Effect of mirabilitum in formularization: change of prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity and of constituents using the preparation method of Tokaku-joki-to

To clarify the effect of Mirabilitum in formularization, change of prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity and of constituents using the preparation method of a Kampo formula Tokaku-joki-to ([Japanese characters: see text], Persia and Rhubarb combination) was examined by the liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) method. Mirabilitum under boiling condition caused qualitative and quantitative change of the constituents through hydrolysis which caused a change of its activity. This was considered to be the main reason the classical Chinese medical book "Shang han lun ([Japanese characters: see text])" specified that Mirabilitum should be added at a later stage of decoction.     

Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors from the underground part of Rhodiola sachalinensis

The methanolic extract of the underground part of Rhodiola sachalinensis was found to show inhibitory activity on prolyl endopeptidase (PEP, EC. 3.4.21.26), an enzyme that plays a role in the metabolism of proline-containing neuropeptidase which is recognized to be involved in learning and memory. From the MeOH extract, five new monoterpenoids named sachalinols A (24), B (25) and C (26) and sachalinosides A (23) and B (27) were isolated, together with twenty-two known compounds, gallic acid (1), trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (2), p-tyrosol (3), salidroside (4), 6n-O-galloylsalidroside (5), benzyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), 2-phenylethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), trans-cinnamyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), rosarin (9), rhodiocyanoside A (10), lotaustralin (11), octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (13), 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (14), kaempferol (15), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-xylofuranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (16), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (17), rhodionin (18), rhodiosin (19), (-)-epigallocatechin (20), 3-O-galloylepigallocatechin-(4-->8)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (21) and rosiridin (22). Among these, nineteen compounds other than 3, 4 and 9 have been isolated for the first time from R. sachalinensis, and six (6, 8, 13, 16, 17, 20) are isolated from Rhodiola plants for the first time. Among them, six compounds (13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22) showed noncompetitive inhibition against Flavobacterium PEP, with an IC50 of 0.025, 0.17, 22, 41, 0.44 and 84 microM, respectively.     

Microbial transformation of cortisol and prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity of its transformed products

Incubation of cortisol (1) with Gibberella fujikuruoi for 12 days yielded an oxidatively cleaved product, 11beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (2), while incubation with Bacillus subtilis and Rhizopus stolonifer yielded the reduced product, 11beta, 17alpha,20,21-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-pregn-4-en-3-one (3). Other reduced products, 11beta, 17alpha, 21-trihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-3, 20-dione (4) and 3beta, 11beta, 17alpha, 21-tetrahydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (5) were obtained by incubation of compound 1 with Bacillus cerus. The inhibitory activity of compounds 1-5 against prolyl endopeptidase enzyme (PEP) was also assayed. Compounds 2 (IC50 162.8 microM) and 4 (IC50 157 microM) have shown significant inhibitory activity against PEP.     

New diterpene isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid and its prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity

The ethanolic extract of the bulbs of Fritillaria imperialis was subjected to fractionation by solvent-solvent extraction. The nonpolar fraction showed inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) (EC.3.4.21.26), a large intracellular enzyme that preferentially hydrolyze proline-containing oligopeptidase at the carboxylic side of a prolyl residue. We have isolated a diterpenoid isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid (1) from the nonpolar fraction of F. imperialis, and on methylation of compound 1, a methylester 2 was obtained which is a known compound previously isolated from Fritillaria thunbergii. The present article describes the isolation and structural elucidation of isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid (1) by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques along with its prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity.     

Phenolic constituents from the heartwood of Artocapus altilis and their tyrosinase inhibitory activity

From the MeOH extract of the heartwood of Artocapus altilis, thirteen phenolic compounds have been isolated, namely curcumin (1), desmethoxycurcumin (2), retrodihydrochalcone (3), apigenin (4), tangeretin (5), nobiletin (6), O-methyldehydrodieugenol (7), dehydrodieugenol (8), beta-hydroxypropiovanillone (9), p-coumaric acid (10), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (11), vanillin (12), and vanillic acid (13). This is the first report on the presence of these compounds in the heartwood of A. altilis. Compounds 1, 2, and 10 showed more potent tyrosinase inhibitory activities, with IC50 values ranging from 2.3 to 42.0 microM, than the positive control kojic acid (IC50, 44.6 microM). The most active compound, p-coumaric acid (10) (IC50, 2.3 microM), was 22 times more active in tyrosinase inhibitory activity than kojic acid.     

Chemical constituents,Antibacterial and Acetylcholine esterase inhibitory activity of Cupressus macrocarpa leaves

Abstract

The chemical constituents of Cupressus macrocarpa were investigated. A new neolignan glycoside (1) in addition to nine known compounds were isolated. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) of different fractions and isolates of C. macrocarpa were evaluated. The light petroleum fraction showed the highest activity in both assays with IC₅₀ value of 88.79 µg/ml and 152.58 µg/ml for the AChE inhibitory activity and MRSA antibacterial activities, respectively. Weak to moderate activity were detected for the isolated compounds.     

Chemical constituents of the style of Zea mays L. with glycation inhibitory activity

A new sesquiterpene along with 15 known compounds were isolated from the style of Zea mays L. These structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The ability of these compounds to inhibit glycation in vitro was analyzed. This allowed determination of chemical functional groups required for the inhibition of glycation.     

Chemical constituents of Blumea balsamifera of Indonesia and their protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity

A methanol extract of the leaves of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (Asteraceae) afforded a new guaian-type sesquiterpene, epiblumeaene K (1), together with four known guaian-type sesquiterpenes (2-5), three known sesquiterpenes (6-8), and nine known flavonoids (9-17) by a combination of chromatography and preparative TLC techniques. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison with the literature data. Among the isolated compounds, a known sesquiterpene, beta-caryophyllene 8R,9R-oxide (6), exhibited a significant PTP1B inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 25.8 microM (5.62 microg/mL).     

Tyrosinase inhibitory and antileishmanial constituents from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla

The search for bioactive natural products from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla (Trilliaceae) has resulted in the isolation of four known constituents, 1,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (1), diosgenin-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (2), diosgenin-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1(Rha) --> 2(Glu))-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1(Ara) --> 4(Glu))]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and diosgenin-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1(Rha) --> 2(Glu))-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1(Ara) --> 4(Glu))]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4). Their structures were identified by spectral comparison with the reported data. Compound 1 was isolated for the first time from this genus. The chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts of the plant were found to have mild to moderate inhibitory potentials against the enzyme tyrosinase. Compound 1 showed strong (IC(50) = 0.23 microM), while compounds 2-4 and hydrolyzed product 4a showed mild to moderate (IC(50) = 0.93-36.87 microM) activities against the tyrosinase. Similarly, compounds 2-4 and 4a showed mild to moderate (IC(50) = 1.59-83.72 microg mL(-1)) antileishmanial activities.     

Polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of fourteen wild edible fruits from Burkina Faso

A total of fourteen (14) species of wild edible fruits from Burkina Faso were analyzed for their phenolic and flavonoid contents, and their antioxidant activities using the DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods. The data obtained show that the total phenolic and total flavonoid levels were significantly higher in the acetone than in the methanol extracts.Detarium microcarpum fruit had the highest phenolic and the highest flavonoid content,followed by that of Adansonia digitata, Ziziphus mauritiana, Ximenia americana and Lannea microcarpa. Significant amounts of total phenolics were also detected in the other fruit species in the following order of decreasing levels: Tamarindus indica > Sclerocaryabirrea > Dialium guineense > Gardenia erubescens > Diospyros mespiliformis > Parkiabiglobosa > Ficus sycomorus > Vitellaria paradoxa. Detarium microcarpum fruit also showed the highest antioxidant activity using the three antioxidant assays. Fruits with high antioxidant activities were also found to possess high phenolic and flavonoid contents. There was a strong correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid levels and antioxidant activities.     

Antidiabetic activity of Terminalia sericea constituents

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder that affects more than 100 million people worldwide. South African plants namely Terminalia sericea, Euclea natalensis, Warbugia salutaris, Aloe ferox, Artemisia afra, Sclerocarya birrea, Spirostachys africana and Psidium guajava were investigated for their in vitro alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase properties, and antioxidant activities. Terminalia sericea stem bark extract showed the best results against alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase enzymes. Bioassay-guided fractionation of an acetone extract of T. sericea stem bark led to the isolation of four known compounds namely beta-sitosterol (1), beta-sitosterol-3-acetate (2), lupeol (3), and stigma-4-ene-3-one (4), in addition to two inseparable sets of mixtures of isomers [epicatechin-catechin (M1), and gallocatechin-epigallocatechin (M2). 1 and 3 showed the best inhibitory activity on alpha-glucosidase (IC50:54.5 and 66.5 microM). Bio-evaluation of the inhibitory activity of the purified compounds on alpha-amylase showed that 3 and 1 exhibited IC50 values of 140.7 and 216.02 microM, respectively against alpha-amylase. Compounds 2, M1, 3 and M2 were found to be non-toxic to Vero cells. This study is the first to report alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase activity of M1, M2, 2 and 4 isolated from T. sericea, which validated the traditional use of the bark of T. sericea for diabetes in South Africa.     

Analgesic-like activity of essential oils constituents

Research on neuroactive drugs is a pharmaceutical sector of high interest and growth. The discovery of efficient drugs that can relieve pain is a subject of research in the pharmaceutical industry and academic field because pain is a symptom of many diseases. This review will summarize results on the discovery of essential oil constituents with analgesic-like activity from the chemical and pharmacological perspectives. Overall, 43 bioactive compounds were selected in nociception models. Among them, 62.8% were monoterpenes, 18.6% sesquiterpenes and other constituents represented 18.6%. The data show the potential of this group of natural product chemicals as analgesic drugs that may be useful for therapeutic purposes.     

Chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Ficus callosa

One new megastigmane glycoside, ficalloside (1), and eleven known compounds, were isolated from methanol extract of Ficus callosa leaves by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. The antioxidant activities of these compounds were measured using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Compound 8 exhibited potent antioxidant activity of 10.6 microM trolox equivalents at the concentration of 2 microM. At this concentration, compounds 4-7 and 9-12 showed significant antioxidant activity with ranging of 2.1-6.1 microM trolox equivalents.     

Chemical constituents from the bark of bauhinia purpurea and their NO inhibitory activities

Abstract

Phytochemical studies led to the isolation of a new phenylpropanoid glucoside, named purpuroside (1), along with eight known compounds (2–9) from the bark of Bauhinia purpurea. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of its spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compound 2 was verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 inhibited NO production in mouse peritoneal macrophages with IC₅₀ values from 35.5 to 63.0?μM.     

Insecticidal and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of chemical constituents from Viburnum fordiae Hance

The ethanolic extract of the stems of Viburnum fordiae Hance showed insecticidal and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and then was fractionated by bioactivity-guided fractionation to obtain a rare C₁₃-norisoprenoid (1), together with a new phenolic glycoside (2), and seven known compounds, alangionoside C (3), pisumionoside (4), koaburaside (5), 3,5-dimethoxy-benzyl alcohol 4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), arbutin (8), and salidroside (9). The previously undescribed compounds were elucidated as (3R,9R)-3-hydroxy-7,8-didehydro-β-ionyl 9-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 2-(4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl)syringylpropane-1,3-diol (2) by spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HRESIMS, IR and ORD) and chemical methods. Compound 1 showed potent insecticidal effect against Mythimna separata with LD₅₀ value of 140 μg g^?1. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9 showed varying α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 148.2 to 230.9 μM.     

Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Echinops albicaulis

Two thiophenes; 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (2) and α-tertthienyl (9), two alkaloids; echinopsine (10) and echinorine (11), three flavonoids; genkwanin (5), apigenin (6), and rutin (7), two triterpenoids; lupeol acetate (1) and lupeol linoleate (4), together with 2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-triene (4) and β-sitosterol glucoside (8) were isolated from the aerial parts of Echinops albicaulis. Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities were evaluated. E. albicaulis aqueous methanolic extract (50, 10, and 1 mg/mL) showed significant antioxidant activity comparable to the potent antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine, moreover, the aqueous methanolic extract (1 mg/mL) significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species in active cell cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells under oxidative stress more than the reference antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. None of the isolated compounds showed antimicrobial or antiprotozoal activities at concentration up to 20 μg/mL.     

Chemical constituents of Cichorium intybus and their inhibitory effects against urease and alpha-chymotrypsin enzymes

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Cichorium intybus L. resulted in the isolation and identification of two new natural metabolites, 2,6-di[but-3(E)-en-2-onyl]naphthalene (1), and 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone (2), along with nine known compounds. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR. The known compounds were identified as scopoletin (3), 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (5), 4,4'-dihydroxychalcone (6), 6,7-dihydroxycoumarine (7), 1-triacontanol (8), lupeol (9), beta-sitosterol (10), and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (11). Compounds 4-6 and 8 are reported for the first time from C. intybus. Compounds 2 and 3 showed weak inhibitory activities against urease and alpha-chymotrypsin enzymes, respectively.