Pinocembrin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (PCBG), pinocembrin (PCB), and 5-methoxy-pinocembrin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (MPG) are three flavonones isolated from Penthorum chinense Pursh (P. chinense). The effects of the three flavonones on hepatic steatosis and their molecular mechanisms in HepG2 cells were investigated in this study for the first time. A model of hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cells was induced by free fatty acid (FFA), and co-treated with the three flavonones as mentioned. Intracellular lipid droplets were detected by Oil Red O staining. PCB, PCBG, and MPG suppressed oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were ameliorated. Moreover, these flavonones enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c) and the downstream targets fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1). Molecular docking was used to predict the interaction and combination patterns between the three flavonones and the enzymes above. The results revealed that the SIRT1/AMPK pathway is involved in the functions of the three flavonones, and the most effective flavonone against hepatic steatosis might be PCBG, followed by MPG and PCB. Therefore, the three flavonones from P. chinense were found to exert preventive effects against hepatic steatosis by regulating the SIRT1/AMPK pathway.

Three phenylpropenoyl sucroses – sibiricose A5 (1), A6 (2) and 3′,6-disinapoyl sucrose (3) – were isolated from the 30% EtOH extract of Polygala tenuifolia, which displayed antidepressant-like action. HPLC analysis indicated that the three phenylpropenoyl sucroses could be absorbed into serum. From the serum pharmacochemistry point of view, these three phenylpropenoyl sucroses might prevent or relieve depression.

Dried sclerotia of Wolfiporia extensa (Polyporaceae) is used to invigorate the spleen and to tranquilize the mind in Chinese herbal medicine. Lanostane-type triterpene acids were regard as major secondary metabolites from dried sclerotia of W. extensa. Three new lanostane-type triterpene acids, 3-epi-benzoyloxyl-dehydrotumulosic acid (1), 3-epi-(3'-O-methyl malonyloxy)-dehydrotumulosic acid (2) and 3-epi-(3'-hydroxy-3'-methylglutaryloxyl)-dehydrotumulosic acid (3), were isolated from the sclerotia of W. extensa, together with 3 known lanostane derivatives (4-6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. Six lanostane derivatives including three new triterpene acids and three known compounds were reported from the sclerotia of W. extensa in this paper.