Natural Product Research最新文献

Natural products, owing to their chemical diversity, biological activity, and historical success, continue to be a precious source of lead compounds and potential candidates for drug discovery. Siegesbeckia, in particular, presents a promising avenue for drug discovery due to its long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine and its well-established clinical applications. Diterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, the characteristic metabolites of Siegesbeckia, have consistently attracted considerable attention in related scientific research because of their diverse structures and extensive range of bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Herein, we provide an overview of the phytochemistry, biosynthesis, pharmacological action, as well as clinical applications of Siegesbeckia. This paper will provide a valuable reference for advancing further research and development of Siegesbeckia.

Swertia chirayita is a popular hepatoprotective herb according to 'Ayurveda'. This study characterises the phytochemicals of S. chirayita responsible for hepatoprotective properties was executed using targeted metabolomics approach. Different fractions of hydro-alcoholic extract of S. chirayita were subjected to assess in-vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, active fraction was further subjected to UPLC-QTOF-MS based targeted metabolomics to identify the phytochemicals linked to bioactivity. A complementary in-silico experiment was also performed to understand the interactions of identified molecules with CYP2E1 enzyme. It was observed that, n-butanol fraction deciphers significant (p < .05) and maximum antioxidant and hepatocyte protection compared to other fractions. UPLC-QTOF-HRMS analysis reveals that it contains 17 secondary metabolites various classes. Identified molecules showed potential interactions with the crucial amino acid residues in the active site of CYP2E1 protein indicate the possibility of inhibition which may counter APAP induced toxicity in HepG2 cells.

A new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponin, suanzaoside A (1) along with one known analogue 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-]-30-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3β,25,30-trihydroxy-16-one-20R,24R-epoxydammarane (2), were isolated from the leaves of sour jujube. The structure of these isolated compounds was elucidated by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and literature comparison. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activities were further tested in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage.

The genus Genista L. has been used in the treatment of rheumatic, diabetic and ulcerous diseases. Herein, the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and antidiabetic activities of Genista carinalis Griseb. extracts were determined. The antioxidant activity was performed FRAP, DPPH, CUPRAC, and TEAC assays, while anticholinesterase activity was performed against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, and antidiabetic activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, spectrophotometrically. The activity results allowed for the study of the phytochemistry of the ethyl acetate extract that exhibited the best activity. Three new isoflavonoids, 5-methyl-7-methoxy-4'-hydroxy isoflavone (3), 7-acetyl-5-hydroxy-4'-methoxy isoflavone (4) and 7-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(6''→6''')-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-5-4'-dihydroxy isoflavone (5), together with two known compounds, isoprunetin (1) and 6-hydroxy biochanin A (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS data analyses. Compound (3) showed the highest antioxidant potential in TEAC, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays, while (2) exhibited higher butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activity among the isolated compounds.

Isoquercetin, as the sole product, was directionally biosynthesized from quercetin in a non-aqueous system using Bacillus subtilis CD-2 (1 g/L quercetin), and its structure was identified by LC-MS and NMR analysis. CCK8 assays showed no cytotoxicity and good cell proliferation. The anti-inflammatory experiments demonstrated strong inhibition of NO release, transcriptional downregulation of classical effective cellular factors tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and transcriptional upregulation of interleukin-10 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Its stronger anti-inflammatory activity than quercetin provided a reference for modifying the structure of quercetin to obtain more compounds with better pharmacological activities for medical industry.

The pimarane diterpenoids, a widespread class of secondary metabolites, have been found in several dozens of plant species from various families and in organisms from other taxonomic groups. According to the different chiral centres, pimarane diterpenes can be divided into four types, including pimarane, isopimarane, ent-pimarane, and ent-isopimarane. Meanwhile, these compounds possessed many pharmacological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Due to their notable structure and biological activities these substances have attracted interest in recent years. A comprehensive account of the structural diversity (368 structures, 117 references) and biological activities of pimarane diterpenes discovered from 2000 until 2023 is given in this review.

The study compared the triterpenoid ingredients, polysaccharide, protein, amino acid, and volatile components of PC. The PC was treated with traditional sweating (TST), steaming sweating for 1 to 4 h (SS1h-SS4h, Δ = 1 h) and non-sweating (NS). The results showed the content of six triterpenoids (1.03 mg/g), water-soluble protein (0.33 mg/g) and total triterpenoid (3.81 mg/g) were the highest in NS; the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharide (51.96 mg/g) was the highest in SS1h; the content of crude protein (16.18 mg/g) and total amino acid (53.07 mg/g) were highest in TST. Moreover, the predominant volatile component of SS1h was hexanal, SS2h-SS4h and TST were Linalool, NS was D-limonene. Ulteriorly, the correlation analysis showed antioxidant effect of PC may be related to the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharide, Furan-2-pentyl, and 2-Octenal, PCA result indicated the score of SS1h-treated PC was the highest. This study could provide a new solution for the industrial production of PC.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) has always been considered a plant with excellent qualities; in fact, it has been consumed for centuries as an edible plant but also used in folk medicine. This work aims to give an updated shot of the main features and potentialities of purslane. A literature quantitative research analysis was carried out. Besides the botanical and geographical aspects, we have explored the nutritional properties and possible beneficial effects on human health due to the presence of bioactive compounds, indicating their traditional use in food and medicine preparation as well as proposing possible future applications. Purslane is a rich source of vitamins, flavonoids, organic acids, lignans, alkaloids, terpenoids, cerebrosides, sterols and minerals; in particular, it is considered a good vegetable source of unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. Due to its profile of bioactive components, several potential beneficial effects on humans have been reported, i.e. hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant. Purslane finds several applications: enhancing the nutritional and sensory properties of bread, stabilising yoghurt, improving fish sausages' quality and shelf-life, acting as a natural additive due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, it can be utilised for phytoremediation and recycling drainage water in saline environments.

There has been no phytochemical or and pharmacological report of the Chinese endemic plant Ophiorrhiza puffii till now. At present, seven structurally diverse compounds were obtained, including six triterpenoids (1-6) and one anthraquinone (7). Interestingly, 1-6 furnished three distinct carbon skeletons. Additionally, these phytochemical constituents showed multiple health-promoting effects. Triterpene 3 displayed considerable tyrosinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 5.42 μM). Components 4 and 5 demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 4.23 and 2.03 mM, respectively). Meanwhile, compounds 2 and 5 exhibited moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.89 and 0.72 mM, respectively). Moreover, the binding mechanisms for bioactive compounds 2, 3 and 5 and the corresponding α-glucosidase and tyrosinase proteins were preliminarily inspected by molecular docking experiments. This study filled up the knowledge gap of the unexplored chemical and biological profiles of secondary metabolites from the plant O. puffii for the first time.