Antileishmanial diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf

The crude extracts of tubers of Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf were investigated for in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major. The dichloromethane extract at pH 2.5 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ value of 27.10 ± 0.0 μg/mL. Chromatographic purification of the dichloromethane extract led to isolation of three C-19 norditerpenoid alkaloids indaconitine (1), chasmaconitine (2) and ludaconitine (3). Compounds 3 and 2 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ = 36.10 ± 3.4 and 56.30 ± 2.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 was less effective (IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL). The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 2 and 3 studied against MCF7, HeLa and PC3 cancer cell lines and 3T3 normal fibroblast cell line did not show cytotoxicity at 30 μM.     

New chemical constituents from the Piper betle Linn. (Piperaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of chloroform extract from Piper betle var. haldia, Piperaceae, leaves has resulted in the isolation of two new chemical constituents which were identified as 1-n-dodecanyloxy resorcinol (H1) and desmethylenesqualenyl deoxy-cepharadione-A (H4), on the basis of spectroscopic data 1D NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D NMR (¹H-¹H COSY and HMBC) as well as ESI-MS, FT-IR and HR-ESI-MS analyses. Compounds H1 and H4 showed excellent antioxidant DPPH free radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 7.14 μg/mL and 8.08 μg/mL compared to ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant drug with IC₅₀ value of 2.52 μg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma cell line (PLC-PRF-5) showed moderate effect with the GI₅₀ values of 35.12 μg/mL for H1, 31.01 μg/mL for H4, compared to Doxorubicin^® as a standard cytotoxic drug with GI₅₀ value of 18.80 μg/mL.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activities of thioxoflavonoids on three human cancer cells

Two series of fifteen novel thioxoflavonoids 2a-2h and 4a-4g were synthesized from corresponding flavonoids 1a-1h and 3a-3g by reacting with Lawesson’s reagent, respectively. Their in vitro antiproliferative activities were evaluated on a panel of three human cancer cell lines (Hela, HCC1954 and SK-OV-3) using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The results showed that most of the target compounds exhibited moderate to good antiproliferative activities against the three human cancer cell lines. In particular, thioxoflavonoids 2f and 2g showed the strongest antiproliferative activity on all three human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.34 to 4.67 μM, 4f showed the best antiproliferative activity on Hela cells (IC₅₀ 2.30 μM), 2e showed the best antiproliferative activity on HCC1954 cells (IC₅₀ 2.13 μM) and SK-OV-3 cells (IC₅₀ 2.33 μM). The antiproliferative activities may be involved in their antioxidant activity, which can be speculated by their ability to scavenge free radicals and by their capacity of affecting key redox enzymes.     

Antimicrobial substances from the rare actinomycete Nonomuraea rhodomycinica NR4-ASC07T

Nonomuraea rhodomycinica NR4-ASC07^T is a rare actinomycete isolated from soil in Sirindhorn peat swamp forest. The crude extract of its culture broth exhibited antimicrobial and anticancer against diverse human pathogens and cancer cells. The chemical investigation of the crude extract led to the isolation of two new metabolites named nonomuric acid (1) and 3-hydroxy deoxydaunorubicinol aglycone (2), along with two known bioactive compounds [ε-rhodomycinone (3) and 7-deoxy-13-dihydrocarminomycinone (4)]. Compounds 1 and 3 showed antimalarial activity with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 8.00 and 8.88 μg mL^?1, respectively. Compound 4 inhibited growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bacillus cereus at the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 50.0 and 12.50 μg mL^?1, respectively. Every compound exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells tested at IC₅₀ ≥ 6.34 μg mL^?1. These finding are the first report of bioactive metabolites produced by strain NR4-ASC07^T, suggesting that rare actinomycetes are yet promising sources for novel drug discovery.     

Chemical constituents of Genista numidica Spach aerial parts and their antimicrobial,antioxidant and antityrosinase activities

A previously undescribed triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-{β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-}β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-sophoradiol (1), in addition to twenty-nine known constituents (2–30) were isolated from the aerial parts of Genista numidica Spach. Structures elucidation was performed by comprehensive 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses and HRESIMS. The extracts, fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The experimental findings indicated that genistin (16), isosalipurpol (27), and koaburaside (29) have moderate to low antibacterial activity against E. faecalis, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa bacteria with MICs ranging from 31.2 to 125 μg/mL. Compounds 19 and 27 exhibited a good antiradical activity potential (IC₅₀ 11.8 and 11.1 μg/mL, respectively). Only compounds 23, 27 and 28 exhibited low inhibitory effect against mushroom tyrosinase (IC₅₀ from 90.2 to 225.6 μg/mL).     

Extraction,identification and antimicrobial activity of a new furanone,grifolaone A,from Grifola frondosa

A furanone (1), (S)-methyl 2-(2-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)acetate, was isolated from the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa. Mass spectrometry and NMR analyses were used to elucidate the structure of this compound, and its absolute configuration was determined using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Compound 1 exhibited specific antifungal activity against the plant pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum, Gibberella zeae and Piricularia oryzae and the opportunistic human pathogen, Pseudallescheria boydii, resulting in minimum inhibitory concentration values of 2.5, 2.5, 1.25 and 0.15 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, the furanone showed only weak activity towards Aspergillus spp., Candida albicans and several other fungal strains tested as well as no appreciable antibacterial activity.     

Structures and antipathogenic fungi activities of flavonoids from pathogen-infected Astragalus adsurgens

Healthy Astragalus adsurgens is a highly palatable forage widely cultivated in arid areas of north China, while pathogen- (Embellisia asttrgali ) infected A. adsurgens is poisonous forage and often causes disastrous livestock losses. A phytochemical investigation was carried out on the E. asttrgali-infected A. adsurgens; as a result, a new compound, (2R, 3S)-7,4′-dimethoxy-2′-hydroxyflavanol (1), together with nine known flavonoids was obtained. It was found that the content of most of these compounds in E. asttrgali-infected A. adsurgens was higher than that in healthy A. adsurgens. Moreover, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited weak inhibitory activity against Fusarium graminearum and E. asttrgali with EC₅₀ over 100 μg/mL, and showed moderate inhibitory activity against Bipolaris sorokinianum with EC₅₀ of 39.1 and 95.0 μg/mL. Compounds 1–4 exhibited a high degree of inhibitory activity against Curvularia lunata, with 21.73, 43.93, 45.02 and 44.51% inhibition ratio at concentration of 50 μg/mL.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of chalcone derivatives

In the present study, using chalcone as a lead compound, a series of its derivatives (compounds 1–30) were designed and synthesised. Their activity of anti-pathogenic fungi of plants has been evaluated. It is found that these compounds have good antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Helminthosprium maydis, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Gibberella zeae. Among them, the inhibition of growth for compound 30 against S. sclerotiorum showed 89.9%, with the median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of 15.4 μg mL^? 1. The inhibition of growth for compounds 28, 29 and 30 at a concentration of 100 μg mL^? 1 against H. maydis is 90.3%, 90.7% and 91.1%, with EC₅₀ of 15.1, 18.3 and 18.1μg mL^? 1, respectively.     

Cytotoxic agents for KB and SiHa cells from n-hexane fraction of Cissampelos pareira and its chemical composition

Eleven constituents were characterised by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, and five molecules were isolated using column chromatography. The in vitro study of the extract and isolated molecules against KB and SiHa cell lines revealed oleanolic acid (1) and oleic acid (2) as potent cytotoxic molecules with potential anticancer activity. The IC₅₀ values of n-hexane extract (CPHF), oleanolic acid (1) and oleic acid (2) were >300, 56.08 and 70.7 μg/mL (μM), respectively, against KB cell lines and >300, 47.24 and 80.2 μg/mL (μM), respectively, against SiHa cell lines.     

A new antifungal and antiprotozoal bibenzyl derivative from Gavilea lutea

A new bibenzyl derivative (4), together with two glycosylated flavonoids (1 and 2), batatasin III (3) and the phenanthrene isohircinol (5) were isolated from the aerial parts of Gavilea lutea. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies including 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and HRESIMS. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activity towards Candida albicans. The new compound 4 showed inhibitory activity with a MIQ of 50 μg. In addition, compound 4 exhibited a selective activity (IC₅₀ = 2.3 μg/mL) against Leishmania donovani.     

A new butenolide cinnamate and other biological active chemical constituents from Polygonum glabrum

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Polygonum glabrum afforded one new natural product ( ? )-2-methoxy-2-butenolide-3-cinnamate (1) along with six known compounds, β-hydroxyfriedalanol (2), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene (3), ( ? ) pinocembrin (4), sitosterol-(6′-O-palmitoyl)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), ( ? ) pinocembrin-5-methyl ether (6) and sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7). Compound 1 showed promising in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity against primary isolates HIV-1_UG070 (X4, subtype D) and HIV-1_VB59 (R5, subtype C) assayed using TZM-bl cell line with IC₅₀ in the range of 15.68–22.43 μg/mL. The extract showed TI in the range of 19.19–27.37 with IC₅₀ in the range of 10.90–15.55 μg/mL. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited in vitro anti-mycobacterium activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra with IC₅₀ values of 1.43, 3.33 and 1.11 μg/mL in dormant phase and 2.27, 3.33 and 1.21 μg/mL in active phase, respectively. Compound 4 was found to be the most active antiproliferative with IC₅₀ values of 1.88–11.00 μg/mL against THP-1, A549, Panc-1, HeLa and MCF7 cell lines.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,2,4-oxadiazole linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as tubulin binding agents

As an aspect of our ongoing research in search of new anticancer agents, a series of novel analogs of 1,3,4-oxadiazole embedded with 1,2,4-oxadiazole moieties (11a–j) were synthesized. The structure of the final compounds was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³CNMR and mass spectroscopic techniques and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines (lung, breast). Among the synthesized compounds, 11?b, 11?g, 11?h, and 11i showed potent anticancer activity with IC₅₀ values within the range of 0.34?±?0.025 to 2.45?±?0.23?μM against three human cancer cell lines. Further, these compounds (11a–j) were investigated for molecular docking studies. Among them, compound 11?h showed strong binding affinity on binding sites of target protein EGFR (PDB ID: 4hjo) with highest docking score (-7.028). It revealed that 11?h was a strong tubulin binding agent.     

A new antimicrobial and radical-scavenging glycoside from Paullinia pinnata var. cameroonensis

A new glycoside, pinnatoside A (1), together with two known compounds (2 and 3), were isolated from the stems of Paullinia pinnata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compound 1 showed significant antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1.56 μg/mL against Escherichia coli, and 2 displayed significant antibacterial activity with a MIC value of 1.56 μg/mL against Enterobacter aerogenes and E. coli. Equally, compound 1 exhibited the best radical-scavenging activity (RSa₅₀ = 25.07 ± 0.49 μg/mL).     

New dammarane and ursane-type triterpenoids from the flower of Ixora coccinea Linn.

Two new esters of dammarane triterpenoids ixorene isovalerate (1), ixorene 3′,8′-dimethyloctanoate (2) and a new ursane-type triterpenoids Ixoroid acid (3) were isolated from the methanolic extract of flowers of Ixora coccinea Linn., along with the three known constituents. The structures of compounds 1 and 3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D,2D NMR studies and mass spectrometry as 17β-dammara-12,20-diene-3β-isovelarate and 3β-hydroxy-18β-urs-12ene-29β-oic acid, respectively, whereas 2 was identified as 17β-dammara-12,20-diene-3β-3′,8′-dimethyloctanoate through ¹H NMR and mass spectral data. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity, which exhibited weak activity against the 3T3, PC3 and HeLa cell lines with the IC₅₀ value >30 μM. Antioxidant results of 1 – 5 revealed that only compound 5 showed antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging inhibition with the IC₅₀ 1.31 × 10^? 6 ± 0.005 μm mL^? 1. Both activities are the first records of these isolated compounds from the flowers of Ixora coccinea Linn.     

4-硫醚基喹唑啉类化合物的合成及抑菌活性研究

以4-氯喹唑啉和巯基化合物为原料, 丙酮作溶剂, 碳酸钾作缚酸剂, 合成了7个新型4-硫醚基喹唑啉类化合物. 采用¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR及元素分析对目标化合物的结构进行了表征. 生物活性测试表明, 化合物1d在50 μg•mL^－1 药剂浓度下对小麦赤霉病菌、辣椒枯萎病菌、苹果腐烂病菌的抑菌活性分别达到69.5%, 71.9%和70.8%, EC₅₀分别为25.88, 17.08和28.77 μg•mL^－1.     

Chemical constituents and biological activities of Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri

Three new compounds (1–3) and seven known compounds (4–10) have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri using bioactivity-guided fractionation and identified as methyl (2-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)acetate (1), methyl (2R-3-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)glycerate (2), methyl (3R-4-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy-3-hydroxy)butanoate (3), bridelionoside B (4), (6S,7E,9R)-roseoside (5), linarionoside A (6), 3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6-dodecadien-3,10,11-triol (7), (+)-8-hydroxylinalool (8), β-sitosterol (9) and daucosterol (10). The structures of 1–3, including absolute configurations, were determined by spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and ORD) and chemical methods. In addition, compounds 1–8 were assayed for their insecticidal and antimicrobial activities. Compounds 7 and 8 exhibited moderately insecticidal effects against Mythimna separata with LD₅₀ values of 180 and 230 μg g^?1, respectively. Compounds 2, 3, 7 and 8 showed varying antimicrobial activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 125 to 529 μM.     

Carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate and two carbazole alkaloids from the stems of Clausena excavata

A carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate, carbazomarin B (1), and two carbazole alkaloids, 6-methoxymukonidine (2) and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbazole (3), together with 27 known compounds (4–30), were isolated from the stems of Clausena excavata. Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity to HuCCA-1, MOLT-3 and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 15.09–28.50 μg/mL, but none to A549 cell line. Heptaphylline (6) and nordentatin (23) were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 12.33 and 11.33, respectively, while clausine K (27) exhibited strong cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of 1.05 μg/mL, better than a standard drug (etoposide, IC₅₀ 13.40 μg/mL).     

Preparation and characterization of PEPPSI-palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using benzimidazolium salts catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reaction and their antitumor and antimicrobial activities

New palladium complexes were efficiently synthesized from the reaction of benzimidazolium salts 2a–e, potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) and palladium chloride (PdCl₂) in pyridine (for 3a–e). The catalytic activity of these complexes in a catalytic system including palladium complexes and K₂CO₃ in DMF-H₂O was evaluated in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenylboronic acid. Our novel complexes show excellent catalytic activities with high turnover numbers (TON) and high turnover frequencies (TOF) (e.g. for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction: TON up to 370 and TOF up to 123.3?h^?1). Both benzimidazolium salts 2a–e and complexes 3 have been characterized using spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes 3a–e varies with the nature of the ligands. Also, the IC₅₀ values of both, complexes (3a–e) and benzimidazoles 2a–e, have been determined. In addition, the new palladium complexes were screened for their antitumor activity. Complexes 3e and 3d exhibited the highest antitumor effect with IC₅₀ values 6.85?μg/mL against MCF-7 and 10.75?μg/mL against T47D, respectively.     

Structures and bioactivities of seven flavonoids from Osmanthus fragrans ‘Jinqiu’ essential oil extraction residues

Osmanthus fragrans are well-known for their fragrance, but it is wasteful if to discard O. fragrans flower after extracting their essential oils. In this paper, we found that O. fragrans flower residues were rich in flavonoids. Six flavonoids and one phenylethanoid glycoside were isolated from the ethanol extract of O. fragrans flower residues, identified as quercetin (1), rutin (2), verbascoside (3), genistin (4), kaempferol (5), isorhamnetin (6) and naringin (7). In bioactivity study, kaempferol (IC₅₀ = 1.43 μg/mL) showed the best anti-inflammatory activity. Isorhamnetin, quercetin, kaempferol, verbascoside and rutin (the values of IC₅₀ were 18.30, 11.05, 16.88, 20.21 and 22.76 μg/mL, respectively) showed excellent DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Verbascoside performed relatively well at inhibiting the growth of both CT26 colonic carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 46.87 μg/mL) and HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 30.58 μg/mL). In addition, quercetin and kaempferol showed strong anti-proliferation activity against HepG2 cells.     

Anti-infective assessment of Senecio smithioides (Asteraceae) and isolation of 9-oxoeuryopsin,a furanoeremophilane-type sesquiterpene with antiplasmodial activity

The search for anti-infective activity in the antipyretic plant Senecio smithioides was conducted. Petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and hydroethanolic (96% EtOH) extracts, and compounds 9-oxoeuryopsin (1), epoxydecompostin (2) and senecionine (3) were obtained from the aerial parts. All extracts and 1 were tested against chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (ref. chloroquine), Trypanosoma cruzi (ref. nifurtimox), Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani (ref. pentamidine), Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (ref. gentamicin) and, Neurospora crassa and Candida albicans (ref. ketoconazole). The PE extract exhibited the strongest in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum IC₅₀ < 1.0 μg/mL. 1 was established as a potent antiplasmodial compound with an IC₅₀ = 1.2 μg/mL, 5.2 μM. Other antiparasitic activities were recorded for all extracts and 1. Antibacterial and antifungal activity was negligible.