Two new germacranes, chrysanthemumins C (1) and D (2), and five eudesmanes, chrysanthemumols I–K (3–5) as new ones, eudesm-4(14)-ene-3α,11-diol (6) and canusesnol E (7), were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of 95% EtOH extract of the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum. The structures of isolated sesquiterpenoids were elucidated on basis of extensive spectroscopic evidences.

Chemical investigation of the aerial part of Leonurus heterophyllus led to the isolation and characterization of the seven labdane-type diterpenoids 1–7, including six new ones, 1–6. Compounds 4 and 5 were isolated as a C(15) epimer pair. The determination of the structures and relative configurations of the new compounds were mainly based on 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic methods, and comparison of their NMR data with related compounds. The structure of compound 7 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) had been prepared by precipitation polymerization method using acrylamide as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, acetonitrile as the porogen solvent and protocatechuic acid (PA), one of phenolic acids, as the template molecule. The MIPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared, and their performance relative to non-imprinted polymers was assessed by equilibrium binding experiments. Six structurally similar phenolic acids, including p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, salicylic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid were selected to assess the selectivity and recognition capability of the MIPs. The MIPs were applied to extract PA from the traditional Chinese medicines as a solid-phase extraction sorbent. The resultant cartridge showed that the MIPs have a good extraction performance and were able to selectively extract almost 82% of PA from the extract of Rhizoma homalomenae. Thus, the proposed molecularly imprinted-solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography method can be successfully used to extract and analyse PA in traditional Chinese medicines.

A novel ultra-performance LC-photodiode array-eλ-ESI-MS/MS screening method was developed for the detection and identification of natural antioxidants from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei. Nine compounds were found to possess a potential antioxidant activity, and their free radical-scavenging capacities were investigated in detail. The nine compounds were identified as 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoylglucose, 6-hydroxymusizin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-catechin, gallic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene-4′-O-β-D-(2″-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside, sennoside A, 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone-4′-O-β-D-(2″-O-galloyl-6″-O-p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside, emodin-8-O-(6′-O-malonyl) glucopyranoside, and physcion-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The reactivity and SC₅₀ values of those compounds were investigated, respectively. 1-O-Galloyl-2-O-cinnamoylglucose showed the strongest capability for scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free radical; trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene-4′-O-β-D-(2″-O-galloyl) glucopyranoside showed the strongest capability for scavenging superoxide radical; 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone-4′-O-2-D-(2″-O-galloyl-6″-O-p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside exhibited the highest reactivity in the lipid peroxidation processes. The use of the analytical screening method based on ultra-performance LC-photodiode array-eλ-ESI-MS/MS would provide a new way for rapid detection of radical-scavenging natural compounds from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei or complex matrices.

Fourteen sesquiterpenoids with an eudesmane C-atom skeleton, including four new ones, (1β,5α,7β,8β,11β)-5-hydroperoxy-1-hydroxyeudesm-4(15)-eno-12,8-lactone (1), (1β,5α,7β,8β)-8-(acetyloxy)-5-hydroperoxy-1-hydroxycostic acid methyl ester (12), and a mixture of (1β,3β,4β,7β,8β)-1,3-dihydroxyeudesma-5,11(13)-dieno-12,8-lactone (7) and (1β,3β,4β,7β,8β,11β)-1,3-dihydroxyeudesm-5-eno-12,8-lactone (8), were isolated from the aerial parts of Inula japonica (Asteraceae). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, and those of 7 and 12 confirmed by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

The plants of genus Dipsacus, with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, and Africa, have been used as medicinal agents to treat several diseases, including lime disease, fibromyalgia, bone fracture, and abortion, and especially the Alzheimer's disease and cancer. A large number of studies on plants of genus Dipsacus has revealed cytoprotective properties, inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, antinociceptive, and antimicrobial effects, etc. This review compiles all chemical constituents isolated, mainly triterpenoids, iridoids, phenolics, and alkaloids, from the genus Dipsacus over the past few decades together with their structural features, biological activities, and structureactivity relationships.

An ultrasonic cell grinder extraction (UCGE) method has been developed and applied to extract five anthraquinones (physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, and aloe-emodin) from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei. Several parameters of UCGE procedure, including ultrasonic cell grinder running mode, type and volume of extraction solvent and extraction time, were optimized. The determination was preformed on a Waters ultra-performance LC BEH C₁₈ column using gradient elution system. A baseline separation could be achieved in less than 7.5 min with high resolution. Under the optimized conditions, contents of physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, rhein and aloe-emodin in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei collected from different cultivated areas were 0–4.22, 0.11–27.64, 0.09–3.49, 0.31–3.31 and 0.13–2.93 mg/g, respectively. Compared with reflux, maceration and ultrasonic bath extractions, the UCGE method was more efficient, faster and easier to be operated, and required lower extraction temperature and less solvent. The results indicated that UCGE was a novel and ideal method for extracting bioactive constituents from plant samples.