率先開展了民間抗癌藥物冬凌草的二萜類化學成分研究,迄至2002年,他的研究組及其合作者對我國51種香茶菜屬植物的化學成分進行了研究,發現新化合物近400個,與有關單位合作發現了多種生理活性成分,為該屬植物的化學成分和新藥開發作出了貢獻。近10多年來,他的研究組已成為世界該領域的植物化學研究中心,近10年來國內外出版的二萜天然產物的綜述文章和著作中,60%以上的對映-貝殼杉烷類二萜化合物引自他的研究組的發現。其中以分子間氫鍵結合的二萜[Diterp-Complex-RA(DCRA),60(3)203-206,Journal of Natural product]被《Natural Product Reports》〔14(4),309,0997〕雜誌列為1997年的“研究熱點”(Hot off the press);對三種國內紅豆杉屬植物的化學成分研究中,發現新化合物70個,為該類植物資源的合理開發利用提供了有價值的資料;對31種傘形科藥用植物的香豆素類化學成分進行了系統研究,為這些植物的利用和質控標準提供了科學依據;對50餘種香科植物的資源和化學成分進行了系統研究,是我國天然香料化學的主要學術帶頭人之一。
5.Sun Han-dong, Qiu Sheng-xiang, Lin Long-ze, Zhang Rong-ping, Zhou Yasheen, Zheng Qi-tai, Michael E. Johnson, Harry H. S. Fong, Norman R. Farnsworth and Geoffrey A. Cordell. Crystal structure of a 1:1 complex of Natural diterpenoids: Absolute configurations and unambiguous NMR spectral assignments of neoangustifolin and epinodosinol. Journal of Natural Product, 1997, 60(3): 203-206.
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7.Li Rong-tao, Zhao Qin-shi, Li Sheng-hong, Han Quan-bin, Sun Han-dong*, Lu Yang , Zhang Li-li , and Zheng Qi-tai, Micrandilactone A, a novel triterpene from Schisandra micrantha. Organic Letters, 2003, 5: 1023-1026.
8.Shen Yun-heng, Li Sheng-hong, Li Rong-tao, Han Quan-bin, Zhao Qin-shi, Liang Li, Sun Han-dong*, Lu Yang, Cao Peng, Zheng Qi-tai. Coriatone and corianlactone, two novel sesquiterpenes from Coriaria nepalensis. Organic Letters, 2004, 6 (10): 1593-1595.
9.Han Quan-bin, Lu Yang, Zhang Li-li, Zheng Qi-tai, Sun Han-dong*. Novel ent-kaurane dimers from Isodon rubescens var. rubescens. Tetrehedron Letters, 2004, 45 (13): 2833-2837.
10.Li Sheng-hong, Wang Jia, Niu Xue-mei, Shen Yun-heng, Zhang Hong-jie, Sun Han-dong*, Li Ma-lin, Tian Qin-e, Lu Yang, Cao Peng, Zheng Qi-tai. Maoecrystal V, cytotoxic diterpenoid with a novel C-19 skeleton from Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn.) Hara. Organic Letters, 2004, 6 (23): 4327-4330.
11.Pu Jian-xin, Xiao Wei-lie, Lu Yang, Li Rong-tao, Li Hong-mei, Li Xian, Zhao Qin-shi, Zheng Qi-tai, Sun Han-dong*. Kadlongilactones A and B, two novel triterpene dilactones from Kadsura longipedunculata possessing a unique skeleton. Organic Letters, 2005, 7(22): 5079-5082.
12.Li Rong-tao, Han Quan-bin, Zheng Yong-tang, Wang Rui-rui, Yang Liu-meng, Lu Yang, Zheng Qi-tai, Zhao Qin-shi, Sun Han-dong*. Structure and anti-HIV activity of micrandilactones B and C, new nortriterpenoids possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra micrantha. Chemical Communications. 2005, 23: 2936-2938.
13.Li Rong-tao, Xiao Wei-lie, Shen Yun-heng, Zhao Qin-shi, Sun Han-dong*. Structure characterization and possible bioggenesis of three new families of nortriterpenoids: Schisanartane, schiartane, and 18-norschiartane. Chemistry-A European Journal. 2005, 11 (10): 2989-2996.
14.Xiao Wei-lie, Li Rong-tao, Li Sheng-hong, Li Xiao-li, Sun Han-dong*, Zheng Yong-tang, Wang Rui-rui, Lu Yang, Zheng Qi-tai. Lancifodilactone F: A novel nortriterpenoid possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra lancifolia and its anti-HIV activity. Organic Letters 2005, 7 (7): 1263-1266.
15.Sun Han-dong*, Huang Sheng-xiong, Han Quan-bin. Diterpenoids from Isodon species and their biological activities. Natural Product reports, 2006, 23: 673-698.
16.Huang Sheng-xiong, Xiao Wei-lie, Li Li-mei, Li Sheng-hong, Zhou Yan, Ding Li-sheng, Lou Li-guang, and Sun Han-dong*. Bisrubescensins A-C: Three New Dimeric ent-Kauranoids Isolated from Isodon rubescens, Organic Letters, 2006, 8(6): 1157-1160.
17.Huang Sheng-xiong, Yang Li-bin, Xiao Wei-lie, Lei Chun, Liu Jing-ping, Lu Yang, Weng Zhi-ying, Li Li-mei, Li Rong-tao, Yu Jun-lin, Zheng Qi-tai, and Sun Han-dong*. Wuweizidilactones A-F: Novel Highly Oxygenated Nortriterpenoids with Unusual Skeletons Isolated from Schisandra chinensis. Chemistry-A European Journal, 2007, 13, 4816-4822.
18. Li Li-mei, Li Guo-you, Ding Li-sheng, Lei Chun, Yang Li-bin, Zhao Yong, Weng Zhi-ying, Li Sheng-hong, Huang Sheng-xiong, Xiao Wei-lie, Han Quan-bin, Sun Han-dong*. Sculponins A-C, three new 6,7-seco-ent-kauranoids from Isodon sculponeatus. Tetrahedron Letters. 2007, 48(52): 9100-9103.
19. Wang Lan, Zhao W-l, Yan J-S, Liu P, Sun H-P, Zhou G-B, Weng Z-Y, Wu W-L, Weng X-Q, Sun X-J, Chen Zhu*, Sun Han-dong* and Chen Sai-juan*, Eriocalyxin B induces apoptosis of t(8;21) leukemia cells through NF-kappa B and MAPK signaling pathways and triggers degradation of AML1-ETO oncoprotein in a caspase-3-dependent manner. Cell Death and Differentiation, 2007, 14 (2): 306-317.
21. Wei-Lie Xiao, Chun Lei, Jie Ren, Tou-Gen Liao, Jian-Xin Pu, Charles U. Pittman Jr., Yang Lu, Yong-Tang Zheng, Hua-Jie Zhu*, Han-Dong Sun*, Structure Elucidation and Theoretical Investigation of Key Steps in the Biogenetic Pathway of Schisanartane Nortriterpenoids by Using DFT Methods, Chemistry-A European Journal, 2008, 14 (36), 11584-11592.
22. Chun Lei, Sheng-Xiong Huang, Ji-Jun Chen, Li-Bin Yang, Wei-Lie Xiao, Yin Chang, Yang Lu, Hao Huang, Jian-Xin Pu, Han-Dong Sun*, Propindilactones E–J, Schiartane Nortriterpenoids from Schisandra propinqua var. Propinqua, J. Nat. Prod., 2008, 71 (7), 1228-1232.