piperaceae, with most species widely distributed globally, covering all continents. To date, many Piper species have been scientifically investigated for their chemical diversities and interesting broad spectrum of bioactivities, including central nervous system (CNS), pesticidal, antifungal and antibacterial effects. This review systematically summarizes the scaffolds of the alkaloids reported, the major chemicals isolated from Piper spp., and their biological activities. Besides the alkaloids, some neolignans with rearranged skeletons show structural diversities, while the chalcones, flavonoids and kava-pyrones have some potential activities. Herein, the sesquiterpenes and phenolic compounds from Piper species and their bioactivities are also surveyed.

Smilacina atropurpurea (family Convallariaceae) is a perennial herb used medicinally for the treatment of lung ailments, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, and cuts and bruises, by the local people of its growing areas in southwest China. The tender aerial part has also been used as a wild vegetable by Lisu, Naxi and Tibetan people. Chemical analysis of the rhizomes of this plant has allowed us to isolate two new minor steroidal tetraglycosides, specifically atropurosides H ( 1 ) and I ( 2 ), by repeated column chromatography over silica gel and reversed phase silica. The structures were determined to be (25 R , S )-12 β -hydroxy-spirost-5-ene-3 β -yl- O - β - D -glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[ β - D -xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]- β - D -glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- β - D -galactopyranoside ( 1 ) and (25 S )-5 α -spirost-17 α -hydroxy-3 β -yl- O - β - D -glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[ β - D -xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]- β - D -glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- β - D -galacto pyranoside ( 2 ), respectively, on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques.