Structures of epicatechin gallate trimer and tetramer produced by enzymatic oxidation

During black tea production, catechins and their galloyl esters are enzymatically oxidized to generate a complex mixture of black tea polyphenols. The role of galloyl ester groups in this process has yet to be determined. Enzymatic oxidation of epicatechin 3-O-gallate (1) yielded two new oxidation products, theaflavate C and bistheaflavate A, along with theaflavate A (2), a known dimer of 1 generated by coupling of the B-ring with the galloyl group. Theaflavate C is a trimer of 1 and possesses two benzotropolone moieties generated by the oxidative coupling of the galloyl groups with the catechol B-rings. Bistheaflavate A was found to be a tetramer produced by intermolecular coupling of two benzotropolone moieties of 2. From the structures of the products, it was deduced that oxidative coupling of galloyl groups resulted in extension of the molecular size of the products in catechin oxidation.     

Antioxidant, xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and phenolics of Bauhinia rufescens Lam. (Caesalpiniaceae)

An aqueous acetone extract of the stem with the leaves of Bauhinia rufescens and its fractions were analysed for their antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities, as well as their phytochemical composition. For measurement of the antioxidant activities, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzoline-6-sulphonate) and the ferric-reducing methods were used. The results indicated that the aqueous acetone, its ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions possessed considerable antioxidant activity. Further, the xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory assays showed that the n-butanol fraction possessed compounds that can inhibit both these enzymes. In the phytochemical analysis, the ethyl acetate and the n-butanol fractions of the aqueous acetone extract were screened by HPLC-MS for their phenolic content. The results indicated the presence of hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin quercetin, quercitrin, p-coumaric and ferulic acids in the non-hydrolysed fractions. In the hydrolysed fractions, kaempferol, p-coumaric and ferulic acids were identified.     

Antioxidant activity of papaya seed extracts

The antioxidant activities of the ethanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water extract fractions from the seeds of papaya were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest DPPH and hydroxyl free radical-scavenging activities, and its activities were stronger than those of ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate, respectively. The n-butanol fraction demonstrated the greatest ABTS? radicals scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction and the n-butanol fraction not only showed higher antioxidant activities than the petroleum ether fraction, water fraction and ethanol fraction, but also showed higher superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activities than those of the other extract fractions. The high amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids in the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions contributed to their antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to column chromatography, to yield two phenolic compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, which possessed significant antioxidant activities. Therefore, the seeds of papaya and these compounds might be used as natural antioxidants.     

Effect of tea polyphenols on glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans

In the course of our studies on the development of anti-plaque agents for prevention of dental caries, we investigated effects of some of tea preparations and their individual components on the glucan synthesis catalyzed by glucosyltransferase (GTF) from Streptococcus mutans. Extracts of green tea and black tea, and polyphenol mixtures showed appreciable inhibition in the synthesis of insoluble glucan. Among the components isolated from tea infusions, theaflavin and its mono- and digallates had potent inhibitory activities at concentrations of 1-10 mM against GTF. (+)-Catechin, (-)-epicatechin and their enantiomers had moderate inhibitory activities at these concentrations, while galloyl esters of (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-gallocatechin had increased inhibitory activities.     

Production of theasinensins A and D, epigallocatechin gallate dimers of black tea, by oxidation-reduction dismutation of dehydrotheasinensin A

Theasinensins A and D are B,B′-linked dimers of (−)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate connected through R and S biphenyl bonds, respectively, and are major constituents of black tea. Enzymatic oxidation of epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate produced dehydrotheasinensin A, and the structure was shown to be equivalent to an o-quinone of theasinensin A. When the aqueous solution of dehydrotheasinensin A was heated, theasinensin D was produced along with galloyl oolongtheanin. On the other hand, dehydrotheasinensin A was converted to theasinensins A and D along with oxidation products in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 at room temperature. The results strongly suggested that theasinensins in black tea were produced by oxidation-reduction dismutation of dehydrotheasinensin.     

In vitro hypoglycemic and antimicrobial activities of Senecio leucanthemifolius Poiret

This study reports on the alpha-amylase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of Senecio leucanthemifolius Poiret. Extracts of S. leucanthemifolius were tested for their antimicrobial and antifungal activities against seven different pathogenic microorganisms using the microdilution technique. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited a strong antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC value of 31.25 microg mL(-1), while the n-hexane extract showed a significant activity against dermatophytic fungi. S. leucanthemifolius extracts were tested also for their potential hypoglycemic activity through the in vitro inhibition of alpha-amylase. The dichloromethane extract inhibited alpha-amylase with a value of 56.6% at 0.05 mg mL(-1) and the n-butanol extract showed a value of 89.2% at 1 mg mL(-1).     

正丁醇、乙酸乙酯、正己烷的二元及三元体系的超额焓测量和关联

用等温稀释量热计测定了正己烷+正丁醇、正己烷+乙酸乙酯二元体系在303.15K、308.15K及正丁醇+乙酸乙酯+正己烷三元体系在303.15K的超额焓,用Kretschrner-Wiebe理论组合UNIQUAC方程所得数学模型对二元体系在303.15K的超颠焓进行了关联,并预测了所测三元体系在303.15K的超额焓,预测结果与实验值比较,平均偏差为6％。     

Antiliperoxidant activity of pomegranate peel extracts on lard

Phenolics were extracted from powdered pomegranate peel using water, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate (EtOAc), respectively. The antiliperoxidant activity of the extracts on lard was studied by peroxide value method. All the extracts showed enhanced inhibitory effect on lard peroxidation with the increase of phenolic concentrations. Acetone extract exhibited the highest antiliperoxidant activity followed by water, methanol and EtOAc extracts. Acetone extract at 0.1% (w/w) and water extract at 0.2% (w/w) demonstrated an antiliperoxidant effect close to that of tea polyphenols (0.02%, w/w) and higher than that of BHT (0.02%, w/w). At 0.2% (w/w), acetone extract showed a higher inhibitory activity on lard oxidation than that of tea polyphenols and BHT. Owing to the high antiliperoxidant property, acetone extract may have possible application in the food industry.     

Antioxidant compounds from propolis collected in Anhui, China

The antioxidant activities of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extract fractions from propolis collected in Anhui, China were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids, and showed the greatest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The antioxidant activity of twenty-two compounds isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction was also evaluated using the above-mentioned three assays. The results indicated that phenolics contributed to the antioxidant activity of propolis collected in Anhui, China. Therefore, propolis collected in Anhui, China and its phenolics might be used as a natural antioxidant.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Flavan‐3‐ol Gallates by Regioselective Oxidative Etherification and Their Cytotoxicity Mediated by 67 LR

We report on a chiral pool approach for the synthesis of trans‐flavan‐3‐ol gallates from epichlorohydrin. The trans‐flavan‐3‐ol gallates were prepared by the cycloetherification of the phenol at the C2 benzylic position of 2‐acylozyl‐1,3‐diarylpropane during regioselective C?H oxidation. The 1,3‐diarylpropanes were prepared starting from epichlorohydrin by epoxide opening with A and B ring precursors, followed by acylation of the resultant alcohol with galloyl chloride. The availability of both the enantiomers of epichlorohydrin allowed the preparation of the corresponding enantiomer using the same procedure. The cytotoxicity of the compounds against U266 cells was tested, in which 5‐deoxy‐7,3′‐O‐dimethyl gallocatechin gallate exhibited cytotoxicity that was more than ten times stronger than natural (?)‐EGCG. In addition, the absolute configuration of the derivatives did not critically affect the biological activity.     

Synthesis of theaflavins with Camellia sinensis cell culture and inhibition of increase in blood sugar values in high-fat diet mice subjected to sucrose or glucose loading

Theaflavin and its galloyl esters are major polyphenolic pigments of black tea. We compared the efficiency of a variety of oxidizing enzyme systems to synthesize theaflavin and its galloyl esters. Camellia sinensis cell culture efficiently synthesized theaflavin from epicatechin and epigallocatechin with 70% yield and 100% conversion in 4 min. In an administration experiment performed in mice, theaflavin inhibited the increase blood glucose levels in mice that were fed a high-fat diet and subjected to glucose or sucrose loading in mice.     

Pycnalin, a new α-glucosidase inhibitor from Acer pycnanthum

A new compound, pycnalin (1), together with four known compounds, ginnalins A (2), B (3), C (4), and 3,6-di-O-galloyl-1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (3,6-di-GAG) (5), were isolated from Acer pycnanthum. The structure of 1 was determined on the basis of 2D-NMR spectral data and synthesis of 1. Pycnalin (1) is the first 1,5-anhydro-D-mannitol linked to a gallic acid, while compounds 2-5 were 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol linked to gallic acids. All compounds were tested in vitro for α-glucosidase inhibitory and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities. Pycnalin (1) exhibited moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity as well as free radical scavenging activity. Ginnalin A (2) and 3,6-di-GAG (5), which have two galloyl groups, exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibition, compared to those of other compounds 1, 3, and 4 containing a galloyl group. These results suggest that α-glucosidase inhibition is influenced by the number of galloyl groups.     

Antioxidant, anti-lipoxygenase and cytotoxic activity of Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) decne polyphenolic constituents

Leptadenia pyrotechnica Forssk is a traditional medicinal herb used for treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this research, the aqueous ethanolic crude extract of Leptadenia pyrotechnica aerial parts, along with its ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water partitioning fractions were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity, polyphenolic content, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The total antioxidant capacity was estimated by the FRAP, DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene bleaching assays.The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest polyphenolic content (252.27 mg gallic acid/g) and the best antioxidant activity (1.2, 0.57, 0.45 mmol ascorbic acid equivalent/g in the FRAP, ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively). Furthermore, the same extract showed appreciable anti-inflammatory via lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity (IC?? = 1.41 μg/mL). Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction also showed the strongest cytotoxic effect (IC?? = 43.16 μg/mL) against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. These results suggest that this plant may be considered an interesting source of compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties for therapeutic, nutraceutical and functional food applications.     

A new mechanism for oxidation of epigallocatechin and production of benzotropolone pigments

Enzymatic oxidation of (−)-epigallocatechin gave two new quinone dimers, dehydrotheasinensin C and proepitheaflagallin. Dehydrotheasinensin C has a hydrated cyclohexenetrione structure and its oxidation-reduction dismutation reaction yielded black tea polyphenols, theasinensins C and E, and desgalloyl oolongtheanin. The structure of proepitheaflagallin was determined based on spectroscopic data of its quinoxaline derivatives prepared by condensation with o-phenylenediamine. Proepitheaflagallin was decomposed on heating to give epitheaflagallin and hydroxytheaflavin. The former is a known black tea pigment and the latter is a new pigment with 1′,2′,3′-trihydroxy-3,4-benzotropolone moiety. The results revealed a new mechanism for the production of these pigments from epigallocatechin.     

Control of charcoal rot fungus Macrophomina phaseolina by extracts of Datura metel

Methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of Datura metel were found highly effective in suppressing against Macrophomina phaseolina, the cause of charcoal rot disease. These extracts were further subjected to successive fractionation with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. All the concentrations (3.125-200?mg?mL?1) of chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaf extract, and n-hexane fraction of fruit extract completely inhibited the target fungal growth. Two compounds A and B from the n-hexane fraction of fruit extract and compound C from n-butanol fraction of leaf extract were obtained by TLC. Compound B exhibited the best antifungal activity with an MIC value of 7.81?μg?mL?1 that was at par with that of commercial fungicide mancozeb (80% w/w). This study concludes that M. phaseolina can be effectively controlled by natural antifungal compounds in n-hexane fraction of methanolic fruit extract of D. metel.     

Characterisation by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry of phloroglucinol and 4-methylcatechol oxidation products to study the reactivity of epicatechin in an apple juice model system

The reactivity of the (-)-epicatechin structure towards caffeoylquinic acid o-quinones was studied in an apple juice model solution. The approach consisted in considering separately the reactivities of the two phenolic moieties of an (-)-epicatechin molecule: phloroglucinol and 4-methylcatechol were chosen to represent A- and B-rings, respectively. The oxidation products were characterised by RP-HPLC coupled with electrospray ionisation Mass spectrometry (MS). The reactivities of the A- and B-rings were clearly different on the basis of the oxidation products formed. Both A- and B-rings could be involved in covalent bond formation, but electron transfers only occurred with the B-ring. Most of the (-)-epicatechin oxidation products were linked by A/B-ring linkage ("head-to-tail" intermolecular coupling). After this first dimerisation step, intramolecular reactions seemed to be favoured. Therefore, the complexity of oxidation products in apple juice does not only result from an extensive polymerisation of native phenolic compounds, but also from a multiplicity of small molecules in different oxidation states and isomeric forms.     

高效液相色谱-质谱分析指导下制备黄芩中系列黄酮成分对照品

在高效液相色谱-质谱分析指导下,针对性地分离制备了黄芩药材中系列黄酮成分对照品。首先对黄芩药材乙醇提取物进行液相色谱-质谱分析,获得各色谱峰的保留时间、紫外光谱和质谱特征。经波谱数据解析结合文献对比,鉴定了黄芩药材中的19种黄酮类成分。然后根据液相色谱-质谱分析结果和文献,设计了目标成分对照品的制备流程,采用低压制备柱色谱法依次制备了黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素和千层纸素A共5种黄酮类成分的对照品。结果表明这5种黄酮类成分对照品的纯度均大于98%。该方法可用于针对性地快速分离制备中药中的化学成分。     

Phenolic enriched extract of Baccharis trimera presents anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities

Baccharis trimera is a plant popularly used as a tea and to treat gastrointestinal diseases and inflammatory processes as well. The total phenolic content was determined and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of six extracts (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, aqueous, saponin and phenolic) from B. trimera were evaluated. Using carrageenan-induced pleurisy as a model of acute inflammation, the phenolic extract at 15 mg/kg decreased significantly the analyzed parameters when compared to the carrageenan group ( p < 0.05), thus showing potential anti-inflammatory activity. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteau and DPPH methods, respectively. Phenolic and ethyl acetate extracts presented higher antioxidant activity ( p < 0.05) than ascorbic acid. The phenolic extract also showed the highest antioxidant potential in relation to the other extracts, thus suggesting that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were due to the presence of phenolic compounds.     

Relationship between the catalytic properties of the products of the oxidative thermolysis of certain complexes and the porous structures of samples in the oxidation reactions of volatile organic compounds

The rate of the gas-phase oxidation of ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, dioxane, and benzene with atmospheric oxygen is studied on surfaces of bimetallic oxide catalysts Co–Fe, Cu–Fe, Cr–Co, and Ni–Fe, prepared via thermal decomposition of double complex compounds in air. It is found that the rate of oxidation of volatile compounds depends on the volume of the transient pores in the catalyst sample. The rate of oxidation on the same catalyst at 350°C depends on the nature of the substance in the order: acetone > ethyl acetate > ethanol > propanol > dioxane, benzene.     

无柄新乌檀中一个新的三萜成分的分离和鉴定

对无柄新乌檀进行了持续的化学成分及药理作用的研究, 在对其枝干的进一步研究中, 又分离得到一个新的三萜化合物3,7,21,23-四羟基齐墩果烷-12-烯-28-酸. 本文报道其分离方法和结构鉴定结果.