New Anti-angiogenic Leading Structure Discovered in the Fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis

Abstract

Cimyunnins A–C (1–3), characterized with an unusual fused cyclopentenone ring G, together with cimyunnin D (4), possessing a highly rearranged γ-lactone ring F, were characterized from the fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory calculations. In addition, cimyunnin A exhibited comparable anti-angiogenic activities to those of sunitinib, a clinically-used first-line angiogenesis inhibitor, in the in vitro and ex vivo studies.

New potential beneficial effects of actein, a triterpene glycoside isolated from Cimicifuga species, in breast cancer treatment

“…Such changes of signaling molecules may be responsible for the inhibition of proliferation and migration of endothelial cells 43 44 . Previous studies showed that other cycloartane triterpenoids isolated from C. yunnanensis and Homonoia riparia exerted anti-angiogenic activities in HUVEC 6 45 .…”

“…Last but not least, being the allied species of C. racemosa (black cohosh), C. foetida (shengma) contains actein and many other bioactive cycloartane triterpenoids 6 28 . The new potential application of this herb for angiogenesis-dependent diseases warrants further investigation.…”

“…are defined as herb Cimicifugae Rhizoma or “Shengma”, with heat-clearing and detoxifying effects 4 . In the past decades, over hundreds of triterpene glycosides/cycloartane triterpenoids have been isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Cimicifuga species by different research groups 5 6 7 . Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that the growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer cells of C. racemosa (black cohosh) extracts was related to the triterpene glycoside composition 8 9 .…”

Natural Products Research in China From 2015 to 2016

“…Cimyunnins A–D ( 560 - 563 ) and cimyunnin D ( 563 ), characterized a fused cyclopentenone ring G and a rearranged γ-lactone ring F, respectively, were identified from the fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis (Daocheng, Sichuan, China). Cimyunnin A ( 560 ) displayed a similar anti-angiogenic activity as sunitinib both in vitro and ex vivo (Nian et al, 2015 ). Macrophypenes A–E, five new diterpenoids, were isolated from leaves of Callicarpa macrophylla (Guangxi, China).…”

Actein Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration in Human Osteosarcoma

“…Black cohosh is a North American perennial plant that has been used for centuries by Native Americans. Evidence showed that it has been involved in multiple processes, including anti-inflammation, anti-rheumatism, pain killers, and anti-dysmenorrhoea [ 6 , 7 ]. In recent years it has become a common alternative in hormone replacement therapy for females to relieve menopausal symptoms.…”