Amounts of arachidonic acid in the buds of Populus balzamifera in the course of the annual cycle

The paper gives information on the amount of arachidonic acid in the buds ofPopulus balzamifera. The presence of arachidonic acid in the buds was confirmed by TLC, GLC, coulometric titration, and an iodine number calculation. The dynamics of the amount of arachidonic acid in the buds during the annual cycle are given.     

Amounts of arachidonic acid in the buds of Populus balzamifera in the course of the annual cycle

The paper gives information on the amount of arachidonic acid in the buds ofPopulus balzamifera. The presence of arachidonic acid in the buds was confirmed by TLC, GLC, coulometric titration, and an iodine number calculation. The dynamics of the amount of arachidonic acid in the buds during the annual cycle are given.Siberian Branch of the Technological Institute, Krasnoyarsk. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 513–516, July–August, 1987.     

Antifungal metabolites from Blumea balsamifera

The leaves of Blumea balsamifera afforded icthyothereol acetate, cryptomeridiol, lutein, and beta-carotene. The structures of icthyothereol acetate (1) and cryptomeridiol (2) were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, while those of lutein and beta-carotene were identified by comparison with literature data. Antimicrobial tests indicated that 1 has moderate activity against the fungi Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Candida albicans, while 2 has low activity against A. niger, T. mentagrophytes, and C. albicans. Both compounds have no antimicrobial activity against Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli.     

Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

Antimicrobial flavonoids from the twigs of Populus nigra x Populus deltoides

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract from the twigs of the hybrid poplar 'Neva', Populus nigra L.?×?Populus deltoides Marsh, led to the isolation of three flavonoids, which were identified by means of spectrometric and physicochemical analysis as 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-flavone (1), 5,7-dihydoxy-flavone (2) and 5,7-dihydroxy-flavonol (3). These compounds were further screened for their antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens, including three bacteria (Pseudomonas lachrymans, Ralstonia solanacearum and Xanthomonas vesicatoria) and one fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae). Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 15 to 25?μg?mL(-1), and median inhibitory concentrations (IC(50) values) from 4 to 18?μg?mL(-1). The results obtained provide promising baseline information for the potential use of the extract and flavonoids from this plant as antimicrobial agents to help control plant diseases.     

Diterpenoids from Blumea balsamifera and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Six new diterpenoids, blusamiferoids A–F (1–6), including four pimarane-type diterpenoids, one rosane-type diterpenoid (3), and one rearranged abietane-type diterpenoid (6), were isolated from the dry aerial parts of Blumea balsamifera. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic and computational methods. In particular, the structures of 1 and 4 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 5 and 6 were found to dose-dependently inhibit the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitrite oxide, and compound 5 also downregulated NF-κB phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells.     

Flavonoids of the cruciferae

Summary Three flavonoid glycosides have been isolated from the flowers ofSyrenia siliculosa Andr. Z.: pasternoside, desglucopasternoside, and a new flavonoid flassilin having the structure of quercetin 3--L-rhamnofuranosyl--D-glucofuranoside.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 151–154, 1967     

Triterpenoid saponins from the buds of Lonicera similis

Four new lupane triterpenoid saponins, along with one known lupane and eight hederagenin saponins, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the buds of Lonicera similis Hemsl. The structures of the new compounds were established as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl 23-hydroxybetulinic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (lonisimilioside A, 1), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl 23-hydroxybetulinic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (lonisimilioside B, 2), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl betulinic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (lonisimilioside C, 3) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl betulinic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (lonisimilioside D, 4), respectively. The cytotoxic activities of the isolates against human cancer cell lines HepG2, MCF-7 and A-549 were evaluated. Only the monodesmosidic saponin with a free carboxyl group at C-28 (12) exhibited significant cytotoxicities against HepG2, MCF-7 and A-549 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 8.98 ± 0.19, 12.48 ± 0.45 and 11.62 ± 0.54 μM, respectively. Furthermore, Hoechst fluorescence 33342 staining was used to demonstrate that 12 could induce HepG2 and A-549 cells apoptosis significantly.     

Flavonoids and the CNS

Flavonoids are present in almost all terrestrial plants, where they provide UV-protection and colour. Flavonoids have a fused ring system consisting of an aromatic ring and a benzopyran ring with a phenyl substituent. The flavonoids can be divided into several classes depending on their structure. Flavonoids are present in food and medicinal plants and are thus consumed by humans. They are found in plants as glycosides. Before oral absorption, flavonoids undergo deglycosylation either by lactase phloridzin hydrolase or cytosolic β-glucosidase. The absorbed aglycone is then conjugated by methylation, sulphatation or glucuronidation. Both the aglycones and the conjugates can pass the blood-brain barrier. In the CNS several flavones bind to the benzodiazepine site on the GABA(A)-receptor resulting in sedation, anxiolytic or anti-convulsive effects. Flavonoids of several classes are inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A or B, thereby working as anti-depressants or to improve the conditions of Parkinson's patients. Flavanols, flavanones and anthocyanidins have protective effects preventing inflammatory processes leading to nerve injury. Flavonoids seem capable of influencing health and mood.     

Two new diterpenoids from the buds of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne

Two new diterpenoids, wikstroelide Q (1) and prostratin Q (5), together with three known diterpenoids, pimelea factors P? (2), P? (3), and prostratin (4), and five known lignans, (+)-epipioresinol (6), (+)-isolariciresinol (7), (?)-lariciresinol (8), (+)-epi-sesaminone (9), and prestegane B (10), were isolated from the buds of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne Meissn. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1–10 were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A549, MCF-7, SW480, and BEAS-2B cell lines in vitro.