Kleinhospitines A-D, four unprecedented cycloartane triterpenoid alkaloids possessing a spiro α,β-unsaturated γ-lactamlactone side chain, were isolated as two mixtures of C-23 epimers from Kleinhovia hospita. Kleinhospitines C and D represent the first examples of naturally occurring cycloartane triterpenoids with a 9α,10α-cyclopropyl ring. The structures and absolute configurations were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comprehensive quantum chemical calculations. The two mixtures showed hepatoprotective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative damages on primary cultured rat hepatocytes with EC50 values of 167.0 and 126.5 μM.

Malignant syphilis (MS) is a rare dermatological manifestation of secondary syphilis. This case report describes a young woman that presented with a 15-day history of generalized condyloma lata and seborrheic dermatitis-like lesions at various stages. Laboratory tests showed a toluidine red unheated serum test titre of 1:128 and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination positivity. Serology for HIV antibodies was repeatedly negative. MS was diagnosed according to established MS diagnostic criteria. The lesions regressed after treatment with 2 400 000 units penicillin G benzathine by intramuscular injection weekly for three consecutive weeks. MS is more frequently associated with HIV-infected patients, which makes this current case more interesting because MS in HIV-negative patients has rarely been reported.