Applying Aluminum Oxide Column Chromatography Purify Extracts of Cathuranthus Roseus and Simultaneous Determination of the Indole Alkaloids by HPLC

Indole alkaloid of Cathuranthus roseus was purified by applying aluminum oxide column chromatography and an HPLC method was established to determine it. Applying aluminum oxide column chromatography produced a high purified monomer of alkaloids; the extracts of indole alkaloid were then loaded on the neutral aluminum oxide column chromatography and washed with an organic solvent (a mixture of chloroform, ether, and petroleum ether). Effect of purification was the best when the proportion of chloroform, ether, and petroleum ether was 10:10:1. To determine the content of vindoline, vinblastine, and cathuranthine exactly, the mobile phase of HPLC was water (containing 0.005 mol·L^?1 ammonium hydrogen phosphate), methanol (containing 0.67% triethylamine), and acetonitrile, the proportion of each was nonlinear.     

Synthesis and study of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the specific extraction of indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus extracts

Two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) for catharanthine and vindoline have been synthesized in order to specifically extract these natural indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Each MIP was prepared by thermal polymerisation using catharanthine (or vindoline) as template, methacrylic acid (or itaconic acid) as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as cross-linking agent and acetonitrile (or acetone) as porogenic solvent.For catharanthine-MIP, a SPE protocol (ACN–AcOH 99/1 washing and MeOH–AcOH 90/10 elution) allows a good MIP/NIP selectivity (imprinting factor 12.6). The specificity of catharanthine-MIP versus related bisindole alkaloids was assessed by cross-reactivity study. The catharanthine-MIP specifically retained catharanthine and its N-oxide analogue but displayed a weak cross-reactivity for other Vinca alkaloids (vinorelbine, vincristine, vinblastine, vindoline, vinflunine). It appears that the catharanthine-like unit of these molecules are hardly trapped in catharanthine cavities located in the MIP, probably due to the sterical hindrance of the vindoline moiety. Finally, the MIP-SPE applied to C. roseus extract enabled quantitative recovery of catharanthine (101%) and the total removal of vindoline. Its capacity was determined and was equal to 2.43 μmol g⁻¹.Vindoline is a weaker base than catharanthine, so the vindoline-MIP was achieved with a strong acidic monomer (itaconic acid) to increase vindoline–monomer interactions and a modified washing solvent (ACN–HCOOH 99/1) to reduce non-specific interactions. The influence of the amount of HCOOH (protic modifier) percolated during the washing step upon the elution yield and the imprinting factor for vindoline was investigated. This preliminary optimisation of the washing step, and in particular the number of moles of acid percolated, seems useful to emphasize the use of MIP in conditions of high selectivity or high yield. A compromise was obtained with an imprinting factor equal to 7.6 and an elution recovery of 33%. However MIP-vindoline failed to achieve a specific extraction of vindoline since catharanthine was also extracted probably because of strong non-specific interactions occurring between catharanthine and the sorbent.     

Alkaloid Production in Catharanthus roseus Cell Cultures. VII.. Effect of parameter changes and catabolism studies on cell line PRL No. 953

Catharanthus roseus cells suspended in production medium showed the presence of four Aspidosperma-type alkaloids, however, no vindoline. Cells grown in media with the pH adjusted to 7.0 produced 3.3 mg total alkaloids/g dry weight. At pH 5.0, 1.7 mg of alkaloid/g dry weight was produced. (S)-Adenosyl-methionine did not stimulate the production of vindoline. When added to cell suspensions for 21 days, vindoline and catharanthine were degraded to non-alkaloidal substances, not dimerized to bisindole alkaloids.     

‘One-Pot’ Synthesis of Raumacline from Ajmaline

For the alkaloid raumacline ( 2 ), which is a biotransformation product of ajmaline ( 1 ) in Rauwolfia serpentina cell cultures, an efficient ‘one-pot’ synthesis was developed using a NaBH₄/riboflavin/light-mediated transformation of 1 into 2 with a total yield of 86%.     

Biosynthesis of the Indole Alkaloids. Cell-free Systems from Catharanthus roseus Plants

Cell-free systems from Catharanthus roseus plants are utilized for various studies relating to the biosynthesis of indole alkaloids. Tryptamine ( 5 ) and secologanin ( 6 ), two fundamental building units, are shown to be incorporated into the alkaloid vindoline ( 7 ). In another study, catharanthine ( 18 ) and vindoline ( 7 ) are utilized by this enzyme system and coupled to the important bisindole biointermediate 3′,4′-anhydrovinblastine

1 The previously [20] used name for 17 , 3′, 4′-dehydrovinblastine, is incorrect.

( 17 ). The latter substance is, in turn, incorporated and converted to the natural alkaloids leurosine ( 8 ), Catharine ( 9 ) and vinblastine ( 10 ), thereby providing information about the biosynthesis of these complex molecules. High pressure liquid chromatography assay of the enzymic mixture sheds light on the enzymes involved in the coupling of 18 and 7 .     

Isolation and structure determination of a new diketopiperazine dimer from marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SF-5280

A new diketopiperazine dimer designated as SF5280-415 (1) was isolated from an EtOAc extract of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SF-5280 by various chromatographic methods. The structure of 1 was mainly determined by analysis of the NMR spectroscopic data and MS data, along with Marfey’s method. This compound is a new diastereoisomer of known bispyrrolidinoindoline diketopiperazine alkaloid WIN 64745, which possesses unique architecture biosynthetically derived from an indole oxidation reaction of tryptophan.     

Preparative separation of isoquinoline alkaloids from Corydalis impatiens using a middle‐pressure chromatogram isolated gel column coupled with two‐dimensional liquid chromatography

We established a two‐dimensional strong cation exchange/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography protocol to isolate and purify isoquinoline alkaloids from Corydalis impatiens. Isoquinoline alkaloids were first enriched from a C. impatiens extract in which liposoluble components were removed using a medium‐pressure chromatographic tower containing middle chromatogram isolated gel. A strong cation exchange column was employed to separate and obtain 30 fractions. We chose fractions 22–29 for reversed‐phase liquid chromatography purification using characteristic isoquinoline alkaloid ultraviolet absorption spectra. Several isoquinoline alkaloid fractions (22–29) were further separated, and those of low resolution were isolated via two‐dimensional liquid chromatography in the orthogonal plane. A total of eight novel isoquinoline alkaloids with characteristic ultraviolet spectra were obtained from C. impatiens. We thus demonstrate the benefits of off‐line two‐dimensional strong cation exchange/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography to isolate isoquinoline alkaloids from C. impatiens.     

Total synthesis of indole and dihydroindole alkaloids. IX. Studies on the synthesis of bisindole alkaloids in the vinblastine-vincristine series. The biogenetic approach.

A detailed study of the reaction of catharanthine N-oxide and vindoline has been carried out employing various conditions. Under optimum conditions, which involve low temperatures and trifluoroacetic anhydride as reagent, 3′, 4′-dehydrovinblastine (XIII, R = COOCH₃), in reasonable yields is essentially the exclusive product. However two additional products, 18′ (epi)- 3′, 4′-dehydrovinblastine (XIV, R = COOCH₃) and 1′-hydroxy- 3′, 4′-dehydrovinblastine (XVI, R = COOCH₃) are also often isolated. The reaction, which follows the course of a Polonovski-type fragmentation process, has been extended to the N-oxide derivatives of dihydrocatharanthine and decarbomethoxycatharanthine to provide again a series of bisindole alkaloid derivatives, also vinblastines. A mechanistic rationale is provided to explain the various results obtained.     

An Protocol for Genetic Transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Catharanthus roseus</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium rhizogenes</Emphasis> A4

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is a plant species known for its production of a variety of terpenoid indole alkaloids, many of which have pharmacological activities. Catharanthine can be chemically coupled to the abundant leaf alkaloid vindoline to form the valuable anticancer drug vinblastine. To study and extract catharanthine and other metabolites from C. roseus, a technique was developed for producing hairy root cultures. In this study, the Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 was induced in the hairy roots from leaf explants, and the concentration of antibiotics (100 mg/L kanamycin) was elucidated for selection after transformation. The polymerase chain reaction amplification of rol genes results revealed that transgenic hairy roots contained rol genes from the root induced (Ri)-plasmid. Catharanthine from C. roseus hairy roots was separated and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Over-expression of CrOrca3 (octadecanoid-responsive Catharanthus AP2/ERF domain), and cytohistochemical staining methods were used to validate transgenic hairy roots from C. roseus. Hairy root culture of C. roseus is a valuable approach for future efforts in the metabolic engineering of terpenoid indole alkaloids in plants.     

Aldehyde Intermediates in the Synthesis of Tacamine-Type Indole Alkaloids: Preparation of (±)-apotacamine

The synthesis of aldehyde intermediates suitable for the preparation of indole alkaloids of the tacamine ( 1 ) type is described. The four possible aldehydes 4–7 were prepared from methyl 5-ethylnicotinate ( 8 ) in a few simple steps using a base-catalyzed epimerization as the final step (Schemes 1 and 2). The key aldehyde 4 , which is an analogue of the important vincamine intermediate 3 (‘Oppolzer's aldehyde’), was finally converted into the indole alkaloid (±)-apotacamine ( 21 ).     

Mass‐spectrometry‐directed analysis and purification of pyrrolizidine alkaloid cis/trans isomers in Gynura japonica

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are highly hepatotoxic natural chemicals that produce irreversible chronic and acute hepatotoxic effects on human beings. Purification of large amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is necessary for toxicity studies. In this study, an efficient method for targeted analysis and purification of pyrrolizidine alkaloid cis/trans isomers from herbal materials was developed for the first time. Targeted analysis of the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids was performed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (precursor ion scan and daughter ion scan), and the purification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids was achieved with a mass‐directed auto purification system. The extraction and preparative liquid chromatography conditions were optimized. The developed method was applied to analysis of Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel., a herbal medicine traditionally used for detumescence and relieving pain but is potentially hepatotoxic as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Twelve pyrrolizidine alkaloids (six cis/trans isomer pairs) were identified with reference compounds or characterized by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and five individual pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including (E)‐seneciphylline, seneciphylline, integerrimine, senecionine, and seneciphyllinine, were prepared from G. japonica roots with high efficiency. The results of this work provide a new technique for the preparation of large amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloid reference substances, which will also benefit toxicological studies of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and treatments for pyrrolizidine alkaloid‐induced toxicity.     

Two new cytotoxic furoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa

Two new cytotoxic furoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa; one from the total alkaloidal fraction (acid/base shake-out method) of the CHCl₃ extract and identified as 7,8-dihydroxy-4-hydrofuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-A. The other new alkaloid isolated from the pet. ether extract and identified as 4-hydro-7-hydroxy-8-prenyloxyfuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-B, together with a known alkaloid; aegeline and a known phenolic acid; ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid. The structures of all the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI/MS. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated in vitro against HepG-2, PC3, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The obtained results revealed promising activity with structure-based relationship which is discussed briefly.     

Enrichment of flavonoid-rich extract from Bidens bipinnata L. by macroporous resin using response surface methodology,UHPLC–Q-TOF MS/MS-assisted characterization and comprehensive evaluation of its bioactivities by analytical hierarchy process

The extract of Bidens bipinnata L. exhibited wide spectrum of bioactivities owing to the presence of flavonoids. In this study, a purification process was developed to enrich the flavonoid-rich extract from B. bipinnata L. (BBTF). AB-8 resin was selected for the purification of total flavonoids. Response surface methodology coupled with Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the purification condition; it was optimized as pH 5.1, volume of ethanol 80 ml, flow rate of ethanol 1.8 bed volume per hour (BV/h) and concentration of ethanol 76.0%. The total flavonoid content of BBTF was 56.48% under the optimal conditions. The identification of flavonoids in BBTF was conducted using UHPLC–ESI-Q-TOF MS. A total of 14 compounds, including 12 flavonoids, were identified in BBTF. Finally, the in vitro antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of BBTF were comprehensively analyzed by an analytical hierarchy process. The results indicated that it exhibited higher bioactivities than the crude extract. These findings suggested that the optimized process could significantly enhance the purity of flavonoids and their bioactivities. This study showed a comprehensive analysis of a total flavonoid extract of B. bipinnata L. for the first time, which could provide a useful approach for its purification process and quality control as well as bioactivities.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed 2‐Phenylethenylation of Codeine: 8‐[(1E)‐2‐Phenylethenyl]codeinone Dimethyl Ketal as the Unexpected ‘Masked’ Diene for the Preparation of 19‐Substituted Diels–Alder Adducts of Thebaine

In a search for starting materials for the preparation of 7,8‐fused morphine alkaloid derivatives, 8‐[(1E‐2‐phenylethenyl]codeinone dimethyl ketal ( 4 ) and 8‐[(1E‐2‐phenylethenyl]codeine ( 5 ) were prepared. These dienes were used as substrates in the Diels–Alder reactions. Compound 5 formed the ‘normal’ adduct 12 with N‐phenylmaleimide, while compound 4 behaved in reactions with dienophiles as the ‘masked’ diene 11 , a 8‐[(1E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]‐substituted thebaine, yielding the corresponding 19‐substituted 6,14‐endo‐etheno‐6,7,8,14‐tetrahydrothebaines. Specifically, reaction of 4 with methyl vinyl ketone gave rise to 19‐[(1E)‐phenylethenyl]thevinone ( 14 ) whose structure was elucidated by an X‐ray diffraction analysis. The thebaine derivative 11 was also prepared from 4 .     

Isolation and structural identification of the main anthocyanin monomer in Vitis amurensis Rupr

Many types of anthocyanins are present in Vitis amurensis Rupr of ‘Beibinghong’, which is grown in North-east China and has high antioxidant activity. However, the anthocyanin with the highest content in V. amurensis Rupr has not yet been identified. In this study, pulsed electric field extraction and semi-preparative liquid phase separation were used to isolate the anthocyanin monomer from ‘Beibinghong’. UV–vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to identify the anthocyanin monomer. The antioxidant activities of the anthocyanin monomer were also analysed. Malvidin-3,5-O-diglucoside was identified as the main anthocyanin in V. amurensis Rupr, which could be used as a raw material for its extraction. Furthermore, malvidin-3,5-O-diglucoside can be potentially used as a functional food, and a novel therapeutic and preventive agent for oxidative stress-related diseases. This study provides technical information for the future purification and structural identification of anthocyanins.     

Kopsine and Danuphylline Alkaloids from Kopsia. Biomimetic Partial Synthesis of Danuphylline B

Two new indole alkaloids, 12‐methoxykopsine ( 6 ) and danuphylline B ( 7 ), were obtained from the leaf extract of the Malayan Kopsia species, K. arborea, and their structures established by spectroscopic analysis. An electrochemically‐mediated partial synthesis of the ring‐opened alkaloid, danuphylline B from the hexacyclic alkaloid, methyl N(1)‐de(methoxycarbonyl)chanofruticosinate was carried out.     

On the structure of the callichilins

The dimeric indole alkaloid callichiline ( 2 ), C₄₂H₄₈O₅N₄, has been isolated from Callichilia (Hedranthera) barteri (HOOK . f.) PICHON along with vobtusine ( 1 ) and beninine ( 3 ). Its chemical reactions and spectral properties have shown that callichiline is made up of the same two monomeric ‘halves’ as vobtusine, that is beninine ( 3 ) and the vincadifformine analogue of beninine.     

Analogs of Cinchona Alkaloids Incorporating a 9,9′-Spirobifluorene Moiety

The Cinchona alkaloid analogs (+)- and (?)- 5 with a quinuclidine-2-methanol residue attached to C(2) of a 9,9′-spirobifluorene moiety were prepared as a racemic mixture by reacting lithiated 2-bromo-9,9′-spirobifluorene 7 with (2-ethoxycarbonyl)quinuclidine (±)- 6 to give ketone (±)- 8 , followed by diastereoselective reduction with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H). The absolute configuration at C(9) and C(8), i.e., at the methanol bridge and the adjacent quinuclidine C-atom, in the two enantiomers of 5 is identical to the configuration at the corresponding centers in (?)-quinine ( 1 ) and (+)-quinidine ( 2 ), respectively. For the optical resolution of (±)- 5 , a chiral stationary phase for HPLC was prepared by covalently bonding quinine via a thiol spacer to a silica-gel surface. The enantiomer separation was accomplished at an α value of 1.61 with (±)- 5 being eluted last, in agreement with ¹H-NMR studies in CDCl₃ which showed that (+)- 5 underwent a more stable host-guest association with quinine than (?)- 5 . ¹H{¹H} Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) difference spectroscopical analysis of the host-guest associations with quinine in CDCl₃, combined with computer-model examinations, allowed the assignment of the absolute configurations as (+)-(8R,9S)- 5 and (?)-(8S,9R)- 5 . A detailed conformational analysis displayed excellent agreement between the results of computational methods (Monte Carlo multiple minimum simulations, analyses of the total energy as a function of the flexible dihedral angles in the molecule) and ¹H{¹H}-NOE difference spectroscopical data. It was found that (?)- 5 and (+)- 5 differ significantly in their conformational preference from their natural counterparts quinine ( 1 ) and quinidine ( 2 ). Whereas the natural alkaloids prefer the ‘open’ conformation, with the quinuclidine N-atom pointing away from the quinoline ring, analog (±)- 5 adopts preferentially (by ca. 4 kcal mol^?1) a ‘closed’ conformation, in which the quinuclidine N-atom points into the cleft of the 9,9′-spirobifluorene moiety. Since the basic quinuclidine N-atom in the ‘closed’ conformation is sterically shielded from forming strong H-bonds, the new Cinchona alkaloid analogs form less stable host-guest associations via H-bonding than quinine or quinidine.     

Cytotoxicity,In vitro anti-Leishmanial and fingerprint HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of Trillium govanianum

Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don (Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae), commonly known as ‘nagchhatry’ or ‘teen patra’, distributed from Pakistan to Bhutan about 2500–3800 m altitude is indigenous to Himalayas region. In folk medicine the plant has been reported for the treatment of wound healing, sepsis and in various sexual disorders. This paper reports, for the first time, to evaluate the cytotoxicity, in vitro anti-leishmanial (promastigotes) and fingerprint HPLC-photodiode array analysis of the MeOH extract of the roots of T. govanianum and its solid phase extraction fractions. Reverse phase HPLC-PDA based quantification revealed the presence of significant amount of quercetin, myrecetin and kaemferol ranging from 0.221to 0.528 μg/mg DW. MeOH extract revealed distinguishable protein kinase inhibitory activity against Streptomyces 85E strain with 18 mm bald phenotype. The remarkable toxicity profile against brine shrimps and leishmanial was manifested by MeOH extract with LC₅₀ 10 and 38.5 μg/mL, respectively.     

Two‐dimensional strong cation exchange/positively charged reversed‐phase liquid chromatography for alkaloid analysis and purification

Peak tailing and nonalkaloid coelution usually hinder alkaloid purification. In this study, a 2DLC, strong cation exchange (SCX) coupled with positively charged RP (PGRP) LC, was developed to overcome these problems. Ten compounds including basic and nonbasic compounds were analyzed. Nonbasic compounds, which are coeluted with basic compounds on RP or PGRP columns, were weakly retained on the SCX column. In addition, a symmetrical peak shape (tailing factors <1.2) of basic compounds can be obtained in the current system. Compared to two other 2D systems, the current system provided the highest orthogonality (R² = 0.045). Furthermore, the SCX coupled with PGRP system was applied for alkaloid purification from a traditional Chinese medicine. Nineteen alkaloids were obtained and one of them was identified as a novel compound. The overall results demonstrate that the proposed system is a powerful tool for alkaloid purification.