Sphingolipids from Bombycis Corpus 101A and their neurotrophic effects.

Three new (2-4) and one known (1) sphingolipid were identified in the MeOH extract of Bombycis Corpus 101A. Their structures were elucidated as (4E,2S,3R)-2-N-octadecanoyl-4-tetradecasphingenine (1), (4E,6E,2S,3R)-2-N-eicosanoyl-4,6-tetradecasphingadienine (2), (4E,2S,3R)-2-N-eicosanoyl-4-tetradecasphingenine (3), and (4E,6E,2S,3R)-2-N-docosanoyl-4,6-tetradecasphingadienine (4) on the basis of spectroscopic data. Their neurotrophic effects were evaluated by examining PC12 cell neurite outgrowth.