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Triterpenoids possess a wide range of biological effects. Here, the cytotoxic activities of 55 triterpenes and derived glycosides against BEL-7404 and SGC-7901 cells were assessed, and structure-activity relationships were analysed accordingly. Nine of them effectively inhibited the two cell lines. In particular, compounds 49 and 52 inhibited BEL-7404 cells as efficiently as 5'-fluorouracil (IC 50 values 0.46 and 1.48, respectively). Moreover, we found that compounds 49 and 52 induced apoptosis in BEL-7404 cells. Indeed, DNA fragmentation assay showed a time-dependent degradation of DNA after treatment of cells with compounds 49 and 52. In addition, Bax gene expression levels were increased after treatment with these compounds, in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings suggested that compounds 49 and 52 induce apoptosis in BEL-7404 cells by upregulating the Bax gene without affecting Bcl-2 gene expression.

A new seco-neolignan glycoside, seco-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, together with eight known compounds, were obtained from the EtOH extract of the root bark of Ailanthus altissima. Their structures were elucidated based on the spectroscopic data. Three neolignan glycosides including 7,9,9'-trihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, sonchifolignan B and citrusin B exhibited moderate in vitro inhibitory effect on tobacco mosaic virus replication with IC₅₀ values 0.30, 0.35 and 0.26 mmol L⁻¹, respectively.

A new phenolic glycoside, 4-O-β-D-apifuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxyacetophenone (2) and 11 known compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of the plant Celosia argentea. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Among the isolated compounds, stigmasterol (10) showed moderate inhibitory activities against SGC-7901 and BEL-7404 cells.

Two new phenolic water-soluble constituents, involcranoside A (1) and involcranoside B (2) have been isolated along with five known phenolic compounds: 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-O-beta-D-gluco-pyranoside (3), picein (4), and 1,4-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), leonuriside A (6) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (7) from the branch bark of Davidia involucrata. Identification of their structures was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including (1)H-(1)H COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC methods and FAB mass spectral data.

A new activity of triterpenes and triterpenoid glycosides against phytovirus has been found. Based on the anti-TMV replication activity in vivo, 47 triterpenes and triterpenoid glycosides were screened through the leaf-disk method together with indirect ELISA. Structure-activity relationships were analyzed according to the results of bio-activity screening. Besides, the EC(50) values of those compounds having higher activities were measured.

Two new neolignan glycosides, davidioside A (1) and davidioside B (2), have been isolated along with six known compounds from the branch bark of Davidia involucrata. Identification of their structures was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including (1)H-(1)H COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC methods as well as FAB mass spectral data.

Three new water-soluble compounds, pungens A-C, along with four known compounds including two phenol glycosides, one secoiso-flavanol and one phenol ether, have been isolated from the bark of Elaeagnus pungens. Among them, pungen C (7) (200 μg/ml) was tested in SGC-7901 and BEL-7404 tumor cell lines, and showed moderate cytotoxic activity. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]