Two Unusual Phenolic Substances and One New Xanthone from Hypericum sampsonii

Sampsone A ( 1 ), a novel prenylated aromatic lactone, and sampsone B ( 2 ), an unusual dihydrodibenzodioxinone, together with sampsone C ( 3 ), a new xanthone, were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum sampsonii. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods which were mainly 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques, and the structure of sampsone B ( 2 ) was also confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. All of these compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Only sampsone A showed moderate antibacterial activities at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 μg/ml.     

Bauhinoxepins A and B: New Antimycobacterial Dibenzo[b,f]oxepins from Bauhinia saccocalyx

Two new antimycobacterial dibenzo[b,f]oxepins, bauhinoxepins A (=3,3,5‐trimethylbenzo[b]pyrano[g][1]benzoxepin‐6,11‐diol; 1 ) and B (=6‐methoxy‐7‐methyl‐2‐(3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl)dibenzo[b,f]oxepine‐1,8‐diol; 2 ), were isolated from the roots of Bauhinia saccocalyx, and their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Bauhinoxepins A and B exhibited antimycobacterial activities with respective minimum‐inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 6.25 and 12.5 μg/ml. They were inactive (at 20 μg/ml) against the malarial parasite, and also inactive (at 20 μg/ml) towards the Vero, KB, and BC cell lines.     

Clerodendrumic Acid,a New Triterpenoid from Clerodendrum glabrum (Verbenaceae), and Antimicrobial Activities of Fractions and Constituents

One new triterpenoid, (3β,11α,19β)‐3‐(butanoyloxy)‐11‐hydroxytaraxast‐20(30)‐ene‐23,28‐dioic acid (clerodendrumic acid; 1 ) was isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves of Clerodendrum glabrum var. glabrum along with heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by interpretation of its NMR (1D and 2D), MS, and IR data. Combined fractions C and D from the column chromatography of the hexane extract exhibited significant antifungal activities (average MIC of 0.10 mg/ml) against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. C. albicans was relatively resistant to clerodendrumic acid ( 1 ; MIC 125 μg/ml) and was resistant to heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ; MIC 188 μg/ml). Both compounds had low antibacterial activities against two Gram‐positive and two Gram‐negative bacteria with average MIC values of 157 and 172 μg/ml, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were relatively nontoxic against monkey kidney Vero cells in vitro with IC₅₀ values of 202.6 and 108.4 μg/ml, respectively.     

Suberosanones A – C,New Metabolites Possessing Cyclopentenone System from the South China Sea Gorgonian Coral Subergorgia suberosa

Two unusual novel bicyclic lactones, suberosanones A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), characterized by the co‐occurrence of cyclopentenone and butanolide rings within the same molecule, along with one tricyclic cyclopentenone derivative, suberosanone C ( 3 ), were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian coral Subergorgia suberosa. Their structures were unambiguously established by detailed spectroscopic analyses (NMR, IR, and HR‐MS). The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by quantum‐chemical calculations using the time‐dependent density‐functional theory (TDDFT) method. All compounds showed neither antifouling activity against Balanus amphitrite larvae settlement nor antibacterial activity against a panel of bacterial strains at concentrations up to 25 μg/ml.     

3‐Aryl‐5‐furylpyrazolines and their biological activities

Aryl‐furyl substituted pyrazolines 2a–c and 4a–c were prepared by the reaction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds with hydrazine or phenyl hydrazine. N‐chloroacetyl derivatives 3a–c were obtained by the N‐acetylation of 2a–c . The antibacterial activities of synthesized pyrazolines were examined by employing the disk‐diffusion technique. All synthesized compounds showed antibacterial effects in 1200 μg concentration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:345–347, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10159     

Ultrasound‐Assisted Synthesis of 3‐(Arylamino)‐1‐ferrocenylpropan‐1‐ones

A successful aza‐Michael addition of arylamines to a conjugated enone, acryloylferrocene, has been achieved by ultrasonic irradiation of the mixture of these reactants and the catalyst, i.e., montmorillonite K‐10. This solvent‐free reaction, yielding ferrocene containing Mannich bases, 3‐(arylamino)‐1‐ferrocenylpropan‐1‐ones, considered as valuable precursors in organic synthesis, has been performed by using a simple ultrasonic cleaner. Among 17 synthesized β‐amino ketones, three were new ones, and these were fully characterized by spectroscopic means. X‐Ray crystallographic analysis of three of these crystalline products enabled the insight into the conformational details of these compounds. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six Gram‐positive and five Gram‐negative strains in a microdilution assay. The observed promising antibacterial activity (with a MIC value of 25 μg/ml (ca. 0.07 μmol/ml) as the best result for almost all tested compounds against Micrococcus flavus) seems not only to be compound but also bacterial species‐specific.     

Synthesis of CuS and ZnO/Zn(OH)2 nanoparticles and their evaluation for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities

In this study, the copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS‐NPs) and the zinc oxide/zinc hydroxide nanoparticles ((ZnO/Zn(OH)₂‐NPs) were synthesized by a simple and low‐cost method, and the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized and identified by UV–Vis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The antimicrobial activity of the CuS‐NPs and the ZnO/Zn(OH)₂‐NPs were examined by broth dilution to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibacterial agent required to inhibit the growth of a pathogen and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) required to kill a particular bacterium. Agar disc diffusion method was used to determine the zone of inhibition. The nanoparticles demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 1827), Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 150504), Escherichia coli (ATCC 33218) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25293). Antifungal activity against Aspergillus oryzae (PTCC 5164) was also obtained. The data obtained from antimicrobial activities by broth dilution and agar disc diffusion methods exhibited the CuS‐NPs were more effective than the ZnO/Zn(OH)₂‐NPs. A good correlation was observed between the data obtained by both methods.     

Antimicrobial and Antimalarial Activity of Novel Synthetic Mononuclear Ruthenium(II) Compounds

The present work was aimed that the two Ruthenium compounds namely, [Ru(A)₂(B)]Cl₂, where A = 1,10‐phenanthroline; B = 2‐NO₂‐phenyl thiosemicarbazone (Compound R₁)/2‐OH‐phenyl thiosemicarbazone (Compound R₂) have been tested for antibacterial activity at the concentrations of 1 mg/mL against various Gram‐Positive organisms (Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus pyrogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus & Bacillus megatarium) and Gram‐Negative organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiella pneumonia & Proteus mirabilis). The compounds were also tested for antifungal activity against Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum & Penicillium notatum by using agar diffusion assay and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (Strain 3D7) using MTT assay. The results concluded that the compound R₁ exhibited significant antibacterial activity than R₂ against Gram‐Negative bacteria with zones of inhibition ranging from 15‐20 mm. and mild antibacterial activity against Gram‐Positive bacteria in comparison to tetracycline, streptomycin and rifampicin. These complexes were found to have moderate antifungal activity with no activity was however observed against Aspergillus niger. The compound, R₁ exhibited antimalarial activity at 10 μg/mL, whereas R₂ did not show antimalarial activity upto 50 μg/mL. Sensitivity to the compounds was greatest in the gram‐negative bacteria, followed by the gram‐positive bacteria and fungi.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activities of water‐soluble methacrylate polymers containing quaternary ammonium compounds

New water‐soluble methacrylate polymers with pendant quaternary ammonium (QA) groups were synthesized and used as antibacterial materials. The polymers with pendant QA groups were obtained by the reaction of the alkyl halide groups of a previously synthesized functional methacrylate homopolymer with various tertiary alkyl amines containing 12‐, 14‐, or 16‐carbon alkyl chains. The structures of the functional polymer and the polymers with QA groups were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The degree of conversion of alkyl halides to QA sites in each polymer was determined by ¹H NMR to be over 90% in all cases. The number‐average molecular weight and polydispersity of the functional polymer were determined by size exclusion chromatography to be 32,500 g/mol and 2.25, respectively. All polymers were thermally stable up to 180 °C according to thermogravimetric analysis. The antibacterial activities of the polymers with pendant QA groups against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were determined with broth‐dilution and spread‐plate methods. All the polymers showed excellent antibacterial activities in the range of 32–256 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity against S. aureus increased with an increase in the alkyl chain length for the ammonium groups, whereas the antibacterial activity against E. coli decreased with increasing alkyl chain length. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5965–5973, 2006     

Cimicifoetones A and B,Dimeric Prenylindole Alkaloids as Black Pigments of Cimicifuga foetida

Two dimeric prenylindole alkaloids with a unique indole‐benzoindolequinone skeleton, cimicifoetones A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), were isolated as black pigments from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga foetida . The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRMS and 2D NMR, as well as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and computational chemical modeling techniques. Cimicifoetones A and B represented the first examples of dimeric indole alkaloids generated through [4+2] Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the prenyl side chain in one 3‐prenylindole and the aromatic ring in another. The two compounds showed promising anti‐proliferative activity on seven tumor cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.36–21.09 μm . Flow cytometric and western blot analysis revealed that compound 2 induced cell apoptosis via death receptor‐mediated extrinsic and mitochondrial‐mediated intrinsic pathways.     

Stereoselective Synthesis,Characterization, and Antibacterial Activities of Novel Isosteviol Derivatives with D‐Ring Modification

Considerable interests have been attracted by isosteviol and its derivatives because of their large variety of bioactivities. In this project, a series of novel 15‐ and 16‐substituted isosteviol derivatives were stereoselectively prepared by means of functional interconversions in ring D of the tetracyclic diterpene isosteviol. All compounds synthesized were characterized by analysis of NMR, IR, HR‐MS data, and the configurations of 33 and 37 were confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The antibacterial activities in vitro of these isosteviol derivatives were investigated; the synthetic compounds were more active against Gram‐positive than Gram‐negative bacteria, and were especially active against Bacillus subtilis. Among them, compound 27 (MIC=1.56 μg/ml) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity and thus may be exploitable as a lead compound for the development of potent antibacterial agents.     

Two thymol derivatives from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica and their antibacterial activity

A new monoterpenoid, 7-acetyl-8,9-dihydroxy thymol (1), together with a known one 7,8-dihydroxy-9-buyryl thymol (2), were isolated from the dried flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses. The potential antibacterial effects of these compounds on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, and Bacillus cereus were evaluated. Interestingly, both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant antibacterial activities with IC₅₀ values range from 27.64 ± 2.26 to 128.58 ± 13.26 μg/mL.     

Eleven New Triterpenes from Eurycorymbus cavaleriei

Eleven new triterpenes, cavalerols A–K ( 1 – 11 , resp.), ten of which were derivatives of hopane and one was derivative of dammarane, were isolated from the twigs of Eurycorymbus cavaleriei. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D‐NMR analysis. Cavalerol D ( 4 ) and cavalerol F ( 6 ), cavalerol B ( 2 ), and cavalerol G ( 7 ) were two pairs of isomers, and silver ion was introduced for their differentiation by multi‐stage tandem mass spectrometry. And nine compounds, except 5 and 10 , were tested for quinone reductase (QR) induction activities in vitro, and results showed that compounds 2, 4 , and 7 exhibited moderate induction activities with CD values of 8.62, 9.13, and 2.56 μg/ml, respectively, and compounds 6 and 8 showed cytotoxicity against hepa 1c1c7 cell line with IC₅₀ values of no more than 1 μg/ml.     

Synthesis and in vitro Study of Novel Methylenebis(phenyl- 1,5-benzothiazepine)s and Methylenebis(benzofuryl-1,5- benzothiazepine)s as Antimicrobial Agents

A series of methylenebis(phenyl-1,5-benzothiazepine)s 4 and methylenebis(benzofuryl-1,5-benzothiazepine)s 5 were prepared by the reaction of methylene-bis-chalcones 3 with 2-aminothiophenol for 4 and followed by the condensation with chloroacetone for 5. The structures of the synthesized compounds have been confirmed by their IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and elemental analyses. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. To elucidate the essential structural requirements for the antimicrobial activity, the preliminary structure-activity relationship has been described. Among the compounds tested, the dimeric compounds 4f, 4g, 5f and 5g were found to be most active against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sphaericus, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella aerogenes and Chromobacterium violaceum. Similarly these dimeric compounds showed potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It is interesting to note that the dimeric compounds with substituents of heterocyclic ring at the 4th position of benzothiazepine system displayed notable antibacterial activity equal to that of streptomycin and penicillin. Further, the activity of all the dimeric compounds was compared with that of their monomeric compounds, and it is interesting to note that almost all the dimeric compounds showed enhanced activity than their monomeric compounds.     

Synthesis,Configuration, and Antimicrobial Properties of Novel Substituted and Cyclized ‘2′,3″‐Thiazachalcones’

Nine new thiazachalcone‐based drugs, compounds 1 – 9 , were prepared and fully characterized. The configurations of the photochemical‐dimerization products 7 – 9 were rationalized by semi‐empirical calculations. Both the experimental data and the theoretical calculations showed that the δ‐truxinic acid type dimer is the most stable isomer of all. All compounds were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The N‐alkylated congeners 4 – 6 showed strong antimicrobial activities against various bacteria and a yeast‐like fungus. The MIC and MBC values were as low as 0.1 μg/ml. All the compounds were active against the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.     

Novel arylpyridine‐based 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles: Synthesis,antibacterial, and anti‐inflammatory evaluation

In view of developing novel bioactive compounds, a series of 2‐(5‐[2‐methyl‐6‐arylpyridin‐3‐yl]‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐ylthio)‐1‐arylethanones (6a–n) were designed and synthesized in good yield. Novel compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory activities. All synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bascillus subtilis, Eschericia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Compounds 6a , 6b , 6c , 6h , and 6i displayed the highest antibacterial activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 6.25–12.5 μg/mL in comparison with the standard Ciprofloxacin. The results of anti‐inflammatory activity of carrageenan‐induced footpad edema assay indicated that tested compounds exhibited remarkable anti‐inflammatory activity with percentage of inhibition of 63.9–70.1% (potency 96.8–106.20% of indomethacin activity) after 3 hr. Particularly, 6c – e and 6j – l were found to be excellent inhibitors of inflammation, with potential higher than that of the standard, Indomethacin.     

Structurally Interesting Diarymethane Derivatives from Securidaca inappendiculata

Securines A—E, three dimeric diarymethane derivatives ( 1 — 3 ) and two enantiomeric diarymethane derivative monomers ( 4 and 5 ), were isolated and characterized from the medicinal plant Securidaca inappendiculata. Compounds 1 and 2 are a pair of enantiomeric diarymethane derivative dimers, and compound 3 is a mesomeric diarymethane derivative dimer. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic data, X‐ray crystallography, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis, and computational ECD calculations. Dimeric compounds 1 — 3 showed moderate antiplasmodial activities with IC₅₀ values of 0.9, 1.4, and 1.5 μM, respectively.     

Sesquiterpenoids from the Root Bark of Acanthopanax leucorrhizus and Their Biological Activities

Three furoeremophilane‐type sesquiterpenoids, including one new, 1α‐acetoxy‐6β‐(benzoyloxy)‐10β‐hydroxy‐9‐oxofuroeremophilane ( 1 ), and two known, 1β,6β‐diacetoxy‐9‐oxofuroeremophilane ( 2 ) and (6α)‐furoeremophilan‐14,6‐olide ( 3 ), were isolated from the root bark of Acanthopanax leucorrhizus from China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including IR, HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments. A preliminary bioassay revealed that compound 1 exhibits weak cytotoxicities against the human tumor cell lines MCF‐7 and SMMC‐7721 with the IC₅₀ values of 75.12±1.69 and 168.36±2.01 μg/ml, respectively. Compound 1 and 2 showed moderate activities against Escherichia coli with the MIC values of 32 and 64 μg/ml, respectively.     

Synthesis and Antimycobacterial Evaluation on Arylsulfonyl and Arylcarbonyl Derivatives of Ofloxacin

Four ofloxacin derivatives 3, 5, 6 , and 11 were found to exhibit > 90% inhibition on the growth of M. tuberculosis at a concentration of 6.25 μg/mL. Compounds 3, 5 and 11 have also exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities while 8‐fluoro‐3‐methyl‐9‐[4‐(4‐nitrophenylsulfonyl)piperazin‐1‐yl)‐6‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐6H‐1‐oxo‐3a‐azaphenalene‐5‐carboxylic acid ( 6 ), which exhibited potent activity against the growth of TB with the MIC of 2.23 μg/mL and a selectivity index (SI) of > 14.80, was inactive against the growth of G(+)‐ and G(‐)‐bacteria. Selective anti‐TB activity was achieved by the introduction of an arylsulfonyl group at C‐7 piperazin‐4‐yl of N‐demethyl ofloxacin. Compound 6 is species‐specific, exhibiting no significant activity against the growth of bacterial species other than M. tuberculosis, which implied the possibility of developing new specific anti‐TB drug candidates without inducing cross resistance with other currently used antibacterial drugs. Structural optimization of 6 is on‐going.     

Biofabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles by leaf extract of Rhamnus virgata: Characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic,antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials

In the present study, plant‐mediated synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using leaves extract of Rhamnus virgata (Roxb.) as a potential stabilizing, reducing and chelating agent is reported. The biogenic IONPs are extensively characterized for their physical and biological properties. The morphology, structure and physicochemical properties of biogenic IONPs were characterized using ultraviolet spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform‐infrared analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The Scherrer equation deduced a mean crystallite size of ~20 nm for IONPs. Detailed in vitro biological activities revealed significant therapeutic potentials for IONPs. Potential antibacterial and antifungal activities are reported for IONPs. Bioinspired IONPs have shown potential results against HepG2 cells (IC₅₀: 13.47 μg/ml). Dose‐dependent cytotoxicity assays were revealed against Leishmania tropica (KMH₂₃) promastigotes (IC₅₀: 8.08 μg/ml) and amastigotes (IC₅₀: 20.82 μg/ml) using different concentrations of IONPs (1–200 μg/ml). The cytotoxic activity was also studied using brine shrimps, and their IC₅₀ value was calculated as 32.41 μg/ml. Significant antioxidant [TAC (51.4%), DPPH (79.4%) and total reducing power (62%)], protein kinase and alpha amylase inhibition assays were revealed. The biocompatibility assays using red blood cells (> 200 μg/ml) and macrophages (> 200 μg/ml) confirmed the biosafe nature of IONPs. In conclusion, bioinspired IONPs have shown potential biological applications and should be subjected to further research work to develop their nano‐pharmacological relevance in biomedical applications.