No abstract

One new norisoprenoid 3,9-dihydroxy dihydro actinidiolide (1), together with eleven known compounds (2-12), were isolated from ethanol extract of the leaves of Ficus pumila collected in Hainan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated by the detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 10-12 were isolated from the F. pumila for the first time. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity. Compounds 3 and 9 showed weak cytotoxic activity against Hela, MCF-7 and A549 cell lines.

The extraction of geniposidic acid and geniposide from Eucommia ulmoides was carried out by Soxhlet extraction, enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction, semi-bionic extraction and supercritical fluid extraction techniques and the extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the best methods for extraction of geniposidic acid and geniposide are enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction and semi-bionic extraction. Compared with various extraction methods, the semi-bionic extraction was more efficient, yielding the highest amount of geniposidic acid and geniposide. In semi-bionic extraction, no organic solvent was used. Semi-bionic extraction was performed at the same pH as that of the human body. The results indicated that semi-bionic extraction was the best method for large-scale efficient extraction of geniposidic acid and geniposide from plant materials. The supercritical fluid extraction process required more time than the other methods, and gave the lowest yields of geniposidic acid and geniposide.

A new dihydrochalcone glycoside, phloretin-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with seven known flavonoids (2-8), were isolated from the stems of Homalium stenophyllum. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the known compounds were identified by comparisons with data reported in the literature. The known compounds (2-8) were isolated from the genus Homalium for the first time. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six pathogenic bacteria in vitro.

A new morphinandienone alkaloid, fissistigmine A (1), together with three known alkaloids (2-4), were isolated and identified from the stems of Fissistigma tungfangense. Among them, fissistigmine A (1) represents the first example of a novel naturally occurring morphinandienone alkaloid with a unique cleavage of the C-9-N-17 bond. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities via examining their anti-proliferative effects on synoviocytes in vitro. Compound 1 exhibited inhibitory effect on the proliferation of synoviocytes with an IC value of 114.6 ± 2.2 μM.