A new antioxidant xanthone from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana Linn

The air-dried fruit hulls of Garcinia mangostana Linn. were extracted with 85% ethanol. Furthermore, a new xanthone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2,5-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-6',6'-dimethyl-4',5'-dihydropyrano[2',3':7,8]xanthone, along with five known xanthones related to their antioxidant activity was purified by silica gel column chromatography and then identified using spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, MS). The antioxidant activities were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capability. An activity-guided isolation and purification process were used to identify the components, showing the strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity of G. mangostana.     

Antioxidant phenolic compounds of Dracaena cambodiana

The antioxidant activities of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-BuOH and water extract fractions from Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids, and showed the greatest DPPH˙, ABTS+ and Superoxide anion radical-scavenging capacities. The DPPH˙, ABTS+ and Superoxide anion radical-scavenging capacities of nine compounds isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction were also evaluated. The results indicated that these compounds contributed to the antioxidant activity of D. cambodiana. Therefore, D. cambodiana and these compounds might be used as natural antioxidants.     

Antioxidant activity of papaya seed extracts

The antioxidant activities of the ethanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water extract fractions from the seeds of papaya were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest DPPH and hydroxyl free radical-scavenging activities, and its activities were stronger than those of ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate, respectively. The n-butanol fraction demonstrated the greatest ABTS? radicals scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction and the n-butanol fraction not only showed higher antioxidant activities than the petroleum ether fraction, water fraction and ethanol fraction, but also showed higher superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activities than those of the other extract fractions. The high amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids in the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions contributed to their antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to column chromatography, to yield two phenolic compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, which possessed significant antioxidant activities. Therefore, the seeds of papaya and these compounds might be used as natural antioxidants.     

Concordance between antioxidant activities in vitro and chemical components of Radix Astragali (Huangqi)

Five Radix Astragali (RA) extracts were prepared and their antioxidant activities were measured in vitro using ABTS [2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt)], DPPH?·?(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), reducing power, ?O?? and ?OH assays. Their chemical contents were then determined, including total phenolics, total flavonoids, total saponins and total sugars. The 1/IC?? values of the various antioxidant assays were used to evaluate the level of antioxidant activity of the RA extracts (plot showing 1/IC?? values vs. chemical contents), and the average R values (correlation coefficients) of total phenolics and total flavonoids were 0.762 and 0.638. In contrast, the average R values of the total saponins and total sugars were -0.0386 and -0.132, respectively. This large difference clearly demonstrates that the antioxidant effects of RA in vitro might be generally considered to be a result of the presence of phenolic compounds (including flavonoids) but not astragalosides and polysaccharides.     

Activity-guided isolation and identification of free radical-scavenging components from various leaf extracts of Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz

Nine phenolics were obtained from the leaves of Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz by activity-directed isolation: isorhamnetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), astragalin (2), isoquercitrin (3), hyperoside (4), kaempferol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (5), quercetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (6), rutin (7), chlorogenic acid (8) and neochlorogenic acid (9). The isolates were identified by spectral methods (UV, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, COSY, HMQC and HMBC), and their free radical-scavenging activity was tested using the l,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The antioxidant potential of the different extracts obtained in the fractionation process was evaluated using the DPPH test in relation to the HPLC contents of the isolates 1-9, total phenolics and total proanthocyanidins. Among the analytes tested, superior activity was expressed by isoquercitrin (3, EC(50)?= 2.76 mg L(-1)) and the ethyl acetate extract (EC(50)?= 2.99 mg L(-1)). Five strongly active isolates 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were found to be major components and to be principally responsible for the radical-scavenging activity of S. aria extracts.     

Two new stereoisomers of Tetrahydrofuranoid lignans from the flower buds of Magnolia fargesii

Two new stereoisomers of tetrahydrofuranoid lignans, 7S,8R,7'S,8'R- (1) and 7R,8S,7'S,8'R-3,4,3',4'-tetramethoxy-9,7'-dihydroxy-8.8',7.O.9'-lignan (2) along with nine known lignans including tetrahydrofuranoids (3, 4) and tetrahydrofurofuranoids (5-11) were isolated from a CHCl(3)-soluble fraction of the flower buds of Magnolia fargesii. Two tetrahydrofuranoids, magnostellin A (3) and lariciresinol dimethyl ether (4) were isolated from this species for the first time. The structures of these compounds (1-11) were identified by spectroscopic methods as well as by comparison with published values. Absolute configurations of new stereoisomers (1, 2) were determined by the Mosher's esterification method and Circular Dichroism (CD) studies. All the isolates (1-11) were evaluated for their antioxidant activities using modified superoxide radical-scavenging assay. Compounds 5-8 showed the potent superoxide radical-scavenging activities with the ED(50) values of 19.2, 19.2, 16.5, and 27.7 microM, respectively, as compared with standard antioxidants (BHA: 22.8 microM; Trolox: 940 microM).     

Anticomplement and antimicrobial activities of flavonoids from Entada phaseoloides

Seventeen flavonoids isolated from the extracts of the stem of Entada phaseoloides were investigated for their anticomplement (both classic and alternative pathways) and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria (MRSA, MSSA, Standard Enterococcus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa) and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The anticomplement studies revealed a dose-dependent activity among isolated quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, galangin, 5,2',5'-trihydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone-2'-O-beta-D-glucoside (+)-3,3',5',5,7-pentahydroflavanone, (+)-dihydrokaempferol, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, naringenin, and 5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone, and the antimicrobial results indicated that quercetin, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavonol and galangin produced the inhibitory activities against MRSA, MSSA, and Standard Enterococcus, while luteolin and rhamnocitrin displayed inhibition against only MRSA and MSSA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the anticomplement and antimicrobial activities of the stem of E. phaseoloides.     

Synthesis and Activity Evaluation of Novel Prenylated Flavonoids as Antiproliferative Agents

Twenty prenylated flavonoids 1-20 were synthesized by glycoside hydrolysis, dehydrogenation, selective O-methylation, O-prenylation and Claisen rearrangement reaction, from abundant and inexpensive natural flavonoids naringin, hespiredin, quercetin and myricetin. Among them, 1-7, 10-15 and 17-20 are novel compounds, the natural product 3,3',4',7-tetramethoxy-8-prenyl-5-hydroxy flavonoid(16) was synthesized in a high yield. Their antiprolirative activities were evaluated in vitro on a panel of three human cancer cell lines(HeLa, HCC1954 and SK-OV-3). The results show that most of the target compounds displayed moderate to potent antiprolirative activities against the three cancer cells with half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC₅₀) values from 0.49 μmol/L to 95.07 μmol/L. Among them, 3',4',7-trimethoxyl-5-hydroxyl-8-prenyl flavonoid(12) exhibited the strongest antiprolirative activity against the three cancer cells mentioned above with IC₅₀ values of 0.91-7.08 μmol/L. 3',7-Dimethoxy-5-O-prenyl flavone(6) and 3',4',7-trimethoxy-5-O-prenyl flavone(10) showed selective antiproliferative activity against HCC1954 cells with IC₅₀ value of 0.49 and 5.32 μmol/L, respectively.     

Inhibition of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase by flavonoids. III

Sixty-one flavanones, twenty-six isoflavones and eight other flavonoids, obtained from Sophora tomentosa, S. flavescens, Scutellaria baicalensis and other medicinal plants or synthesized, were tested for their inhibitory activity against adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase from beef heart. The structure-activity relationships were investigated.     

Antioxidant potential and radical-scavenging effects of flavonoids from the leaves of Psidium cattleianum grown in French Polynesia

Psidium cattleianum J. Sabine (Myrtaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant in French Polynesia. The leaves and roots possess many medicinal properties. These effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds. Seven flavonoids along with a benzoic acid were isolated from the leaves of P. cattleianum. The compounds indicated strong antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities in ALP, DPPH(·), ABTS(·-) and ORAC assays. This study demonstrates that the leaves of P. cattleianum possess main compounds with interesting antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities, as clarified by four biological assays. Our findings may justify the use of these leaves in the traditional medicine of French Polynesia. Among the total eight known compounds, reynoutrin and luteolin were isolated for the first time from the genus Psidium.     

1,2,4-Thiadiazoles as promising multifunctional agents for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Detailed studies of properties of new 3-substituted 5-anilino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles containing different substituents at position 3 of the thiadiazole ring were carried out, in particular, their esterase profile and antioxidant properties. It was found that the presence in the molecule of 2-aminopropyl fragment determines an efficient and selective inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase as compared to acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase, with radical-scavenging activity being weak. The compounds containing a 2-aminopropenyl fragment possess a high radicalscavenging activity, weakly inhibit cholinesterases, and exhibit anticarboxylesterase activity. A wide spectrum of activity of 3-substituted 5-anilino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles as inhibitors of cholinesterases and highly efficient scavengers of free radicals gives a basis for the optimization of structure and development in this series of original agents for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Antioxidant compounds from propolis collected in Anhui, China

The antioxidant activities of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extract fractions from propolis collected in Anhui, China were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids, and showed the greatest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The antioxidant activity of twenty-two compounds isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction was also evaluated using the above-mentioned three assays. The results indicated that phenolics contributed to the antioxidant activity of propolis collected in Anhui, China. Therefore, propolis collected in Anhui, China and its phenolics might be used as a natural antioxidant.     

Antioxidant capacity of flavonoids and a new arylphenol of the resinous exudate from Heliotropium sinuatum

From the resinous exudate of Heliotropium sinuatum (family Boraginaceae), a new compound: 4-(3',5'-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol 1, together with eight previously described flavonoids, were isolated and their antioxidant activities were assessed by quenching measurements with ABTS and DPPH cation radicals.     

Prenylated flavonoids with PTP1B inhibitory activity from the root bark of Erythrina mildbraedii

Phytochemical study on an EtOAc-soluble extract of the root bark of Erythrina mildbraedii resulted in the isolation of six prenylated flavonoids 1-6. Based on physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses, their structures were determined to be new natural products licoflavanone-4'-O-methyl ether (1), 2',7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-5'-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)isoflavone (2), and (3R)-2',7-dihydroxy-3'-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2',2'-dimethylpyrano[5',6' :4',5']isoflavan (3), along with three known compounds erythrinin B (4), abyssinin II (5), and parvisoflavone B (6). All the isolates, except for compound 4, inhibited PTP1B activity in vitro with IC(50) values ranging from 5.3 to 42.6 microM. This result further suggests that the prenyl group on the B ring of flavonoids plays an important role in suppressing the enzyme PTP1B.     

Essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of Stachys sylvatica L. (Lamiaceae) from different wild populations in Kosovo

Leaves and inflorescences of Stachys sylvatica L. (Lamiaceae) were collected from three different wild populations in Kosovo to study the natural variation of the chemical composition of essential oils, total flavonoids, total phenolics and the antioxidant activity. Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation and analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS, whereas total flavonoids, total phenolics and antioxidant activities were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Yields of essential oils ranged from 0.001% to 0.007% (v per dry weight). Twenty-eight volatile constituents were identified. The main constituents were α-pinene, β-pinene and germacrene-D. Total phenolics ranged from 39.3 to 70.8?mg?g?1 dry mass, whereas total flavonoid content ranged from 30.44 to 70.63?mg?g?1 dm. The antioxidant activity, as measured by the DPPH method, exhibited a rather high degree of activity ranging from 25.5% to 57.2%, whereas the FRAP antioxidant activity showed a lower variability and ranged from 93 to 133.4?mg?g?1 dm.     

Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extracts of leaf, stem and root from different varieties of Labisa pumila Benth

A local herb, Kacip Fatimah, is famous amongst Malay women for its uses in parturition; however, its phytochemical contents have not been fully documented. Therefore, a study was performed to evaluate the phenolics, flavonoids, and total saponin contents, and antibacterial and antifungal properties of the leaf, stem and root of three varieties of Labisia pumila Benth. Total saponins were found to be higher in the leaves of all three varieties, compared to the roots and stems. Leaves of var. pumila exhibited significantly higher total saponin content than var. alata and lanceolata, with values of 56.4, 43.6 and 42.3 mg diosgenin equivalent/g dry weight, respectively. HPLC analyses of phenolics and flavonoids in all three varieties revealed the presence of gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and myricetin in all plant parts. Higher levels of flavonoids (rutin, quercitin, kaempferol) were observed in var. pumila compared with alata and lanceolata, whereas higher accumulation of phenolics (gallic acid, pyrogallol) was recorded in var. alata, followed by pumila and lanceolata. Antibacterial activities of leaf, stem and root extracts of all varieties determined against both Gram positive (Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis B145, Bacillus cereus B43, Staphylococcus aureus S1431) and Gram negative (Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia K36, Escherichia coli E256, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PI96) pathogens showed that crude methanolic extracts are active against these bacteria at low concentrations, albeit with lower antibacterial activity compared to kanamycin used as the control. Antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of all plant parts against Fusarium sp., Candida sp. and Mucor using the agar diffusion disc exhibited moderate to appreciable antifungal activities compared to streptomycin used as positive control.     

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Euphorbia wallichii Leaf Extract: Its Antibacterial Action against Citrus Canker Causal Agent and Antioxidant Potential

Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles are emerging as attractive alternatives to chemical pesticides due to the ease of their synthesis, safety and antimicrobial activities in lower possible concentrations. In the present study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous extract of the medicinal plant Euphorbia wallichii and tested them against the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis, the causative agent of citrus canker, via an in vitro experiment. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the plant species were investigated for phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant potential of the extract was determined against a DPPH radical. The extract was also evaluated for phenolic compounds using the HPLC technique. The results confirmed the synthesis of centered cubic, spherical-shaped and crystalline nanoparticles by employing standard characterization techniques. A qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolics (41.52 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (14.2 mg QE/g) and other metabolites of medicinal importance. Different concentrations (1000 µg/mL to 15.62 µg/mL—2 fold dilutions) of AgNPs and plant extract (PE) alone, and both in combination (AgNPs-PE), exhibited a differential inhibition of X. axanopodis in a high throughput antibacterial assay. Overall, AgNPs-PE was superior in terms of displaying significant antibacterial activity, followed by AgNPs alone. An appreciable antioxidant potential was recorded as well. The observed antibacterial and antioxidant potential may be attributed to eight phenolic compounds identified in the extract. The Euphorbia wallichii leaf-extract-induced synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against X. axanopodis, which could be exploited as effective alternative preparations against citrus canker in planta in a controlled environment. In addition, as a good source of phenolic compounds, the plant could be further exploited for potent antioxidants.     

Increased carbon dioxide concentration improves the antioxidative properties of the Malaysian herb kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume)

A randomized complete randomized design (RCBD) 3 by 3 experiment was designed to investigate and distinguish the relationships among production of secondary metabolites (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF), gluthatione (GSH), oxidized gluthatione (GSSG), soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant activities of the Malaysian medicinal herb Labisia pumila Blume under three levels of CO? enrichment (400, 800 and 1,200 μmol mol?1) for 15 weeks. It was found that the treatment effects were solely contributed by interaction of CO? levels and secondary metabolites distribution in plant parts, GSH, GSHH and antioxidant activities (peroxyl radicals (ROO), superoxide radicals (O?), hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). The records of secondary metabolites, glutahione, oxidized gluthathione and antioxidant activities in a descending manner came from the leaf enriched with 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 800 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 400 μmol/mol CO? > stem 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > stem 800 μmol/mol CO? > stem 400 μmol/mol CO? > root 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > root 800 μmol/mol CO? > root 400 μmol/mol CO?. Correlation analyses revealed strong significant positive coefficients of antioxidant activities with total phenolics, flavonoids, GSH and GSHH indicating that an increase in antioxidative activity of L. pumila under elevated CO? might be up-regulated by the increase in production of total phenolics, total flavonoids, GSH, GSHH and soluble sugar. This study implied that the medicinal potential of herbal plant such as L. pumila can be enhanced under elevated CO?, which had simultaneously improved the antioxidative activity that indicated by the high oxygen radical absorbance activity against ROO, O?, H?O?, and OH radicals.     

Flavonoids from Andrographis viscosula

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Andrographis viscosula has led to the isolation of three new 2'-oxygenated flavonoids, (2R)-5-hydroxy-7,2',3'-trimethoxyflavanone (1), 7,2',5'-trimethoxyflavone (2), 5,7,2',3'-tetramethoxyflavone (3), and eight known flavones, 5,7,2'-trimethoxyflavone (4), 5,7,2',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (5), echioidinin (6), 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (7), 5-hydroxy-7,2'-dimethoxyflavone (8), echioidin (9), echioidinin 5-O-glucoside (10), and 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 2'-O-glucoside (11). The structures of 1-11 were elucidated by physical and spectral methods, including extensive 2D NMR studies. The presence of 2'-oxygenated flavonoids is apparently restricted to Andrographis species in Acanthaceae. Therefore, 2'-oxygenated flavonoids are regarded as chemotaxonomic markers of Andrographis genus in the Acanthaceae family.     

Antibacterial activity of the flavonoids from Dalbergia odorifera on Ralstonia solanacearum

Phytohemical investigation on the heartwood of Dalbergia odorifera resulted in the isolation of nine flavonoids. Their structures were elucidated as sativanone (1), (3R)-vestitone (2), (3R)-2',3',7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavanone (3), (3R)-4'-methoxy-2',3,7-trihydroxyisoflavanone (4), carthamidin (5), liquiritigenin (6), isoliquiritigenin (7), (3R)-vestitol (8), and sulfuretin (9) based on their spectral data. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against Ralstonia solanacearum. This is the first report about anti-R. solanacearum activity of the compounds from D. odorifera.