Bonaspectins and neobonaspectins, first sesquilignans and sesquineolignans from a convolvulaceous species

Sesquilignans: Current research and potential prospective

Lignans are widely distributed in nature, primarily found in the xylem and resins of plants, with the constituent units C6-C3, and their dimers are the most common in plants. In recent years, the trimeric sesquilignans have also received increasing attention from scholars. More than 200 derivatives have been isolated and identified from nearly 50 families, most of which are different types (monoepoxy lignans, bisepoxy lignans, benzofuran lignans) connected with simple phenylpropanoids through ether bonds, C-C bonds, and oxygen-containing rings to constitute sesquilignans. Some of them also possess pharmacological properties, including antioxidants, hepatoprotectives, antitumors, anti-inflammatory properties, and other properties. In addition, the chemical structure of sesquilignans is closely related to the pharmacological activity, and chemical modification of methoxylation enhances the pharmacological activity. In contrast, phenolic hydroxyl and hydroxyl glycosides reduce the pharmacological activity. Therefore, the present review aims to summarize the chemical diversity, bioactivities, and constitutive relationships to provide a theoretical basis for the more profound development and utilization of sesquilignans.

Antioxidant lignoids from leaves of Ribes nigrum

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Ribes nigrum resulted in the isolation of fourteen compounds, including four 7,7'-epoxylignans, three tetrahydrofuran-type sesquilignans, and a spirocyclic dilignan. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and by chemical transformations. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activities using superoxide anion scavenging assay and DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Ribesin D and ribesin G showed the most potent superoxide anion scavenging activity with EC50 values of 1.24 and 1.12 μM, respectively, and the structure-activity relationship was discussed.

Anti-inflammatory endiandric acid analogues from the roots of Beilschmiedia tsangii

Bioassay-guided fractionation of roots of Beilschmiedia tsangii led to the isolation of six new endiandric acid analogues: tsangibeilin A (1), tsangibeilin B (2), endiandramide A (3), endiandric acid K (4), endiandric acid L (5), and endiandramide B (6). Also isolated were two new lignans, beilschminol A (7) and tsangin C (8), and six known compounds. The structures of 1-8 were determined by spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 3 and 6 exhibited potent iNOS inhibitory activity, with IC(50) values of 9.59 and 16.40 μM, respectively.

Lignans from the roots of Saururus chinensis

Four new lignans, saucerneol F (1), saucerneol G (2), saucerneol H (3), and saucerneol I (4), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the roots of Saururus chinensis, together with one known compound, saucerneol D (5). The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. These compounds showed cytotoxic activities against HT-29, MCF-7, and HepG-2 cell lines.

Sesquineolignans from the flowers of Centaurea furfuracea Coss. et Dur. (Asteraceae)

Two new sesquineolignans, Furfuraceol A (1) and Furfuraceol B (2), have been isolated from the flowers of Centaurea furfuracea as a mixture of two isomers. Their structures have been determined by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR spectroscopy COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY.

Lignans from Saururus chinensis inhibiting the transcription factor NF-kappaB

The sesquineolignans, saucerneol D and saucerneol E were isolated from the roots of Saururus chinensis together with four known lignans, manassantin A, manassantin B, (-)-saucerneol methyl ether, and (+)-saucernetin. Structure elucidation was based on the analysis of spectroscopic data and anti-inflammatory activity was studied using HeLa cells transfected with NF-kappaB reporter construct. All compounds except for (+)-saucernetin inhibited NF-kappaB dependent reporter gene expression with IC50 values of 2.5-16.9 microM.

Two new carbazole alkaloids from Murraya koenigii

Two new carbazole alkaloids named murrayanine (1) and 8,8' '-biskoenigine (2) were isolated from Murraya koenigii. The structure elucidations for 1 and 2 were carried out on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compound 1 was a novel carbazole alkaloid with a rare phenylpropanyl substitution. Compound 2 was a symmetrical dimer of the carbazole alkaloid koenigine and showed antiosteoporotic activity in the CAT-B model with IC(50) 1.3 microg/mL. The synthesis of 2 from koenigine was carried out through oxidative coupling using a solid state reaction.

Five new phenolics from the roots of Ficus beecheyana

From the ethanolic extract of the roots of Ficus beecheyana, threo-2,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropan-1-ol (1), erythro-2,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropan-1-ol (2), trans-4,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxacyclohexane (3), threo-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropane-1,2-diol (4), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (5), and 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (6) were isolated. The structures of the new compounds 1-5 were elucidated by the analysis of their spectroscopic data.

Antiplasmodial activity of sesquilignans and sesquineolignans from Bonamia spectabilis

Phytochemical re-investigation of the aerial parts of Bonamia spectabilis (Convolvulaceae) led to the isolation of four minor tetrahydrofuran-type sesquilignans (bonaspectins E-H) together with the known neolignan virolongin A and the known lignan rel-(7S,8R,7'R,8'R)-3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexamethoxylignan. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral data. These six compounds as well as further seven lignanoids from B. spectabilis, characterised previously, were tested for their antiplasmodial activity against a chloroquine-sensitive strain (PoW) and a chloroquine-resistant clone (Dd2) of Plasmodium falciparum. Bonaspectin C 4"-O-glucoside, its aglycone, and bonaspectin D 4"-O-glucoside revealed the highest antiplasmodial activities (IC50 values: 1.3, 2.0, 6.5 microM [PoW]; 1.7, 4.6, 3.7 microM [Dd2], respectively).

New tetrahydrofuran-type sesquilignans of Saururus chinensis root

Three new tetrahydrofuran-type sesquilignans, called saucerneol A, saucerneol B and saucerneol C were isolated from the underground parts of Saururus chinensis (Saururaceae), together with known lignans, di-O-methyltetrahydrofuriguaiacin B, machilin D and machilin D 4-methyl ether. Their structures were established from several spectral data.