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A cucurbitane triterpenoid, 7β-butoxy-3β-hydroxy-25-methoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (1), was isolated from the fruit pulp of Momordica charantia. Structure determination of the new compound was accomplished by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR (1H, 13C, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and EI-MS and comparison with the data of known analogues.

In the continuous search for α-glucosidase inhibitors, eleven phenolic compounds (1-11) were isolated from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa. Their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and inhibition mechanism were investigated using an in vitro inhibition assay and molecular docking studies. Compounds 2, 5, 6, and 8-11 (IC50 between 290 and 431 µM) inhibited α-glucosidase more effectively than the reference compound acarbose (IC50=1463 ± 29.5 µM). Among them, compound 10 exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 290.4 ± 9.6 µM. Compounds 2, 5, 9 10 and 11 were found to be competitive inhibitors, while compounds 6 and 8 were noncompetitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase. Computational analyses showed that the main binding forces between the compounds and the main residues were hydrogen bonds. The results indicated that these compounds had considerable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

(+)-Bornyl p-coumarate is an active substance that is abundant in the Piper betle stem and has been shown to possess bioactivity against bacteria and a strong antioxidative effect. In the current study, we examined the actions of (+)-bornyl p-coumarate against A2058 and A375 melanoma cells. The inhibition effects of (+)-bornyl p-coumarate on these cell lines were assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the underlying mechanisms were identified by immunostaining, flow cytometry and western blotting of proteins associated with apoptosis and autophagy. Our results demonstrated that (+)-bornyl p-coumarate inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, demonstrating treatment induced apoptosis. In addition, western blotting revealed that the process is mediated by caspase-dependent pathways, release of cytochrome C, activation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bad and caspase-3/-9) and suppression of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1). Also, the upregulated expressions of p-PERK, p-eIF2&alpha, ATF4 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-homologous protein (CHOP) after treatment indicated that (+)-bornyl p-coumarate caused apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Moreover, increased expressions of beclin-1, Atg3, Atg5, p62, LC3-I and LC3-II proteins and suppression by autophagic inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), indicated that (+)-bornyl p-coumarate triggered autophagy in the melanoma cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that (+)-bornyl p-coumarate suppressed human melanoma cell growth and should be further investigated with regards to its potential use as a chemotherapy drug for the treatment of human melanoma.

Three new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&alpha, yl peroxide (1), abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&beta, yl peroxide (2), and 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&beta, yl 7-oxoabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl peroxide (3), together with four known abietane-type diterpenoids (4&ndash, 7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. At a concentration of 50 &mu, M, compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed 26.2%, 23.6%, and 35.7% inhibition towards xanthine oxidase enzyme, respectively. In addition, compound 3 also showed 24.9% inhibition toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

Two new cucurbitane triterpenes, (23E)-7β-methoxycucurbita-5,23,25-trien-3β-ol (1) and 23,25-dihydroxy-5β,19-epoxycucurbit-6-ene-3,24-dione (2), and a new D : C-friedooleanane triterpene, 3α-[(E)-feruloyloxy]-D : C-friedooleana-7,9(11)-dien-29-oic acid (3), together with two known D : C-friedooleanane triterpenes, 3β-[(E)-feruloyloxy]-D : C-friedooleana-7,9(11)-dien-29-oic acid (4) and 3-oxo-D : C-friedooleana-7,9(11)-dien-29-oic acid (5), were isolated from the stems of Momordica charantia. The structures of the new compounds 1–3 were determined by spectroscopic methods.

Five new cucurbitane-type triterpenes, (23E)-25-methoxycucurbit-23-ene-3beta,7beta-diol (1), (23E)-cucurbita-5,23,25-triene-3beta,7beta-diol (2), (23E)-25-hydroxycucurbita-5,23-diene-3,7-dione (3), (23E)-cucurbita-5,23,25-triene-3,7-dione (4), and (23E)-5beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3beta,25-diol (5), together with one known triterpene, (23E)-5beta,19-epoxy-25-methoxycucurbita-6,23-dien-3beta-ol (6), have been isolated from the methanol extract of the stems of Momordica charantia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Two major acylated flavonoid tetraglycosides were isolated from the methanol extract of oolong tea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods as quercetin 3-O-[2(G)-(E)-coumaroyl-3(G)-O-beta-D-glucosyl-3(R)-O-beta-D-glucosylrutinoside] (1) and kaempferol 3-O-[2(G)-(E)-coumaroyl-3(G)-O-beta-D-glucosyl-3(R)-O-beta-D-glucosylrutinoside] (2). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited scavenging activity against DPPH radical with EC(50) values of 30.5 and 487.2 microM, respectively.

Four new lactone chlorins, ficuschlorins A - D (1-4, resp.), and six known pheophytins were isolated from the leaves of Ficus microcarpa. The structures of these compounds were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, and other techniques. New natural pheophytins were rarely obtained. In the past ten years, only three new pheophytins were isolated from natural sources.

Two new methoxy lactone chlorins ficusmicrochlorin A (1) and ficusmicrochlorin B (2), and one new anhydride chlorin ficusmicrochlorin C (3), along with eight known pheophytins were isolated from the leaves of Ficus microcarpa. Their structures were determined by the extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. New pheophytin compound was rarely obtained from natural sources. In the past ten years, only three new natural pheophytins were characterized.

Four new cucurbitane-type triterpenes, cucurbita-5,23(E)-diene-3beta,7beta,25-triol (1), 3beta-acetoxy-7beta-methoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-25-ol (2), cucurbita-5(10),6,23(E)-triene-3beta,25-diol (5), and cucurbita-5,24-diene-3,7,23-trione (6), together with four known triterpenes, 3beta,25-dihydroxy-7beta-methoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-diene (3), 3beta-hydroxy-7beta,25-dimethoxycucurbita-5,23(E)-diene (4), 3beta,7beta,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (7), and 25-methoxy-3beta,7beta-dihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (8), were isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the stems of Momordica charantia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Four new lanostane-type triterpenes, 24-ethyl-3beta-methoxylanost-9(11)-en-25-ol (1), 3beta-methoxy-24-methylenelanost-9(11)-en-25-ol (2), 3beta-methoxy-25-methyl-24-methylenelanost-9(11)-en-21-ol (3) and 3beta-methoxy-24-methyllanosta-9(11),25-dien-24-ol (4) together with three known triterpenes, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid methyl ester, and ursaldehyde have been isolated from the methanol extract of the twigs of Diospyros discolor. The structures of those new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.