Five new alkaloids (1-5) were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Cephalotaxus lanceolata and C. fortunei var. alpina along with 24 known alkaloids. The new structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, UV and MS. These new alkaloids showed no cytotoxicity to HeLa, SGC-7901 gastric cancer, and A-549 lung cancer cell lines.

Three new drimane sesquiterpenoids (1-3) together with the known 2α-hydroxyisodrimeninol (4), and a new isochromone derivative (5), were obtained from the solid cultures of fungal strain Pestalotiopsis sp. M-23, an endophytic fungus isolated from the leaves of Leucosceptrum canum (Labiatae). Their structures were determined by comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR, and MS analyses. The metabolites were evaluated for their antibacterial activities, and compound 3 showed weak inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis.

Two new neolignans selaginellol (1) and selaginellol 4'-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with seven known compounds (3-9), were isolated from the whole plant of Selaginella moellendorffii. The structures of the new isolates were determined through spectroscopic data analysis. Compounds 1-9, as well as compounds 10-18 previously isolated from the species, were measured for the activity against platelet aggregation induced by ADP or collagen. Three neoligans (8, 11, and 12), one flavanone (14), and one alkaloid (16) showed inhibitory activity against ADP-or collagen-induced platelet aggregation as compared with tirofiban. The dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (8, 11, and 12) are more potent than the benzofuran neolignan (13) and other types of neolignans (1-7). Glucosidation of the dihydrobenzofuran neolignans (11 and 12) is helpful for the activity.

Sesquiterpenoids are very common among natural products. A large number of sesquiterpene synthase genes have been cloned and functionally characterized. However, until now there is no report about the δ-cadinol synthase predominantly forming d-cadinol (syn. torreyol) from farnesyl diphosphate. Sesquiterpenoids boreovibrins structurally similar to δ-cadinol were previously isolated from culture broths of the basidiomycete fungus Boreostereum vibrans. This led us to expect a corresponding gene coding for a δ-cadinol synthase that may be involved in the biosynthesis of boreovibrins in B. vibrans. Here we report the cloning and heterologous expression of a new sesquiterpene synthase gene from B. vibrans. The crude and purified recombinant enzymes, when incubating with farnesyl diphosphate as substrate, gave δ-cadinol as its principal product and thereby identified as a δ-cadinol synthase.

Phytochemicalinvestigationonthewholeplantsof Ypsilandrayunnanensiswascarriedoutforthefirsttimeandledtothe isolation of five new cholestanol glycosides, ypsiyunnosides A-E (1-5), and one known analogue. Their structures were determined mainly by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR, MS and UV, as well as chemical methods. Among them, compound 1 possessed a rare 6/6/6/5/5 fused-rings cholestanol sketelon, which was identified as (23R,25R)-3β,16α,26-triol- 16,23-cyclocholest-5,17(20)-dien-22-one. Their induced platelet aggregation activities and cytotoxicities were evaluated.

Catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-Triptophenolide and (+)-Triptolide have been achieved. Key reaction involves Palladium catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of aryl boronic acid to 3-methyl cyclohexe-1-none to form quaternary carbon. Claisen rearrangement and subsequent aldol reaction furnished trans-decaline key intermediate, which assured a formal total synthesis of (-)-Triptophenolide and (+)-Triptolide.