Abstract
Pachysandra (the family Buxaceae) is a small genus containing medicinal plants. This brief communication first describes its phytochemistry and pharmacological activities. More than 140 metabolites were separated, and steroidal alkaloids-based pregnane skeleton were the main compounds obtained. (+)-Axillaridine A, epipachysamines B and D-E, pachysandrines B-D, pachysamines A-B, pachystermine A, and (+)-spiropachysine are likely primary metabolites. Various compounds were identified as previously undescribed compounds. Non-alkaloids, such as sterols, triterpenoids, mono-phenols, coumarins, megastigmanes, and lignans were also identified. Pachysandra steroidal alkaloids showed potential for drug development since they exhibited anticancer, antimicrobial, antiestrogenic, and gastric protective activities. The amine substituents at carbons C-3 and C-20 might cause differences in pharmacological results. The underlying mechanisms, such as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, were proposed to explain pharmacological activities. Pachysandra phytotoxins exhibited antioxidative and antidiabetic activities. Synthetic products of Pachysandra steroidal alkaloids had higher cytotoxic effects than the natural compounds.
Published Version
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