Spectroscopy is the study of matter interacting with electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light). The electromagnetic spectrum in Figure 1 illustrates the many different types of electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays (γ-rays), X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. The frequency (ν) and wavelength (λ) ranges associated with each form of radiant energy are also indicated in Figure 1.

Introduction to Spectroscopy

The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.

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Notes, outline and divergence times of Basidiomycota

Alcohol in metabolism

Terpenes, also known as terpenoids are the largest and most diverse group of naturally occurring compounds. Based on the number of isoprene units they have, they are classified as mono, di, tri, tetra, and sesquiterpenes. They are mostly found in plants and form the major constituent of essential oils from plants. Among the natural products that provide medical benefits for an organism, terpenes play a major and variety of roles. The common plant sources of terpenes are tea, thyme, cannabis, Spanish sage, and citrus fruits (e.g., lemon, orange, mandarin). Terpenes have a wide range of medicinal uses among which antiplasmodial activity is notable as its mechanism of action is similar to the popular antimalarial drug in use—chloroquine. Monoterpenes specifically are widely studied for their antiviral property. With growing incidents of cancer and diabetes in modern world, terpenes also have the potential to serve as anticancer and antidiabetic reagents. Along with these properties, terpenes also allow for flexibility in route of administration and suppression of side effects. Certain terpenes were widely used in natural folk medicine. One such terpene is curcumin which holds anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiseptic, antiplasmodial, astringent, digestive, diuretic, and many other properties. Curcumin has also become a recent trend in healthy foods and open doors for several medical researches. This chapter summarizes the various terpenes, their sources, medicinal properties, mechanism of action, and the recent studies that are underway for designing terpenes as a lead molecule in the modern medicine.

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Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of Terpenes

Pharmacological potential of ginseng and its major component ginsenosides

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest-growing tumor capable of spreading to other organs via blood vessels formed by endothelial cells. Apoptosis and angiogenesis-targeting therapies are attractive for cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to study the in vitro cytotoxicity of Withania somnifera against human HCC (HepG2) cells, identify potential antitumoral withanolide glycosides from the active fraction, and elucidate cytotoxic molecular mechanisms of identified bioactive compounds. W. somnifera (Solanaceae), well-known as ‘ashwagandha’, is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant used to promote health and longevity, and the MeOH extract of W. somnifera root exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells during initial screening. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract and subsequent phytochemical investigation of the active n-BuOH-soluble fraction resulted in the isolation of five withanolide glycosides (1–5), including one new metabolite, withanoside XIII (1), aided by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based analysis. The new compound structure was determined by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism, and enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, withanoside XIIIa (1a) was identified as the new aglycone (1a) of 1. Isolated withanolide glycosides 1–5 and 1a were cytotoxic toward HepG2 cells; withagenin A diglucoside (WAD) (3) exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells, with cell viability less than 50% at 100 μM. WAD cytotoxicity was mediated by both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Treatment with WAD increased protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-8, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (cleaved PARP) but decreased expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Moreover, WAD inhibited tubular structure formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by inhibiting the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and its downstream pathways, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These effects were also enhanced by co-treatment with ERK and PI3K inhibitors. Overall, these results indicate that WAD (3) induced HepG2 apoptosis and inhibited HUVEC tube formation, suggesting its potential application in treating liver cancers.

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Antitumor Potential of Withanolide Glycosides from Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Tube Formation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Ulmusakidian, a new coumarin glycoside and antifungal phenolic compounds from the root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica

2-Heteroaryl 2-heteroaromatic carboxylates were prepared by reactions of 2-heteroaromatic carbonyl chlorides and 2(5H)-furanone, 2(5H)-thiophenone, and 1-methyl-2(5H)-pyrrolone in triethylamine. The 1H nmr spectra of the esters showed that the electronic effect of both heteroaromatic rings did not cause any sizable shift from each other except for 1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl 1-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxylate (5c). Attempts to cyclize the esters to heteroaryl-fused pyran-2-ones were unsuccessful. The results may be explained by the most stable conformation of the esters in which two heteroatoms are anti along the C0 bond of the ester group.

Synthesis of Five‐Membered 2‐Heteroaryl 2‐Heteroaromatic Carboxylates and Attempted Cyclization to Bisheteroaryl[2,3‐b:3′,2′‐d]pyran‐2‐one.

A new phenylpropanoid with a rare natural acetonide group, asarotonide, together with three known phenylpropanoids were isolated from the rhizomes of Acorus gramineus. The structure of the new compound was established by extensive spectroscopic data and HR-MS. The antiproliferative activities of the compounds were tested against human cancer cell lines; in addition, inhibitory activities on nitric oxide production were evaluated in an activated murine microglial cell line.

Asarotonide, a New Phenylpropanoid with a Rare Natural Acetonide Group from the Rhizomes of Acorus gramineus.

A series of substituted N-methylstyrylpyrroles (H, p-Br, p-CN, o,p-diCl, m-CH 3 , m-CN, m-NO 2 ) were prepared via the Wittig reaction of 1-methylpyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and substituted benzyltriphenylphosphonium bromides. Both cis and trans isomers were found to be present in the reaction mixture and they were separable by column chromatography in a few cases (H, p-Br, m-CN, m-NO 2 ). Photochemical isomerizations of cis-styrylpyrroles to trans isomers were observed when the substituents were o,p-diCl and m-NO 2 , while the opposite was the case with compounds having H, p-Br, m-CH 3 , m-CN. It was difficult to separate the cis and trans mixture of p-cyanostyrylpyrroles and the equilibrium ratio did not change under similar photochemical reaction conditions

Jae Sik Yu

Papers

Antitumor Potential of Withanolide Glycosides from Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Tube Formation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Ulmusakidian, a new coumarin glycoside and antifungal phenolic compounds from the root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica

Synthesis of Five‐Membered 2‐Heteroaryl 2‐Heteroaromatic Carboxylates and Attempted Cyclization to Bisheteroaryl[2,3‐b:3′,2′‐d]pyran‐2‐one.

Asarotonide, a New Phenylpropanoid with a Rare Natural Acetonide Group from the Rhizomes of Acorus gramineus.

cis-trans Isomerization of Styrylpyrroles by Stray Light.