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Callicarpa longissima is a typical Yao ethnomedicine that has been used to treat arthritis in China. Our previous study found that the dichloromethane extract (DCME) of C. longissima showed anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism and detailed chemical composition of DCME remain unclear, which lead to the original interest of this study.The study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of the DCME from C. longissima and further explore the accurate chemical components responsible for this active extract.The anti-inflammatory activity of DCME in vivo was tested with carrageenan-induced mice paw edema model. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism was explored with LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages model. The compounds in DCME were isolated by repeated column chromatography and their structures were identified on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolates in vitro were also tested by suppressing releases of inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-6 and TNF-α) in RAW264.7 macrophages model. In addition, the molecular docking analysis, which evaluated the potential interaction between the compounds and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), was performed.DCME effectively alleviated the mice paw edema induced by carrageenan. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, DCME significantly decreased the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), down-regulated the expression of TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88, inhibited the phosphorylation of alpha inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα), NF-κB p65, and degradation of IκBα. Twelve diterpenoid phenols were identified from DCME, and they not only showed different inhibitory effects on the production of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, but also could bind to TLR4 and NF-κB as analyzed by molecular docking.Taken together, the dichloromethane extract (DCME) from C. longissima could inhibit inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo, which is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of abundant diterpenoid phenols through inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, and might be a promising agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

A new e-truxillic acid derivative (1) and five known compounds (2–6) were isolated from the leaves of Palygala fallax. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. All compounds were evaluated for their antiradical activities using in vitro DPPH radical scavenging assay. Compounds 5 and 6 showed moderate radical scavenging activity with EC50 value of 54.7 and 39.4 μM.

Passiflora edulis Sims (passion fruit) seeds are often discarded as byproducts during juice processing. In fact, the seeds are of considerable commercial value in the food and cosmetics industry because of their rich polyphenols, especially piceatannol. In this study, high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was applied for the separation of stilbene polyphenols from passion fruit seeds. The n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:2:1:2.8, v/v) was found to be the optimum two-phase solvent for the preparation of two major stilbenes, scirpusin B (8) and piceatannol (9) with purities of 90.2% and 94.8%, respectively. In addition, a continuous semipreparative HPLC was applied to further purify the HSCCC fractions containing minor stilbenes and obtain four new piceatannol derivatives (1-4) along with three known ones (5-7). The structures of these new compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods, including NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), and circular dichroism (CD). The isolated compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro. The result suggested that all of them exhibited more significant activity than acarbose, and passiflorinol B (2) had the strongest activity, with a IC50 value of 1.7 μM.

As part of our ongoing search for novel and bioactive natural products in Karst plants, two new sesqui-neolignans, difengpienol A (1) and difengpienol B (2), together with two known analogues (3 and 4), were isolated from the stem bark of Illicium difengpi. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Difengpienol A (1) possessed a unique 1, 4-dibenzodioxocine moiety. All isolates were evaluated for inhibitory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages cells. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate inhibitory effects on NO production with IC50 values of 16.9 and 23.8 μM. A biosynthetic pathway was also proposed for 1 and 2.

Illicium difengpi is well-known as its stem barks that have been widely used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for therapy rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injury. To comprehensive utilization of resources, the phytochemical investigation on the branches and leaves of this plant was carried out, which led to the isolation of an undescribed neolignan along with three known lignans. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and the new compound was elucidated as a neolignan possessing a dihydropyran ring formed by a unique conjugation way and named difengpienol C. Difengpienol C showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which powerfully inhibited nitric oxide (NO), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production and suppressed the mRNA transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6 and TNF-α. Besides, difengpienol C blocked the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, difengpienol C might be a potent agent for anti-inflammatory drug development, and the non-traditional medicinal parts of Illicium difengpi can be identified as the source of natural anti-inflammatory molecules.

Simonsinol is a natural sesqui-neolignan firstly isolated from the bark of Illicium simonsii. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of simonsinol was investigated with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages RAW264.7 cells model. The results demonstrated that simonsinol could antagonize the effect of LPS on morphological changes of RAW264.7 cells, and decrease the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor &alpha, (TNF-&alpha, ), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, as determined by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, simonsinol could downregulate transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), TNF-&alpha, and IL-6 as measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and inhibit phosphorylation of the alpha inhibitor of NF-&kappa, B (I&kappa, B&alpha, ) as assayed by Western blot. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that simonsinol could inhibit inflammation response in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells through the inactivation of the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-&kappa, B) signaling pathway.

Phytochemical investigation on the pericarps of Illicium difengpi lead to the isolation and structure elucidation of a new sesquiterpene, sesquicaranoic acid C (1), a new neolignan, difengpiol C (2), and 10 known compounds. The structures and absolute configurations of two new compounds were determined by a combination of NMR and CD spectroscopic analyses. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells.

Three new nor-clerodane diterpenoids, crotoeurins A-C (1-3), together with four known ones were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Croton euryphyllus. Among them, crotoeurin A (1) is a new nor-clerodane diterpenoid dimer with a unique cyclobutane ring via a [2+2] cycloaddition. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and the stereochemistry of 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1-3 exhibited neurite outgrowth-promoting activity on NGF-mediated PC12 cells at concentration of 10 mu M. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This work aimed to evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from Callicarpa longissima. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH method , the results indicated that the dichloromethane extract, ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract showed the strongest antioxidant capacity with the IC50 values of 12.39 μg/mL, 10.51μg/mL and 11.36 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activities was measured by NO assay, which showed the dichloromethane extract and ethyl acetate extract possess a significantly NO inhibition with the IC50 values of 8.75 μg/mL and 7.25 μg/mL. The results provide theoretical basis for development and utilization of this plant.

In this study, four new lignan glucosides, named difengpiosides A-D (1-4), were isolated from the stem barks of Illicium difengpi, together with seven known compounds 5-11. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, CD) and a comparison with literature data. All the compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells.

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from 95% ethanol extract by silica gel, MCI, and ODS column chromatography. These compounds were respectively identified as quercetin (1), kaempferol (2), (+)-catechin (3), fraxin (4), protocatechuic acid (5), gallic acid (6), methyl gallate (7), ethyl gallate (8), apocynol A (9), baccatin (10), cerevisterol (11), ellagic acid (12), 3, 3',4'-tri-0-methylellagic acid(13) and N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninyl-N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninate(14) by analyzing their spectral data and comparing with the previously reported literatures. Except for gallic acid (6), all other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 showed moderate anti-proliferation activities on tumor cells.

Three new nor-clerodane diterpenoids, crotoeurins A-C (1-3), together with four known ones were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Croton euryphyllus. Among them, crotoeurin A (1) is a new nor-clerodane diterpenoid dimer with a unique cyclobutane ring via a [2+2] cycloaddition. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and the stereochemistry of 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1-3 exhibited neurite outgrowth-promoting activity on NGF-mediated PC12 cells at concentration of 10 mu M. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Three picrotoxane sesquiterpenes including one new glycoside and two known constituents, sapidolide A (2) and picrotoximaesin (3), were isolated from the berries of Baccaurea ramiflora. The structure of the new sesquiterpene glycoside, ramifloside (1), was elucidated as 2-one-6α-hydroxy-13-nor-11-picrotoxen-3(15β)-olide 10-O-β-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-3 exhibited antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with MICs of 12.5, 12.5 and 50 μg/mL.

A new daphnane diterpenoid, venenatin (1), along with six known compounds, was isolated from the aerial parts of Excoecaria venenata. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 exhibited growth inhibitory effect on human leukaemia HL-60 cell line with IC50 value of 28.10 μM.

A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl spathodic acid (1), was isolated from the EtOH extract of the root of Croton lachnocarpus Benth., together with four known compounds. These compounds were characterised on the basis of their spectral data and compatible with values in the literature. Compound 1 was the first triterpenoid glucoside isolated from the genus Croton. The known compound myriaboric acid (2) showed cytotoxic activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line with an IC50 value of 42.2 μM.

A new cardenolide tupichinolide (1) and a new steroidal saponin tupichinin A (2), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis. Their structures were established using spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compound 1 was the first cardenolide isolated from Tupistra chinensis and exhibited potent cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The results of the essential oil analysis of J. brandegeeana are presented in Table 1. GC and GC-MS analysis showed 32 compounds, representing 96.19% of the total oil. Alcohols are the dominant class of compounds, constitute 68.42% of the total oil, including phytol (33.12%), 1-octen-3-ol (14.45%), 3-octanol (14.30%), 9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol (6.10%), and trans-2-pinanol (0.45%). Aldehydes and ketones constitute 9.92% of the total oil. Ester and alkanes constitute only 6.59% and 1.10% of the total oil, respectively. The aerial parts of J. brandegeeana were collected during the flowering stage from Guilin, Guangxi, China in June 2011. A voucher specimen have been deposited in the Herbarium of the Guangxi Institute of Botany (IBK00055519). The fresh leaves of the plant (300 g) were subjected to hydrodistillation for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The clear yellowish oil was isolated in a yield of 0.1% (w/w). The constituents of the oil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. GC analysis of the volatile components was carried out using an Agilent 7890 instrument coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID). Compounds were separated on a HP-5 capillary column (30 m 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 m). The column temperature was kept at 50C for 1 min and programmed to 230C at a rate of 5C/min, and kept constant at 230C for 6 min and then programmed to 300C at a rate of 10C/min. Injector and detector temperatures were 250C, and the flow rate of helium as carrier gas was 1 mL/min. Retention indices (RI) were determined in relation to a homologous series of n-alkanes (C8–C24) under the same conditions. Relative concentrations of the components were obtained by peak area normalization. No response factors were calculated. GC/MS analysis was performed using an Agilent 5975 mass spectrometer coupled to an Agilent 7890 gas chromatograph equipped with an HP-5MS capillary column (30 m 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 m). The carrier gas was helium, and the chromatographic conditions were as above. All mass spectra were acquired in the electron-impact (EI) mode with an ionization voltage of 70 eV. Identification of the individual oil components was accomplished by comparison of their mass spectral data with the MS library (NIST 98 and Wiley 5) and literature values. Identification of the oil components was also possible by comparison of their linear retention indices with those from the literature [9–13] and those stored in the MS library [NIST database ChemStation data system]. For the purpose of quantitative analysis, the area percent obtained by FID was used as base.

To study the optimum extraction conditions of triterpenoid saponins from Picria felterrae.The optimum extraction conditions were investigated by the contents of the total glycosides and picfeltarraenine I A and I B, using orthogonal test.The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: using 70% alcohol of 19 times than the amount of original material soaking 3 hours, extracting twice with hot reflux method at 80 degrees C, 3h the first time, 1 h the second time.The selected extraction conditions are convenient and practical with high accuracy, and could be used as a reference for industrial production.