Phenolic compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus davidiana</Emphasis> Wood

Five phenolic compounds, including a new phenolic glycoside, 2-hydroxycyclohexyl-6′-O-p-coumaroyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, as well as the known flavonoids, naringenin, kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin, were isolated from the wood of Populus davidiana by repeated column chromatography over Sephadex LH-20. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectral evidence.     

New Lignan Detetrahydroconidendrin from Juniperus Formosana Hayata

Six crystalline compounds, isocedrolic acid, δ-cadinol, emodin, sugiol, Δ⁵-dehydrosugiol, and a new lignan phenol were isolated from the acetone extractive of wood of Juniperus formosana Hayata. The new lignan phenol was established as detetrahydro-conidendrin by chemical and physical evidence.     

Two New Diterpens Phenols-7α-Methoxydeoxocryptojaponol and 7β-Hydroxydeoxocryptojaponol

Six crystalline compounds, α-cedrol, β-sitosterol, cryptojaponol sugiol and two new diterpene phenols were isolated from the hexane extractive of wood of Juniperus formosana Hayata. Two new phenolic derivatives of deoxocryptojaponol were established as 7α-methoxydeoxocryptojaponol and 7β-hydroxydeoxocryptojaponol, respectively, by chemical and physical evidence.     

Two New Diterpens Phenols-7α-Methoxydeoxocryptojaponol and 7β-Hydroxydeoxocryptojaponol

Six crystalline compounds, α-cedrol, β-sitosterol, cryptojaponol sugiol and two new diterpene phenols were isolated from the hexane extractive of wood of Juniperus formosana Hayata. Two new phenolic derivatives of deoxocryptojaponoi were established as 7α-methoxydeoxocryptojaponol and 7β-hydroxydeoxocryptojaponol, respectively, by chemical and physical evidence.     

Two new phenolic constituents from the root bark of Morus alba L. and their cardioprotective activity

A new biphenyl-furocoumarin, named morescoumarin A (1), and a new prenylated flavanone, named morflavanone A (2) were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L., together with four known compounds (3–6). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. The cardioprotective effects of these compounds against doxorubicin-induced cell death were evaluated by MTT method.     

New Constituents of Artocarpus rigida

Four new phenolic compounds containing an oxepine ring, artocarpols B ( 1 ), C ( 2 ), D ( 3 ), and E ( 4 ), were isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus rigida. The structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated by means of spectroscopic data.     

Die Chukrasine A,B, C,D und E,fünf neue Tetranortriterpene aus Chukrasia tabularisA. JUSS

The Chukrasines A, B, C, D and E, Five New Tetranortriterpenes From Chukrasia tabularis A . JUSS Five new tetranortriterpenes, chukrasins A, B, C, D and E, have been isolated from the wood of Chukrasia tabularis A . JUSS . On the basis of spectral and chemical evidence structures 1a - 1e were assigned to the new compounds.     

LC‐DAD/ESI‐MS/MS study of phenolic compounds in ash (Fraxinus excelsior L. and F. americana L.) heartwood. Effect of toasting intensity at cooperage

The phenolic composition of heartwood extracts from Fraxinus excelsior L. and F. americana L., both before and after toasting in cooperage, was studied using LC‐DAD/ESI‐MS/MS. Low‐molecular weight (LMW) phenolic compounds, secoiridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, dilignols and oligolignols compounds were detected, and 48 were identified, or tentatively characterized, on the basis of their retention time, UV/Vis and MS spectra, and MS fragmentation patterns. Some LMW phenolic compounds like protocatechuic acid and aldehyde, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, were unlike to those for oak wood, while ellagic and gallic acid were not found. The toasting of wood resulted in a progressive increase in lignin degradation products with regard to toasting intensity. The levels of some of these compounds in medium‐toasted ash woods were much higher than those normally detected in toasted oak, highlighting vanillin levels, thus a more pronounced vanilla character can be expected when using toasted ash wood in the aging wines. Moreover, in seasoned wood, we found a great variety of phenolic compounds which had not been found in oak wood, especially oleuropein, ligstroside and olivil, along with verbascoside and isoverbascoside in F. excelsior, and oleoside in F. americana. Toasting mainly provoked their degradation, thus in medium‐toasted wood, only four of them were detected. This resulted in a minor differentiation between toasted ash and oak woods. The absence of tannins in ash wood, which are very important in oak wood, is another peculiar characteristic that should be taken into account when considering its use in cooperage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

A New Pregnane and a New Diphenylmethane from the Root Barks of Periploca sepium

A new polyoxygenated pregnane genin and a new diphenylmethane, along with five known pregnane derivatives, were isolated from the root barks of Periploca sepium. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as (3β,14β)‐3,14‐dihydroxy‐21‐methoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐one ( 1 ) and 2‐hydroxy‐5‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzyl)‐4‐methoxybenzaldehyde ( 2 ) on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR and MS analyses. The known compounds were identified by comparing their physical and spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.     

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ethanol extract,fractions and purified compounds from the wood of Albizia myriophylla

Albizia myriophylla Benth. is a medicinal herb which is used as a traditional remedy for various ailments including diabetes in Thailand. In our continued investigation of the biological activity of A. myriophylla, the ethanol extract, fractions and the isolated compounds from the wood of this plant were evaluated for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition using spectrophotometric method. The plant ethanol extract and its different fractions possessed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Dichloromethane fraction of the wood ethanol extract exhibited the highest percent inhibition against α-glucosidase (69.30%) among all fractions. Subsequent α-glucosidase inhibition assay proved that indenoic acid (1), 8-methoxy-7, 3′,4′-trihydroxyflavone (2) and 3,4,7,3′-tetrahydroxyflavan (3) were partially rational for antidiabetic effect of this plant species. Among these compounds, 3 (IC₅₀ 98.59 μg/mL) exhibited potent inhibition of α-glucosidase, compared with a positive control acarbose (IC₅₀ 125 μg/mL). The inhibitory effect towards α-glucosidase of compounds 1–3 was reported herein for the first time.     

Isolation,structural elucidation and in vitro antioxidant activity of compounds from chloroform extract of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud.

This study was designed to isolate, characterise and explore in vitro antioxidant potential of compounds from the chloroform extract of Cedrus deodara wood belonging to Pinacae family. We have investigated the in vitro free radical scavenging activity of isolated compounds by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power ability. From the chloroform extract five sesquiterpenes namely atlantone, himaphenolone, atlantolone, deodardione and atlantone-2,3-diol were identified. Himaphenolone and deodardione from the chloroform extract of this plant have been isolated for the first time. A marked dose-dependent reducing power and strong TAC were found in favour of himaphenolone and atlantone-2,3-diol, respectively. Moreover, deodardione and atlantolone also exhibit good antioxidant potentials. However, atlantone has showed least antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the chloroform extract of C. deodara exhibited significant antioxidant potential mainly due to the presence of sesquiterpenes which may be responsible for various pharmacological activities of this plant.     

Chemical Constituents from the Root Bark of Formosan Zanthoxylum Ailanthoides

Two new N‐isobutylamides, hydroxy lanyuamide I ( 1 ) and hydroxy lanyuamide II ( 2 ), together with one hundred and ten known compounds, have been isolated from the root bark of Formosan Zanthoxylum ailanthoides. These known compounds include twenty coumarins, twenty‐one benzo[c]phenanthridines, ten quinoline derivatives, one aporphine, one purine, seven amides, twelve benzenoids, one lactone, four flavonoids, nine lignans, eight steroids, two chlorophylls, eleven terpenoids and three other compounds, which were determined by means of spectral analyses.     

A New Sesquiterpene, α‐Santalane‐11,12,13‐Triol from the Root Bark of Severinia Buxifolia in Hainan

Anew sesquiterpenoid, α‐santalane‐11,12,13‐triol, together with thirty known compounds were isolated and characterized from the root bark of Severinia buxifolia in Hainan. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The relationship between constituents and collecting area is also discussed.     

Two New Iridoids from the Root and Rhizome of Valeriana jatamansi Jones

Two new iridoids, jatamanvaltrates P and Q ( 1 and 2 , resp.), together with three known iridoids, rupesin B ( 3 ), chlorovaltrate ( 4 ), and valtrate ( 5 ), were isolated from the root and rhizome of Valeriana jatamansi Jones . The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 2D‐NMR techniques.     

Palaeophytochemical Components from the Miocene‐Fossil Wood of Pinus Griffithii

Some Miocene‐fossil wood of Pinus griffithii preserved as lignified wood in brown coal was found in an open coalmine in Xundian of Yunnan Province, China. To explore its chemical components, here we show the palaeophytochemical investigation of this Pliocene‐fossil wood of P. armandii, resulting in the isolation of 11 compounds ( 1–11 ) including one new compound named 3,3‐dimethoxy‐24‐ethyl‐cholestan ( 1 ) by liquid column chromatography. Furthermore, sixteen volatiles were detected from this fossil wood by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). These structures of 11 compounds were elucidated by analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D‐NMR spectra, and comparison with published data.     

Two Novel and Anti‐Inflammatory Constituents of Artocarpus rigida

With the scope of our search for biologically active compounds, two new phenolic compounds, artocarpols G ( 1 ) and H ( 2 ), and two known compounds, rubraflavone C ( 3 ) and trans‐stilbene‐2,4,3′,5′‐tetrol, were isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus rigida. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and comparison with data reported in the literature. Compound 4 , previously isolated from this plant, strongly inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner the release of β‐glucuronidase and histamine from mast cell degranulation caused by compound 48/80, with IC₅₀ values of 10.9±1.4 and 13.2±0.6 μM , respectively. Compound 4 also showed a concentration‐dependent inhibitory effect on the formyl‐peptide‐stimulated superoxide anion formation in neutrophils with an IC₅₀ value of 26.0±5.6 μM .     

Novel Anti‐Inflammatory Constituents of Artocarpus rigida

A novel phenolic compound containing an oxepine ring, artocarpol I ( 1 ), and a new biphenylpropanoid, artocarpol J ( 2 ), were isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus rigida. The structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic data. Compound 1 and artocarpol J peracetate ( 3 ) strongly inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner the formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe (fMLP)/cytochalasin B (CB)‐stimulated superoxide anion formation in neutrophils with IC₅₀ values of 17.1±0.40 and 20.5±2.60 μM , respectively. Biogenetically, all the novel phenolic compounds isolated from this plant seem to be derived from stilbene.     

Eight New Cucurbitane Glycosides,Kuguaglycosides A – H,from the Root of Momordica charantia L.

Eight new cucurbitane glycosides, kuguaglycosides A–H ( 1 – 8 , resp.), together with five known analogues, 3β,23‐dihydroxycucurbita‐5,24‐dien‐7β‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 9 ), karaviloside III ( 10 ), karaviloside V ( 11 ), karaviloside XI ( 12 ), and momordicoside K ( 13 ), were isolated from the root of Momordica charantia L. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

Antimicrobial compounds from root,stem bark and seeds of Melia volkensii

Three compounds, toosendanin (1), kulactone (2) and scopoletin (3), were isolated from either the root bark and/or the stem bark of Melia volkensii. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data generated and by comparison with data from the literature. 1 and 2, isolated for the first time from M. volkensii, exhibited significant (p < 0.05) activity against Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 μg/mL, close to that of neomycin (6.25 μg/mL). The compounds also exhibited high activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC 6.25 μg/mL compared to 2.5 μg/mL for clotrimazole). Dichloromethane and methanol seed, hexane stem bark and methanol root bark extracts exhibited activities towards Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of the plant towards A. niger, P. falciparum and S. aureus is reported for the first time in the current work.