Open Access Article
Wanting Li†
a,
Guiyang Xia†ab,
Jinyu Xiabc,
Qiyao Liub,
Xuefen Wub,
Linnan Zhoua,
Xiaohong Weib,
Huan Xia*ab and
Sheng Lin
*ab
aSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
bKey Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China. E-mail: lsznn@126.com; xiahuan@bucm.edu.cn
cKey Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
First published on 30th March 2026
Eight new ent-pimarane diterpenoids (1–8), along with three known compounds (9–11), were isolated from the aerial parts of Sigesbeckia pubescens. The structures of the new ent-pimarane diterpenoids were established by extensive spectroscopic techniques, X-ray diffraction crystallography, ECD calculations and Mo2(OAc)4-induced ECD. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their myocardial protective activities in an H9c2 cell hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Bioassay results showed that pubescens B (2), pubescens H (8) and darutigenol (9) enhanced the cell viability at concentrations of 1, 10, and 50 µM and molecular docking explored their binding mode with H/R connected protein Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L5 (UCHL5).
With the development of mechanism and medication research to prevent myocardial H/R injury, increasingly preclinical evidence has supported the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine.15–17 Our previous study has also found that UCHL5 can affect the NLRP3 inflammasome during myocardial H/R, and the fraction of HS can inhibit the UCHL5/NLRP3 pathway to alleviated myocardial H/R injury. Furthermore, a chemical and molecular docking experiment showed that an ent-pimarane diterpenoid, kirenol, might be the core active constituent.18,19 In order to discover more myocardial protective compounds from HS and as part of our ongoing screening program toward new lead compound discovery from Chinese medicinal plants, further chemical investigation on the aerial parts of S. pubescens led to the isolation of eight new ent-pimarane diterpenoids (1–8) named pubescens A–H and three known analogues (9–11) (Fig. 1). We described herein the isolation and structural elucidation of 1–11. Furthermore, all isolated compounds were tested for myocardial protective activity by H9c2 cardiomyocytes hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model. We identified that pubescens B (2) and pubescens H (8) had good myocardial protective function, and discussed the interaction between the active compounds and UCHL5.
Compound 1 was obtained as a white powder with [α] +52.0. Its molecular formula was determined to be C20H30O3 by (+)-HRESIMS data at m/z 319.2276 [M + H]+ (calcd for C20H31O3, 319.2267), indicating 6 degrees of unsaturation. The IR analysis presented the signals of hydroxy (3387 cm−1) and double-bond (1682 cm−1). The 1H NMR spectrum (Table 1) showed characteristic signals for three oxygenated methine protons [δH 3.16 (1H, dd, J = 11.2, 5.6 Hz), 3.83 (1H, dd, J = 1.4, 5.6 Hz), 3.90 (1H, s)], an oxygenated methylene protons [δH 3.59 (1H, dd, J = 11.9, 1.4 Hz) and 4.30 (1H, dd, J = 11.9, 4.9 Hz)] and four methyl protons [δH 0.89 (3H, s), 0.92 (3H, s), 0.98 (6H, s)]. In the 13C NMR and HSQC spectra (Table 1 and Fig. S4), twenty carbon signals were observed, assigned to four methyl, five methylene (including one oxygenated carbon, δC 75.3), six methine (including two olefinic carbons, δC 115.6 and 131.9 and three oxygenated carbons, δC 79.5, 79.6 and 84.7), and five quaternary carbons (including two olefinic carbons, δC 129.6 and 144.6). Considering the molecular formula, the degree of unsaturation, and biological source, 1 was considered as an ent-pimarene diterpenoid with an oxolane ring group.20 The 1H–1H COSY correlations of H-15/H2-16 and the HMBC correlations (Fig. S5 and S6) from the protons at δH 0.92 (3H, s, H-17) to the carbons at δC 34.0 (C-12), δC 45.2 (C-13), δC 84.7 (C-14), and δC 79.5 (C-15) ascertained the location of the oxolane ring between C-14 and C-16. The HMBC correlations from δH 5.87 (1H, d, H-7) to δC 50.0 (C-5), δC 25.0 (C-6), δC 144.6 (C-9), δC 84.7 (C-14) and from δH 5.33 (1H, t, H-11) to δC 129.6 (C-8), δC 37.6 (C-10), δC 34.0 (C-12), and δC 45.2 (C-13) confirmed a conjugated diene at Δ7(8) and Δ9(11) (Fig. 2 and S5).
| Position | 1 | 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | |
| a 1H NMR data (d) were measured in 600 MHz NMR instrument. Proton coupling constants (J) in Hz are given in parentheses.b 13C data were recorded at 150 MHz. The assignments were based on 1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. | ||||
| 1a | 1.88, dt (15.4, 4.2) | 36.5, CH2 | 1.83, dt (13.2, 3.6) | 35.5, CH2 |
| 1b | 1.49, td (15.4, 4.8) | 1.20 td (13.2, 5.4) | ||
| 2a | 1.72 m | 28.3, CH2 | 1.67, m | 28.2, CH2 |
| 2b | 1.70, m | 1.65, m | ||
| 3 | 3.16, dd (11.2, 5.6) | 79.6, CH | 3.18, dd (10.8, 5.4) | 79.5, CH |
| 4 | 40.1, C | 39.9, C | ||
| 5 | 1.24, dd (11.9, 4.9) | 50.0, CH | 1.11, dd (12.6, 2.4) | 52.0, CH |
| 6a | 2.27, dt (18.2, 4.9) | 25.0, CH2 | 1.77, dd (12.6, 7.2) | 19.6, CH2 |
| 6b | 2.21, dd (18.2, 11.9) | 1.53, ddd (18.6, 12.6, 6.0) | ||
| 7a | 5.87, d (5.6) | 131.9, CH | 2.39, td (17.4, 5.4) | 31.8, CH2 |
| 7b | 1.92, m | |||
| 8 | 129.6, C | 125.2, C | ||
| 9 | 144.6, C | 143.1, C | ||
| 10 | 37.6, C | 38.8, C | ||
| 11a | 5.33, t (4.2) | 115.6, CH | 2.05, m | 21.8, CH2 |
| 11b | 2.03, m | |||
| 12a | 1.87, m | 34.0, CH2 | 1.46, m | 29.9, CH2 |
| 12b | 1.86, m | 1.35, td (12.0, 6.6) | ||
| 13 | 45.2, C | 43.1, C | ||
| 14 | 3.90, s | 84.7, CH | 3.56, s | 84.5, CH |
| 15 | 3.83, dd (5.6, 1.4) | 79.5, CH | 4.89, dd (5.4, 2.4) | 82.7, CH |
| 16a | 4.30, dd (11.9, 5.6) | 75.3, CH2 | 4.26, dd (10.8, 5.4) | 72.3, CH2 |
| 16b | 3.59, dd (11.9, 1.4) | 3.62, dd (10.8, 2.4) | ||
| 17 | 0.92, s | 16.3, CH3 | 0.90, s | 14.6, CH3 |
| 18 | 0.98, s | 28.4, CH3 | 1.01, s | 28.6, CH3 |
| 19 | 0.89, s | 16.0, CH3 | 0.82, s | 16.3, CH3 |
| 20 | 0.98, s | 21.3, CH3 | 1.02, s | 19.7, CH3 |
| OAc-15 | 2.08, s | 172.3, C | ||
| 20.8, CH3 | ||||
Furthermore, the 1H–1H COSY correlations (Fig. S6) of H2-1/H2-2/H-3, H-5/H2-6/H-7 and H-11/H2-12, combined with the correlations from H2-12 to C-9, from H-14 to C-7, C-8, C-9, from H3-18 to C-3, C-4, C-19, and from H3-20 to C-1, C-5, C-10 in the HMBC spectrum (Fig. S5) completed the planar structure of 1. Therefore, the gross structure of 1 was unambiguously determined to be ent-14,16-oxolane-3,15-dihydroxypimar-7,9(10)-diene. The NOESY correlations (Fig. S7) of H-3/H3-18, H-5/H3-18, H-3/H-5, H-6β/H3-18, and H-14/H3-17 indicated that H-3, H-5, H-14, H3-17, and H3-18 were located at the β-orientation (Fig. 3). Whereas, the NOESY correlations (Fig. S7) of H3-19/H3-20, H3-20/H-12α, and H-12α/H-15 suggested the α-orientation of H3-19, H3-20, and H-15, respectively. Accordingly, the configurations of C-3, C-10, and C-13 were assigned as R*, R*, and R*, respectively. Thus, 3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R-1 (1a) and 3S,5R,10S,13S,14S,15S-1 (1b) were proposed to be the model compounds according to the relative configuration established for 1. Comparing the experimental and theoretical ECD spectra predicted by the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) at the B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) level, the overall pattern of calculated ECD spectrum for 1a stereoisomer was in good agreement with experimental data of 1 (Fig. 4). Finally, the 3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R configuration of 1 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals obtained via recrystallization from MeOH (Fig. 5). Thus, 1 was established as (3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R)-ent-14,16-oxolane-3,15-dihydroxypimar-7,9(10)-diene, and it was named as pubescens A.
Compound 2 and compound 3 had the same molecular formula of C22H34O4, as indicated by their 13C NMR data and positive HRESIMS ions at m/z 385.2349 [M + Na]+ (calcd 385.2349) for 2 and at m/z 363.2541 [M + H]+ (calcd 363.2530) for 3. The 1H and 13C NMR data of these compounds (Tables 1 and 2) were similar to those of ent-14β,16-oxolane-8-pimarene-3β,15α-diol21 except for some differences of substituents. 2 had an acetyl group at C-15, which was supported by the HMBC correlations (Fig. S15) from the protons at δH 4.89 (1H, dd, H-15) to the carbons at δC 84.5 (C-14), 34.0 (C-12) and the ester carbonyl at δC 172.3. Whereas, 3 had an acetyl group at C-3, which was confirmed by the HMBC correlations (Fig. S25) from δH 4.48 (1H, dd, H-3) to δC 52.0 (C-5), 35.1 (C-1), 28.5 (C-18), and the ester carbonyl at δC 172.8. The NOESY correlations (Fig. S17) of H-15/H-12α, H-12α/H3-20, and H3-20/H3-19 revealed the α-orientation of H3-19, H3-20, and H-15 of 2. And the NOESY correlations (Fig. S27) of H-3/H3-18, H3-18/H-5, H-5/H-7β, H-7β/H-14, and H-14/H3-17 indicated the β-orientation of H-3, H-5, H-14, H3-17, and H3-18 of 3. Consequently, the structure of 2 and 3 were elucidated as (3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R)-ent-15-acetoxy-14,16-oxolane-3-hydroxypimarene-8-ene and (3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R)-ent-3-acetoxy-14,16-oxolane-15-hydroxypimarene-8-ene, respectively, by comparison of their experimental ECD with calculated data. Compounds 2 and 3 were named as pubescens B and pubescens C (Fig. 4).
| Position | 3 | 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | |
| a 1H NMR data (d) were measured in 600 MHz NMR instrument. Proton coupling constants (J) in Hz are given in parentheses.b 13C data were recorded at 150 MHz. The assignments were based on 1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. | ||||
| 1a | 1.86, dt (13.2, 3.6) | 35.1, CH2 | 3.93, t (2.8) | 72.5, CH |
| 1b | 1.25, m | |||
| 2a | 1.72, m | 24.9, CH2 | 1.90, td (12.6, 2.8) | 35.4, CH2 |
| 2b | 1.70, m | 1.79, m | ||
| 3 | 4.48, dd (9.6, 7.2) | 82.3, CH | 3.69, dd (11.9, 4.2) | 74.1, CH |
| 4 | 38.8, C | 39.8, C | ||
| 5 | 1.22, dd (12.6, 2.4) | 52.0, CH | 1.62, dd (12.6, 2.1) | 44.7, CH |
| 6a | 1.77, dd (12.6, 7.2) | 19.5, CH2 | 1.76, m | 19.3, CH2 |
| 6b | 1.56, ddd (18.6, 12.6, 6.0) | 1.55, ddd (17.5, 12.6, 5.6) | ||
| 7a | 2.41, td (17.4, 5.4) | 31.7, CH2 | 2.36, dd (17.5, 4.9) | 31.6, CH2 |
| 7b | 1.93, m | 1.93, m | ||
| 8 | 125.7, C | 127.0, C | ||
| 9 | 142.7, C | 141.5, C | ||
| 10 | 38.7, C | 43.4, CH | ||
| 11a | 2.05, m | 21.9, CH2 | 2.32, m | 21.3, CH2 |
| 11b | 2.03, m | 2.08, brd (17.5) | ||
| 12a | 1.35, m | 30.4, CH2 | 1.35, dd (12.6, 4.9) | 30.5, CH2 |
| 12b | 1.33, m | 1.27, td (12.6, 4.9) | ||
| 13 | 43.9, C | 44.1, C | ||
| 14 | 3.56, s | 84.1, CH | 3.57, s | 84.2, CH |
| 15 | 3.78, dd (5.4, 2.4) | 80.5, CH | 3.79, dd (5.6, 2.1) | 80.6, CH |
| 16a | 4.20, dd (9.6, 5.4) | 74.6, CH2 | 4.20, dd (9.8, 5.6) | 74.6, CH2 |
| 16b | 3.57, dd (9.6, 5.4) | 3.57, dd (9.8, 2.1) | ||
| 17 | 0.93, s | 14.6, CH3 | 0.96, s | 14.8, CH3 |
| 18 | 0.92, s | 28.5, CH3 | 1.04, s | 28.6, CH3 |
| 19 | 0.94, s | 17.1, CH3 | 0.83, s | 16.2, CH3 |
| 20 | 1.05, s | 19.7, CH3 | 1.01, s | 20.7, CH3 |
| OAc-3 | 2.04, s | 172.8, CH | ||
| 21.1, CH3 | ||||
Compound 4 was purified as a white powder with a molecular formula of C20H32O4 requiring 5 degrees of unsaturation, which was shown by the [M + H]+ ion at m/z 337.2389 (calcd for C20H33O4, 337.2373). Its 1D NMR data (Table 2) were similar to those of ent-14β,16-oxolane-8-pimarene-3β,15α-diol,21 except for an extra hydroxymethyl (δC 72.5) at C-1. This inference was verified by the COSY cross-peaks of H-1/H2-2 and the HMBC cross-peaks (Fig. S35 and S36) from δH 3.93 (1H, t, H-1) to δC 82.3 (C-3), 52.0 (C-5), 141.5 (C-9), and 20.7 (C-20). H-1 appeared as a double doublet with two small coupling constants (2.8 and 2.8 Hz), together with correlations of H-1/H3-20 in the NOESY spectrum (Fig. S37), indicating the β-orientation of OH-1, C-1 was defined as R* configured. Finally, according to the comparison of experimental data with calculated ECD data of 1R,3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R-4 (4a) and 1S,3S,5R,10S,13S,14S,15S-4 (4b) (Fig. 4) and biogenetic consideration, 4 was identified as (1R,3R,5S,10R,13R,14R,15R)-ent-14,16-oxolane-1,3,15-trihydroxypimarene-8-ene, and was named as pubescens D.
Compound 5, white amorphous powder, gave a [M + Na]+ ion in HRESIMS at m/z 361.2353 (calcd for 361.2349), consistent with the molecular formula C20H34O4. A comparison of the 1D NMR data of 5 with those of darutigenol (9) (Tables 3 and S9) revealed a considerable degree of similarity except for some resonances corresponding to ring B.22 The large chemical shift difference of C-6 (from δC 23.0 in 9 to δC 68.7 in 5) indicated the presence of a OH group in C-6 of 5, which was confirmed by the COSY cross-peaks of H-5/H-6/H2-7 and HMBC cross-peaks shown in Fig. 2, S45 and S46. The NOESY cross-peaks of H-6/H3-19/and H-6/H3-20, suggested the β-orientation of OH-6 (Fig. 3 and S47). Because of the structure of a vic-diol moiety in the side chain, Mo2(OAc)4 induced ECD was used to suggest the absolute configuration of 5. According to the rule proposed by Snatzke, the positive Cotton effect at 305 nm in the ECD spectrum of 15S,16-dihydroxy-7-oxopimar-8(9)-ene, C-15 was indicated as an S configuration.23,24 On the contrary, the negative sign observed in ECD spectrum of 5 established a 15R configuration (Fig. 6).25,26 Finally, according to the comparison of experimental data with calculated ECD data of 3R,5S,6R,9R,10S,13S,15R-5 (5a) and 3S,5R,6S,9S,10R,13R,15S-5 (5b) (Fig. 4), the configuration of 5 was defined as 3R, 5S, 6R, 9R, 10S, 13S and 15R. And this identification was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals obtained via recrystallization from MeOH as shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the structure of 5 was elucidated as (3R,5S,6R,9R,10S,13S,15R)-ent-3,6,15,16-tetrahydroxypimar-8(14)-ene and was named as pubescens E.
Compound 6 shared the same molecular formula of C20H34O4 with 5 as determined by the HRESIMS at m/z 361.2347 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C20H34NaO4, 361.2349). Its 1D NMR spectroscopic data (Table 3) were similar to those of 9, except for an additional hydroxy group at C-2. Supporting this assignment was the presence of COSY correlation (Fig. S56) of H2-1/H-2/H-3 and HMBC correlation (Fig. S55) observed from δH 2.96 (1H, d, H-3) to δC 69.3 (C-2), 40.6 (C-4), 29.6 (C-19), and 16.2 (C-20). The NOESY correlation (Fig. S57) of H-2/H3-20 suggested that C-2 was S* configured. Therefore, the structure of 6 was identified as (2S,3S,5S,10S,13S,15R)-ent-2,3,15,16-tetrahydroxypimar-8(14)-ene and was named as pubescens F on the basis of the comparison of experimental data with calculated ECD data of 2S,3S,5S,10S,13S,15R-6 (6a) and 2R,3R,5R,10R,13R,15S-6 (6b) (Fig. 4).
| Position | 5 | 6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | |
| a 1H NMR data (d) were measured in 600 MHz NMR instrument. Proton coupling constants (J) in Hz are given in parentheses.b 13C data were recorded at 150 MHz. The assignments were based on 1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. | ||||
| 1a | 1.66, m | 40.8, CH2 | 1.96, dd (12.6, 4.2) | 46.6, CH |
| 1b | 1.21, dd (13.2, 3.6) | 1.13, dd (12.6, 2.4) | ||
| 2a | 1.70, m | 28.3, CH2 | 3.59, ddd (9.6, 4.2, 2.4) | 69.3, CH2 |
| 2b | 1.69, m | |||
| 3 | 3.13, dd (11.4, 3.0) | 80.1, CH | 2.96, d (9.6) | 84.2, CH |
| 4 | 40.9, C | 40.6, C | ||
| 5 | 1.02, brs | 57.3, CH | 1.16, dt (12.6, 3.0) | 55.6, CH |
| 6a | 4.35, brs | 68.7, CH | 1.62, m | 23.4, CH |
| 6b | 1.39, ddd (18.6, 12.6, 4.2) | |||
| 7a | 2.29, brd (14.4) | 47.0, CH2 | 2.29, ddd (14.4, 4.8, 1.8) | 36.9, CH2 |
| 7b | 2.25, brd (14.4) | 2.06, td (14.4, 5.4) | ||
| 8 | 136.8, C | 139.3, C | ||
| 9 | 1.72, m | 52.1, CH | 1.78, t (8.4) | 52.2, CH |
| 10 | 40.0, C | 39.9, C | ||
| 11a | 1.60, m | 19.1, CH2 | 1.59, m | 19.5, CH2 |
| 11b | 1.58, m | 1.56, m | ||
| 12a | 1.97, m | 32.4, CH2 | 2.00, dt (12.6, 3.6) | 33.2, CH2 |
| 12b | 0.97, td (12.0, 4.8) | 0.93, td (12.6, 4.8) | ||
| 13 | 38.9, C | 38.6, C | ||
| 14 | 5.25, s | 132.0, CH | 5.20, d (1.8) | 130.1, CH |
| 15 | 3.60, brd (9.0) | 78.1, CH | 3.56, dd (9.0, 2.4) | 77.5, CH |
| 16a | 3.77, brd (10.2) | 64.2, CH2 | 3.68, dd (11.4, 2.4) | 64.3, CH2 |
| 16b | 3.47, brd (10.2) | 3.46, dd (11.4, 9.0) | ||
| 17 | 0.87, s | 23.2, CH3 | 0.84, s | 23.0, CH3 |
| 18 | 1.07, s | 28.7, CH3 | 0.83, s | 17.6, CH3 |
| 19 | 1.18, s | 17.5, CH3 | 1.03, s | 29.6, CH3 |
| 20 | 1.10, s | 18.5, CH3 | 0.87, s | 16.2, CH3 |
Compound 7 was isolated as a white powder. The molecular formula was determined as C24H38O5, based on the HRESIMS ion at m/z 429.2626 [M + Na]+. Its 1D NMR spectroscopic data were similar to those of siegesbeckia Q (10) (Tables 4 and S10), except for an extra acetyl group at C-16. This was supported by the 2D NMR experiments (Fig. S64–S67). Thus, the structure of 7 was established as (3R,5S,9R,10S,13S,15R)-ent-15,16-diacetoxy-3-hydroxypimar-8(14)-ene and was named as pubescens G according to the comparison of experimental data with calculated ECD data of 3R,5S,9R,10S,13S,15R-7 (7a) and 3S,5R,9S,10R,13R,15S-7 (7b) (Fig. 4).
Compound 8 was assigned a molecular formula of C20H34O3 based on the HRESIMS ion at m/z 323.2596 [M + H]+ (calcd for C20H35O3, 323.2581). The 1H and 13C NMR data of 8 (Table 4) were indicative of the presence of three methyl groups (δH 0.82, 0.92 and 1.01), three oxygenated carbons (δC 59.9, 65.2 and 65.7). A comparison of the molecular formula and the NMR data of 8 with those of kirenol (11) revealed that these two compounds were closely related, with prominent differences being the absence of OH group in C-15 in the side chain. The COSY, HMBC, and NOESY correlations (Fig. S75–S77) matched well with this observation shown in Fig. 2 and 3. According to the comparison of experimental data with calculated ECD data of 2S,4R,5S,9R,10S,13R-8 (8a) and 2R,4S,5R,9S,10R,13S-8 (8b) (Fig. 4), the configuration of 8 was determined as 2S, 4R, 5S, 9R, 10S, and 13R, and was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals obtained via recrystallization from MeOH (Fig. 5). Therefore, the structure of 8 was identified as (2S,4R,5S,9R,10S,13R)-ent-2,16,19-trihydroxypimar-8(14)-ene and was named as pubescens H.
| Position | 7 | 8 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | δH (J in Hz)a | δCb, type | ||
| a 1H NMR data (d) were measured in 600 MHz NMR instrument. Proton coupling constants (J) in Hz are given in parentheses.b 13C data were recorded at 150 MHz. The assignments were based on 1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. | |||||
| 1a | 1.70, dt (13.2, 3.0) | 38.0, CH2 | 2.00, m | 49.4, CH2 | |
| 1b | 1.18, m | 1.02, t (12.6) | |||
| 2a | 1.62, m | 28.3, CH2 | 3.76, tt (12.6, 4.2) | 65.2, CH | |
| 2b | 1.61, m | ||||
| 3a | 3.20 dd (9.0, 6.6) | 79.7, CH | 2.17, ddd (12.6,4.2, 2.4) | 44.4, CH2 | |
| 3b | 0.89, td (12.6, 1.2) | ||||
| 4 | 40.1, C | 41.5, C | |||
| 5 | 1.09, dd (12.6, 3.0) | 55.6, CH | 1.20, dd (12.6, 2.4) | 56.5, CH | |
| 6a | 1.67, m | 23.5, CH2 | 1.71, m | 23.3, CH2 | |
| 6b | 1.42, dd (12.6, 4.8) | 1.30, ddd (18.6, 12.6, 4.2) | |||
| 7a | 2.32, ddd (14.4, 4.8, 1.8) | 37.1, CH2 | 2.25, ddd (14.4, 4.2, 1.8) | 37.3, CH2 | |
| 7b | 2.06, m | 2.01, m | |||
| 8 | 141.9, C | 137.1, C | |||
| 9 | 1.73, t (8.4) | 51.9, CH | 1.79, t (8.4) | 52.4, CH | |
| 10 | 39.3, C | 40.6, C | |||
| 11a | 1.55, m | 19.4, CH2 | 1.62, m | 20.3, CH2 | |
| 11b | 1.53, m | 1.55, m | |||
| 12a | 1.70, dt (12.6, 3.6) | 33.4, CH2 | 1.58, m | 36.3, CH2 | |
| 12b | 1.02, td (12.6, 4.8) | 1.15, td (12.6, 4.8) | |||
| 13 | 38.3, C | 33.9, C | |||
| 14 | 5.19, brs | 127.4, CH | 5.23, brs | 132.5, CH | |
| 15a | 5.16, dd (9.0, 2.4) | 75.9, CH | 1.63, m | 45.1, CH2 | |
| 15b | 1.53, m | ||||
| 16a | 4.44, dd (12.0, 2.4) | 64.8, CH2 | 3.63 td (10.2, 6.0) | 59.9, CH2 | |
| 16b | 4.06, dd (12.0, 9.0) | 3.57, td (10.2, 6.0) | |||
| 17 | 0.97, s | 23.5, CH3 | 0.92, s | 28.9, CH3 | |
| 18 | 1.00, s | 29.1, CH3 | 1.01, s | 28.0, CH3 | |
| 19a | 0.82, s | 16.5, CH3 | 3.68, d (10.8) | 65.7, CH2 | |
| 19b | 3.33, d (10.8) | ||||
| 20 | 0.85, s | 16.1, CH3 | 0.82, s | 17.3, CH3 | |
| OAc-15 | 2.06, s | 172.5, C | |||
| 20.8, CH3 | |||||
| OAc-16 | 1.98, s | 172.5, C | |||
| 20.7, CH3 | |||||
By comparing the spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature, structures of the known compounds were identified as darutigenol (9),22 siegesbeckia Q (10),25 kirenol (11),27 respectively.
Based on our previous study, the 50% ethanol elution of HS inhibited UCHL5/NLRP3 pathway and alleviated myocardial H/R injury, kirenol might be the core active compound.19 Therefore, compounds 1–10 were tested for the myocardial protective function by H9c2 cell (National Experimental Cell Resource Sharing Platform, Beijing, China) H/R induced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model (kirenol, 10 µM, as a positive control).19,28 As a result, pubescens H (8) showed strong myocardial protective activity in 1 µM. Comparing with the cell viability of 59.80 ± 7.37% in the positive group, the cell viability can be increased to 62.19 ± 12.65%. Pubescens B (2) also exhibited good myocardial protective activity in 10 µM, the cell viability can be increased to 37.94 ± 6.28%. Additionally, the known compound darutigenol (9) also had great myocardial protective activity in 10 µM (Table 5). Other tested compounds showed no activity in this research. The cytotoxicity of Pubescens B (2) and pubescens H (8) was also shown in the Fig. S87. According to the data, all tested compounds exhibited no appreciable toxicity in normal H9c2 cell even at a high concentration of 100 µM, but the cell injury was observed when they were applied to cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). This result may be caused by the phenomenon that stressed or diseased cells exhibit heightened sensitivity.29–31
| Compound | Control | Cell viability (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H/R | Kirenol 10 µM | 1 µM | 10 µM | 50 µM | ||
| a n = 6, *P < 0.05 vs. Sham, #P < 0.05 vs. H/R, and the time of treatment: 24 h. | ||||||
| 2 | 100.00 ± 5.15 | 20.69 ± 4.36* | 46.39 ± 7.58# | 29.37 ± 2.19 | 37.94 ± 6.28# | 26.92 ± 0.77 |
| 8 | 98.80 ± 2.95 | 37.90 ± 4.19* | 59.80 ± 7.37# | 62.19 ± 12.65# | 57.42 ± 9.39# | 51.46 ± 9.83# |
| 9 | 103.77 ± 4.65 | 53.02 ± 7.07* | 61.76 ± 6.83# | 63.18 ± 7.21 | 76.21 ± 6.22# | 66.18 ± 20.37# |
In order to study the binding mode of active compounds and UCHL5, molecular docking was performed using Autodock 4.2.6. As a result, the binding energy of pubescens B (2), pubescens H (8), darutigenol (9) and kirenol (11) were −7.5, −6.1, −6.3 and −6.3 kJ mol−1, respectively. As shown in Fig. 7A, pubescens B (2) had a good interaction with UCHL5 through hydrophobic interactions with residues [Leu-38, Glu-205, Ile-208, Ser-37, Ile-35, Phe 218 and Trp-36]. As shown in Fig. 7B, pubescens H (8) formed three hydrogen bonds with the interacting residues Glu-113, Ala-129 and Asn-132. Ala-129 and Asn-132 were involved in hydrogen bonding interactions with the hydroxyl group at C-16. Pubescens H (8) also had hydrophobic interactions with residues [Val-135, Ser-133, Phe-114 and Phe-117]. As shown in Fig. 7C, darutigenol formed two hydrogen bonds with the interacting residues Trp-36 and Ile-35. Trp-36 and Ile-35 were involved in hydrogen bonding interactions with the hydroxyl group at C-16. Darutigenol had hydrophobic interactions with residues [Gln-209, Ser-37, Phe-218, Ile-208, Glu-39 and Glu-205]. As shown in Fig. 7D, kirenol formed four hydrogen bonds with the interacting residues Glu-113, Ala-129 and Asn-132. Asn-132 were involved in hydrogen bonding interactions with the hydroxyl group at C-15 and C-16. Kirenol also had hydrophobic interactions with residues [Val-135, Ser-133, Phe-114 and Phe-117].
:
0 to 0
:
100) to yield 13 fractions (Fr.1–Fr.13).
Fr.6 and Fr.7 (66.7 g) were combined and subjected to silica gel column chromatography (CH2Cl2–MeOH, 100
:
0 to 0
:
100) to afford subfractions Fr.6.1, Fr.6.2, Fr.6.3, Fr.6.4 and Fr.6.5. Subsequently, Fr.6.1 was subjected to Sephadex LH-20 CC (5 × 120 cm) eluting with MeOH and further separated by preparative HPLC [ACE-C18, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm, ACN–H2O–TFA (90
:
10
:
0.1)] to afford compound 9 (3.8 mg, tR 5.5 min). Fr.6.2 was subjected to Middle Chromatogram Isolated Gel (MCI) eluting with MeOH–H2O (90
:
10 to 100
:
0) and further separated by preparative HPLC [CN-C18, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm, ACN–H2O–TFA (30
:
70
:
0.1)] to afford compounds 2 (3.3 mg, tR 28.0 min), 3 (1.0 mg, tR 26.5 min), 7 (1.5 mg, tR 32.5 min) and 10 (2.0 mg, tR 18.0 min).
Fr.8 and Fr.9 were combined and performed on reversed phase medium pressure CC with MeOH–H2O (5
:
95 to 100
:
0), yielding 8 subfractions Fr.8.1–Fr.8.8. Separation on Fr.8.6 by Sephadex LH-20 CC (5 × 120 cm) eluting with MeOH afforded 6 subfractions Fr.8.6.1–Fr.8.6.6. Fr.8.6.2 was further separated by preparative HPLC [UG-C18, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm, ACN–H2O (39
:
61)] to afford compounds 1 (2.9 mg, tR 31.0 min) and 4 (2.2 mg, tR 27.0 min). Fr.8.7 was subjected to Sephadex LH-20 CC (5 × 120 cm) eluting with CH2Cl2–MeOH (50
:
50) and silica gel column chromatography (CH2Cl2–MeOH, 100
:
0 to 10
:
90) to afford 12 subfractions Fr.8.7.1–Fr.8.7.12. Fr.8.7.4 was further separated by preparative HPLC [MGII-C18, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm, ACN–H2O (30
:
70)] to afford compounds 5 (1.9 mg, tR 36.0 min), 6 (1.5 mg, tR 34.5 min) and 8 (2.3 mg, tR 39.0 min). Fr.8.7.11 was further separated by preparative HPLC [SP-C18, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm, ACN–H2O (42
:
58)] to afford compound 11 (10.5 mg, tR 32.5 min).
ε) 204 (4.23), 231 (2.28), 284 (0.30) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3387, 2932, 1682, 1456, 1375, 1208, 1140, 1094, 1038, 1004, 967, 917, 843, 802, 724, 666 cm−1; 1H NMR (700 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 319.2276 [M + H]+ (calcd for C20H31O3, 319.2267).
ε) 205 (0.31), 247 (0.07) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3445, 2925, 2871, 1740, 1687, 1456, 1374, 1246, 1208, 1187, 1093, 1033, 979, 933, 843, 803, 725, 649, 607 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 385.2349 [M + H]+ (calcd for C22H34NaO4, 385.2349).
ε) 204 (0.32), 242 (0.10) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3445, 2940, 2873, 1734, 1704, 1682, 1644, 1453, 1374, 1246, 1207, 1185, 1138, 1032, 978, 842, 802, 724 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 363.2541 [M + H]+ (calcd for C22H35O4, 363.2530).
ε) 204 (0.28), 283 (0.02) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3386, 2926, 2881, 1680, 1446, 1377, 1260, 1206, 1140, 1090, 1037, 1005, 917, 842, 801, 660, 628 cm−1; 1H NMR (700 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 337.2389 [M + H]+ (calcd for C20H33O4, 337.2373).
ε) 204 (0.26), 281 (0.02) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3381, 2930, 2852, 1682, 1446, 1379, 1208, 1140, 1054, 1015, 844, 802, 725, 683, 655, 623, 607 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 361.2353 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C20H34NaO4, 361.2349).
ε) 205 (0.20); FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3388, 2940, 2875, 1679, 1455, 1434, 1261, 1203, 1140, 1055, 1032, 996, 802, 722, 655, 621 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 361.2347 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C20H34NaO4, 361.2349).
ε) 205 (0.63), 240 (0.17) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3445, 2940, 2867, 1743, 1698, 1647, 1456, 1434, 1371, 1244, 1227, 1142, 1093, 1033, 968, 942, 866, 835, 803, 724, 617, 607 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 429.2626 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C24H38NaO5, 429.2611).
ε) 205 (0.37), 281 (0.01) nm; FT-IR (ATR) νmax 3334, 2937, 2871, 2831, 1681, 1455, 1363, 1206, 1143, 1032, 996, 965, 655 cm−1; 1H NMR (600 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C NMR (150 MHz, CD3OD) data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 323.2596 [M + H]+ (calcd for C20H35O3, 323.2581).
517 reflections measured (8.494° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 148.322°), 3654 unique (Rint = 0.1125, Rsigma = 0.0672) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0765 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.2114 (all data).CCDC 2453116, 2453118 and 2453134 contain the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper.32a–c
Footnote |
| † These authors contributed equally to this work. |
| This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2026 |