Deconvolution of potential drug targets of the central nervous system (CNS) is particularly challenging because of the complicated structure and function of the brain. Here, a spatiotemporally resolved metabolomics and isotope tracing strategy was proposed and demonstrated to be powerful for deconvoluting and localizing potential targets of CNS drugs by using ambient mass spectrometry imaging. This strategy can map various substances including exogenous drugs, isotopically labeled metabolites, and various types of endogenous metabolites in the brain tissue sections to illustrate their microregional distribution pattern in the brain and locate drug action-related metabolic nodes and pathways. The strategy revealed that the sedative-hypnotic drug candidate YZG-331 was prominently distributed in the pineal gland and entered the thalamus and hypothalamus in relatively small amounts, and can increase glutamate decarboxylase activity to elevate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the hypothalamus, agonize organic cation transporter 3 to release extracellular histamine into peripheral circulation. These findings emphasize the promising capability of spatiotemporally resolved metabolomics and isotope tracing to help elucidate the multiple targets and the mechanisms of action of CNS drugs.

Seven indole alkaloid glycosides containing a 1'-(4″-hydroxy-3″,5″-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl unit (-) were isolated from an aqueous extract of leaves (da qing ye). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis combined with enzymatic hydrolysis as well as comparison of their experimental CD (circular dichroism) and calculated ECD (electrostatic circular dichroism) spectra. Based on analysis of and/or Cotton effect (CE) data of -, two simple roles to assign location and/or configuration of -glycopyranosyloxy and 1'-(phenyl)ethyl units in the indole alkaloid glycosides are proposed. Stereoselectivity in plausible biosynthetic pathways of - is discussed. Compounds and and their mixture in a 3:2 ratio showed activity against KCNQ2 in CHO cells. The mixture of and (3:2) exhibited antiviral activity against influenza virus H1N1 PR8 with IC 64.7 μmol/L (ribavirin, IC 54.3 μmol/L), however, the individual or was inactive. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were observed.

Eight new C-diterpenoid alkaloid arabinosides, named aconicarmichosides E-L (-), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the lateral roots of (Fu Zi). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods including 2D NMR experiments and acid hydrolysis. Compounds -, together with the previously reported four neoline 14--arabinosides from the same plant, represent the only examples of glycosidic diterpenoid alkaloids so far. At a dose of 1.0 mg/kg (i.p.), as compared with the black control, compounds , , and - exhibited analgesic effects with >65.6% inhibitions against acetic acid-induced writhing of mice. Structure-activity relationship was also discussed.

Five new sulfur-enriched alkaloids isatithioetherins A-E (-), and two pairs of scalemic enantiomers (+)- and (-)-isatithiopyrin B ( and ) and isoepigoitrin and isogoitrin and ), along with the known scalemic enantiomers epigoitrin and goitrin ( and ), were isolated and characterized from an aqueous extract of the roots. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 2D NMR and theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Compounds - represent a novel group of sulfur-enriched alkaloids, biogenetically originating from stereoselective assemblies of epigoitrin-derived units. Isolation and structure characterization of and support the postulated biosynthetic pathways for the diastereomers and a rare thio-Diels-Alder reaction. Compounds and showed antiviral activity against the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2, IC 0.60 and 1.92 μmol/L) and the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1, IC 3.70 and 2.87 μmol/L), and also inhibited Coxsackie virus B3 (IC 0.71 μmol/L).

Three pairs of glycosidic 8,4'-oxyneolignane diastereoisomers, named isatioxyneolignosides A-F (-), were isolated from an aqueous extract ofroots. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and enzyme hydrolysis. The validity of Δvalues to distinguishandaryl glycerol units and Cotton effects at 235±5 nm to determine absolute configurations at C-8 in-and their aglycones (-) are discussed.

Six new indole alkaloid sulfonic acids (-), together with two analogues (and) that were previously reported as synthetic products, were isolated from an aqueous extract of theroot. Their structures including the absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic data analysis, combined with enzyme hydrolysis and comparison of experimental circular dichroism and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. In the preliminary assay, compoundsandshowed antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus B3 and influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2), respectively.

A pair of new diphenyl glycerol ether enantiomers (-)-and (+)-and two new methyl benzamidobenzoatesand, named (-)-()- and (+)-()-isatindigotrioic acid [(-)-and (+)-] and isatindigoticamides A () and B (), respectively, were isolated from an aqueous decoction of the roots of(ban lan gen). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis including 2D NMR experiments. The absolute configurations of (-)-and (+)-were assigned based on the CD exciton chirality method. Compoundsandexhibited antiviral activities against HSV-1 with ICvalues of 4.87 and 25.87 μmol/L, respectively. Compoundwas also found active against Coxsackie virus B3 and LPS-induced NO production.

The rhizome of Gastrodia elata (GE), a herb medicine, has been used for treatment of neuronal disorders in Eastern Asia for hundreds of years. Parishin C is a major ingredient of GE. In this study, the i.c.v. injection of soluble Aβ 1-42 oligomers model of LTP injury was used. We investigated the effects of parishin C on the improvement of LTP in soluble Aβ 1-42 oligomer-injected rats and the underlying electrophysiological mechanisms. Parishin C (i.p. or i.c.v.) significantly ameliorated LTP impairment induced by i.c.v. injection of soluble Aβ 1-42 oligomers. In cultured hippocampal neurons, soluble Aβ 1-42 oligomers significantly inhibited NMDAR currents while not affecting AMPAR currents and voltage-dependent currents. Pretreatment with parishin C protected NMDA receptor currents from the damage induced by Aβ. In summary, parishin C improved LTP deficits induced by soluble Aβ 1-42 oligomers. The protection by parishin C against Aβ-induced LTP damage might be related to NMDA receptors.

Three pairs of enantiomerically pure alkaloids with diverse structure features, named isatindigoticoic acid A and epiisatindigoticoic acid A [(-)-1 and (+)-1], phaitanthrin A and epiphaitanthrin A [(-)-2 and (+)-2], and isatindopyrromizol A and epiisatindopyrromizol A [(-)-3 and (+)-3], respectively, were isolated from an aqueous extract of the roots of Isatis indigotica. Racemic and scalemic mixtures of these enantiomers were separated by HPLC on a chiral semi-preparative column. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with the calculation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The enantiomer pairs possess parent structures of 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-4-carboxylic acid, indolo[2,1-b]quinazolinone, and 3-thioxohexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-1-one, respectively. Except for phaitanthrin A [(-)-2] which the configuration was previously undetermined, these compounds are new enantiomeric natural products.

Three new sesquiterpene glycosides, named codonopsesquilosides A-C (1-3), were isolated from an aqueous extract of the dried roots of Codonopsis pilosula. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. These glycosides are categorized as C15 carotenoid (1), gymnomitrane (2), and eudesmane (3) types of sesquiterpenoids, respectively. Compound 1 is the first diglycoside of C15 carotenoids to be reported. Compound 2 represents the second reported example of gymnomitrane-type sesquiterpenoids from higher plants. The absolute configurations were supported by comparison of the experimental circular dichroism (CD) spectra with the calculated electronic CD (ECD) spectra of 1-3, their aglycones, and model compounds based on quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory. The influences of the glycosyls on the calculated ECD spectra of the glycosidic sesquiterpenoids, as well as some nomenclature and descriptive problems with gymnomitrane-type sesquiterpenoids are discussed.