Abstract
Chamaecyparis formosensis is Taiwan’s most representative tree, and has high economic value. To date, only a few active chemical constituents have been reported for C. formosensis. In this study, 37 secondary metabolites, including three new compounds (1–3), were extracted from the leaves of C. formosensis. The compounds isolated from the ethyl acetate layer were used at different concentrations to treat HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and to evaluate their effects on matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) expression. Based on extensive analysis of data from high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, the new compounds were identified as 11,12-dihydroxyisodaucenoic acid (1), 12-hydroxyisodaucenoic acid (2), and 1-oxo-2α,3β-dihydroxytotarol (3). Known compounds 4–37 were identified by comparing their spectroscopic data with data reported in the literature. Biological activity tests by gelatin zymographic analysis revealed that seven compounds, including new compound 2, have no cytotoxic effect on HT-1080 cells and were found to increase MMP-2 or MMP-9 expression by 1.25- to 1.59-fold at lower concentrations of 10–50 µM. These naturally derived regulatory compounds could potentially serve as a novel pharmaceutical basis for medical purposes.
Highlights
The genus Chamaecyparis is the main genus of the family Cupressaceae, with five species, C. formosensis, C. lawsoniana, C. obtusa, C. pisifera, and C. thyoides, and one variety, C. obtusa var.formosana, spread throughout the world [1]
Compounds Isolated from the Leaves of C. formosensis
Methanolic leaf extract of C. formosensis was suspended in water and partitioned using ethyl acetate (EA)
Summary
The genus Chamaecyparis is the main genus of the family Cupressaceae, with five species, C. formosensis, C. lawsoniana, C. obtusa, C. pisifera, and C. thyoides, and one variety, C. obtusa var.formosana, spread throughout the world [1]. The genus Chamaecyparis is the main genus of the family Cupressaceae, with five species, C. formosensis, C. lawsoniana, C. obtusa, C. pisifera, and C. thyoides, and one variety, C. obtusa var. The genus is native to eastern Asia (Japan and Taiwan), as well as the western and eastern regions of the United States. Besides C. formosensis and C. obtusa var. Molecules 2018, 23, 604 formosana, the two endemic species that are abundant in Taiwan, a number of studies have reported that the Chamaecyparis genus has different types of bioactivity, including antimicrobial, antiinsect, and anticancer activities [2,3,4]. Chamaecyparis formosensis is a slow-growing but long-living endemic tree that is usually found at elevations of 1500–2150 m in Taiwan’s central mountains [5]. It is indigenous to the high mountain area and is known as the Taiwan red cypress because of the reddish-brown color of its bark [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
