Fabaceae Polysaccharides. III. Galactomannan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus cicer</Emphasis> seeds

Seeds of Astragalus cicer L. (Fabaceae) afforded a galactomannan (5.90% yield of seed mass) of molecular weight 1064 kDa, solutions of which had high viscosity [η] 925.5 mL/g and optical activity [α]_D +71.9°. The galactomannan consisted of galactose and mannose units in a 1:1.39 ratio. Physicochemical methods established that the main chain of the polysaccharide consisted of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units substituted at 72% of the C-6 positions by single α-D-galactopyranose units. The content of variously substituted galactose mannobiose units Man–Man, (Gal)Man–Man/Man–Man(Gal) and (Gal)Man–Man(Gal) in the galactomannan were 18.7, 19.8, and 61.5%, respectively.     

Polysaccharides from Fabaceae. IV. Galactomannan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gueldenstaedtia monophylla</Emphasis> seeds

Galactomannan (yield 1.73% of seed mass) with molecular weight 808 kDa was isolated from seeds of Gueldenstaedtia monophylla Fisch. (Fabaceae). Its solutions were typically highly viscous with [η] 664.7 mL/g and optically active with [α]_D +45.2°. It consisted of galactose and mannose in a 1:1.91 ratio. Physical chemical methods established that the principal chain of the polysaccharide consisted of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units substituted 50.1% in the C-6-position by single α-D-galactopyranose units and traces of 6-O-α-galactopyranosylgalactopyranose. The contents of mannobiose blocks substituted by galactose Man–Man, (Gal)Man–Man/Man–Man(Gal), and (Gal)Man–Man(Gal) in the galactomannan macromolecule were 23, 42, and 35%, respectively.     

A neutral polysaccharide from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycyrrhiza inflata</Emphasis>

A neutral polysaccharide Gi-A1 was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. It had a molecular mass of over 2000 kDa and showed [α]_D²⁰ + 81.4° (c 1.05, H₂O). Acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis indicated that Gi-A1 was mainly composed of α-D-glucose, α-L-arabinose, and α-D-galactose with a molar ratio of 8.0:1.8:1.0. It can significantly stimulate spleen cell proliferation in vitro (P < 0.01). Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 13–14, January–February, 2009.     

Polysaccharides of Fabaceae. I. Galactomannan of Astragalus sericeocanus seeds

Galactomannan (yield 3.58% of seed mass) of molecular weight 876 kDa was isolated from seeds of Astragalus sericeocanus Gontsch. (Fabaceae). Its solutions had high viscosity [η], 764.6 mL/g, and optical density [α]_D +65.3°. The polysaccharide consisted of galactose and mannose in molar ratio 1:1.58. The main chain of the galactomannan macromolecule was constructed of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units, 63% of which were substituted at C-6 by single α-D-galactopyranose units. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy established that the galactomannan contained units of differently substituted galactose mannobiose units: Man-Man, (Gal)Man-Man, and/or Man-Man(Gal) in addition to (Gal)Man-Man(Gal), the ratio of which was 0.15:0.51:0.34. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 555–557, November–December, 2008.     

Pectinic substances from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe arborescens</Emphasis>

Pectinic substances were isolated in 3.82% yield of the fresh material mass from leaves of Aloe arborescens Mill. (Asphodelaceae). Fractionation over DEAE-cellulose produced the dominant polymer APS-3 of molecular weight 71.1 kDa, [α]_D²⁰ +224.4°. Physicochemical methods established that APS-3 was a partially methoxylated and acetylated rhamnopolygalacturonan consisting of α-(1→4)-bonded galacturonic acid and α-(1→2)-bonded rhamnopyranose in the main chain. Side substituents of single galacto- and glucopyranose units were located on the C-3 atom of galacturonic acid.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

A new flavonol derivative from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum dibotrys</Emphasis>

A new flavonol derivative 3, 8-dihydroxy-10-methoxy-5-H-isochromeno[4, 3-b]chromen-7-one (1) together with four known compounds, glutinone (2), luteolin (3), acacetin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), and rutin (5) were isolated from the dried roots of Fagopyrum dibotrys. Their structures were determined by UV, IR, MS, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 567–568, November–December, 2008.     

Thermal investigations of a nest of the stingless bee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigona</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Frieseomelitta</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">nigra paupera</Emphasis> provancher in Colombia

Thermal investigations were performed on a colony of the Colombian stingless bee Trigona (Frieseomelitta) nigra paupera by means of thermometry and direct calorimetry. A nest with about 2000 individuals was transferred to a twin calorimeter, where the bees continued their normal life and development. Two camping boxes (‘Poor Man’s Calorimeter, PMC’) with Peltier elements as cooling systems were used as a differential system. Each box had a volume of 8 L and a sensitivity of 19.2 mV W⁻¹. The colony was monitored calorimetrically and thermometrically with resistors distributed in the nest. Signals were recorded continuously by a four-channel data logger.     

Synthesis and properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyl[60]fullereno[<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]pyrrolidines containing cyclopentadienyl(carbonyl)metal fragments

In new N-methyl[60]fullereno[c]pyrrolidine derivatives, the organometallic substituents in position 2 of the pyrrolidine ring are tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium, α-bicymantrenyl, and β-bicymantrenyl (also the optically active (+)-enantiomer of the latter). The electrochemical and spectroscopic (NMR) properties of the compounds obtained were studied. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1932–1934, September, 2008.     

New lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syringa reticulata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mandshurica</Emphasis>

In the search for platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists, two new lignan compounds were isolated from the leaves of Syringa reticulata Hara var. mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated as (7R,8S, 8'S)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-8,9-dihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol A) and (7R,8S,8'S)-3',4'methylenedioxy-4-methoxy-3,8,9-trihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol B), Mandshuricol A and B showed antagonistic activity on PAF in the [³H] PAF receptor binding assay with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 × 10^–5 M and 3.5 × 10^–5 M, respectively.     

Triterpene glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonicera</Emphasis>. Isolation and structural determination of seven glycosides from flower buds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonicera macranthoides</Emphasis>

The structures of seven triterpene glycosides (1–7), of which the 23-O-acetyl, 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester of hederagenin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (2) was new, from the flower buds of Lonicera macranthoides were established using chemical and NMR spectroscopic methods. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 32–34, January–February, 2008.     

Polar steroidal compounds from the Far-Eastern starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lethasterias fusca</Emphasis>

Nine steroidal compounds including three new steroidal glycosides, viz., sodium (24S)-3,24-di-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholestane-3β,6β,8,15α,24-pentol 15-sulfate (fuscaside A), (24S)-3,24-di-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholestane-3β,6β,8,15α,24-pentol (fuscaside B), and (22E,24R)-24-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-5α-cholest-22-ene-3β,6α,8,15β,24-pentol (desulfated minutoside A); three previously known glycosides, viz., distolasterosides D₁ and D₂ and pycno-podioside A; two previously known polyhydroxysteroids, viz., 5α-cholestane-3β,6α,8,15β,16β,26-hexaol and 5α-cholestan-3β,4β,6α,7⇇8,15β,16β,26-octol; and the known sodium 24,25-dihydro-marthasterone 3-sulfate were isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Lethasterias fusca. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 196–200, January, 2008.     

Cloning and Heterologous Expression of Glucose Oxidase Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> Z-25 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis>

A gene of glucose oxidase (GOD) from Aspergillus niger Z-25 was cloned and sequenced. The entire open reading frame (ORF) consisted of 1,818 bp and encoded a putative peptide of 605 amino acids. The gene was fused to the pPICZαA plasmid and overexpressed in Pichia pastoris SMD1168. The recombinant GOD (rGOD) was secreted into the culture using MF-α factor signal peptide under the control of the AOX1 promoter. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that rGOD exhibited a single band at around 94 kDa. The maximal GOD activity of approximately 40 U/mL was achieved in shake flask by induction under optimal conditions after 7 days. rGOD was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitate leading to a final specific activity of 153.46 U/mg. The optimum temperature and pH of the purified enzyme were 40 °C and 6.0, respectively. Over 88% of maximum activity was maintained below 40 °C. And the recombinant enzyme displayed a favorable stability in the pH range from 4.0 to 8.0. The Lineweaver–Burk plotting revealed that rGOD exhibited a K _m value of 16.95 mM and a K _cat value of 484.26 s⁻¹.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-containing cucurbitacin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemsleya endecaphylla</Emphasis>

A new cucurbitacin, endecaphyllacin C, was isolated from the tubers of Hemsleya endecaphylla. The structure was elucidated as 2β,16α,20β,25-tetrahydroxy-24-acetylaminocucurbita-5-en-3,11,22-trione (1) on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including COSY, HMBC, HMQC, and NOESY correlations, as well as HR-FAB-MS analysis.     

Molecular structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine

The molecular structures of N-(o-and p-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, x-ray structure analysis, and molecular modeling. It was found that NMR resonances of the OH and aromatic protons in N-(o-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were doubled because of the presence of two conformers in solution. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 165–168, March–April, 2008.     

Glutinane triterpenes from the stem bark of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euonymus hamiltonianus</Emphasis>

Three new glutinane-type triterpenes, 19α-glutin-5-en-19-ol (1), 2β,15α,21β-glutin-11-ene-2,15,21-triol (2), and 2β,19α-glutin-7,21-diene-2,19-diol (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Euonymus hamiltonianus. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR along with MS and IR. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 321–323, May–June, 2009.     

A new component from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eupatorium cannabinum</Emphasis>

A new compound of formula C₂₈H₄₈O with mp 179-180°C (aqueous ethanol) that was called eucanbin was isolated pure by column chromatography of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Eupatorium cannabinum L. The structure 24α-methylcholest-20(21)-en-3β-ol was assigned based on chemical and spectral data. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 318–320, May–June, 2009.     

New triterpene glycoside from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyclamen adzharicum</Emphasis> tubers

Nine pure glycosides were isolated from total saponins of Cyclamen adzharicum Pobed. (Primulaceae). The total chemical structure of cyclamen F, 3β-O-[β-D-Xylp(1→2)]-[β-D-Glcp(1→2)]-(β-D-Glcp(1→4)-α-L-Arap)-16α-hydroxy-13,28-epoxy-30,30-dibutoxyolean, was elucidated using modern physicochemical and spectral methods (NMR, ¹H, ¹³C, HMBC, HMQC, DEPT, COSY, MS). A glycoside with the cyclamen F chemical structure has not been reported and, therefore, is a new organic compound.     

Minor polyphenols from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Maackia amurensis</Emphasis> wood

The rare α,4,2′,4′-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone, flavanones liquiritigenin and naringenin, isoflavones calycosin and 5-methoxydaidzein, and reduced stilbene dihydroresveratrol were isolated for the first time from Maackia amurensis wood. The structures of the pure compounds were established using 2D NMR COSY, NOE, HMBC, and HSQC experiments. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 575–577, November–December, 2008.