Two new epoxysteroids from Helianthus tuberosus

Two new epoxy steroids, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1) and 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2), and ten known steroids including (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5), β-sitosterol (6), sitost-5-en-3β-ol acetate (7), 7α-hydroxysitosterol (8), schleicheol 2 (9), (24R)-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (10), 7α-hydroxystigmasterol (11), and stigmasterol (12) were isolated from Helianthus tuberosus grown in Laizhou salinized land of coastal zone of Bohai Sea, China. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The new compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity and no antifungal activity.     

Cytotoxicity of constituents from Mexican propolis against a panel of six different cancer cell lines

The cytotoxicity of 39 compounds, including eighteen flavonoids (flavanones, 1-10; flavones, 11-17; flavanol, 18), sixteen phenolic acid derivatives (aromatic acids, 19-24; aldehyde, 25; esters, 26-34) and five glycerides (35-39), isolated from Mexican propolis, were evaluated against a panel of six different cancer cell lines; murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma, murine B16-BL6 melanoma, murine Lewis lung carcinoma, human lung A549 adenocarcinoma, human cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma. A phenylpropanoid-substituted flavanol, (2R,3S)-8-[4-phenylprop-2-en-1-one]-4',7-dihydroxy-3',5-dimethoxyflavan-3-ol (18), showed the most potent cytotoxicity against A549 cells (IC50, 6.2 microM) and HT-1080 cells (IC50, 3.9 microM), stronger than those of the clinically used anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (IC50, 7.5 microM and 5.4 microM, respectively). Based on the observed results, the structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Identification de stérols à chaînes latérales courtes dans l′éponge Damiriana hawaiiana

Identification of short side chain sterols in the sponge Damiriana hawaiiana The steroidal composition of the sponge Damiriana hawaiiana is examined. Twenty-seven components are identified. In addition to the C₂₆-C₂₉, Δ⁵-mono and diunsaturated sterols, the sponge contains sterols without side-chain: androsta-5, 16-dien-3β-ol( 1 ), androst-5-en-3β-ol( 2 ); sterols with a non-functionalized side-chain consisting of two, three, four, five and six carbon atoms: pregna-5, 20-dien-3β-ol( 5 ), pregn-5-en-3β-ol( 6 ), 23, 24-bisnor-chola-5, 20-dien-3β-ol( 7 ), 23, 24-bisnor-chol-5-en-3β-ol( 8 ), 24-nor-chol-5-en-3β-ol( 10 ), chol-5-en-3β-ol( 11 ), 26, 27-bisnor-cholest-5-en-3β-ol( 12 ), and sterols possessing a short oxygenated side-chain such as 3β-hydroxy-androst-5-en-17-one( 3 ), androst-5-en-3β, 17β-diol( 4 ) and 3β-hydroxy-26, 27-bisnor-22-trans-cholesta-5, 22-dien-24-one( 14 ). The probable biological or dietary origin rather than artifact production of these hitherto undescribed components from marine sources is supported by their relatively high concentration and their relative proportions, both very different from those expected for autoxidation.     

Cytotoxic diterpenoids from Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP

Six new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of the endemic Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP. (Euphorbiaceae) together with three known ent-11alpha-acetoxy-7beta,14alpha-dihydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (1), ent-kaur-16-en-15-one 18-oic acid (5) and ent-18-hydroxykaur-16-ene (7). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses to be ent-7beta-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (2), ent-18-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (3), ent-11alpha-acetoxykaur-16-en-18-oic acid (4), ent-15alpha,18-dihydroxykaur-16-ene (6), ent-11alpha,18-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (8), and ent-(16S)-1alpha,14alpha-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxy-17-methoxykauran-15-one (14). ent-Kaurane-type diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis 2-4, 6, and 9-13, were tested for toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality assay. Compounds 9, 10, and 12 demonstrated significant activity, compounds 2, 3, 6, and 11 showed weak activity, and compounds 4 and 13 were inactive.     

Chemical constituents of Cichorium intybus and their inhibitory effects against urease and alpha-chymotrypsin enzymes

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Cichorium intybus L. resulted in the isolation and identification of two new natural metabolites, 2,6-di[but-3(E)-en-2-onyl]naphthalene (1), and 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone (2), along with nine known compounds. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR. The known compounds were identified as scopoletin (3), 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (5), 4,4'-dihydroxychalcone (6), 6,7-dihydroxycoumarine (7), 1-triacontanol (8), lupeol (9), beta-sitosterol (10), and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (11). Compounds 4-6 and 8 are reported for the first time from C. intybus. Compounds 2 and 3 showed weak inhibitory activities against urease and alpha-chymotrypsin enzymes, respectively.     

Two new monoterpene glycosides and trypanocidal terpenoids from Dracocephalum kotschyi

From the whole plant of Dracocephalum kotschyi BOISS., two new monoterpene glycosides (9, 10), together with seven known terpenoids and a phytosterol (1-8), were isolated. Their structures were determined to be limonen-10-al (1), geranial (2), neral (3), beta-sitosterol (4), oleanolic acid (5), ursolic acid (6), p-mentha-8-en-1,2-diol (7), colosolic acid (8), limonen-10-ol 10-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), and limonen-10-ol 10-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10). Compounds 1 (3.1 microM), 2 (3.1 microM), 3 (3.1 microM), 5 (6.2 microM), 6 (6.2 microM), and 8 (6.2 microM) were effective against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi.     

Three new flavonoid glycosides, byzantionoside B 6'-O-sulfate and xyloglucoside of (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol from Ruellia patula

Three new flavonoid glycosides, demethoxycentaureidin 7-O-β-D-galacturonopyranoside, pectolinarigenin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?→4″)-β-D-glucopyranoside and 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?→4″)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside, a new megastigmane glucoside, byzantionoside B 6'-O-sulfate, and a new (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from leaves of Ruellia patula JACQ., together with 12 known compounds, β-sitosterol glucoside, vanilloside, bioside (decaffeoyl verbascoside), acteoside (verbascoside), syringin, benzyl alcohol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, cistanoside E, roseoside, phenethyl alcohol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isoacteoside and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1″→6')-β-D-glucopyranoside. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analyses.     

Steroids and an oxylipin from an algicolous isolate of Aspergillus flavus

A new oxylipin, (8E,12Z)-10,11-dihydroxyoctadeca-8,12-dienoic acid (1), a new steroid, 3β,4α-dihydroxy-26-methoxyergosta-7,24(28)-dien-6-one (2), and four known steroids, episterol (3), (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β,5α,6α-triol (4), (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (5), and (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (6), were isolated from the cultures of Aspergillus flavus, an endophytic fungus isolated from the marine red alga Corallina officinalis. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. 1 and 2 exhibited low activity to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and no activity against plant pathogenic fungi Colletotrichum lagenarium and Fusarium oxysporum.     

Triterpenoids from Eugenia grandis: structure elucidation by NMR spectroscopy

A new pentacyclic triterpenoid, 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxylup-12-en-28-oic acid (1) and a rarely encountered pentacyclic triterpenoid, 3beta-hydroxylup-12-en-28-oic acid (2), together with five known compounds, friedelin (3), 3beta-friedelinol (4), betulinic acid (5), oleanolic acid (6) and beta-sitosterol (7) were isolated from the chloroform extract of stem bark of Eugenia grandis (Syn: Syzygium grande). The structure and stereochemistry of the new compound (1) and the rarely encountered compound (2) were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. All the above isolated compounds from this plant are reported for the first time.     

Gas-phase reactions of NO3 and N2O5 with (Z)-hex-4-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol ('leaf alcohol'), (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol and (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol

The night-time atmospheric chemistry of the biogenic volatile organic compounds (Z)-hex-4-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol ('leaf alcohol'), (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol and (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol, has been studied at room temperature. Rate coefficients for reactions of the nitrate radical (NO(3)) with these stress-induced plant emissions were measured using the discharge-flow technique. We employed off-axis continuous-wave cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) for the detection of NO(3), which enabled us to work in excess of the hexenol compounds over NO(3). The rate coefficients determined were (2.93 +/- 0.58) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), (2.67 +/- 0.42) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), (4.43 +/- 0.91) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), (1.56 +/- 0.24) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), and (1.30 +/- 0.24) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for (Z)-hex-4-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol and (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol. The rate coefficient for the reaction of NO(3) with (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol agrees with the single published determination of the rate coefficient using a relative method. The other rate coefficients have not been measured before and are compared to estimated values. Relative-rate studies were also performed, but required modification of the standard technique because N(2)O(5) (used as the source of NO(3)) itself reacts with the hexenols. We used varying excesses of NO(2) to determine simultaneously rate coefficients for reactions of NO(3) and N(2)O(5) with (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol of (5.2 +/- 1.8) x 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and (3.1 +/- 2.3) x 10(-18) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Our new determinations suggest atmospheric lifetimes with respect to NO(3)-initiated oxidation of roughly 1-4 h for the hexenols, comparable with lifetimes estimated for the atmospheric degradation by OH and shorter lifetimes than for attack by O(3). Recent measurements of [N(2)O(5)] suggest that the gas-phase reactions of N(2)O(5) with unsaturated alcohols will not be of importance under usual atmospheric conditions, but they certainly can be in laboratory systems when determining rate coefficients.     

A new pyrrolidine derivative and steroids from an algicolous Gibberella zeae strain

A new pyrrolidine derivative, 3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(4'-hydroxyphenoxy)pyrrolidin-2-one (1), and eight known steroids, (22E,24R)-7beta,8beta-epoxy-3beta,5alpha,9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-22-en-6-one (2, a reassigned structure of (22E,24R)-5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-3beta,8beta,14alpha-trihydroxyergosta-22-en-7-one), (22E,24R)-3beta,5alpha,9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (3), (22E,24R)-3beta,5alpha-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (4), (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta/,5alpha,6beta-triol (5), (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,22-dien-3beta-ol (6), (22E,24R)-5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), (22E,24R)-5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (8), and (22E,24R)-1(10 --> 6)-abeo-ergosta-5,7,9,22-tetraen-3alpha-ol (9), were isolated from the cultures of Gibberella zeae, an endophytic fungus isolated from the marine green alga Codium fragile. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against A-549 and BEL-7402 cell lines.     

Die Cyclopropylcarbinyl-Cyclobutyl-Homoallyl-Umlagerung. I. Teil. Synthese von Tricyclo[3.2.1.02,7]octan-3-ol,endo- und exo-Tricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octan-4-ol und exo-Bicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-2-en-7-ol

Tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,7]octan-3-ol ( 1 ) and its 4-isomer 7 were obtained by hydroboration of tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,7]oct-3-ene ( 5 ). The former alcohol 1 is quantitatively converted to the isomeric alcohol exo-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-7-ol ( 3 ) by treatment with aqueous acid. Photolysis of 1-diazo-3-(cyclopent-3-enyl)-propan-2-one ( 12c ) gave a high yield of tricyclo[3.2.1.0^3,6]octan-4-one ( 10a ). Reduction of the latter ketone produced a mixture of endo- and exo-tricyclo[3.2.1.0^3,6]octan-4-ol 2 and 9 , respectively. Oxidation of these secondary alcohols with silver carbonate in benzene furnished a mixture of the ketone 10a and the lactone 14 of 6-hydroxy-bicyclo[2.1.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid. The latter is thought to be formed by oxydation of the hydrate of the strained ketone 10a .     

Antitumor-promoting constituents from Chaenomeles sinensis KOEHNE and their activities in JB6 mouse epidermal cells

Primary screening of antitumor-promoting activity using soft agar colony assays with JB6 cells was employed to isolate 22 compounds from Chaenomeles sinensis KOEHNE. These compounds were lyoniresinol-2a-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), lyoniresinol-2a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), aviculin (3), betulinic acid (4), betulin (5), 3-O-(E)-p-coumaroylbetulin (6), 3-O-(E)-caffeoylbetulin (7), 3-O-(Z)-p-coumaroylbetulin (8), 3-O-(E)-caffeoyllupeol (9), alphitolic acid (10), sorbikortal II (11), tormentic acid (12), euscaphic acid (13), corosolic acid (14), maslinic acid (15), erythrodiol (16), 1-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzene (17), avicularin (18), 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylkaempferol (19), 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylgenistein (20), 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylgenistein (21), epicatechin (22), and beta-sitosterol (23) and were identified using spectral data such as MS, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR. Compound 1, having a rhamnosyl group, showed greater activity than 2, having a glucosyl group, and 3, which was a bis-demethoxy derivative of 1. Betulinic acid (4), having a C-28 carboxyl group, 3-O-(E)-caffeoylbetulin (7), and tormentic acid (12) showed more potent activity than betulin (5), which has a C-28 hydroxymethyl group.     

Constituents of the Vietnamese medicinal plant Orthosiphon stamineus

From the MeOH extract of the aerial part of Vietnamese Orthosiphon stamineus, five new isopimarane-type diterpenes [orthosiphols F-J (1-5)] and two new diterpenes [staminols A (6) and B (7)] with a novel carbon-framework, to which we proposed the name "staminane", and three new highly-oxygenated staminane-type diterpenes [staminolactones A (8) and B (9) and norstaminol A (10)1 were isolated. Moreover, staminolactone A (8) is 8,14-secostaminane-type and staminolactone B (9) is 13,14-secostaminane-type, while norstaminol A (10) is 14-norstaminen-type. Together with these new diterpenes, sixteen known compounds were also isolated and identified to be: 7,3',4'-tri-O-methylluteolin (11), eupatorin (12), sinensetin (13), 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (14), salvigenin (15), ladanein (16), tetramethylscutellarein (17), 6-hydroxy-5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (18), vomifoliol (19), aurantiamide acetate (20), rosmarinic acid (21), caffeic acid (22), oleanolic acid (23), ursolic acid (24), betulinic acid (25), and beta-sitosterol (26). All the isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity towards highly liver metastatic murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells, and the new diterpenes, except for 4, and flavonoids (11, 12, 16, 18) showed cytotoxicity with an ED50 value between 10 and 90 microg/ml.     

Cytotoxic metabolites from the Okinawan ascidian Diplosoma virens

The unstable isomeric compounds 5-hydroxy-7-prop-2-en-(E)-ylidene-7,7adihydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]pyran-6-one (1) and 5-hydroxy-7-prop-2-en-(Z)-ylidene-7,7adihydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]pyran-6-one (2), previously described as antimicrobial metabolites from the sponge Ulosa sp., were isolated and identified as major components of the ascidian Diplosoma virens. In this paper, full spectral data for 2 and complete 13CNMR data for 1, based on 2D NMR measurements, are provided for the first time. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxity against HCT116 cells (human colorectal cancer cells) by triggering apoptotic cell death.     

Methyl quadrangularates A-D and related triterpenes from Combretum quadrangulare

From the MeOH extract of leaves of Combretum quadrangulare, fifteen new cycloartane-type triterpenes, methyl quadrangularates A-D (1-4) and N-P (8, 6, 12), methyl 24-epiquadrangularate C (5), quadrangularic acid E (9), 23-deoxojessic acid (10), 1-O-acetyl-23-deoxojessic acid (11), quadragularols A (7) and B (13) and norquadrangularic acids B (14) and C (15) were isolated together with two known cycloartane-type triterpenes, methyl 23-deoxojessate (16) and 4beta,14alpha-dimethyl-5alpha-ergosta-9beta++ +,19-cyclo-24(31)-en-3beta-hydroxy-4alpha-carboxylic acid (17). Betulinic acid (18), beta-sitosterol (19), kamatakenin (20), isokaempferide (21), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxyflavone (22) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,7,3'-trimethoxyflavone (23) were also obtained from the same extract. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical conversions. All the isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity towards highly liver metastatic murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells, and the cycloartane-type triterpenes showed various degrees of cytotoxicity, whereas all the flavonoids possessed strong cytotoxicity with ED50 values equal to or less than 6 microM.     

Two new homoisoflavonoids from Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Two new homoisoflavonoids, (E)-7-methoxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (1) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (5), along with three known homoisoflavonoids (Z)-7-hydroxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (isobon ducellin) (2), (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (bonducellin) (3) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(2',4'-dimethoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (4) were isolated from the whole plant of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and 1D and 2D-NMR spectral studies. Antimicrobial activity of the new compounds was evaluated.     

Cholestane glycosides from Solanum abutiloides. III

Four new cholestane glycosides, named abutilosides D (1), E (2), F (3) and G (4), were isolated from the fresh roots of Solanum abutiloides. By chemical and spectroscopic evidence, their structures were elucidated as 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl 3beta,16alpha,26-trihydroxy-5alpha-cholestan-22-one 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D- glucopyranoside and its desxylosyl compound (1 and 3, respectively), 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl 3beta,16alpha,26-trihydroxycholest-5-en-22-one 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D- glucopyranoside and its desxylosyl compound (2 and 4, respectively). These compounds were regarded as precursors of a dormantinone type compound on a hypothetical pathway of steroid biogenesis.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of Xanthium sibiricum

Xanthium sibiricum patrin ex Widder (Compositae) is an annual herb which grows all around China. Chemical investigations of its roots resulted in the identification of 15 compounds: stigmast-4-en-6β-ol-3-one (1), β-sitostenone (2), β-sitosterol (3), nonadecanoic acid (4), 5α,8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (5), scopoletin (6), Jatrocin B (7), (±)syringaresinol (8), 9,9'-O-di-(E)-feruloyl-(-)-secoisolariciresinol (9), cleomiscosin A (10), cleomiscosin C (11), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (12), daucosterol (13), 5-methyluracil (14) and uracil (15). Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (NMR and MS) methods and confirmed by comparing with reference samples and literature data. Compounds 1-2, 4-12, 14, and 15 were isolated from this genus for the first time, while this is the first report of coumarinolignoids in the Compositae family, and coumarinoligoids could be considered as valuable chemotaxonomic markers for the plant.     

Cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia and their cytoprotective activity in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced hepatotoxicity of HepG2 cells

Two novel pentanorcucurbitane triterpenes, 22-hydroxy-23,24,25,26,27-pentanorcucurbit-5-en-3-one (1) and 3,7-dioxo-23,24,25,26,27-pentanorcucurbit-5-en-22-oic acid (2) together with a new trinorcucurbitane triterpene, 25,26,27-trinorcucurbit-5-ene-3,7,23-trione (3) were isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the stems of Momordica charantia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent cytoprotective activity in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity of HepG2 cells.