title: Induction of quinone reductase (QR) by withanolides isolated from Physalis pubescens L. (Solanaceae).
abstract: In the present study, it was demonstrated that the dichloromethane extract of Physalis pubescens L. (DEPP) had weak potential quinone reductase (QR) inducing activity, but an UPLC-ESI-MS method with glutathione (GSH) as the substrate revealed that the DEPP had electrophiles (with an α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety). These electrophiles could induce quinone reductase (QR) activity, which might be attributed to the modification of the highly reactive cysteine residues in Keap1. Herein, four withanolides, including three new compounds physapubescin B (2), physapubescin C (3), physapubescin D (4), together with one known steroidal compound physapubescin (1) were isolated. Structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis and that of physapubescin C (3) was confirmed by a combination of molecular modeling and quantum chemical DFT-GIAO calculations. Evaluation of the QR inducing activities of all withanolides indicated potent activities of compounds 1 and 2, which had a common α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, No. 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Yonglei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lishe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Xiaoqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018890:Chemoprevention; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D032321:Physalis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D054358:Withanolides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D054358:Withanolides; C586239:physapubescin; C586240:physapubescin B; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
keywords: Physalis pubescens L.; QR induction activity; Quantum chemical DFT-GIAO calculations; UPLC–ESI-MS analysis; Withanolides