Chemical constituents of Cynanchum wilfordii and the chemotaxonomy of two species of the family Asclepiadacease, C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum

Abstract

Definitive identification of original plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. Although only the dried roots of Cynanchum wilfordii (Asclepiadaceae) are prescribed as Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix in Korean Pharmacopoeia, the roots of C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum are often misused in the Korean herbal market due to their morphological similarity and similar name. Therefore, it would be very useful to discover an effective chemical marker for the identification of the two species. To this end, we carried out a phytochemical study on the roots of C. wilfordii. As a result, twenty compounds were isolated from the roots of C. wilfordii and their chemical structures were identified as β-sitosterol (1), wilfoside C1N (2), wilfoside C3N (3), wilfoside K1N (4), methyleugenol (5), wilfoside C1G (6), cynauriculoside A (7), daucosterol (8), 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (9), cynandione A (10), 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone (11), acetovanillone (12), p-hydroxyacetophenone (13), sucrose (14), conduritol F (15), geniposide (16), succinic acid (17), 3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2,3-dihydro-6H-1,3-oxazine-2,6-dione (18), bungeiside A (19), cynanoneside B (20). Among them, compounds 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20 were isolated for the first time from this species. Furthermore, conduritol F (15) was demonstrated to be contained only in C. wilfordii. Therefore, it may be useful as a chemical marker to identify the two species C. wilfordii and C. auriculatum.

Pharmacological activation of myosin II paralogs to correct cell mechanics defects

“…In addition, 4-HAP has been isolated from Cynanchum paniculatum and Cynanchum wilfordii extracts, and is commonly used for its antiinflammatory and vascular-protective effects (43)(44)(45). It will be of interest to explore the possibility that 4-HAP may have an impact on the mechanics of vascular tissue, as well as to expand upon its ability to alter myosin II dynamics in other mammalian cell types, particularly cancer cells.…”

Discrimination and Proper Use of Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix, and Cynanchi Auriculati Radix in Korea: A Descriptive Review

“…The components of CWR are as follows: cynandione A [19], cynanoneside B, p-hydroxyacetophenone, 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone, 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone, wilfoside K1N, wilfoside C1N [20], β -sitosterol, wilfoside C3N, methyleugenol, wilfoside C1G, cynauriculoside A, daucosterol, acetovanillone, sucrose, geniposide, succinic acid, bungeiside A [21], and cynanchone A [22]. …”

Metabolomics Based on UPLC-QTOF/MS Applied for the Discrimination of Cynanchum wilfordii and Cynanchum auriculatum

“…In practical, it is limited to assign a number of mass spectrums without the database. Previous studies have already reported the presence of various metabolites in CW and CA [6,12,[24][25][26]. Thus, we added the molecular formula of reported compounds into the in-house library.…”

“…C. wilfordii is an ingredient for tonic herbal drugs, and it shows pharmaceutical benefits against tumors, antioxidants, vascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus [1][2][3][4]. In China, C. auriculatum has been used as a tonic agent having the activities of anti-tumor, gastroprotective, antidepressant, and anti-aging [5][6][7]. However, in Korea, the human consumption of C. auriculatum is still not approved due to its safety concerns.…”