As natural inhibitors of macrophage foam cell formation

Ten undescribed diterpenoids namely rubellawus E-N of structural types pimarane (1, 3-4), nor-abietane (2), nor-pimarane (5-6), isopimarane (7-9), and nor-isopimarane (10), along with eleven known compounds, were isolated and identified from the aerial parts of Callicarpa rubella Lindl. The structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and quantum chemical computations. Pharmacologically, almost all the compounds exhibited a potential inhibitory effect on oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced macrophage foam cell formation, which suggests that these compounds may be promising candidates in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

New chemical structures and liver-protective activity of the diterpenoids from Callicarpa rubella

Callicarpa rubella is a characteristic folk herb in the genus Callicarpa, and has abundant ethnobotanical usage as indigenous medicine in Lingnan area of P. R. China. However, the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of C. rubella was rarely investigated. Now, three new diterpenoids, named rubellapene A-C (1-3), along with five known analogues (4-8), were isolated from C. rubella. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Notably, the norditerpenoids C₁₈ of clerodane type (rubellapene B) was rarely found in the genus Callicarpa. The liver protective effects of all of the isolates (1-8) were evaluated by the changes of cell viability and transaminase content of AST and ALT in H₂O₂-induced BRL cells. Compound 1, 3-8 exhibited that potent liver protective effects at different levels.

(Lamiaceae) from Guangxi, China: genome structure and phylogenetic analysis

The relationship between Callicarpa rubella Lindl. and its infraspecific taxa has troubled researchers for a long time. Here, we reported for the first time the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. rubella to investigate its phylogenetic position and provide more sequencing information for further studies about the relationship between C. rubella and its related species. The cp genome of C. rubella was 154,202 bp in length and displayed a typical quadripartite angiosperm structure, containing two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,701 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,968 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,832 bp. It contained 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. The analysis fully resolved C. rubella was in a clade with C. bodinieri and C. nudiflora. The results indicated Callicarpa formed a sister relationship with Dicrastylis parvifolia in Lamiaceae.

Diterpenoids from Callicarpa rubella and their in vitro anti-NLRP3 inflammasome activity

Nine new diterpenoids, Rubellacrns A - I (1-9), including five isopimaranes (1-4, 9), four pimaranes (5-8), together with five known isopimarane analogues (10-14), were isolated from Callicarpa rubella. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by HR-ESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data, the absolute configurations of compounds 5 and 9 were determined by ECD. All the isolated compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory effects and compounds 2 and 11-14 showed NLRP3-inflammasome inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.02 to 14.38 μM.

Rubellawus A-D, Four New Diterpenoids Isolated from Callicarpa rubella and Their Anti-NLRP3 Inflammasome Effects

Four new diterpenoids, rubellawus A-D (1-4), along with three known compounds, were isolated and identified from the flowers of Callicarpa rubella. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic analysis. All the compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity and 14α-hydroxyisopimaric acid and isopimaric acid showed significant NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 7.02 and 3.99 μM.

Callicarpa Species from Central Vietnam: Essential Oil Compositions and Mosquito Larvicidal Activities

There are around 140 species in the genus Callicarpa, with 23 species occurring in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Callicarpa species have been poorly studied. In this work, the leaf essential oils of C. bodinieri, C. candicans, C. formosana, C. longifolia, C. nudiflora, C. petelotii, C. rubella, and C. sinuata, have been obtained from plants growing in central Vietnam. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were determined using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. Mosquito larvicidal activities of the essential oils were carried out against Aedes aegypti. All of the Callicarpa leaf essential oils showed larvicidal activity, but two samples of C. candicans were particularly active with 48-h LC₅₀ values of 2.1 and 3.8 μg/mL. Callicarpacandicans essential oil should be considered as a potential alternative mosquito control agent.