Three new diterpenoids from Leonurus japonicus

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus led to the isolation of one unusual clerodane diterpenoid,leojaponin A(1),characterized by a C4–C7oxa-bridge,and two new labdane diterpenoids,leojaponins B(2) and C(3).The structures of these new compounds were determined based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data.To the best of our knowledge,compound 1 is the first clerodane diterpenoid obtained from Leonurus.japonicus.All of them were evaluated for their cytotoxicity.     

Chemistry and biological activities of terpenoids from copaiba (Copaifera spp.) oleoresins

Copaiba oleoresins are exuded from the trunks of trees of the Copaifera species (Leguminosae-Caesalpinoideae). This oleoresin is a solution of diterpenoids, especially, mono- and di-acids, solubilized by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The sesquiterpenes and diterpenes (labdane, clerodane and kaurane skeletons) are different for each Copaifera species and have been linked to several reported biological activities, ranging from anti-tumoral to embriotoxic effects. This review presents all the substances already described in this oleoresin, together with structures and activities of its main terpenoids.     

Agelasines O-U, new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit from a marine sponge Agelas sp.

New diterpene alkaloids, agelasines O-U (1-7), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Agelas sp. The gloss structures and relative stereochemistries of 1-7 were elucidated from the spectroscopic data. Agelasines O-R (1-4) were the third examples of diterpene alkaloid with a 9-N-methyladenine and a pyrrole units. Agelasine O (1) has a halimane skeleton, while agelasines P-R (2-4) have a clerodane skeleton. Agelasines S-U (5-7) were new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit consisting of a halimane skeleton, a labdane skeleton, and a clerodane skeleton, respectively. Agelasines O-R (1-4) and T (6) showed antimicrobial activities against several bacteria and fungi.     

An Efficient Cationic Cyclization Approach for the Construction of Labdane Diterpenoid Decalin Ring Skeleton

An effective approach for the construction of the decalin ring skeleton of labdane diterpenoids was developed based on a key biomimetic cationic polyene cyclization of an epoxy allylsilane precursor. The synthetic approach demonstrated here would be useful in the enantioselective and diastereoselective total synthesis of natural labdane diterpenoids in general.     

Novel Diterpenoids from Salvia dugesii

Two novel rearranged clerodane diterpenoids, dugesin A ( 1 ) and dugesin B ( 2 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia dugesii, together with five known clerodane diterpenoids: isosalvipuberulin ( 3 ), salvipuberulin ( 4 ), tilifodiolide ( 5 ), salvifolin ( 6 ), and salvifaricin ( 7 ). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of different spectroscopic techniques. The isolation and identification of these compounds are significant from both biosynthetisis and chemotaxonomy points of view.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectral studies on some labdane diterpenoids

Carbon-13 NMR signal assignments of the labdane diterpenoids andrographolide and 14-deoxyandrographolide, along with their acetates, and isodeoxyandrographolide have been made. This study indicates that the C-6 and C-11 resonance assignments of isovirescenol-B, made earlier, should be interchanged.     

Structure-antibacterial activity relationship of secondary metabolites from Ajuga pseudoiva Rob. leaves

A selection of steroids, glycerides, clerodane diterpenoids, and a beta-hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester, all previously isolated from Ajuga pseudoiva leaves, were tested for their antibacterial activity toward three Gram- rods and one Gram+ coccus using the dilution method; MIC values were determined. The results suggested some importance for a free beta-hydroxy group in the fatty acid ester and also in the glycerides and clerodane derivatives; the absolute configurations of the latter, notably at C2, had little influence on activity.     

Biomimetic rearrangements of simplified labdane diterpenoids

Simplified ethyl-substituted labdane diterpenoids 14 and 19 have been synthesised from (+)-sclareolide (18). Biomimetic rearrangements of these compounds, involving stereospecific 1,2-alkyl and hydride shifts, have been carried out by treatment with a variety of Lewis and protic acids. Halimane compounds, such as 34 and simple dehydration products such as 3, 32 and 33 have been formed either selectively or as mixtures depending on the reaction conditions. However, further rearrangement to clerodane products such as 1 and 2 was not observed, indicating a high degree of enzymatic control for the in vivo formation of these natural products.     

LC–DAD–ESI-MS-MS for Characterization and Quantitative Analysis of Diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii

Qualitative characterization and quantitative analysis of labdane diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii have been achieved by liquid chromatography hyphenated with photodiode-array detection and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–DAD–ESI-MS ⁿ ). By use of this method, thirteen forskolin-type diterpenoids were identified in the crude extract on the basis of their fragmentation mechanisms. Fragmentation rules were deduced from nine forskolin-type standards by ESI-MS in positive-ion mode. It was found that fragmentation behavior varied with the position and number of the substituents on the skeleton; this could be used for convenient identification of this type of compound. Six marker diterpenoids were also quantified, and the quality of both the cultivated and wild plants was evaluated.     

LC–DAD–ESI-MS-MS for Characterization and Quantitative Analysis of Diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii

Qualitative characterization and quantitative analysis of labdane diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii have been achieved by liquid chromatography hyphenated with photodiode-array detection and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–DAD–ESI-MSⁿ). By use of this method, thirteen forskolin-type diterpenoids were identified in the crude extract on the basis of their fragmentation mechanisms. Fragmentation rules were deduced from nine forskolin-type standards by ESI-MS in positive-ion mode. It was found that fragmentation behavior varied with the position and number of the substituents on the skeleton; this could be used for convenient identification of this type of compound. Six marker diterpenoids were also quantified, and the quality of both the cultivated and wild plants was evaluated.

     

An Efficacious Synthetic Strategy for cis-Clerodane Diterpenoids

Clerodane diterpenoids are widely distributed in nature and constitute one of the largest and, yet, still rapidly growing family of secondary metabolites. Of the relatively few clerodanes tested for biological activity, many were found to possess interesting antifeedant and medicinal properties and are potentially useful as insecticidal, antitumour, antifungal, antibiotic, anti-peptic ulcer, and psychotropic agents. The structural complexity and biological activity associated with this class of natural products have attracted extensive effort towards their total synthesis. In most of the reported syntheses, the synthetic sequence is specific to the target molecule. We have recently developed a versatile synthetic approach which is applicable to the synthesis of a large number of target molecules with minor modifications. The key operation of this approach is the face-selective Diels-Alder reaction of dienone ester 1. The successful application of this approach has culminated in the total synthesis of several cisclerodane diterpenoids. We have since made considerable improvement on this general synthetic approach, in terms of the overall efficiency, making use of compounds 2 and 3 as dienophiles. This newly developed general synthetic approach towards clerodane diterpenoids will be presented.     

Labdane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Amomum maximum and Their Cytotoxic Evaluation

A rare labdane diterpene γ‐lactam, 1 , and two new labdane diterpenoids, 2 and 3 , along with two known diterpenes, 4 and 5 , were isolated from the roots of Amomum maximum. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. All of the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities, and compound 3 was found to exhibit an inhibitory activity against MG‐63 cell lines with an IC₅₀ value of 3.3±0.8 μg/ml.     

A new diacylated labdane diterpenoid from Andrographis wightiana

A new acylated labdane diterpenoid, 14-deoxy-3,19-diacetyl-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (1), together with three known labdane diterpenoids, wightionolide (2), andrographolide (3) and neoandrographolide (4), and three known flavones, echioidinin (5), skullcapflavone I 2'-methyl ether (6) and echioidin (7), were isolated from the whole plant of Andrographis wightiana. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by 1D and extensive 2D-NMR spectral studies.     

Splendidins A – C,Three New Clerodane Diterpenoids from Salvia splendens

Three new clerodane diterpenoids, splendidins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), were isolated from Salvia splendens, together with six known ones. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Splendidin C ( 3 ) was the first diterpenoid glucoside reported from this plant. These compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity; however, none of them were cytotoxic.     

Labdane diterpenoids from Marrubium globosum ssp. globosum

A new labdane type diterpenoid, marrubiglobosin, was isolated from the aerial parts of Marrubium globosum ssp. globosum together with the known diterpenoids, marrubiin and marrubinone B. The structure of this new compound was elucidated by spectral methods.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of some labdane diterpenoids

Carbon-13 signal assignments of the labdane diterpenoids phlogantholide-A, its diacetate and isophlogantholide-A are reported. The assignments of the ¹³C NMR signals of 14-deoxyandrographolide and its diacetate, made earlier, have now been confirmed by lanthanide shift studies on the former and also by ¹³C spectral studies on anhydroandrographolide diacetate and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide diacetate.     

Three minor new compounds from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus led to the isolation of one new labdane diterpenoid, leojaponin D(1) and two new ionone derivatives, leojaponones A and B(2 and 3),together with seven known diterpenoids(4–10). Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and2 D NMR spectroscopic data and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Selected isolates were evaluated their effects on Jurkat IL2 secretion.     

Structures and Absolute Configurations of Three 7,8‐Secolabdane Diterpenes from the Chinese Liverwort Pallavicinia ambigua

The known 7,8‐secolabdane type diterpenoids neopallavicinin ( 1 ), pallavicinin ( 2 ), and 18‐hydroxypallavicinin ( 3 ) were isolated from Pallavicinia ambigua, and their structures were determined. The X‐ray crystal structure of 1 was solved, and, in combination with CD and NMR studies, the absolute configurations of 1 – 3 were established. A possible biogenetic pathway for 1 and 2 from a single labdane precursor is proposed.     

Two New Furanoid Diterpenoids from Tinospora sagittata

Two new clerodane‐based furanoid diterpenoids, tinosagittones A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), were isolated from the roots of Tinospora sagittata, together with five known diterpenoids, i.e., columbin ( 3 ), its glucoside palmatoside C ( 4 ), isocolumbin ( 5 ), 6‐hydroxycolumbin ( 6 ), and tinophylloloside ( 7 ). Their structures were established by mass spectrometry and spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques.     

New Labdane‐Type Diterpenoids from Leonurus heterophyllus

Chemical investigation of the aerial part of Leonurus heterophyllus led to the isolation and characterization of the seven labdane‐type diterpenoids 1 – 7 , including six new ones, 1 – 6 . Compounds 4 and 5 were isolated as a C(15) epimer pair. The determination of the structures and relative configurations of the new compounds were mainly based on 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic methods, and comparison of their NMR data with related compounds. The structure of compound 7 was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.