Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104107
Yan-Ping Qiu , He Tian , Qian Xie , Shuai Li , Bi-Qian Dong , Guan-Min Su , Ding Luo , Lin-Zhao Ye
{"title":"Three new matrine-type alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides with cytotoxic activity","authors":"Yan-Ping Qiu , He Tian , Qian Xie , Shuai Li , Bi-Qian Dong , Guan-Min Su , Ding Luo , Lin-Zhao Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Three previously undescribed matrine-type alkaloids, sophaloseedlines U–W (<strong>1–3</strong>), together with three known analogues, were isolated from the seeds of <em>Sophora alopecuroides</em> L. Their chemical structures, including absolute configurations, were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses (HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Compound <strong>4</strong> exhibited the most potent activity, with IC₅₀ values of 24.8 μM and 26.1 μM, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104110
Natalia de Andrade Teixeira Fernandes , Luara Simões , Keelin Hunt , Nicole Nelson , Ricardo San Martin
{"title":"Polyphenol composition of fresh and dried Quillaja saponaria leaf extracts by UHPLC/MS","authors":"Natalia de Andrade Teixeira Fernandes , Luara Simões , Keelin Hunt , Nicole Nelson , Ricardo San Martin","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Quillaja saponaria</em> Molina is an endemic Chilean tree valued for its saponin-rich bark and biomass. However, overexploitation and drought have endangered natural populations, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives such as the use of leaves. In this study, we analyzed the polyphenolic profile of water extracts obtained from fresh and dried <em>Q. saponaria</em> leaves using UHPLC/MS. Although the extraction was optimized for saponin recovery, several polyphenolic compounds remained detectable. The analysis revealed a diverse composition, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, with piscidic acid dominating (82.65–82.96 % of total quantified polyphenols), followed by <em>p</em>-coumaric acid derivatives identified as Quillajasides A and B and their isomers (4.81–5.34 %), and quercetin derivatives (3.7–4.15 %). These findings suggest that polyphenols, though secondary in saponin-rich water extracts, may influence extract properties relevant to industrial and food applications. This comprehensive analysis contributes to sustainable plant resource management and provides insights into <em>Q. saponaria</em> leaves as a source of bioactive compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104113
Zhengyang He , Ailing Tian , Feng Gao , Zongrui Hou , Xiaohuan Li
{"title":"Reaction of oridonin with p-toluenesulfonic anhydride/p-toluenesulfonic acid: An unexpected cascade rearrangement","authors":"Zhengyang He , Ailing Tian , Feng Gao , Zongrui Hou , Xiaohuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Under reflux conditions, oridonin (<strong>1</strong>) reacted with <em>p</em>-toluenesulfonic anhydride/<em>p</em>-toluenesulfonic acid to afford an unexpected cascade double rearrangement product (<strong>6</strong>), rather than the anticipated hemiketal-hydrolysis product (<strong>5</strong>). Compound <strong>6</strong> features a 6/6/7 tricyclic carbon framework, whose structure was unambiguously established by spectroscopic analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A plausible cascade mechanism involving nucleophilic substitution and retro-Aldol steps is proposed. However, biological assays revealed that <strong>6</strong> did not show any antiproliferative activity, indicating that the intact C/D ring system is crucial for the cytotoxicity of oridonin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104100
Ali Mai Hassan , Albert Atangana Fouda , Jean Pierre Longue Ekon , Baruch Ateba Amana , Moses Langat Kiprotich , Bruno Lenta Ndjakou , Kevine Johane Jumeta Dongmo , Willifred Dongmo Tekapi Tsopgni , Jean Duplex Wansi
{"title":"A new aromadendrane sesquiterpene from the liana Alafia erythrophthalma","authors":"Ali Mai Hassan , Albert Atangana Fouda , Jean Pierre Longue Ekon , Baruch Ateba Amana , Moses Langat Kiprotich , Bruno Lenta Ndjakou , Kevine Johane Jumeta Dongmo , Willifred Dongmo Tekapi Tsopgni , Jean Duplex Wansi","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104100","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104100","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new aromadendrane sesquiterpene derivative, (alafinol, <strong>1</strong>), alongside with fourteen known compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract of the liana of <em>Alafia erythrophthalma</em> (K. Schum.) Leeuwenb. The structures of the compounds were determined by analyses of spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR, HRMS) data and circular dichroism spectra as well as by comparison with literature records. Compounds <strong>5</strong>, <strong>8–12</strong> and <strong>14</strong> are reported here for the first time from the genus <em>Alafia.</em> Compounds <strong>1–2</strong> and crude extract were tested for their antimicrobial activity against the bacterial strains <em>Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and the fungal strains <em>Candida albicans</em> and <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em>. The crude extract exhibited weak activity against <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> with a MIC value of 312.5 μg/mL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104100"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104102
Wei Li , Miaomiao Chai , Longfei Zhang , Mengting Yang , Zhenzhen Zhang , Zhenhui Wang , Xueqian He
{"title":"Aniline-phthalides from the Yellow River wetland-derived fungus Talaromyces funiculosus HPU-Y01 cultured with the HDAC inhibitor SAHA","authors":"Wei Li , Miaomiao Chai , Longfei Zhang , Mengting Yang , Zhenzhen Zhang , Zhenhui Wang , Xueqian He","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Three previously undescribed aniline-containing phthalide derivatives, designated talarophthalides A-C (<strong>1</strong>-<strong>3</strong>), along with three known polyketides (<strong>4</strong>-<strong>6</strong>) were isolated from the culture of the Yellow River wetland-derived <em>Talaromyces funiculosus</em> HPU-Y01 treated with the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA (suberanilohydroxamic acid). The structures of the new compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D/2D NMR and HRESIMS, and further confirmed by X-ray crystallography for talarophthalide A (<strong>1</strong>). Compound <strong>1</strong> showed <em>α</em>-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 20.7 <em>μ</em>M.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104102"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel triterpene glycosides from the leaves of Pittosporum tobira and their cytotoxicity","authors":"Yukiko Matsuo, Misuzu Tanaka, Suzu Shokita, Yuuna Kawahara, Katsunori Miyake, Yoshihiro Mimaki","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nine novel oleanane-type triterpene glycosides (<strong>1</strong>–<strong>9</strong>) were isolated from the leaves of <em>Pittosporum tobira</em> (Thunb.) W. T. Aiton. Their structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and hydrolytic cleavage studies. Among the isolated compounds, <strong>1</strong>, <strong>9</strong>, and <strong>10</strong> showed cytotoxic activity against SBC-3 small cell lung carcinoma cells, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 17.7 ± 1.30, 5.3 ± 0.22, and 4.7 ± 0.64 μM, respectively. Furthermore, <strong>10</strong> was shown to induce ATP release in SBC-3 cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ginkgonins A and B: Two new sesquiterpenoids from Streptomyces ginkgonis TH01","authors":"Yun-Fei He, Jing Miao, Chao Jian, Rui-Jun Wang, Yong-Sheng Gao, Jie-Hao Jin, Xiao-Yi Chen, Ji-Dong Wang, Shao-Yong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two new sesquiterpenoids, ginkgonin A (<strong>1</strong>) and ginkgonin B (<strong>2</strong>), together with six known compounds (<strong>3</strong> - <strong>8</strong>), were isolated from the broth of <em>Streptomyces ginkgonis</em> TH01. Their structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and 1D/2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY). The absolute configurations were solved via electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds <strong>1</strong> – <strong>8</strong> were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, and <em>Escherichia coli</em>. Compounds <strong>1</strong>, <strong>2</strong>, <strong>3</strong>, <strong>4</strong>, and <strong>7</strong> exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against all tested strains, with MIC values ranging from 12.3 to 49.4 μg/mL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104097
Kun-Ching Cheng , Chia-Hung Wu , Hao-Ze Li , Tsong-Long Hwang , Ping-Chung Kuo , Tian-Shung Wu
{"title":"Anti-inflammatory constituents from Murraya paniculata var. omphalocarpa","authors":"Kun-Ching Cheng , Chia-Hung Wu , Hao-Ze Li , Tsong-Long Hwang , Ping-Chung Kuo , Tian-Shung Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One undescribed coumarin, (2′<em>S</em>)-isomurralonginol 1′-<em>O</em>-(2′′<em>R</em>)-methylbutyrate (<strong>1</strong>), together with thirteen known coumarins, were isolated successively from the dried leaves of <em>Murraya paniculata</em> var. <em>omphalocarpa</em> Hayata (Rutaceae). In addition, two alkaloids, two coumarin-naphthoquinones, three coumarins, and one alkyl phenylpropanoate were also identified from the stem bark of the same plant. The undescribed coumarin <strong>1</strong> was characterized by the spectroscopic and spectrometric analytical methods, and the known compounds were identified by comparison of their physical and spectral data with those reported. Some isolated compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release. The results indicated that some isolates <strong>4</strong>, <strong>6</strong>, <strong>16</strong>, and <strong>18</strong> exhibited significant anti-inflammatory potential, with IC<sub>50</sub> values for the inhibition of superoxide anion generation ranging from 0.002 to 5.1 µg/mL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104097"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phytochemistry LettersPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104098
Ying Niu , Yan-Gang Cao , Meng-Die Luo , Yan-Ling Liu , Xu Chen , Xiao-Ke Zheng , Wei-Sheng Feng
{"title":"Two new monoterpenoids from the stems of Ephedra intermedia and their cytoprotective activity","authors":"Ying Niu , Yan-Gang Cao , Meng-Die Luo , Yan-Ling Liu , Xu Chen , Xiao-Ke Zheng , Wei-Sheng Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two previously undescribed monoterpenoids, (6 <em>R</em>)-ephteroid (<strong>1</strong>) and ephteroid A (<strong>2</strong>), together with nine known terpenoids were isolated from the stems of <em>Ephedra intermedia</em>. The structures of these terpenoids were determined by analysing various spectroscopic data and comparing literature data. The absolute configuration of compound <strong>1</strong> was determined by combining its aglycone with Rh<sub>2</sub>(OCOCF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub> reagent, then observing the Cotton effect at 350 nm on ECD spectrum. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of compounds <strong>1</strong>–<strong>11</strong> on Poly (I:C)-induced damage to BEAS-2B cells. The results showed that compounds <strong>5</strong>–<strong>8</strong> mitigated the damage caused by Poly(I:C) in BEAS-2B cells at a concentration of 10 μM, indicating that they exhibited cytoprotective activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104098"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A chlorinated 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone in artificial agarwood as a DRD5 agonist and mediates the cAMP/Ca²⁺ signaling pathway to intervene in the growth and proliferation of gastric cancer cells","authors":"Zi-Xiao Jiang, Jian Feng, Wen-Cheng Hou, Mei-Ran Wang, Shu-Nan Zhang, Yang-Yang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phytol.2026.104112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A chlorinated 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone from artificial agarwood of <em>Aquilaria sinensis</em> was identified as a dopamine receptor D5 (DRD5) agonist. Comprehensive analyses the protein–protein interaction network, molecular docking, ADMET prediction, and molecular dynamics simulation revealed strong DRD5 binding and modulation of the cAMP/Ca²⁺ pathway in gastric cancer. The compound exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against MGC-803 and SGC-7901 cells in vitro. ADMET profiling revealed favorable pharmacokinetics and a promising safety profile. Compound CHE emerges as a promising lead therapeutic candidate for gastric cancer derived from agarwood.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20408,"journal":{"name":"Phytochemistry Letters","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 104112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}