Three new neo-clerodane diterpenoids, named scuregeliolides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the whole plant of Scutellaria regeliana. Their chemical structures, including absolute stereochemical configurations, were fully elucidated by means of integrated spectroscopic techniques and Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) calculations. In vitro, three undescribed neo-clerodane diterpenoids showed significant anti-inflammatory activities due to inhibiting the release of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, as well as preventing the release of β-glucuronidase from the PAF-stimulated PMNs.
Glutinol (GT), a major triterpenoid component of Orostachys japonica, suppresses TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human cancer cells. GT treatment restored epithelial characteristics by upregulating E-cadherin and downregulating Snail, thereby reducing cancer cell migration and invasion in A549 and MCF-7 cells. In vivo, GT significantly inhibited lung metastasis of TGF-β-treated A549-luc cells in mice. These findings demonstrate that GT exerts potent anti-metastatic effects through modulation of the TGF-β/Snail/E-cadherin signaling axis, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent against cancer metastasis.
Rutin, a dietary flavonoid, can relieve insulin resistance to improve hyperglycemia, while the precise mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that rutin bound well to the insulin receptor, alleviated glucosamine-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells and observably increased glucose consumption and glucose uptake in vitro. Furthermore, rutin increased the levels of IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K, p-AKT, p-GSK3β and p-FOXO1 and decreased the expression of p-IRS-1, p-GS, PEPCK and G6Pase, indicating that rutin could promote glycogen synthesis and inhibit gluconeogenesis via the IRS/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Overall, the findings confirmed that rutin potentially mitigates glucosamine-induced insulin resistance in hepatocytes via activation of IRS/PI3K/Akt pathways.
Two previously undescribed macrocyclic diterpenoids, cycloserratol (1) and isopapyrifuranol A (2) were isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia seratta. Compound 1 was confirmed as trihydroxy substituted 12-membered macrocyclic cembrane-type diterpenoid skeleton and 2 was a new 1,12-oxygen fused trihydroxy cembrane skeleton. The structures of these new metabolites were characterized by HRESIMS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR analysis.
N-(4-Guanidinobutyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoacetamide (C1), a marine-derived leonurine analogue, was synthesized via a six-step route with 38% total yield. Biological evaluation demonstrated potent anticoagulant activity through significant prolongation of APTT (20 mM) and PT (5 mM). C1 dose-dependently (100-200 μM) suppressed LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages without cytotoxicity and modulated phagocytosis. In LPS-induced acute lung injury rats, C1 reduced proinflammatory cytokines in BALF. These findings highlight C1's dual anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties as a promising lead compound.

