Physical properties of diblock methylcellulose derivatives with regioselective functionalization patterns: First direct evidence that a sequence of 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐glucopyranosyl units causes thermoreversible gelation of methylcellulose

This article describes detailed structure‐property relationships of 5 regioselectively methylated celluloses and 10 diblock cellulose derivatives with regioselective functionalization patterns: methyl 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐ ( 1 , 236MC), methyl 2,3‐di‐O‐ ( 2 , 23MC), methyl 2,6‐di‐O‐ ( 3 , 26MC), methyl 3‐O‐ ( 4 , 3MC), methyl 6‐O‐methyl‐cellulosides ( 5 , 6MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐ ( 6 , G‐236MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3‐di‐O‐methyl‐ ( 7 , G‐23MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,6‐di‐O‐methyl‐ ( 8 , G‐26MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐3‐O‐methyl‐ ( 9 , G‐3MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐O‐methyl‐ ( 10 , G‐6MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐ ( 11 , GG‐236MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3‐di‐O‐methyl‐ ( 12 , GG‐23MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopy‐ranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,6‐di‐O‐methyl‐ ( 13 , GG‐26MC), methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐3‐O‐methyl‐ ( 14 , GG‐3MC), and methyl β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐O‐methyl‐cellulosides ( 15 , GG‐6MC). Surface tension, differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering measurements of aqueous solutions of compounds 1 – 15 revealed that there was no relationship between aggregation behaviors and gel formation, gelation occurred only when the hydrophobic environments formed by hydrophobic interactions between the sequences of 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐glucopyranosyl units upon heating. The diblock structure consisting of cellobiosyl block and approx. ten 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐glucopyranosyl units was of crucial importance for thermoreversible gelation of methylcellulose. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1539–1546, 2011     

Anticandida Agents from a Tanzanian Plant Albizia anthelmintica

Candidiasis is one of the most frequent opportunistic infections in individuals with severe immunosupression and further development of resistance against the available antifungal drugs has created an alarming situation. This requires intensive drug discovery to develop new, more effective, affordable and accessible antifungal agents possessing novel modes of action. Albizia anthelmintica, which is ethno medically used to treat vaginal candidiasis in the Morogoro and coastal regions of Tanzania, on activity guided fractionation and subsequent purification resulted in the isolation and characterization of an isomer of methyl cyclitol ( 1 ) and six echinocystic acid saponins ( 2 – 7 ). Saponins 6 and 7 are new and being reported for the first time from nature. Among all the isolated compounds, 3‐O‐[α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→2)][α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→6)]‐2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid ( 4 ), 3‐O‐[α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→2)] [α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→6)]‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid ( 6 ) and 3‐O‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl (1→3)] [α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→2)] [α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl (1→6)]‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid ( 7 ) and their combinations were active against the various strains of C. albicans with MICs ranging from 12.5 to 125 μg/ml.     

Xanthone O‐Glycosides from the Roots of Pteris Multifida

Two new xanthone glycosides and six known compounds were isolated from the roots of Pteris multifida. Based on spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 1‐hydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 1 ), and 1,3‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 →2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 2 ), respectively.     

Tetrapterosides A and B,two new oleanane‐type saponins from Tetrapleura tetraptera

From the stem bark of Tetrapleura tetraptera, two new oleanane‐type saponins, tetrapteroside A 3‐O‐{6‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐6‐hydroxyocta‐2,7‐dienoyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}‐3,27‐dihydroxyoleanolic acid (1), and tetrapteroside B 3‐O‐{ β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐6‐O‐[(E)‐feruloyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}‐3,27‐dihydroxyoleanolic acid (2), were isolated. Further extractions from the roots led to the isolation of four known oleanane‐type saponins. Their structures were elucidated by the combination of mass spectrometry (MS), one and two‐dimensional NMR experiments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New saponins from Sechium mexicanum

The chemical study of Sechium mexicanum roots led to the isolation of the two new saponins {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,16α,23‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (1) and {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,16α,23‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐[β‐D ‐apiosyl‐(1 → 3)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (2), together with the known compounds {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,6β,16α,23‐pentahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (3), tacacosides A₁ (4) and B₃ (5). The structures of saponins 1 and 2 were elucidated using a combination of ¹H and ¹³C 1D‐NMR, COSY, TOCSY, gHMBC and gHSQC 2D‐NMR, and FABMS of the natural compounds and their peracetylated derivates, as well as by chemical degradation. Compounds 1–3 are the first examples of saponins containing polygalacic and 16‐hydroxyprotobasic acids found in the genus Sechium, while 4 and 5, which had been characterized partially by NMR, are now characterized in detail. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two new complex triterpenoid saponins from Gledistsia dolavayi Franch.

Two new triterpenoid saponins, gledistside A ( 1 ) and gledistside B ( 2 ), isolated from the fruits of Gledistsia dolavayi Franch., were characterized as the 3,28‐O‐bisdesmoside of echinocystic acid acylated with monoterpene carboxylic acids. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, their structures were elucidated as 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2,6‐dimethyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid ( 1 ) and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2‐hydroxymethyl‐6‐methyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid ( 2 ). The complete ¹H and ¹³C assignments of saponins 1 and 2 were achieved on the basis of 2D NMR spectra including HMQC‐TOCSY, TOCSY, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMBC, ROESY and HMQC spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Four new ursane‐type saponins from Morina nepalensis var. alba

Four new ursane‐type saponins, monepalosides C–F, together with a known saponin, mazusaponin II, were isolated from Morina nepalensis var. alba Hand.‐Mazz. Their structures were determined to be 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[alpha;‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside C, 1 ), 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[alpha;‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside D, 2 ), 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐&[beta;‐D ‐glucopyranosy‐(1 → 2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside E, 3 ) and 3‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosylpomolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (monepaloside F, 4 ) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. 2D NMR techniques, including ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, 2D HMQC‐TOCSY, HMBC and ROESY, and selective excitation experiments, including SELTOCSY and SELNOESY, were utilized in the structure elucidation and complete assignments of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure elucidation of new acacic acid‐type saponins from Albizia coriaria

Three new acacic acid derivatives, named coriariosides C, D, and E ( 1–3 ) were isolated from the roots of Albizia coriaria. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR studies and mass spectrometry as 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐2‐(acetamido)‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]‐21‐O‐{(2E,6S)‐6‐O‐{4‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐ 6‐O‐(β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl)octa‐2,7‐dienoyl]‐4‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐6‐O‐(β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl)octa‐2,7‐dienoyl]‐β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl}‐2,6‐dimethylocta‐2,7‐dienoyl}acacic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 1 ), 3‐O‐{β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl}‐21‐O‐{(2E,6S)‐6‐O‐{4‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐6‐O‐(β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl)octa‐2,7‐dienoyl]‐4‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐6‐O‐(β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl)octa‐2,7‐dienoyl]‐β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl}‐2,6‐dimethylocta‐2,7‐dienoyl}acacic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamno pyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 2 ), and 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]‐21‐O‐{(2E,6S)‐6‐O‐{4‐O‐[(2E,6S)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐6‐O‐(β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl)octa‐2,7‐dienoyl)‐β‐D ‐quinovopyranosyl]octa‐2,7‐dienoyl}acacic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 3 ). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure elucidation of new oleanane‐type glycosides from three species of Acanthophyllum

From the roots of three species of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae), two new gypsogenic acid glycosides, 1 and 2, were isolated, 1 from A. sordidum and A. lilacinum, 2 from A. elatius and A. lilacinum, together with three known saponins, glandulosides B and C, and SAPO50. The structures of 1 and 2 were established mainly by 2D NMR techniques as 23‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosylgypsogenic acid‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (1) and gypsogenic acid‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (2). The cytotoxicity of several of these saponins was evaluated against two human colon cancer cell lines (HT‐29 and HCT 116). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure elucidation and total assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data for a new bisdesmoside saponin from Cordia piauhiensis

Extensive 1D (¹H NMR, HBBD‐¹³C NMR, DEPT‐¹³C NMR) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR analysis was used to characterize the structure of a new bisdesmoside saponin isolated from the methanol extract of stems of Cordia piauhiensis Fresen as 3β‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]ursolic acid 28‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl] ester. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of high‐performance countercurrent chromatography for the isolation of steroidal saponins from Liriope plathyphylla

High‐performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) with electrospray light‐scattering detection was applied for the first time to isolate a spirostanol and a novel furostanol saponin from Liriope platyphylla. Due to the large differences in K_D values between the two compounds, a two‐step HPCCC method was applied in this study. The primary HPCCC employed methylene chloride/methanol/isopropanol/water (9:6:1:4 v/v, 4 mL/min, normal‐phase mode) conditions to yield a spirostanol saponin ( 1 ). After the primary HPCCC run, the solute retained in the stationary phase (SP extract) in HPCCC column was recovered and subjected to the second HPCCC on the n‐hexane/n‐butanol/water system (1:9:10 v/v, 5 mL/min, reversed‐phase mode) to yield a novel furostanol saponin ( 2 ). The isolated spirostanol saponin was determined to be 25(S)‐ruscogenin 1‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl (1→2)‐[β‐d ‐xylopyranosyl (1→3)]‐β‐d ‐fucopyranoside (spicatoside A), and the novel furostanol saponin was elucidated to be 26‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐25(S)‐furost‐5(6)‐ene‐1β‐3β‐22α‐26‐tetraol‐1‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl (1→2)‐[β‐d ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐d ‐fucopyranoside (spicatoside D).     

New Antifungal Terpenoid Glycosides from Alibertia edulis (Rubiaceae)

Phytochemical investigation from the stems of Alibertia edulis led to the isolation and identification of a new iridoid 6β‐hydroxy‐7‐epigardoside methyl ester ( 1 ) and a new saponin 3β‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside pomolate ( 2 ), along with three known compounds, shanzhiside methyl ester ( 3 ), ixoside ( 4 ), and 3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl 1‐O‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl‐(1→6)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ). The structures of 1 and 2 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Iridoid 1 and saponin 2 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against Candida albicans and C. krusei in a dilution assay.     

Two New Triterpene Saponins from Acanthophyllum laxiusculum

Two new triterpene glycosides, 1 and 2 , together with three known ones, were isolated from roots of Acanthophyllum laxiusculum Schiman ‐Czeika . The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic experiments and MS analyses as 23‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosylgypsogenic acid 28‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐6‐O‐[4‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐oxobutyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)}‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl ester ( 1 ) and gypsogenic acid 28‐O‐{β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐6‐O‐[4‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐oxobutyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)}‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl ester ( 2 ).     

Separation and purification of four flavonol diglucosides from the flower of Meconopsis integrifolia by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

Flavonoids are the main components of Meconopsis integrifolia (Maxim.) Franch, which is a traditional Tibetan medicine. However, traditional chromatography separation requires a large quantity of raw M. integrifolia and is very time consuming. Herein, we applied high‐speed counter‐current chromatography in the separation and purification of flavonoids from the ethanol extracts of M. integrifolia flower. Ethyl acetate/n‐butanol/water (2:3:5, v/v/v) was selected as the optimum solvent system to purify the four components, namely quercetin‐3‐O‐β‐d‐ glucopyrannosy‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranoside (compound 1 , 60 mg), quercetin 3‐O‐[2’’’‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranoside (compound 2 , 40 mg), quercetin 3‐O‐[3’’’‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranoside (compound 3 , 11 mg), and quercetin 3‐O‐[6’’’‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐ glucopyranoside (compound 4 , 16 mg). Among the four compounds, 3 and 4 were new acetylated flavonol diglucosides. After the high‐speed counter‐current chromatography separation, the purities of the four flavonol diglucosides were 98, 95, 90, and 92%, respectively. The structures of these compounds were identified by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy.     

Terpenoids from Two Dicranopteris Species

Two new compounds, (6S,13S)‐6‐{[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl]oxy}cleroda‐3,14‐dien‐13‐ol ( 1 ) and kadsuric acid 3‐methyl ester ( 2 ), together with nine known compounds, (6S,13E)‐6‐{[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl]oxy}cleroda‐3,13‐dien‐15‐ol ( 3 ), (6S,13S)‐6‐[6‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl]oxy}‐13‐{[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl]oxy}cleroda‐3,14‐diene ( 4 ), (6S,13S)‐6‐{[6‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl]oxy}‐13‐{[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐fucopyranosyl]oxy}cleroda‐3,14‐diene ( 5 ), 15‐hydroxydehydroabietic acid ( 6 ), 15‐hydroxylabd‐8(17)‐en‐19‐oic acid ( 7 ), junicedric acid ( 8 ), (4β)‐kaur‐16‐en‐18‐oic acid ( 9 ), (4β)‐16‐hydroxykauran‐18‐oic acid ( 10 ), and (4β,16β)‐16‐hydroxykauran‐18‐oic acid ( 11 ) were isolated from the fronds of Dicranopteris linearis or D. ampla. Their structures were established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 3 – 8 showed no anti‐HIV activities.     

Structure elucidation of a sodium salified anthraquinone from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia by NMR technique assisted with acid–alkali titration

A new sodium salt of anthraquinone named sodium emodin‐1‐O‐β‐gentiobioside, together with nine known compounds, viz. rubrofusarin‐6‐O‐β‐D ‐gentiobioside, chrysophanol‐1‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1–3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1–6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, obtusifolin‐2‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, aurantio‐obtusin‐6‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, physcion‐8‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, 1‐hydroxyl‐2‐acetyl‐3,8‐dimethoxy‐6‐O‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl‐(1–2)‐β‐D ‐glucosylnaphthalene, toralactone‐9‐O‐β‐D ‐gentiobioside, aurantio‐obtusin, rubrofusarin‐6‐O‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl‐(1–6)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, was isolated from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia and its structure was elucidated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR technique assisted with acid–alkali titration. The change of chemical shifts of sodium emodin‐1‐O‐β‐gentiobioside before and after acid–alkali titration was also characterized. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unusual Nortriterpenoid Saponins from Stauntonia chinensis

Four new saponins, yemuosides YM₁₇–YM₂₀ ( 1 – 4 , resp.), were isolated from the rattan of Stauntonia chinensis DC. (Lardizabalaceae) along with a known saponin, nipponoside D ( 5 ). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence as 20,30‐dihydroxy‐29‐noroleanolic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 1 ), 20,29‐dihydroxy‐30‐noroleanolic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 2 ), 29‐hydroxy‐30‐norolean‐20(21)‐enolic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 3 ), 29‐hydroxyoleanolic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 4 ), and 23,29‐dihydroxyoleanolic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 5 ). Yemuoside YM₁₇–YM₁₉ ( 1 – 3 , resp.) contain novel unusual nortriterpene aglycones.     

Steroidal Saponins from Disporopsis pernyi

Four new steroidal saponins, named disporosides A–D ( 1 – 4 ), corresponding to (3β,25R)‐3‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐5β‐spirostan ( 1 ), (3β,25R)‐3‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[6‐O‐hexadecanoyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐5β‐spirostan ( 2 ), (3β,22R,25R)‐26‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐3‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐5β‐furostan ( 3 ), and (3β,22R,25R)‐26‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐3‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐5β‐furostan ( 4 ), have been isolated from the fresh rhizomes of Disporopsis pernyi, together with the three known compounds Ys‐I, agavoside B, and (3β,25R)‐3‐[(β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl)oxy]‐5α‐spirostan‐12‐one. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, chemical transformations (acid hydrolysis), and comparison with literature data.     

Tensioactive Compounds from the Aquatic Plant Ranunculus fluitans L. (Ranunculaceae)

In the search for the cause for the formation of persistent foam in the Rhine River below the Rhine Fall at Schaffhausen, an investigation of the tensioactive principles from the aquatic plant Ranunculus fluitans L. (Ranunculaceae) was carried out. Two new (see 1 and 2 ) and four known bisdesmosidic triterpene saponins (see 4 – 6 ) were isolated along with the two known diacylglycerol galactosides 7 and 8 . The saponin structures were established by the identification of the aglycon and sugar moieties by HPLC and chiral capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), ion‐spray LC/MS and extensive 1‐ and 2D homo‐ and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the new oleanane‐type saponins were identified as 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl]‐28‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]hederagenin ( 1 ) and 3‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]oleanolic acid [α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl] ester ( 2 ). LC/MS Studies of tensioactive fractions revealed the presence of additional glycoglycerolipids.     

Novel glycosylated carboranylquinazolines for boron neutron capture therapy of tumors: synthesis,characterization, and in vitro toxicity studies

The synthesis of a series of N‐glycosyl caboranylquinazolines is described. The condensation reaction of nitro‐acetylanthranilic acid with aminophenylcarborane gave 3‐[(o‐carboran‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐2‐methyl‐6‐nitroquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 1 followed by reduction with Na₂S to the corresponding 6‐amino‐3‐[(o‐carboran‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐2‐methylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 2 . Reaction of compound 2 with D‐glucose or D‐ribose in methanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic acid affords boronated N‐glycosylaminoquinazolines namely: 2‐methyl‐3‐[4‐(o‐carboran‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐6‐[N‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)]aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 3 or 2‐methyl‐3‐[4‐(o‐carboran‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐6‐[N‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)]aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 4 , respectively. Degradation of the o‐caborane cage of compounds 3 and 4 yielded highly water‐soluble compounds of sodium 2‐methyl‐3‐[4‐( nido ‐undecarborate‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐6‐[N‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl]aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 5 and sodium 2‐methyl‐3‐[4‐( nido ‐undecarborate‐1‐yl)phenyl]‐6‐[N‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)]aminoquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 6 , respectively. The structures were established on the basis of elemental analysis, NMR, IR and mass spectrometry. The in vitro toxicity test using B16 melanoma cells showed that N‐glycosyl of nido ‐undecaboranylquinazolines ( 5 and 6 ), with higher water solubility, is not toxic at boron concentration of 3000 µg boron ml⁻¹, whereas, N‐glycosyl of closo ‐carboranylquinazolines ( 3 and 4 ) has LD₅₀ > 200 µg boron ml⁻¹. The compounds described here may be considered as potential agents for BNCT. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.