C-21 steroidal glycosides from Dregea sinensis

Rapid identification and structural characterization of polyoxypregnane glycosides in Dregea sinensis by HPLC-MSn and HRMS

By HPLC-MSⁿ and HRMS analyses, the structures of 52 polyoxypregnane glycosides were rapidly inferred from Dregea sinensis Hemsl on the basis of their sodium-cationized molecules [M + Na]⁺ and predominant diagnostic ions resulting from the saccharic chain on C3 and the neutral loss of substituent on C11 and C12. Compounds 1 and 7 significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation in vitro.[Formula: see text].

Two new polyoxy steroidal glycosides from the roots of Dregea sinensis Hemsl

Two new polyoxy steroidal glycosides, named as 11- O-α-acetyl-12-O-β-tigloyl- 3β,14β-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one-3-O-β-D-oleadropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-allopyanoside (1) and 11- O-α-acetyl -12-O-β-benzoate-3β, 14β-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en- 20-one-3-O-β-D-oleadropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-allopyanoside (2) were isolated from the roots of Dregea sinensis Hemsl. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR. All the two compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro, and the result showed that compounds 1-2 displayed moderated cytotoxic activity against HL-60 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 18.4 μM and 23.9 μM, respectively. [Formula: see text].

New polyoxypregnane glycosides from Aspidopterys obcordata vines with antitumor activity

Nine new polyoxypregnane glycosides, obcordatas A-I (1-9), were isolated from Aspidopterys obcordata Hemsl vines. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. Separated compounds were evaluated for antitumor activities against the human cancer cell lines AGS, SW480, HuH-7 and MCF-7, and compounds 1-6 and 9 showed selective cytotoxicity against HuH-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 8.7, 10.2, 7.5, 12.1, 16.5, 14.3, and 17.4 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry experiments showed that the effects of compound 1 on the cell cycle were attributable to cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase.

Rapid structure prediction by HPLC-ESI-MSn of twenty-five polyoxypregnane tetraglycosides from Dregea sinensis with NMR confirmation of eight structures

Dregea sinensis Hemsl is an important herbal medicine in the Dai nationality of China. Its prominent clinical application has generated interest in the polyoxypregnane glycosides of the plant. This paper describes an extension of previous research on the polyoxypregnane di- and triglycosides of D. sinensis, aiming at identifying related tetraglycosides. On the basis of HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ analysis in positive mode, twenty-five previously undescribed polyoxypregnane tetraglycosides were characterized (regarding molecular masses and fragmentation in MSⁿ) from an ethyl acetate fraction that was not previously investigated. Guided by MSⁿ fragmentation and known structures of related di- and triglycosides from D. sinensis, tentative structures were predicted from the MS data. In order to test the predictions, eight of the glycosides were isolated and their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR methods, confirming the tentative predictions. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the isolates was evaluated on several human cell lines with little effect in general, even though slight inhibitory effects of four polyoxypregnane glycosides were detected at 10 μM against the human leukemia cell line HL-60.

Six new C-21 steroidal glycosides from Dregea sinensis Hemsl

Six new C-21 steroidal glycosides (1-6) were separated from the root of Dregea sinensis Hemsl. and their structures were elucidated using extensive nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectral analyses. Isolated compounds were evaluated for antitumor activity, which showed that compound 3 had moderate activity in Jurkat cells (IC₅₀ 19.54 ± 0.91 μM), and compounds 1-4 had significant effects against IL-2R and TNFR2 (IC₅₀ 1.518 ± 0.06 μM to 5.9 ± 0.07 μM).

Using Molecular Docking Analysis to Discovery Dregea sinensis Hemsl. Potential Mechanism of Anticancer, Antidepression, and Immunoregulation

Background:

Dregea sinensis Hemsl. plant of the genus Dregea volubilis (Asclepiadaceae), plays a vital role in anticancer, antidepression, and immunoregulation. Steroidal glycosides are the main constituents of this herb, which were significant biological active ingredients.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to recognize the mechanism of anticancer, antidepression, and immunoregulation of D. sinensis Hemsl.

Materials and Methods:

Seventy-two steroidal glycosides of D. sinensis Hemsl. were evaluated on the docking behavior of tumor-associated proteins (PI3K, Akt, mTOR), depression-related proteins (MAO-A, MAO-B) and immune-related proteins (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 [TNFR2], interleukin-2Rα [IL-2Rα]) using Discovery Studio version 3.1 (Accelrys, San Diego, USA).

Results:

The molecular docking analysis revealed that mostly steroidal glycosides of D. sinensis Hemsl. exhibited powerful interaction with the depression-related protein (MAO-A) and the immune-related proteins (TNFR2, IL-2Rα). Some ligands exhibited high binding energy for the tumor-associated proteins (PI3K, Akt, mTOR) and the immune-related protein (TNF-α), but MAO-B showed none interaction with the ligands.

Conclusion:

This study has paved better understanding of steroidal glycosides from D. sinensis Hemsl. as potential constituents to the prevention of associated cancer, depression and disorders of immunoregulation.

SUMMARY

The ligand database was consist of 72 steroidal glycosides from Dregea sinensis Hemsl

Steroidal glycosides had the potential to dock with the tumor-associated proteins (PI3K, Akt, mTOR)

Steroidal glycosides were bounded with MAO-A rather than MAO-B, accorded with the inhibitor selectivity of MAOs, can be considered as potent candidate inhibitors of MAO-A

72 ligands got high interaction with TNFR2 and IL-2Rα, regard the steroidal glycoside as powerful candidate inhibitors of TNFR2 and IL-2Rα.

Abbreviations used: PI3K: Phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase; Akt: Protein kinase B; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin; MAO-A: Monoamine oxidase A; MAO-B: Monoamine oxidase B; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor α; TNFR2: Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2; IL-2Rα: The alpha subunit (CD25) of the interleukin-2 receptor; DS: Discovery Studio; PDB: Protein Database Bank; 3D: three-dimensional.