Pseudosterins A-C, Three 1-Ethyl-3-formyl-β-carbolines from Pseudostellaria heterophylla and Their Cardioprotective Effects.

Guo-Bo Xu,Xin Yang,Yong-Lin Wang,Zhen Wang,Li-She Gan,Shang-Gao Liao,Xun He,Jun Liu,Qin-Feng Zhu,Meng Zhou,Jin-Juan Zhang,Chun-Li Zhang,Fu-Rui Wang

doi:10.3390/molecules26165045

Abstract

Pseudostellaria heterophylla is used in China not only as a functional food but also as an herb to tonify the spleen, enhance immunity, and treat palpitation. Our previous investigation showed that a fraction enriched in glycosides obtained from the roots of P. heterophylla possessed pronounced protective effects on H9c2 cells against CoCl2-induced hypoxic injury. However, the active compounds responsible for the observed effects were still unknown. In the current investigation, pseudosterins A–C (1–3), three new alkaloids with a 1-ethyl-3-formyl-β-carboline skeleton, together with polydatin, have been isolated from the active fraction. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical calculations. The four compounds showed cardioprotective effects against sodium hydrosulfite-induced hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in H9c2 cells, with the three alkaloids being more potent. This is also the first report of alkaloids with a β-carboline skeleton isolated from P. heterophylla as cardioprotective agents.

Highlights

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with an estimate of 17.9 million deaths every year [1]
As one of the most serious CVDs, myocardial infarction (MI), which is defined by pathology as myocardial cell death due to prolonged ischemia, was reported with over 700,000 deaths every year in China [2,3]
Effective treatment of MI generally involves procedures to promote the return of blood flow to the ischemic zone of the myocardium

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with an estimate of 17.9 million deaths every year [1]. As one of the most serious CVDs, myocardial infarction (MI), which is defined by pathology as myocardial cell death due to prolonged ischemia, was reported with over 700,000 deaths every year in China [2,3]. Effective treatment of MI (e.g., reperfusion therapy) generally involves procedures to promote the return of blood flow to the ischemic zone of the myocardium. Reperfusion itself may aggravate myocardial damage and may lead to further irreversible myocardial cell death (i.e., lethal myocardial reperfusion injury) [4,5]. Protection of myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is, crucial in the process of reperfusion.

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