Records of Natural Products

Cortex Daphnes, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been utilized in China for millennia owing to it’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As it is belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family within the genus Daphne, it has traditionally been employed to dispel wind, eliminate dampness, alleviate pain, and dissipate blood stasis. Consequently, numerous scholars both domestically and internationally have investigated it’s chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and various other aspectsAmong these, daphnetin stands out as the primary active constituent in C. Daphnes, holding significant value as a precursor molecule for drug development. Pharmacological research has demonstrated that compounds and extracts derived from C. Daphnes exhibit notable activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and analgesic effects. Clinically, C. Daphnes has a long-standing history of use in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. This presents considerable potential for further development and exploration. According to existing records, C. Daphnes exhibits low toxicity; therefore, refining its processing technology, conducting toxicological studies, and establishing a comprehensive quality standard system are current challenges that need to be addressed. In this review, the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of C. Daphnes, with the aim of providing a valuable reference for its future development and resource utilization was summarized.

A new caffeoylquinic acid, 1, 5-di-O-caffeoyl-3-O-(1-O-methoxy-2-O-caffeoyl-4-maloyl)-quinic acid (1), and a new 5-hydroxymethylfurfural dimer, 5-(((2-methoxymethyl) furan-5-methanol) methyl) furan-2-carbaldehyde (2), were discovered from Arctium lappa roots. A comprehensive HRMS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR techniques were used for structural identification. These two compounds had Nitric Oxide (NO) inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 inflammatory cell in a dose-dependent manner.

A new naturally occurring diarylheptanoid, (1E,4Z,6E)-5-hydroxy-1,7-diphenylhepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one (3), was isolated from the rhizomes of K. elegans along with six known compounds, flavokawain B (1), 5,6-dehydrokawain (2), pinocembrin (4), cardamonin (5), alpinetin (6), and crotepoxide (7), among which compound 6 had not previously been isolated from this plant species. Two chalcones, flavokawain B (1) and cardamonin (5) were active against nitric oxide (NO) radicals released from LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, resulting in 91.58% and 98.68% inhibition of NO production, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 5 showed superior cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (IC50 = 23.07 and 20.84 mM) and MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 21.77 and 26.64 mM) cell lines, respectively. In silico molecular modeling studies of the most active compounds 1 and 5 against epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) suggested that π–π interactions with residues on the EGFR protein contributed to their anticancer properties. The results suggest that cardamonin (5) could be a promising candidate for further development of anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents.

This study aimed to modify the essential oils of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W.Watson, hereafter referred to as CF, and Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W.Watson, hereafter referred to as CM, utilizing an acid-distillation protocol. The modification resulted in a significant reduction in the aldehyde components, Neral and Geranial, in CF, subsequently leading to the formation of the monoterpene, Cymene. Conversely, the alteration in CM decreased the proportions of the monoterpenol, Geraniol, and the ester, Geranyl acetate. These modifications enhanced the cellular safety of both CF and CM essential oils towards B16-F10 cells in vitro, increasing it by 4 to 8-fold, and concurrently improved their melanin suppression and antioxidant properties.