Seven pyrrole alkaloids, three of which are novel (phlebopines A–C (1–3)), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Phlebopus portentosus. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. All the isolated compounds were tested for their neuroprotective properties and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibition activities. Compound 7 displayed remarkable neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neuronal-cell damage in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.
Five new naphthalene derivatives, named Eleutherols A–C (1–3) and Eleuthinones B–C (4,5), together with three known compounds were isolated from the bulbs of Eleutherine americana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques. These compounds exhibited a potent effect against the injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) induced by high concentrations of glucose in vitro.
Astragali Radix is an edible herb that has been employed in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has recently been recognized by various countries; however, it is also one of the most extensively sulfur-fumigated TCM components. This study designed a UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-guided isolation approach to generate sulfur-containing derivatives, and a novel sulfur-containing marker, namely, astragaloside sulfate, was characterized based on 1D and 2D NMR, which were derived from the main component of Astragali Radix, namely, astragaloside. Pharmacological experiments also showed that the activity of astragaloside decreased after it was converted into sulfate. Moreover, a rapid assay for the determination of astragaloside sulfate content by UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS was established to evaluate samples that were non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated at different levels. The method was applied to determine the content of JGS in the different batches of commercial samples. This research reveals that the practical procedure-based typical sulfur-containing indicator can be utilized for quality assurance of sulfur-fumigated and non-fumigated Astragali Radix.
Five new meroterpenoids, clavipols A–B (1–2) with a 12-membered ether ring and clavilactones G–I (3–5) having a 10-membered carbocycle connected to a hydroquinone and an α,β-epoxy/unsaturated lactone, were obtained from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Clitocybe clavipes. Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis of their spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was established by quantum chemical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD). All the isolated compounds (1–5) were tested for their cytotoxic activity against three human tumor cell lines (Hela, SGC-7901, and SHG-44) in vitro after treatment for 48 h. Compound 4 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against Hela and SGC-7901 tumor cell lines, with IC50 values of 23.5 and 14.5 µM, respectively.