Deoxycalyciphylline B

Molecules. 2012 Aug 13;17(8):9641-51.

Deoxycalyciphylline B, a hepatotoxic alkaloid from Daphniphyllum calycinum.[Pubmed: 22890169]

Daphniphyllum calycinum (DC), a main component of Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang, is effectively used to cure bowel disease in the clinic. It was recorded that DC possessed slight toxicity, which was caused by the alkaloids existing in its extract. Unfortunately, to date the toxicity level and toxic constituents are still unclear.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present study is designed to illustrate the acute toxicity and induced organ damages of the total alkaloids as well as to determine the toxic constituents. Based on the above studies, not only was the acute toxicity determined but also hepatic toxicity was characterized by increased plasma biomarkers of ALT and AST and liver cell inflammatory infiltrate as well necrosis that was firstly observed. Significantly, Deoxycalyciphylline B exhibited exactly the same hepatic toxicity so it was identified as the main toxic constituent in DC. An obvious dose-effect relationship between the toxic compound and induced hepatic injuries was also observed. Moreover, the Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang contained low levels of the toxic compound, compared with the total alkaloids.
CONCLUSIONS:
Therefore, this Chinese patent drug could be regarded to be safe in this point of view.

Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2009, 42(10):3720-5.

Inhibitory Effects of Two Compounds Extracted from Daphniphyllum calycinum on Phenoloxidase of Spodotera exigua[Reference: WebLink]

The article studies phenoloxidase inhibitors against insect and finds the clues on new target for pest control.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The effects of Deoxycalyciphylline B and Methyl homosecodaphniphyllate extracted from Daphniphyllum calycinum. on phenoloxidase (PO) of Spodoptera exigua (H-bner) were investigated adopting the microtitrationassay. The results indicated that the two compounds showed different inhibitory effects on the PO and the inhibitor concentrations leading to 50% (IC50) activity lost were estimated to be 2.439 mmol.L-1 for Deoxycalyciphylline B and 0.879 mmol.L-1 for methyl homosecodaphniphyllate,respectively. The two compounds were also found to be reversible competitive inhibitors and the Ki values were determined to be 2.051 mmol.L-1 and 1.269 mmol.L-1,respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
Two alkaloids have better inhibitory activities on the PO. The two compounds or their analogues can be used as the templates to guide the molecular design of enzyme inhibitors. These are important ways looking for new pest control agents.