New tri- and tetracyclic diterpenes from Euphorbia villosa

Three new tetracyclic diterpenes were isolated from the chloroform-soluble extract of Euphorbia villosa, together with one new and one known lathyrane diterpene. The structures were elucidated by means of various spectroscopic methods, including HREI-MS, HRFAB-MS, UV, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Spectral analyses revealed that two of the tetracyclic compounds contain the rare 5-6-6-4 fused ring system, while the third has a 5-6-7-3 fused diterpene core. Such diterpene skeletons have previously been found only in euphoractines A-E isolated from Euphorbia micractina. As a new structural feature, the diterpene framework described here has a C-2 epimer configuration. The new lathyrane diterpene is a diester of a hitherto unknown polyfunctional parent alcohol.     

A facile route for the synthesis of limonidilactone analogues from andrographolide

Labdane diterpenes are an important class of natural products with a wide variety of biological properties. (−)-Limonidilactone is a labdane diterpene with a novel skeleton isolated from Vitex limonifolia. A new semi-synthetic route from andrographolide, the major constituent of Andrographis paniculata, has been described towards the synthesis of novel labdanes having a limonidilactone type skeleton.     

Quinone derivatives by chemical transformations of 16-hydroxycarnosol from Salvia species

The known diterpenes 12,16-epoxycarnosol (2), isotanshinone II (6), and (+)-neocryptotanshinone (8) were obtained by partial synthesis from 16-hydroxycarnosol (1), a C-16 hydroxylated abietatriene diterpene isolated in relative abundance from the aerial part of Salvia mellifera GREENE. The physical and spectroscopic data of these semisynthetic diterpenes were identical to those given for the natural ones in the literature. These abietane diterpenes have very interesting biological activities and the semisynthetic approach described here represents an alternative to obtain them from other major diterpenes isolated from Salvia species. Additionally, seven new semisynthetic diterpene analogues, 11,14-dioxo-12,16-epoxy-8,12-abietadien-20,7beta-olide (3), 11,14-dioxo-12,16-epoxy-8,12,15(16)-abietatrien-20,7beta-olide (4), 15,16-didehydro-12,16-epoxycarnosol (5), 1-oxoisotanshinone II (7), 16-hydroxycolumbaridione (9), 12,16-diacetoxycolumbaridione (10), and 14-methoxy-12,16-epoxycarnosol (13), were obtained from 1. The structures of the new compounds were established based on their spectroscopic data.     

Structure and stereochemistry of the diterpenes of Hymenaea courbaril (Caesalpinioideae) seed pod resin

The isolation and structure of four new bicarbocyclic diterpenes from seed pod resin of Guadeloupe-grown Hymenaea courbaril is described. The diterpene composition of this resin is more highly rearranged than those isolated from the trunk resin of the same tree. Cyclosativene, caryophyllene, α-himachalene, selina-4(14),7(11)-diene were identified as major sesquiterpene components while β-bourbonene, calarene, selina 4(14),7-diene, humulene, δ-cadinene, α-calacorene, α-muurolene were identified as minor components.     

Further eleganolone-derived diterpenes from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata

Four new diterpenes (1–4) together with six known members of this family were isolated from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata collected off the coast near Roscoff, France. The structures of the new compounds were established in a comprehensive study on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) analyses. Our assignment is supported by a comparison of the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts to known compounds and predicted values. The new diterpenes are derivatives of the diterpene eleganolone (5). The structural relation and hypothetical metabolic pathway of the new diterpenes (1–4) with the co-isolated known diterpenes are discussed.     

Biomimetic reactions of some macrocyclic diterpenes

Some macrocyclic diterpenes derived from euphohelioscopin A and euphornin have been stereoselectively converted into the jatropholane- and daphnane-type compounds and the known tricyclic compound which has been treated with phCOCl - pyridine to afford euphohelionone, the new type of diterpene isolated from euphorbia helioscopia L.     

Identification of anti-inflammatory diterpenes from the marine gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae

Analysis of the terpene metabolites of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected from the Florida Keys has resulted in the identification of a novel hydroxyquinone, elisabethadione (1), as well as new pseudopterosins and seco-pseudopterosins. Anti-inflammatory assays indicate that elisabethadione is more potent than the well characterized pseudopterosin A and E. This report also describes the co-occurrence of pseudopterosins and seco-pseudopterosins, diterpenes with amphilectane and serrulatane skeletons, respectively. This together with our previously described isolation of elisabethatriene as the sole diterpene cyclase product in P. elisabethae suggests that the amphilectane and serrulatane families of diterpenes are derived from the same geranylgeranyl diphosphate cyclase product.     

Kalihinols from two Acanthella cavernosa sponges: inhibitors of bacterial folate biosynthesis

Acanthella spp. sponges have been prolific sources of highly functionalized diterpene antibiotics. Two Acanthella cavernosa sponges were investigated based on the activity of their extracts in a screen designed to detect bacterial folate biosynthesis inhibitors. Bacillus subtilis PY79 strain harboring a lacZ reporter gene fusion to a trimethoprim-responsive promoter (PpanB) was used for the screen. The ability of kalihinols to inhibit bacterial folate biosynthesis was investigated resulting in preliminary structure activity relationships. Eight kalihinol type diterpenes were isolated from two Philippine Acanthella cavernosa specimens including two new 10- and 15-formamido-kalihinol F analogs.     

Seven-membered vibsane-type diterpenes with a 5,10-cis relationship from Viburnum awabuki

New five seven-membered vibsane-type diterpenes named 5-epi-vibsanin C, 5-epi-vibsanin H, 5-epi-vibsanin K, 18-O-methyl-5-epi-vibsanin K and 5-epi-vibsanin E have been isolated from the leaves of Viburnum awabuki (Caplifoliaceae). Their structures have been elucidated by analyses of spectroscopic data and comparison of their spectral data with those of the previously known seven-membered vibsane-type diterpenes. The occurrence of these seven-membered vibsane-type diterpenes with a cis relationship on the C-5 and C-10 positions in nature have been predicted by conformational analysis of vibsanin B, an eleven-membered vibsane-type diterpene. Vibsanin C, 5-epi-vibsanin C and 5-epi-vibsanin H exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities on KB cells.     

Jatrophane diterpenoids with multidrug resistance-modulating activity from Euphorbia mongolica Prokh.

Four novel (1–4) and one known (5) diterpene polyesters with the jatrophane skeleton were isolated from a methanol extract of the aerial parts of the East Asian weed Euphorbia mongolica Prokh. The isolated compounds were characterized structurally and evaluated for multidrug resistance (MDR) reversing activity on human MDR gene-transfected L5178 mouse lymphoma cells; all these compounds were found to modulate the intracellular drug accumulation. The results highlighted some aspects of the structural requirements of jatrophane diterpenes as MDR modulators.     

一系列新型三环二萜的合成与抗肿瘤活性研究

对活性天然产物(+)-7-deoxynimbidiol非对映异构体的外消旋体cis-(±)-7-deoxynimbidiol进行了合成和衍生, 共得到了8个新型三环二萜化合物; 对合成的新化合物进行了抗肿瘤活性的实验研究, 其中化合物5d对人体乳腺癌瘤株MCF7表现出了较强的抑制作用(IC50=7.49 μg/mL), 可能作为新型抗肿瘤药物先导化合物.     

Resin diterpenes from Austrocedrus chilensis

Seventeen diterpenes belonging to the labdane, abietane and isopimarane skeleton classes were isolated from the resin of the Chilean gymnosperm Austrocedrus chilensis and identified by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. The diterpene 12-oxo-labda-8(17),13E-dien-19 oic acid is reported for the first time as a natural product and 14 diterpenes are reported for the first time for the species.     

Isolation of naturally occurring dactylomelane metabolites as Laurencia constituents

Dactylomelol 1, initially isolated from molluscs of the genus Aplysia, was the first example of a monocarbocyclic diterpene skeleton with a C-6-C-11 cyclisation. This paper reports on the identification and structural elucidation of six new diterpenes, compounds 4-9, isolated from specimens of Laurencia sp., together with dactylomelol, all with this particular carbon backbone that we named dactylomelane. This result is the first to confirm a red alga as the biogenetic origin of this class of compounds.     

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi were investigated. Under guidance of the in vitro trypanocidal activity against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, two new diterpenes, dracocequinones A (1) and B (2), and two known triterpene acids, ursonic acid and ursolic acid, were isolated as trypanocidal constituents, in addition to previously reported diterpenes, cyclocoulterone (4), komaroviquinone (5), dracocephalone A (6) and komarovispirone (7). Furthermore a new diterpene, komarovinone A (3), was isolated, together with four known terpenes. Among these compounds, komaroviquinone (5) showed the most potent activity with minimum lethal concentration of 0.4 μM. Structure elucidation of the new diterpenes 1-3 was described.     

New cassane-type diterpenes of Caesalpinia crista from Myanmar

Seven new cassane-type diterpenes, caesalpinin MF-ML (1-7), and a new norcassane-type diterpene, norcaesalpinin MD (8), have been isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista from Myanmar, together with sixteen known cassane-type diterpenes, 7-acetoxybonducellpin C, caesaldekarin e, caesalmin C, caesalmin G, 2-acetoxycaesaldekarin e, zeta-caesalpin, caesalpinin D, caesalpinin E, caesalpinin F, caesalpinin H, caesalpinin I, caesalpinin J, caesalpinin K, caesalpinin M, caesalpinin N, and caesalpinin O. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by the use of spectroscopic techniques.     

Cyclomyrsinane and premyrsinane diterpenes from Euphorbia falcata modulate resistance of cancer cells to doxorubicin

Two new and one known cyclomyrsinane-type diterpenes (1–3) were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole, undried plant of Euphorbia falcata, native to Hungary. The structures and relative configuration of the compounds were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. These compounds are hexa- and heptaesters of diterpene polyols, esterified with acetic, propanoic, isobutanoic, 2-methylbutanoic, and benzoic acids. This type of diterpenes was previously detected only in three Euphorbia species (Euphorbia teheranica, Euphorbia seguieriana, and Euphorbia prolifera). The compounds, together with premyrsinanes isolated previously from this plant were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against HeLa, Ishikawa, and MCF7 mouse lymphoma cells, and for their capacity to modulate resistance to doxorubicin in L5178 mouse lymphoma cells that over-express the MDR1 efflux pump. Compounds did not show substantial antiproliferative activity against any of the tested cell lines. However all compounds act in a mild to a very strong synergism with doxorubicin against the MDR mouse lymphoma cell line.     

A homologous series of eunicellin-based diterpenes from Acalycigorgia sp. characterised by tandem mass spectrometry

The discovery and structure determination of a homologous series of eunicellin-based diterpenes from the gorgonian Acalycigorgia sp. is described. Extensive use was made of 1D and 2D NMR data to determine the structure of the diterpene skeleton. The relative stereochemistry was confirmed via the use of NOE data in conjunction with molecular modelling. A series of homologues were identified using a combination of product and precursor ion scanning modes in tandem mass spectrometry. This powerful technique afforded excellent clarification to aid the analysis of the complex mass spectral data.     

New premyrsinane-type diterpene polyesters from Euphorbia falcata

Four new premyrsinane-type diterpenes (1-4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole, undried plant of Euphorbia falcata. Their structures were determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC and NOESY) techniques and mass spectral data as di-, tetra-, penta- and hexaesters of diterpene polyols, esterified with acetic, benzoic, propanoic, isobutanoic and n-hexanoic acids. One of the compounds contains a rare hemiacetal moiety. This type of diterpenes was previously detected only in four Euphorbia species (Euphorbia aleppica, Euphorbia decipiens, Euphorbia macroclada and Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupani).     

Further Diterpenes from the Seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance

Three new cassane‐type diterpenes, neocaesalpin AF ( 1 ), neocaesalpin AG ( 2 ), and neocaesalpin AH ( 3 ), were isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia minax Hance . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. The partially hydrogenated lactone unit in a tetracyclic cassane diterpene in 2 is rarely encountered in the cassane diterpenes isolated from the genus Caesalpinia. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against HCT‐8 and MCF‐7 human cancer cell lines.     

Constituents of Caesalpinia crista from Indonesia

Ten new furanocassane-type diterpenes named, caesalpinins H-P (1-9) and norcaesalpinin F (10), were isolated from the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista, together with 13 known diterpenes. Their structures were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated compounds, caesalpinin N (7) represents the first example of furanocassane-type diterpene possessing an aldehyde group at C-14.