Lipids of Acorus calamus

Lipids of the leaves, stems, and rhizomes with roots ofAcorus calamusL. were investigated. The neutral-lipid classes and fatty-acid composition of neutral-, glyco-, and phospholipids were determined. The essential oil content in the total lipids of A. calamus was established by steam distillation.     

Chemical constituents and biological activity of Chinese medicinal herb 'Xihuangcao'

The application of Isodon species in Chinese folk medicine has a long histroy, especially the ones called 'Xihuangcao' in Chinese. 'Xihuangcao' has been successfully applied to treat acute hepatitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, dysentery and trauma. The original species of 'Xihuangcao' is Isodon lophanthoides (Buch.-Ham.ex D.Don). However, there are five sources of Chinese medicinal herb 'Xihuangcao' due to their similar morphology and close pharmaceutical activity. Each source belongs to Isodon. However, their chemical composition and bioactivities are significantly different. In order to differentiate these sources of 'Xihuangcao' and to know their pharmaceutical effects, this review summarizes the chemical constituents, bioactive properties of 'Xihuangcao' and their available application.     

Rapid assessment of beta-asarone content of Acorus calamus by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

This report outlines a rapid, reproducible method for the determination of beta-asarone, a known carcinogen, using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC)-UV-vis absorbance and a simple alcohol extraction. The MEKC method is based on a running buffer comprised of 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), pH 10. The method is reproducible and provides baseline separation of alpha-asarone and beta-asarone. This protocol was used to determine the beta-asarone content of Acorus calamus rhizome of a diploid variety harvested from the wetlands of the United States and the triploid variety from India obtained commercially. The results indicate raw product that originated from India contained 4.4% w/w beta-asarone, while that from the United States contained 0.2% w/w beta-asarone. Neither sample contained detectable concentrations of alpha-asarone. This is the first report of the use of MEKC to determine asarone in a natural source.     

微波消解-火焰原子吸收法测定豌豆中微量元素锰、锌、铜、铁的含量

探讨了采用微波消解法处理样品,以FAAS法在同一体系中测定豌豆中微量元素锰、锌、铜、铁的方法,包括硝酸、过氧化氢的用量以及消化时间长短对实验的不同影响和在同一体系中锰、锌、铜、铁的彼此干扰情况。在选定的条件下,测得豌豆中锰、锌、铜、铁的含量分别为:锰10.05 mg/g、锌9.48 mg/g、铜3.06 mg/g、铁18.30 mg/g,回收率96.8%~98.9%。     

Analysis and antimicrobial activity of volatile constituents from Quercus leucotrichophora (Fagaceae) bark

The chemical composition of the volatile extract (yield ≈ 0.13%, v/w) from the bark of Quercus leucotrichophora (Fagaceae) was analysed for the first time by GC-MS. Twenty-three constituents, amounting to 93.0% of the total detected contents of the volatile extract, were identified. The volatile extract contained approximately 86.36% monoterpenoids, 6.53% sesquiterpenoids and 0.11% aliphatic aldehydes. 1,8-Cineol (40.359%) followed by γ-terpinene (16.369%) were the major monoterpene constituents of the volatile extract. The residue of volatile extract (0.00025-250 μg mL(-1)) exhibited a potent antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615. This study concludes that residues of the volatile extract of Q. leucotrichophora could serve as an important bioresource for the extraction and isolation of monoterpenoids exhibiting antimicrobial activity, and thus has good potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using herbal Acorus calamus rhizome extract and coating on cotton fabric for antibacterial and UV blocking applications

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized by greener method using chloroauric acid as precursor and extract of Acorus calamus rhizome as reducing agent. Formation of AuNP was confirmed by the presence of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak in UV–Visible spectral analysis. XRD and FT-IR spectral analyses were performed for characterization. SEM images show spherical morphology and HR-TEM images reveal nanosize of AuNPs. The AuNPs were then coated on cotton fabric by pad-dry-cure method and characterized by SEM with EDAX technique. The results reveal the deposition of AuNPs on the surface of cotton fabric. Uncoated cotton, neat extract coated cotton and extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabrics were then tested for antibacterial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains by AATCC 100 test method. It showed that the extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric had higher antibacterial activity than other test samples against E. coli. UV-DRS analysis performed on extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric showed improved UV-blocking property than uncoated cotton fabric and neat extract coated cotton fabric.     

Chemical constituents of the methanolic extract of leaves of Leiothrix spiralis Ruhland and their antimicrobial activity

Chemical fractionation of the methanolic extract of leaves of Leiothrix spiralis Ruhland afforded the flavonoids luteolin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 7-methoxyluteolin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 7-methoxyluteolin-8-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 4'-methoxyluteolin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), and 6-hydroxy-7-methoxyluteolin (5), and the xanthones 8-carboxymethyl-1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (6), 8-carboxy-methyl-1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (7). Methanolic extract, fractions, and isolated compounds of the leaves of L. spiralis were assayed against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella setubal and Helicobacter pylori) and fungi (the yeasts Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis). We observed the best minimum inhibitory concentration values for the methanolic extract against Candida parapsilosis, for the fraction 5 + 6 against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and compound 7 against all tested Candida strains. The methanolic extract contents suggest that this species may be a promising source of compounds to produce natural phytomedicines.     

The chemical constituents from the active fractions of Eleutherine bulbosa with their antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Six compounds including three new polyketide ones named eleubosas A-C (1–3) were isolated from the active frations of Eleutherine bulbosa. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, MS and IR spectroscopic analyses data. All the isolates were evaluated against three pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the results showed that compounds 1 and 2 displayed moderate inhibitory activities against E. coli with MIC values both 12.5?μg/mL, which are consistent with the clinical applications and need further studies.     

Major constituents and anthelmintic activity of volatile oils from leaves and flowers of Cymbopogon martini Roxb

The major volatile constituents of leaves and flowers of Cymbopogon martini from the volatile oil obtained by steam distillation were identified by GC/MS. Five constituents were identified from the volatile oil of leaves and flowers, which constituted about 82.49 and 75.63% of the total amount, respectively. A monoterpene, piperitone (6.00%), was identified in the flowers of C. martini; in addition, flowers were found to contain more olefinic terpenes, namely geraniol (69.63%), compared with leaves (53.41%). Leaves contain bicyclic monoterpene, nerol (24.76%) and alpha-pinene (4.32%). Anthelmintic activity of these oils was evaluated on adult Indian earthworms Pheretima posthuma and results showed that the volatile oil of C. martini flower required less time to cause paralysis and death of the earthworms.     

The essential oil constituents and antimicrobial activity of Anthemis aciphylla BOISS. var. discoidea BOISS

The essential oil of aerial parts, leaves and flowers of the endemic Anthemis aciphylla BOISS. var. discoidea BOISS. (Asteraceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation. The oils were analyzed both by GC and GC-MS on a polar column. The monoterpenes alpha-pinene (9-49%) and terpinen-4-ol (22-32%) were characterized as the main constituents. An unknown component isolated from the essential oil was characterized by means of MS, HR-MS, FT-IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques as isofaurinone (1). Furthermore, the biological activity of the essential oils was evaluated in various human pathogenic microorganisms using the broth microdilution method. Weak to moderate inhibitions (0.06-1.0 mg/ml) was observed.     

Chemical constituents of Talauma arcabucoana (Magnoliaceae): their brine shrimp lethality and antimicrobial activity

A new aporphine alkaloid, (-)-arcabucoine [(6aR)-N-formyl-1,2-methylenedioxy-9,10-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline] 1 was isolated from the leaves of Talauma arcabucoana (Magnoliaceae), along with the known compounds (-)-erythro-saccharinic acid lactone 2 and (-)-shikimic acid 3. Furthermore, the known aporphine alkaloids (-)-dicentrine 4, (-)-nordicentrine 5 and dicentrinone 6 were isolated from the stem bark. The alkaloids 4 and 5 were found to be the most active compounds in a brine shrimp lethality assay. In addition, alkaloids 1, 4 and 5 showed moderate growth inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.     

Volatile organic compounds of Angelica gigas Nakai, Korean medicinal herb

The study was performed to find out the profile of volatile flavor components from the aromatic medicinal plant, Angelica gigas Nakai. The volatile organic compounds of A. gigas Nakai were extracted by simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) method, and identified by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis. A total of 116 compounds, including 40 hydrocarbons, 37 alcohols, 15 esters, 12 aldehydes, 7 ketones, and 5 miscellaneous were identified and quantified. Among them, 75 volatile organic compounds were detected which make up 90.52% of total volatile content. alpha-Pinene was detected as the prime volatile component which accounted for 30.89% of total volatile content and 2,4,6-trimethyl heptane, camphene, alpha-limonene, beta-eudesmol, vervenol, alpha-murrolene, and sphatulenol were detected as the major components of A. gigas Nakai.     

One step conversion of toxic beta-asarone from Acorus calamus into 1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-dihydroxypropane and asaronaldehyde occurring in Piper clusii

1-(2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-dihydroxypropane (2), a natural phenylpropanoid occurring in Piper clusii, has been synthesized for the first time from toxic beta-asarone (1) of Acorus calamus with osmium tetroxide, while 1 with osmium tetroxide (catalytic amount) in presence of sodium metaperiodate furnished the asaronaldehyde (3) in high yield.     

Chemical studies on the constituents of the chinese medicinal herb Euphorbia helioscopia L

Euphoheliosnoid D (1), a new jatrophone-type diterpenoid, was isolated together with 22 known metabolites from the Chinese medicinal herb Euphorbia helioscopia L. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Compounds 14-23 were obtained from the species for the first time while compound 14, 2alpha-hydroxy helioscopinolide B, was isolated as a new natural product.     

Major volatile constituents of Annona squamosa L. bark

The volatile constituents of Annona squamosa L. bark were identified from the essential oil obtained by steam distillation and studied by GC/MS. Six major components were identified as 1H-Cycloprop(e)azulene (3.46%), germacrene D (11.44%), bisabolene (4.48%), caryophyllene oxide (29.38%), bisabolene epoxide (3.64%) and kaur-16-ene (19.13%). The oil was also screened for its antimicrobial activity, which exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.