Four new unsaturated aliphatic acid amides, named zanthoamides A–D (1–4), and eight known ones—tetrahydrobungeanool (5), ZP-amide A (6), ZP-amide B (7), ZP-amide C (8), ZP-amide D (9), ZP-amide E (10), bugeanumamide A (11), and (2E,7E,9E)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-6,11-dioxo-2,7,9-dodecatrienamide (12)—were isolated from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive use of spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR analyses and comparison with previously reported data. Compound 4 contained a rare C₆ fatty acid unit with an acetal group. Results revealed that compounds 1, 5, 6, and 12 showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀values of 48.7 ± 0.32, 27.1 ± 1.15, 49.8 ± 0.38, and 39.4 ± 0.63 µM, respectively, while the other compounds were inactive (IC₅₀ > 60 μM). They could contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of Z. bungeanum by suppression of NO production.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over one billion people all over the world. These diseases are classified as neglected because they impact populations in areas with poor financial conditions and hence do not attract sufficient research investment. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT or sleeping sickness), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, is one of the NTDs. The current therapeutic interventions for T. brucei infections often have toxic side effects or require hospitalization so that they are not available in the rural environments where HAT occurs. Furthermore, parasite resistance is increasing, so that there is an urgent need to identify novel lead compounds against this infection. Recognizing the wide structural diversity of natural products, we desired to explore and identify novel antitrypanosomal chemotypes from a collection of natural products obtained from plants. In this study, 440 pure compounds from various medicinal plants were tested against T. brucei by in a screening using whole cell in vitro assays. As the result, twenty-two phenolic compounds exhibited potent activity against cultures of T. brucei. Among them, eight compounds—4, 7, 11, 14, 15, 18, 20, and 21—showed inhibitory activity against T. brucei, with IC₅₀ values below 5 µM, ranging from 0.52 to 4.70 μM. Based on these results, we attempt to establish some general trends with respect to structure-activity relationships, which indicate that further investigation and optimization of these derivatives might enable the preparation of potentially useful compounds for treating HAT.

Two new β-dihydroagarofuran-type sesquiterpenes 1β,2α,6α,8β,15- pentaacetoxy- 9α-benzoyloxy- β-dihydroagarofuran (1) and 1β,2β,6α,15-tetraacetoxy-9β-benzoyloxy- β-dihydroagarofuran (2), together with five known abietane diterpenoids (3–7) were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of stems of Tripterygium wilfordii. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic and physico-chemical analyses. All the isolates were evaluated for in vitro inhibitory activity against A549, HOS and MCF-7. Among them, compounds 4 and 5 exhibited manifest inhibition on A549, HOS and MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF), known as Shenqu, is an important traditional Chinese medicine widely used to treat indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea. In this study, a new benzochroman, 3(S)-3,4-dihydro-5,10-di-β-d-glucopyranoside-2,2-dimethyl-2H-naphtho(2,3-b)pyran-3-ol (1), and five known galactosyl acylglycerols (2–6) were isolated from a methanol extract from MMF. In addition, their chemical structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods, which were compared with the previously reported data. Furthermore, the effects of isolated compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were investigated. Compounds 1–3 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the LPS-induced production of IL-6 and IL-12 p40, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.6 to 10.2 μM. Compounds 2 and 3 also exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the LPS-stimulated production of TNF-α with IC₅₀ values of 12.0 and 11.2 μM, respectively. The results might provide a scientific basis for the development of the active components in MMF, as well as for novel anti-inflammatory agents.