The anaerobic degradation of deoxycholic acid by PSEUDOMONAS SP. NCIB 10590

The anaerobic metabolism of deoxycholic acid by Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 10590 was studied. The metabolic pathway was similar to that operating under aerobic conditions with 12β-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3,17-dione as the major neutral product an metabolites which are not produced during aerobic metabolism were isolated and evidence is presented for the following structures: 9α-hydroxyandrost-1-en-3,17-dione, 12α,17)β-dihydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one; 3β,12β-dihydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one an formation and significance of the phenolic secosteroid is discussed.     

Deoxycholic acid degradation by a pseudomonas sp: Phenolic and neutral products

The microbial degradation of deoxycholic acid by Pseudomonas sp. MR108 was studied, and four products were isolated. Evidence is presented that one is the phenol 3,12β - dihydroxy - 9,10 - secoandrosta -1,3,5(10) - trien - 9,17 - dione (11) and that the other three are the neutral compounds 3aαH - 4α - [3' - propionic acid] - 5α - hydroxy - 7aβ - methyl - hexahydro -1 - indanone - δ - lactone (12), 12β - hydroxyandrosta -1,4 - dien -3,17 - dione (10), and 12α - hydroxyandrosta - 1,4 - dien - 3,17 - dione (7).     

Biotransformation of (+)-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione

Fermentation of (+)-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) with Curvularia lunata for 10 days yielded five oxidative and reductive metabolites, androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (2), 17beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one (3), 11alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (4), 11alpha,17beta-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (5) and 15alpha-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-17-one (6). The structures of these metabolites were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. These microbially transformed products were assayed against the clinically important enzymes, tyrosinase and prolyl endopeptidase.     

Synthesis of oryzalexins a,b and c,the diterpenoidal phytoalexins isolated from rice blast leaves infected with pyricularia oryzae

Naturally occurring enantiomers of three diterpenes isolated as phytoalexins from rice blast leaves were synthesized: (+)-oryzalexin.A [ent-3β-hydroxyisopimara-8(14),15-dien-7-one, 1], (+)-oryzalexin B [ent-7α-hydroxyisopimara-8(14),15-dien-3-one, 2] and (+)-oryzalexin C [ent-isopimara-8(14),15-diene-3,7-dione, 3]. Their antipodes were also synthesized.     

Four new eremophilendiolides from Ligularia atroviolacea

From Ligularia atroviolacea, four new eremophilendiolides, 81$-hydroxy-eremophil-3,7 （11）-dien-12,8α（14,6α）-diolide （1）, 8β-methoxy-eremophil-3,7（11）-dien-12,8α（14,6α）-diolide （2）, 8α-hydroxy-eremophil-3,7（11）-dien-12,8lβ（14,6α）-diolide （3） and eremophil-3,7（11）,8-trien-12,8 （14,6α）-diolide （4）, as well as a known diolide （5） were isolated. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as ESI-MS spectral data.     

Specific oxidation of C-14 oxygenated 4(20),11-taxadienes by microbial transformation

Three C-14 oxygenated taxanes, 2α,5α,10β,14β-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (1), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-(2-methylbutyryloxy)taxa-4(20),11-diene (2), and yunanaxane (3), major products of callus cultures of Taxus spp., were regio- and stereoselectively hydroxylated at the 7β position by a fungus, Absidia coerulea IFO 4011. Intriguingly, when 1 was co-administered with β-cyclodextrin and incubated with the fungus cell cultures, three other compounds 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-dien-14β-ol (7), 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-dien-1β-ol (8) and 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxy-11(15→1) abeotaxa-4(20),11-dien-15-ol (9) were obtained.     

Marine sterols—II : Asterosterol,a new C26 sterol from Asterias amurensis lütken

Asterosterol, a new marine C₂₆ sterol, was isolated from the asteroid, A. amurensis, and its structure was characterized as 22-trans-24-nor-5α-cholesta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (1). Episterol (9), 22-trans-(24R)-24-methylcholesta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (stellasterol, 3) and 22-trans-cholesta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (7) were also isolated and their structures were confirmed.     

19-nor-11-Oxooleanan-12-ene and 18,19-seco-19-oxours-11,13(18)-diene triterpenes from Diospyros decandra bark

Four new triterpenes, 2α,3β-dihydroxy-19-nor-11-oxo-20-dimethylurs-12-en-24,28-dioic acid (equivalent to 2α,3β-dihydroxy-19-nor-11-oxoolean-12-en-24,28-dioic acid), 2α,3β-dihydroxy-18,19-seco-19-oxours-11,13(18)-dien-24,28-dioic acid, 2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-11-oxours-12-en-24,28-dioic acid and 2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-28-1′-β-d-[glucopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-glucopyranosyl]-urs-12-en-24,28-dioic acid were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Diospyros decandra as their acetate-methyl ester derivatives. The first two compounds represent the biosynthetic transformation products of 2α,3β,19-trihydroxyurs-24,28-dioic acid via oxidative rearrangement of ring E.     

Officinatrione: an unusual (17S)-17,18-seco-lupane skeleton,and four novel lupane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Taraxacum officinale

Novel 5 lupane-type of triterpenois, i.e., 3β-acetoxy-18α,19α-epoxylupan-21β-ol (1), 18α,19α-epoxy-21β-hydroxylupan-3-one (2), lup-18-ene-3,21-dione (3), lupa-18,21-dien-3β-yl acetate (4), and (17S)-17,18-seco-lup-19(21)-ene-3,18,22-trione (5), named officinatrione, as well as 16 known compounds from the roots of Taraxacum officinale collected in Takatsuki city, Osaka, Japan. Of the above compounds, 5 was the first lupane-type triterpene, of which the D-ring was open to form a nine-membered ring. Compounds 2 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against L1210 cell line (IC₅₀ 10.5 and 10.1 μM).     

Sesquiterpenoids and norsesquiterpenoids from three liverworts

Six new sesquiterpenoids and two new norsesquiterpenoids were isolated from the essential oils of three liverworts. The isolated compounds include (+)-eudesma-4,11-dien-8α-ol from the liverwort Diplophyllum albicans, (−)-4β,5β-diacetoxygymnomitr-3(15)-ene, (+)-5β-acetoxygymnomitr-3(15)-ene, (−)-15-acetoxygymnomitr-3-ene, (−)-3β,15β-epoxy-4β-acetoxygymnomitrane, and (−)-3α,15α-epoxy-4β-acetoxygymnomitrane from Marsupella emarginata, and (+)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1,4-dimethylazulene and (−)-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-1,4-dimethylazulen-4-ol from Barbilophozia floerkei. These compounds were isolated by a combination of different chromatographic techniques, and their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic studies (MS, ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR) and chemical transformations using enantioselective GC.     

Microbiological synthesis of 16-ketopregnanes from steroidal sapogenins

Incubation of diosgenone (1, 25D-spirost-4-en-3-one) with Verticillium theobromae (Turconi) Mason et Hughes (CBS) afforded 20α-hydroxypregn-4<ne-3,16-dione (3) and 3α,11β,20α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-16-one (4). The same transformation products were also obtained by the use of Stachylidium bicolor Link (IFO 6647). Isolation and identification processes of the products are discussed.     

Nanodimer cyclodextrin ligands with high affinity to steroids

Molecular-imprinting by cross-linking of ligands of ??-cyclodextrin (CD) complex with steroids has been developed for the synthesis of tailor-made CD dimer. Steroids of androstane (9??-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3,17-dione, androst-4-en-3,17-dione, androsta-1,4-dien-3,17-dione (ADD)) and pregnane (hydrocortisone, 6-methyl-hydrocortisone, 20-hydroxymethylpregna-1,4-diene-3-one (HMPD)) series were used as template molecules. For imprinting procedure, crystalline ??-CD complexes of exact stoichiometry (??-CD:steroid template = 2:1) were synthesized following by toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) cross-linking. The attempts to produce CD dimer for steroid without hydrophobic side chain failed, while tailor-made CD dimer has been obtained using HMPD as a template. The dimer was characterized by ¹H NMR and mass-spectrometry. The complex stability constant (K_S) towards HMPD template exceeded 10⁷ M^?1. The K_S of CD dimer with ADD exceeded the corresponded value of TDI-modified CD monomer by more than an order of magnitude. The dimer was applied for quantitative extraction of ADD from aqueous solution using dialysis membranes impermeable for CD. The value of K_S for ADD estimated from balanced concentrations of dialysis data corresponded to that calculated by nonlinear spectrometric method.     

Testosterone metabolism revisited: discovery of new metabolites

The metabolism of testosterone is revisited. Four previously unreported metabolites were detected in urine after hydrolysis with KOH using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method and precursor ion scan mode. The metabolites were characterized by a product ion scan obtained with accurate mass measurements. Androsta-4,6-dien-3,17-dione, androsta-1,4-dien-3,17-dione, 17-hydroxy-androsta-4,6-dien-3-one and 15-androsten-3,17-dione were proposed as feasible structures for these metabolites on the basis of the mass spectrometry data. The proposed structures were confirmed by analysis of synthetic reference compounds. Only 15-androsten-3,17-dione could not be confirmed, owing to the lack of a commercially available standard. That all four compounds are testosterone metabolites was confirmed by the qualitative analysis of several urine samples collected before and after administration of testosterone undecanoate. The metabolite androsta-1,4-dien-3,17-dione has a structure analogous to that of the exogenous anabolic steroid boldenone. Specific transitions for boldenone and its metabolite 17β-hydroxy-5β-androst-1-en-3-one were also monitored. Both compounds were also detected after KOH treatment, suggesting that this metabolic pathway is involved in the endogenous detection of boldenone previously reported by several authors.     

Steroid alcohols from the ascidianHalocynthia aurantium

The total sterols have been isolated fromHalocynthia aurantium by column chromatography on silica gel. The following steroid alcohols have been identified in it with the aid of GLC, GLC-MS, and¹H NMR: 5α-cholestan-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholestan-3β-ol, 24ξ-ethylcholestan-3β-ol, 4ξ-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholestan-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24ξ-ethylcholes-5-en-3β-ol, 5α-cholest-22-en-3β-ol, 24-nor-5α-cholest-22-en-3β-ol, cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-norcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-ethylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, and 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol.     

Synthesis of all 7αH-guaia-4,11-dien-3-one diastereomers from (+)-dihydrocarvone

All four 7αH-guaia-4,11-dien-3-one diastereomers have been synthesized from the common intermediate 1αH,10α-acetoxy-7αH-guaia-4,11-dien-3-one obtained from (+)-dihydrocarvone. The spectral features of the four diasteromers have been correlated and the structure and absolute configuration of 1βH,10βH,7αH-guaia-4,11-dien-3-one isolated from Pleocarphus revolutus has been confirmed.     

A new triterpene and a saponin from Centella asiatica

A new triterpene and a saponin,named 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid(1)and 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(2),have been isolated from the aerial part of Centella asiatica.Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods,including 2D-NMR spectra.     

Diterpenes from the marine pulmonate trimusculus reticulatus

The marine pulmonate Trimusculus reticulatus contains 6β-isovaleroxylabda-8,13-dien-7α,15-diol (1) and 2α,7α-diacetoxy-6β-isovaleroxylabda-8,13-dien-15-ol (2). The diol 1 is found in the mucus produced by T. reticulatus that repels predatory sea stars.     

Urine stability and steroid profile: towards a screening index of urine sample degradation for anti-doping purpose

The presence of microorganisms in urine samples, under favourable conditions of storage and transportation, may alter the concentration of steroid hormones, thus altering the correct evaluation of the urinary steroid profile in doping control analysis. According to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA technical document TD2004 EAAS), a testosterone deconjugation higher than 5% and the presence of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the deconjugated fraction, are reliable indicators of urine degradation. The determination of these markers would require an additional quantitative analysis since the steroids screening analysis, in anti-doping laboratories, is performed in the total (free + conjugated) fraction. The aim of this work is therefore to establish reliable threshold values for some representative compounds (namely 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione) in the total fraction in order to predict directly at the screening stage the potential microbial degradation of the urine samples. Preliminary evidence on the most suitable degradation indexes has been obtained by measuring the urinary concentration of testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric every day for 15 days in the deconjugated, glucuronide and total fraction of 10 pools of urines from 60 healthy subjects, stored under different pH and temperature conditions, and isolating the samples with one or more markers of degradation according to the WADA technical document TD2004EAAS. The threshold values for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione were therefore obtained correlating the testosterone deconjugation rate with the urinary concentrations of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the total fraction. The threshold values suggested as indexes of urine degradation in the total fraction were: 10 ng mL⁻¹ for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 20 ng mL⁻¹ for 5β-androstane-3,17-dione. The validity of this approach was confirmed by the analysis of routine samples for more than five months (i.e. on a total of more than 4000 urine samples): samples with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione higher than the threshold values showed a percentage of free testosterone higher than 5 of its total amount; whereas free testosterone in a percentage higher than 5 of its total amount was not detected in urines with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione lower than the threshold values.     

A synthesis of 11-homo-aldosterone

A synthesis of 11-homo-aldosterone acetate (1a) is described. 3β-Acetoxy-11-methylene-5α,25D-spirostan (3) was converted in 4 steps into 3β-acetoxy-11β-acetoxymethyl-5α-pregnan-20-one (9, Chart I), which was photocyclized to 20a, saponified regioselectively, and oxidized to 3-oxo-11β-acetoxymethyl-18,20-cyclopregnan-20α-ol-3-one (22, Chart II). Introduction of the 1,4-diene in 22 followed by a selective reduction of the 1-ene afforded 11β-acetoxymethyl-18,20-cyclopregn-4-en-20α-ol-3-one (26). Finally, the 18,20-cyclo ring of 26 was manipulated through 30, 31, 32, 33 to produce 1a. The bulky 11β-acetoxymethyl group distorted the steroid molecule to such an extent that the routine photochemical functionalization of the angular Me-18 via a nitrite or a hypoiodite became inoperative, and routine procedures for introduction of a 4-ene into 5α-3-one via a 1,4-dien-3-one were unsuccessful. Two new methods for the introduction of a 4-ene into steroidal 5α-3-ones were investigated using 5α-cholestanone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone as models. The first route, which was applicable to the synthesis of 1a, was the stepwise introduction of a 1-ene and a 4-ene utilizing Sharpless's acidic phenylselenyl chloride procedure, followed by a selective reduction of the 1-ene. The second route, which appeared equally promising, was protection of the C-2 site with N-methylanilinomethylene followed by introduction of the 4-ene and subsequent deprotection of the C-2.     

Clerodane diterpenoids from Microglossa angolensis

Two new diterpenoids, 6β-(2-methylbut-2(Z)-enoyl)-3α,4α,15,16-bis-epoxy-8β,10βH-ent-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12-olide and 10β-hydroxy-6-oxo-3α,4α,15,16-bis-epoxy-8βH-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12-olide, together with the known β-amyrin, spinasterol, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8,3′,4′,5′-pentamethoxyflavone have been isolated from the aerial parts of Microglossa angolensis Oliv. et Hiern (Compositae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies and comparison with published data.