Litseaglutinan A and Lignans from Litsea glutinosa

A new abscisic acid derivative, named litseaglutinan A ( 1 ), and a new arylnaphthalene‐type lignan, (7′S,8R,8′S)‐4,4′,9‐trihydroxy‐3,3′,5‐trimethoxy‐9′‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2,7′‐cyclolignan ( 2 ), were isolated from the AcOEt extract of Litsea glutinosa, together with nine known lignans. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Pakistolides A and B,Novel Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Dimeric 4‐(Glucosyloxy)Benzoates from Berchemia pakistanica

Pakistolides A and B, novel dimeric β‐(glucosyloxy)benzoates were isolated from Berchemia pakistanica and assigned structures 1 and 2 on the basis of extensive NMR studies. In addition, the known compounds 7,5′‐dimethoxy‐3,5,2′‐trihydroxyflavone (=3,5‐dihydroxy‐2‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 4′,5‐dihydroxy‐3,6,7‐trimethoxyflavone (=5‐hydroxy‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3,6,7‐trimethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 5,6‐dihydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione, and 1,3,4‐trihydroxy‐6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione were reported for the first time from the genus Berchemia. Both 1 and 2 showed significant α‐glucosidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities, while 2 also showed antioxidant potential.     

Cinerin C: a macrophyllin‐type bicyclo[3.2.1]octane neolignan from Pleurothyrium cinereum (Lauraceae)

The structure of naturally‐occurring cinerin C [systematic name: (7S,8R,3′R,4′S,5′R)‐Δ^8′‐4′‐hydroxy‐5,5′,3′‐trimethoxy‐3,4‐methylenedioxy‐2′,3′,4′,5′‐tetrahydro‐2′‐oxo‐7.3′,8.5′‐neolignan], isolated from the ethanol extract of leaves of Pleurothyrium cinereum (Lauraceae), has previously been established by NMR and HRMS spectroscopy, and its absolute configuration established by circular dichroism measurements. For the first time, its crystal strucure has now been established by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, as the monohydrate, C₂₂H₂₆O₇·H₂O. The bicyclooctane moiety comprises fused cyclopentane and cyclohexenone rings which are almost coplanar. An intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond links the 4′‐OH and 5′‐OCH₃ groups along the c axis.     

Flavones and Cytotoxic Constituents from the Stem Bark of Muntingia Calabura

Two new flavones, 8‐hydroxy‐7,3′,4′,5′‐tetramethoxyflavone and 8,4′‐dihydroxy‐7,3′,5′‐trimethoxyflavone, together with thirteen known compounds have been isolated from the stem bark of Muntingia calabura. The structures of two new compounds were determined through spectral analyses. Among the isolates, 8‐hydroxy‐7,3′,4′,5′‐tetramethoxyflavone, 8,4′‐dihydroxy‐7,3′,5′‐trimethoxyflavone, and 3‐hydroxy‐1‐(3,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propan‐1‐one exhibited effective cytotoxicities (ED₅₀ values = 3.56, 3.71, and 3.27 μg/mL, respectively) against the P‐388 cell line in vitro.     

Structure characterization and quantification of a new isoflavone from the arial parts of Phyllanthus niruri

A new isoflavone together with 5,7-dimethoxy-3,4′-dihydroxy-3′,8-di-C-prenylflavanonol and 5,3′-dihydroxy-6,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone has been isolated from the arial parts of Phylanthus niruri. Based on spectral methods, the structure of the new compound was elucidated as 6-hydroxy-7,8,2′,3′,4′-pentamethoxyisoflavone. The isolated isoflavone was quantified by gas chromatography couple with mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Suitable methods for quantification and extraction have been developed. The quantifying limit of this method was less than 5 ng/ml in 10 g (fresh weight) of sample. Recovery of isoflavone in spiked samples exceeded 62–72% while R.S.D. ranged from 1.0% to 6.1%. The results showed significant variation in the amount of this marker in methanol extract of Phylanthus niruri from Kushtia, Bangladesh and Java Island, Indonesia, even though the values were almost identical for most of the cases. Isoflavone was detected in all the samples ranging from 0.12% to 0.29%.     

Separation and purification of 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes and bibenzyls from Pholidota chinensis by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography

Stilbenoids are the main components of leaves and stems of Pholidota chinensis. In the present investigation, high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was used for the separation and purification of two classes of stilbenoids, namely, bibenzyls and 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes, on a preparative scale from whole plants of P. chinensis with different solvent systems after silica gel column chromatography fractionation. n‐Hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.2:1:1:0.8, v/v/v/v) was selected as the optimum solvent system to purify 1‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1′,2′‐ethanediol ( 1 ), coelonin ( 2 ), 3,4′‐dihydroxy‐5,5′‐dimethoxybibenzyl ( 3 ), and 2,?7‐?dihydroxy‐?3,?4,?6‐?trimethoxy‐?9,?10‐?dihydrophenanthrene ( 4 ). While 2,7‐dihydroxy‐3,4,6‐trimethoxy‐?9,?10‐?dihydrophenanthrene ( 5 ), batatasin III ( 6 ), orchinol ( 7 ), and 3′‐O‐methylbatatasin III ( 8 ) were purified by n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.6:0.8:1.2:0.4, v/v/v/v). After the high‐speed counter‐current chromatography isolation procedure, the purity of all compounds was over 94% assayed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical structure identification of all compounds was carried out by mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. To the best of our knowledge, the current investigation is the first study for the separation and purification of bibenzyls and 9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenes by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography from natural resources.     

Hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking in 6‐hydroxy­biochanin A monohydrate

In the lattice of the title compound (systematic name: 5,6,7‐trihydroxy‐4′‐meth­oxy­isoflavone monohydrate), C₁₆H₁₂O₆·H₂O, the isoflavone mol­ecules are linked into chains through R₄³(17) motifs composed via O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Centrosymmetric R₄²(14) motifs assemble the chains into sheets. Hydrogen‐bonding and aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions lead to the formation of a three‐dimensional network structure.     

New Diarylheptanoids and Kavalactone from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata

Two new diarylheptanoids, katsumains A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), and one new kavalactone, katsumadain ( 3 ), together with the three known compounds (4E,6E)‐1,7‐diphenylhepta‐4,6‐dien‐3‐one ( 4 ), (5R,6E)‐1,7‐diphenyl‐5‐hydroxyhept‐6‐en‐3‐one ( 5 ), and cardamonin ( 6 ), were isolated from the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata . Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods (1D‐ and 2D‐NMR) and by mass spectrometry (HR‐ESI‐MS). Besides, the erroneous nomenclatures for (+)‐linderatin and (+)‐neolinderatin as given in [10] [11] were corrected to be 2′,4′,6′‐trihydroxy‐3′‐[(3R,4R)‐4‐isopropyl‐1‐methylcyclohex‐1‐en‐3‐yl]dihydrochalcone for (+)‐linderatin and 2′,4′,6′‐trihydroxy‐3′,5′‐bis[(3R,4R)‐4‐isopropyl‐1‐methylcyclohex‐1‐en‐3‐yl]dihydrochalcone for (+)‐neolinderatin, respectively.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Cholesterol Oxidase Immobilized on a Conducting Polymer: Application for a Cholesterol Biosensor

Direct electrochemistry of cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) immobilized on the conductive poly‐3′,4′‐diamine‐2,2′,5′,2″‐terthiophene (PDATT) was achieved and used to create a cholesterol biosensor. A well‐defined redox peak was observed, corresponding to the direct electron transfer of the FAD/FADH₂ of ChOx, and the rate constant (k_s) was determined to be 0.75 s^?1. Glutathione (GSH) covalently bonded with PDATT was used as a matrix for conjugating AuNPs, ChOx, and MP, simultaneously. MP co‐immobilized with ChOx on the AuNPs‐GSH/PDATT exhibited an excellent amperometric response to cholesterol. The dynamic range was from 10 to 130 μM with a detection limit of 0.3±0.04 μM.     

Reisolation of Carotenoid 3,6-Epoxides from Red Paprika (Capsicum annuum)

Cucurbitaxanthin A (= (3S,5R,6R,3′R)-3,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β- carotene-5,3′-diol; 5 ), cucurbitaxanthin B (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′S)-3,6,5′, 6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-5,3′-diol; 6 ), the epimeric cucurbitachromes 1 and 2 (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,8′S)- and (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,8′R)-3,6,5′, 8′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-5,3′-diol, resp.; 9/10 ), cycloviolaxanthin (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6,3′, 6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,κs-carotene-5,5′-diol; 8 ), and capsanthin 3,6-epoxide (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R)-3,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro ?5,3′-dihydroxy-β,κ-caroten-6′-one; 7 ) were isolated from red spice paprika (Capsicum annuum var. longum) and characterized by their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, mass, and CD spectra.     

Epoxidierung von Cucurbitaxanthin A: Herstellung von Cucurbitaxanthin B und seines 5′,6′-Epimeren

Epoxidation of Cucurbitaxanthin A: Preparation of Cucurbitaxanthin B and of Its 5′,6′-Epimer Cucurbitaxanthin A (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S)-3,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-5,3′-diol; 1 ) isolated from red pepper (Capsicum annuum var. longum nigrum) was trimethylsiylated and then epoxidized with monoperphthalic acid. After deprotection and chromatographic separation, cucurbitaxanthin B (= (3S,5R,6R, 3′S,5′R,6′S)-3,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-5,3′-diol; 2 ) and 5′,6′-diepicucurbitaxanthin B (= (3S,5R,6R, 3′S,5′S,6′R)-3,6:5′,6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-5,3′-diol; 5 ) were obtained and carefully characterized. They show mirror-like CD spectra and, therefore, emphasize the importance of the torsion angle of C(6)–C(7) on the electronic interaction between the polyene chain and the chiral end group.     

Semi‐synthesis and NMR spectral assignments of flavonoid and chalcone derivatives

Previous investigations of the aerial parts of the Australian plant Eremophila microtheca and Syzygium tierneyanum resulted in the isolation of the antimicrobial flavonoid jaceosidin ( 4 ) and 2′,6′‐dihydroxy‐4′‐methoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethyl chalcone ( 7 ), respectively. In this current study, compounds 4 and 7 were derivatized by acetylation, pivaloylation, and methylation reactions. The final products, 5,7,4′‐triacetoxy jaceosidin ( 10 ), 5,7,4′‐tripivaloyloxy jaceosidin ( 11 ), 5,7,4′‐trimethoxy jaceosidin ( 12 ), 2′,6′‐diacetoxy‐4′‐methoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethyl chalcone ( 13 ), 2′‐hydroxy‐4′‐methoxy‐6′‐pivaloyloxy‐3′,5′‐dimethyl chalcone ( 14 ), and 2′‐hydroxy‐4′,6′‐dimethoxy‐3′,5′‐dimethyl chalcone ( 15 ) were all fully characterized by NMR and MS. Derivatives 10 and 13 have been previously reported but were only partially characterized. This is the first reported synthesis of 11 and 14 . The natural products and their derivatives were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal properties, and the natural product, jaceosidin ( 4 ) and the acetylated derivative, 5,7,4′‐triacetoxy jaceosidin ( 10 ), showed modest antibacterial activity (32–128 µg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus strains. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two Novel and Anti‐Inflammatory Constituents of Artocarpus rigida

With the scope of our search for biologically active compounds, two new phenolic compounds, artocarpols G ( 1 ) and H ( 2 ), and two known compounds, rubraflavone C ( 3 ) and trans‐stilbene‐2,4,3′,5′‐tetrol, were isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus rigida. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and comparison with data reported in the literature. Compound 4 , previously isolated from this plant, strongly inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner the release of β‐glucuronidase and histamine from mast cell degranulation caused by compound 48/80, with IC₅₀ values of 10.9±1.4 and 13.2±0.6 μM , respectively. Compound 4 also showed a concentration‐dependent inhibitory effect on the formyl‐peptide‐stimulated superoxide anion formation in neutrophils with an IC₅₀ value of 26.0±5.6 μM .     

Regio‐ and stereospecific assembly of dispiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine‐1′,5′′‐thiazolidines] from simple precursors using a one‐pot procedure: synthesis,spectroscopic and structural characterization,and a proposed mechanism of formation

The synthesis and characterization of three new dispiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine‐1′,5′′‐thiazolidine] compounds are reported, together with the crystal structures of two of them. (3RS,1′SR,2′SR,7a′SR)‐2′‐(4‐Chlorophenyl)‐1‐hexyl‐2′′‐sulfanylidene‐5′,6′,7′,7a′‐tetrahydro‐2′H‐dispiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine‐1′,5′′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′′‐dione, C₂₈H₃₀ClN₃O₂S₂, (I), (3RS,1′SR,2′SR,7a′SR)‐2′‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1‐benzyl‐5‐methyl‐2′′‐sulfanylidene‐5′,6′,7′,7a′‐tetrahydro‐2′H‐dispiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine‐1′,5′′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′′‐dione, C₃₀H₂₆ClN₃O₂S₂, (II), and (3RS,1′SR,2′SR,7a′SR)‐2′‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐5‐fluoro‐2′′‐sulfanylidene‐5′,6′,7′,7a′‐tetrahydro‐2′H‐dispiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine‐1′,5′′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′′‐dione, C₂₂H₁₇ClFN₃O₂S₂, (III), were each isolated as a single regioisomer using a one‐pot reaction involving l ‐proline, a substituted isatin and (Z)‐5‐(4‐chlorobenzylidene)‐2‐sulfanylidenethiazolidin‐4‐one [5‐(4‐chlorobenzylidene)rhodanine]. The compositions of (I)–(III) were established by elemental analysis, complemented by high‐resolution mass spectrometry in the case of (I); their constitutions, including the definition of the regiochemistry, were established using NMR spectroscopy, and the relative configurations at the four stereogenic centres were established using single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. A possible reaction mechanism for the formation of (I)–(III) is proposed, based on the detailed stereochemistry. The molecules of (I) are linked into simple chains by a single N—H…N hydrogen bond, those of (II) are linked into a chain of rings by a combination of N—H…O and C—H…S=C hydrogen bonds, and those of (III) are linked into sheets by a combination of N—H…N and N—H…S=C hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis of spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizines] by 1,3‐dipolar reactions between isatins,l‐proline and electron‐deficient alkenes

Two spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine] derivatives have been synthesized in good yield with high regio‐ and stereospecificity using one‐pot reactions between readily available starting materials, namely l ‐proline, substituted 1H‐indole‐2,3‐diones and electron‐deficient alkenes. The products have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and crystal structure analysis. In (1′RS ,2′RS ,3SR ,7a′SR )‐2′‐benzoyl‐1‐hexyl‐2‐oxo‐1′,2′,5′,6′,7′,7a′‐hexahydrospiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine]‐1′‐carboxylic acid, C₂₈H₃₂N₂O₄, (I), the unsubstituted pyrrole ring and the reduced spiro‐fused pyrrole ring adopt half‐chair and envelope conformations, respectively, while in (1′RS ,2′RS ,3SR ,7a′SR )‐1′,2′‐bis(4‐chlorobenzoyl)‐5,7‐dichloro‐2‐oxo‐1′,2′,5′,6′,7′,7a′‐hexahydrospiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine], which crystallizes as a partial dichloromethane solvate, C₂₈H₂₀Cl₄N₂O₃·0.981CH₂Cl₂, (II), where the solvent component is disordered over three sets of atomic sites, these two rings adopt envelope and half‐chair conformations, respectively. Molecules of (I) are linked by an O—H…·O hydrogen bond to form cyclic R ₆⁶(48) hexamers of (S ₆) symmetry, which are further linked by two C—H…O hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional framework structure. In compound (II), inversion‐related pairs of N—H…O hydrogen bonds link the spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine] molecules into simple R ₂²(8) dimers.     

Identification of Three New Flavonoids from the Peels of Citrus unshiu

Three new flavonoids, 5,6,7,8,3′,4′‐hexamethoxyhomoflavone ( 1 ), 5,6,7,8,4′‐pentamethoxyhomoflavone ( 2 ) and 3,6,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone ( 3 ) were isolated from the peels of mature fruits of Citrus unshiu Marcow (Rutaceae), together with the three known compounds 6,7,8,4′‐tetramethoxyflavone (=6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 3,5,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone (=2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐3,5,7,8‐tetramethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), and scopoletin (=7‐hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) of which the former two have never been isolated from natural resources, although they have been reported as synthetic compounds. The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analysis.     

Two stereoisomeric pentacyclic oxin­dole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa: uncarine C and uncarine E

The chloro­form solvate of uncarine C (pteropodine), (1′S,3R,4′aS,5′aS,10′aS)‐1,2,5′,5′a,7′,8′,10′,10′a‐octa­hydro‐1′‐methyl‐2‐oxospiro­[3H‐indole‐3,6′(4′aH)‐[1H]­pyrano­[3,4‐f]indolizine]‐4′‐carboxyl­ic acid methyl ester, C₂₁H₂₄N₂O₄·CHCl₃, has an absolute configuration with the spiro C atom in the R configuration. Its epimer at the spiro C atom, uncarine E (isopteropodine), (1′S,3S,4′aS,5′aS,10′aS)‐1,2,5′,5′a,7′,8′,10′,10′a‐octahydro‐1′‐methyl‐2‐oxospiro[3H‐indole‐3,6′(4′aH)‐[1H]pyrano[3,4‐f]indolizine]‐4′‐carboxylic acid methyl ester, C₂₁H₂₄N₂O₄, has Z′ = 3, with no solvent. Both form intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving only the ox­indole, with N?O distances in the range 2.759 (4)–2.894 (5) Å.     

New flavone and isoflavone glycoside from Belamcanda chinensis

The new flavone, 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-3'-methoxyflavone, and one new isoflavone glycoside, 3',5'-dimethoxy irisolone-4'-O-β-D-glucoside were isolated from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis. Their structures were established based on the spectroscopic methods.     

The Constituents of Euchresta Formosana

A new flavanone, euchrenone a₁₇ ( 1 ), along with eighteen known compounds, glabrol ( 2 ), euchrenone a₂ ( 3 ), formononetin ( 4 ), 7‐methoxy‐2′,4′‐dihydroxyisoflavone ( 5 ), 3‐(3,4‐dimethoxy‐phenyl)‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐chromon‐4‐one ( 6 ), 5,7,2′‐trihydroxy‐4′‐methoxyisoflavone ( 7 ), 2′‐hydroxygenistein ( 8 ), euchrenone b₁ ( 9 ), euchrenone b₂ ( 10 ), euchrenone b₁₆ ( 11 ), vanillin ( 12 ), p‐hydroxybenzoic acid ( 13 ), medicagol ( 14 ), octadecyl ferulate ( 15 ), (+)‐syringaresinol ( 16 ), β‐sitosteryl‐D‐glucoside ( 17 ), and a mixture of β‐sitosterol ( 18 ) and stigmasterol ( 19 ), were isolated from the methanolic extracts of the roots of Euchresta formosana. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectral analysis.     

Synthetic Study of Carthamin: Biomimetic Synthesis of Carthamin Model via Peroxidase‐Catalyzed Oxidative Decarboxylation of Its Precursor Model

A chiral carthamin model (3S,3′S)‐1‐[5‐acetyl‐2,6‐diketo‐3‐C‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosylcyclohex‐4‐enylidene]‐1′‐[5′‐acetyl‐3′‐C‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐2′,3′,4′‐trihydroxy‐6′‐oxocyclohexa‐1′,4′‐dienyl]methane, in which two cinnamoyl groups were replaced by an acetyl group, was synthesized by the dimerization of (S)‐2‐acetyl‐4‐C‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl)cyclohexadienone with glyoxylic acid, followed by peroxidase‐catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation and de‐O‐acetylation, or de‐O‐acetylation and peroxidase‐catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation. The corresponding total yields were 12.5% or 17.1% from 3‐C‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl)phloroacetophenone, and the reaction pathway was identical to the biosynthetic pathway.