Tigliane type macrocyclic diterpenoids with special structures and diverse bioactivities are mainly extracted from plants of Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae. According to the different functional groups, they can be classified into types of phorbol esters, C-4 deoxyphorbol esters, C-12 deoxyphorbol esters, C-16 or C-17 substituted phorbol esters and others. Most of them present promising antiviral activities and cytotoxic activities and are expected to be developed as candidates for anti-AIDS, anti-tuberculosis, and anti-tumor clinical trials, demonstrating great potential for the application in healthcare. This paper reviews 115 novel tigliane-type diterpenoids discovered since 2013 and summarize their chemical structures and bioactivities, aiming to lay a foundation for further development and utilization of these compounds and provide new ideas for the development of clinical drugs.
Phorbols ; Molecular Structure ; Diterpenes/chemistry* ; Antiviral Agents ; Phorbol Esters

OBJECTIVETo compare the influence on the dissolution of tanshinone IIA (TS IIA) solid dispersions in complex carriers and single, which used in preparation of TS IIA solid dispersions, and further enhance the dissolution of TS IIA.

METHODThe TS IIA solid dispersions were prepared by solvent technique with polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVPK30), poloxamer188 (F68) and combination of PVPK30 and F68 as carriers, respectively. The physical characteristics of TS IIA solid dispersions was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dissolution rates were studied using small cup method (CHP XC III). The solubility of TS IIA with the solid dispersions and pure drug form were determined by HPLC method.

RESULTThe DSC analysis suggested that TS IIA was dispersed as an amorphous form in the combination of PVPK30 and F68. Dissolution profile of the prepared solid dispersions could be described by Weibull equation (R>0.99). For tested three carries, Td value (calculated time to 63.2% of total drug release according to Weibull equation) were (90.40 +/- 2.82) min, (204.5 +/- 8.20) min and (25.83 +/- 0.13) min, respectively. The PVPK30/F68-TS IIA solid dispersion resulted in a significant increase of TS IIA solubility compared with prepared PVPK30-TS IIA and F68-TS IIA solid dispersions (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAs compared to single use of PVPK30 or F68, the combination of PVPK30 and F68 improve the dissolution rate and solubility of TS IIA significantly in the prepared solid dispersions (P<0.01). The application of complex carriers in solid dispersion technology should be paid more attention to improvement of poorly soluble drugs dissolution in the future.

Diterpenes, Abietane ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo analyze the content of tanshinone IIA in Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae from different habitats are regularly altered and find out the deviation between the studies.

METHODThe data of the content of tanshinone IIA in samples of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae from different areas and related information since 1997 was collected and statistically analyzed.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe content of tanshinone IIA in wild Salvia was generally higher than that in the cultivated Salvia, and the content in nearly half cultivated Salvia was less than 0.2%. There existed a big difference between the used statistical model, and the data related the content in samples from Sichuan was the most divisive. The coefficient of variation of wild Salvia was below the cultivated Salvia, and the cultivated Salvia from different areas showed different coefficients of variation. The content of tanshinone IIA was lower when samples were extracted using the heating reflux method.

Diterpenes, Abietane ; Phenanthrenes ; analysis ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

The technique of liquisolid compress is a new technique developed in 1990s, which was considered to be the most promising technique to improve the dissolution of water-insoluble drugs. In this article, tanshinone II(A) and the extracts of the ester-solubility fractions were chosen as the model drugs to evaluate the effects of the liquisolid technique for enhancement of dissolution properties of tanshinone II(A). Several liquisolid tablets (LS) formulations containing different dosage of drugs and various liquid vehicle were pre-pared and for all the formulations, microcrystalline cellulose and silica were chosen as the carrier and coating materials to evaluate their flow properties, such as angle of repose, Carr's compressibility index and Hausner's ratio. The interaction between drug and excipients in prepared LS compacts were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The dissolution curves of tanshinone II(A) from liquisolid compacts were investigated to determine the technique's effect in improving the dissolution of tanshinone II(A) and its impacting factors. According to the results, the dissolution increased with the rise in the dissolution of the liquid-phase solvent. The R-value and drug dosage can significantly affect the drug release, but with less impact on active fractions. This indicated that liquisolid technique is a promising alternative for improvement of dissolution property of water-soluble drugs, and can make a synergistic effect with other ester-soluble constituents and bettern improve the release of tanshinone II(A). Therefore, the technique of liquisolid compress will have a better development prospect in traditional Chinese medicines.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo study chemical constituents from pine cone of Pinus annandii.

METHODThe constituents were isolated by chromatographic method and the structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis.

RESULTSeven compounds were identified as sandaracopimaric acid (I), isodextropimaric acid (II), 12-hydroxyabietic acid (III), dehydroabietic acid (IV), 15-hydroxydehydroabietic acid (V), beta-sitosterol (VI) and daucosterol (VII).

CONCLUSIONCompounds I-IV were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Pinus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Acetates ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Biotransformation ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; metabolism ; Taxoids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is one class of the most important antioxidant selenoproteins and is involved in regulating tumor genesis and progression. It has been reported that naphthoquinones can target and inhibit TrxR1 activity therefore produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by TrxR1, resulting into cellular redox imbalance and making the naphthoquinone compounds to become potential antitumor chemotherapy drugs. The purpose of this work is to explore the interaction between TrxR1 and menadione using biochemical and mass-spectrometric (MS) analyses, to further reveal the detailed mechanisms of TrxR1-mediated naphthoquinone reduction and inhibition of TrxR1 by naphthoquinone compounds. Using the site-directed mutagenesis and recombinantly expressed TrxR1 variants, we measured the steady-state kinetic parameters of menadione reduction mediated by TrxR1 and its variants, performed the inhibition analysis of menadione on TrxR1 activity, and eventually identified the interaction between menadione and TrxR1 through MS analysis. We found that Sec-to-Cys mutation at residue of 498 significantly enhanced the efficiency of TrxR1-mediated menadione reduction, though the Sec⁴⁹⁸ is capable to catalyze the menadione reduction, indicating that TrxR1-mediated menadione reduction is dominantly in a Se-independent manner. Mutation experiments showed that Cys⁴⁹⁸ is mainly responsible for menadione catalysis in comparison to Cys⁴⁹⁷, while the N-terminal Cys⁶⁴ is slightly stronger than Cys⁵⁹ regarding the menadione reduction. LC-MS results detected that TrxR1 was arylated with one molecule of menadione, suggesting that menadione irreversibly modified the hyper-reactive Sec residue at the C-terminus of selenoprotein TrxR1. This study revealed that TrxR1 catalyzes the reduction of menadione in a Se-independent manner meanwhile its activity is irreversibly inhibited by menadione. Hereby it will be useful for the research and development of naphthoquinone anticancer drugs targeting TrxR1.
Catalysis ; Drug Development ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Thioredoxin Reductase 1/metabolism* ; Vitamin K 3/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo optimize the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for determining Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.

METHODTanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B were selected as the index in optimization of the sample preparation method of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Orthogonal test was used to optimize the extraction process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and concentration of contents were detected by high performance liquid chromatography method. A detection of using methanol-water (85: 15) at wavelength of 270 nm was employed for tanshinone II(A) and a detection of using methanol-acetonitrile-formic acid-water (30:10:1: 59) at wavelength of 286 nm was employed for salvianolic acid B.

RESULTThe optimized extraction process of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B was: extracted by 90% methanol and reflux twice (0.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, extracted by 70% methanol and reflux twice (1.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, respectively.

CONCLUSIONOptimized extraction and determination methods could be used to reflect the content of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma more accurately and efficiently.

Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for content determination of dehydroabietic acid and abietic acid in aqueous alkali extract of Liquidambaris Resina.

METHODThe determination was carried out on a DIONEX C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% acetic acid. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1), and the detected wavelength was set at 210, 240 nm.

RESULTThe peak areas and the sample quantity of the two components had good linear relationship in the range of 0.4-3.4 microg for dehydroabietic acid, and 0.6-4.8 microg for abietic acid. The average recoveries were 99.53%, 101.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method was proved to be simple, accurate and used for the quality evaluation of Liquidambaris Resina.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Liquidambar ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to determine the dissolution of Tanshinone IIA in xianling gubao capsules, and compare the dissolution of Xianling Gubao capsules prepared by different processes.

METHODThe small cup method was used at a rotary speed of 100 r x min(-1), the dissolubility was inspected in the following 6 mediums: (1) water; (2) 0.1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid solution; (3) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer; (4) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution + 0.5% cholic acid; (5) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution + 1.0% cholic acid; (6) pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution + 4. 0% cholic acid. A HPLC method was used to determine the dissolution samples of tanshione IIA in different dissolution mediums. The accumulative dissolution percentages were calculated, and the resemblance of release curves were compared by similarity factors (f2).

RESULTThe accumulative dissolution percentage was the highest while pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution + 4.0% cholic acid was used as medium. The similarity factor values (f2) of tanshinone IIA dissolution curves of different preparation processes of Xianling Gubao capsules were all less than 50.

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference in tanshinone IIA dissolution between Xianling Gubao capsules of different preparation processes. The accumulative dissolution percentages of the tanshinone IIA in new Xianling Gubao capsules is higher than that in the capsules prepared by other preparation processes.

Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; Solubility