Diterpenoids and lignans from fossil Chinese medicinal succinum and their activity against renal fibrosis

Chin J Nat Med. 2025 Jul;23(7):888-896. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60916-2.

Abstract

Five previously undescribed diterpenoids, named succipenoids D‒H (1‒5), along with four undescribed lignans, named succignans A‒D (6‒9), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Chinese medicinal succinum. Compounds 1‒5 were characterized as nor-abietane diterpenoids, while compounds 6‒9 were identified as lignans polymerized from two groups of phenylpropanoid units. The structures of these novel compounds, including their absolute configurations, were determined through spectroscopic and computational methods. Biological assessments of renal fibrosis demonstrated that compounds 6 and 7 effectively reduce the expression of proteins associated with renal fibrosis, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and fibronectin in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced normal rat kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52e).

Keywords: Diterpenoid; Lignan; Renal fibrosis; Succinum.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Collagen Type I / genetics
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Diterpenes* / chemistry
  • Diterpenes* / isolation & purification
  • Diterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / drug therapy
  • Kidney Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Kidney Diseases* / genetics
  • Kidney Diseases* / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases* / pathology
  • Kidney* / drug effects
  • Kidney* / metabolism
  • Kidney* / pathology
  • Lignans* / chemistry
  • Lignans* / isolation & purification
  • Lignans* / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Lignans
  • Diterpenes
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Actins
  • Fibronectins
  • Collagen Type I