Tigliane Diterpenoids

The distribution, chemistry, and molecular bioactivity of tiglianes are reviewed from the very beginning of the studies on these diterpenoids, summarizing their clinical and toxicological literature mostly in its more recent and controversial aspects, and critically analyzing various proposals for their biosynthesis.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of the Diterpenoids from the Genus Daphne

There are abundant natural diterpenoids in the plants of the genus Daphne from the Thymelaeaceae family, featuring a 5/7/6-tricyclic ring system and usually with an orthoester group. So far, a total of 135 diterpenoids has been isolated from the species of the genus Daphne, which could be further classified into three main types according to the substitution pattern of ring A and oxygen-containing functions at ring B. A variety of studies have demonstrated that these compounds exert a wide range of bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, antifertility, neurotrophic, and cholesterol-lowering effects, which is reviewed herein. Meanwhile, the fascinating structure-activity relationship is also concluded in this review in the hope of providing an easy access to available information for the synthesis and optimization of efficient drugs.

Identification of the metabolites in normal and AA rat plasma, urine and feces after oral administration of Daphne genkwa flavonoids by LC-Q-TOF-MS spectrometry

Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc., as a traditional oriental herb, has been widely distributed and employed in China. The major bioactive components in D. genkwa are flavonoid compounds, which showed pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, we analyzed total flavonoids in D. genkwa and their metabolites in normal and adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat plasma, urine and feces samples by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). A total of 4 metabolites in plasma, 9 metabolites in urine and 15 metabolites in feces were characterized respectively by LC-Q-TOF-MS technology in normal rat. And 9 of the metabolites were observed in the AA rat urine, while there was no prototype drug or its metabolites detected in plasma and fecal samples. The metabolic pathway mainly involves hydroxylation, methylation, glucuronide, sulfate conjugation, oxidation and reduction, during the phase I and phase II biotransformation pathway. All the information gained here will be greatly helpful in elucidating the potential biological and pharmacological mechanism of flavonoid in D. genkwa, thus providing new ideas for drug development.