Mono- and Dioses of Glycyrrhiza glabra Root

Simple sugars were isolated from the ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root. The component composition of the carbohydrate fraction was established using GC-MS (gas-chromatographic separation and mass-spectrometric analysis).     

Quantitative antioxidant activity of the ethylacetate extract of Larix sibirica bark and its individual components

The antioxidant [AO] properties of the ethylacetate extract of Larix sibirica bark and the flavonoids quercetin and dihydroquercetin found in it were studied using a model radical-chain oxidation of propan-2-ol in the kinetic regime. The quantitative characteristics of their AO activity were determined as effective rate constants fk_ln. It was found that dihydroquercetin had the highest AO activity among the studied natural compounds. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 131–133, March–April, 2006.     

lignins of Allochruza paniculata and Glycyrrhiza glabra

The natural lignin of Allochruza paniculata and Glycyrrhiza glabra is studied by catalytic hydrogenolysis. Three types of lignin structural units are present: guaiacyl, syringyl, and p-coumaryl, which are characteristic of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The structure of DLA from these plants is confirmed by UV, IR and PMR spectra.     

Components of the ethylacetate extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hedysarum theinum</Emphasis> roots

Isoflavonoids (-)-medicarpin, (-)-vestitol, and formononetin and butylphenols raspberry ketone and rhododendrol were isolated for the first time from the ethylacetate extract of Hedysarum thienum roots by column chromatography. GC-MS showed that the ethylacetate extract contained fatty acids, the principal ones being palmitic, linoleic, oleic, behenic, and lignocerinic. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 6–9, January–February, 2007.     

Xanthothone,a new nematicidal N-compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coprinus xanthothrix</Emphasis>

Coprinus xanthothrix was found to have nematicidal activity. Xanthothone was isolated from culture extract guided by activity assay, which was identified as a novel natural product. Two other compounds were also isolated. These compounds showed nematicidal activity, with LD₅₀ value of 125–250 ppm both against Panagrellus redivivus and Meloidogyne incognita. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 161–162, March–April, 2008.     

Chemical Compositions of the Essential Oils of Stems,Leaves, and Roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prangos latiloba</Emphasis>

Hydrodistilled volatile oils from crushed dry stems, leaves, and roots of Prangos latiloba Korov. (Umbelliferae) growing wild in Sabzevar (Iran) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Eight compounds constituting 84.72% of stem oil, twelve compounds constituting 95.39% of leaf oil, and nine compounds constituting 88.73% of root oil have been identified. The main components of stem oil were γ-cadinene (30.39%), α-pinene (25.47%), and sabinene (12.55%). The main components of leaf oil were germacrene D (27.79%), α-pinene (17.81%), β-caryophyllene (12.75%), and β-pinene (11.23%). The main components of root oil were spathulenol (29.5%), 1,8-cineol (19.42%), p-cymene (17.03%), and α-bisabolol (15.33%). __________ Published in Kimiya Prirodnikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 443–444, September–October, 2005.     

Development of an efficient method for the preparative isolation and purification of chlorophyll a from a marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae by high-speed counter-current chromatography coupled with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

In our research into chlorophylls of marine dinoflagellates, chlorophyll a was separated rapidly from the hexane extract of Amphidinium carterae in three steps. The first step was silica gel column chromatography, where elution was performed with 0–50% ethyl acetate in n-hexane. The second was high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-phase solvent system consisting of n-hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (5:5:5:1, v/v), and the third step was preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a solvent system of acetone–water (89:11, v/v). HPLC analysis showed that the purity of chlorophyll a from the second step was over 83%, and after the third it was over 99%. Thirty milligrams of chlorophyll a was isolated from a crude sample of 250 mg of chlorophylls, and its structure was identified by analyzing its MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Agonistic and antagonistic estrogens in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

The roots of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) are a rich source of flavonoids, in particular, prenylated flavonoids, such as the isoflavan glabridin and the isoflavene glabrene. Fractionation of an ethyl acetate extract from licorice root by centrifugal partitioning chromatography yielded 51 fractions, which were characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and screened for activity in yeast estrogen bioassays. One third of the fractions displayed estrogenic activity towards either one or both estrogen receptors (ERs; ERα and ERβ). Glabrene-rich fractions displayed an estrogenic response, predominantly to the ERα. Surprisingly, glabridin did not exert agonistic activity to both ER subtypes. Several fractions displayed higher responses than the maximum response obtained with the reference compound, the natural hormone 17β-estradiol (E₂). The estrogenic activities of all fractions, including this so-called superinduction, were clearly ER-mediated, as the estrogenic response was inhibited by 20–60% by known ER antagonists, and no activity was found in yeast cells that did not express the ERα or ERβ subtype. Prolonged exposure of the yeast to the estrogenic fractions that showed superinduction did, contrary to E₂, not result in a decrease of the fluorescent response. Therefore, the superinduction was most likely the result of stabilization of the ER, yeast-enhanced green fluorescent protein, or a combination of both. Most fractions displaying superinduction were rich in flavonoids with single prenylation. Glabridin displayed ERα-selective antagonism, similar to the ERα-selective antagonist RU 58668. Whereas glabridin was able to reduce the estrogenic response of E₂ by approximately 80% at 6 × 10⁻⁶ M, glabrene-rich fractions only exhibited agonistic responses, preferentially on ERα.     

Lipids ofGlycyrrhiza glabra roots

A petroleum ether extract ofGlycyrrhiza glabra L. roots was investigated. The extract contains 70% neutral lipids and 30% polar lipids. Hydrocarbons, sterols esters, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, free sterols, and diacylglycerols were identified. The fatty acid contents of all of the acyl-containing lipids were determined. Fourteen fatty acids were identified; the 18 2 fatty acid prevails among the unsaturated acids, and the 16 0 acid prevails among the saturated acids.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 367–370, February, 1995.     

A bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignan and toxicity of the ethanol extract from the fruit of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocotea heterochroma</Emphasis>

A new bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignan rel-(7S,8R,1′S,2′R,3′S)-Δ8′-2′-hydroxy-5,1′,3′-trimethoxy-3,4methylenedioxy-7,3′,8,1′-neolignan (1) was isolated from ethanol extract from the fruit of Ocotea heterochroma Mez & Sodiro ex Mez as well as the known compounds β-friedelanol (2), meso-dehydroguaiaretic acid (3), and yangambin (4), whose structures were elucidated on the basis of their comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including 2D NMR data. Lethality bioassay using brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach) was evaluated with the ethanol extract from the Ocotea heterochroma’s fruit. The toxicity of this extract was greater than the toxicity of those fractions obtained in a first solvent partition (benzene, ethyl acetate, and butanol subfractions) and that of a mixture of acetylated 2′-epimers from the new neolignan 1. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 158–160, March–April, 2009.     

Dimeric prodelphinidins from Limonium gmelinii roots. III.

Two dimeric proanthocyanidines identified as 2R,3R,4R-(-)-epigallocatechin-(4β→ 8)-2R,3R-(-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate and 2R,3R,4R-(-)-epigallocatechin-(4β→8)-(-)-2R,3R,3,5,7,3′,4′,6′-hexahydroxyflavan were isolated by adsorption chromatography over polyamide of the ethylacetate fraction of the aqueous alcohol extract of Limonium gmelinii roots. The former proanthocyanidine was isolated for the first time from sea lavender whereas the latter is new. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 134–138, March–April, 2006.     

New prenylated isoflavanones from the roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycyrrhiza glabra</Emphasis>

Two new prenylated isoflavanones have been isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. along with the known compounds cetoleic acid, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lanast-5,24-dien-3β-D-glucuronopyranoside, and glucuronic acid. The structures of the prenylated isoflavanones have been established as 8-isoprenyl-7,4′-dihydroxylicoisoflavanone (glabraisoflavanone A) and 7,3′-dihydroxy-8-isoprenyl-4′-cyclogeranioloxyisoflavanone (glabraisoflavanone B) on the basis of spectral data analyses and chemical reactions.     

Comparing a selenium accumulator plant (Brassica juncea) to a nonaccumulator plant (Helianthus annuus) to investigate selenium-containing proteins

Selenoproteins have been identified in a diverse range of organisms, including bacteria and animals. Their occurrence and role in the plant kingdom are, however, less well-understood. This work investigated the water-soluble selenium-containing proteins extracted from a selenium-accumulating plant species (Brassica juncea) and a nonaccumulator species (Helianthus annuus) exposed to varying forms and concentrations of selenium. Firstly, protein extracts were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; specific detection was achieved by monitoring characteristic isotopes. Then, proteolytic digests of the plant extracts were analyzed by reversed phase chromatography coupled to ICP–MS in order to investigate selenoamino acid and selenopeptide content. Selenomethionine was observed to be the primary constituent of the proteins of the nonaccumulator plant, while selenocystine and selenomethionine were found in the same proportion in the accumulator extract. One main selenium-containing species was present at higher levels in the root digests than in the leaf digests; levels were greater in the nonaccumulator than in the accumulator plant.     

HPLC quantification of flavonoids and biflavonoids inCupressaceae leaves

Summary The aim of this investigation was to obtain qualitative and quantitative profiles of the flavonoid and biflavonoid composition of six cypress species—Cupressus funebris L.,Cupressus sempervirens L.,Cupressus glabra L.,Cupressus arizonica L.,Cupressus goveniana L., andCupressus lusitanica L. HPLC-diode-array detection (DAD), HPLC-MS, and HPTLC were used to identify the individual compounds. A chromatographic method was optimized for identification and quantification of the main flavonoid glycosides and biflavonoids. The flavonoids identified and calibrated were: rutin, quercetin glucoside, quercetin rhamnoside, and kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside. The biflavonoids identified and calibrated were: cupressuflavone, amentoflavone, robustaflavone, hinokiflavone, methylrobustaflavone, methylamentoflavone, and dimethylcupressuflavone.     

A Validated HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic Acid in Root Organs of Hemidesmus indicus

A reverse phase HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid in the root extracts of Hemidesmus indicus. A comprehensive validation of the method including sensitivity, linearity, reproducibility, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was conducted using the optimized chromatographic conditions. The method was found to be linear (r > 0.998) in the range of 5–350 μg mL⁻¹ for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (r > 0.999) in the range 10–300 μg mL⁻¹. The method was found to be precise with inter-day precision values (% RSD) in the ranges of 0.61–1.76% for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 1.3–2.8% for 2-hydroxy-4-ethoxybenzoic acid while intra-day precisions (% RSD) of two analytes were in the range of 0.41–1.07 and 0.95–2.5%. The limits of detection (LODs) for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid were 0.84 and 2.34 μg mL⁻¹. The described method was fast, sensitive and reproducible, and thus well suited for routine analysis of these two compounds from root extracts of H. indicus and other plants.     

Study of the essential oil composition of Pinus sylvestris from Turkey

The needle oils of Pinus sylvestris L. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The results showed some qualitative and quantitative variations. Forty-three components were identified in the oils of P. sylvestris. All the samples of essential oils contained α-pinene, camphene, and β-pinene as major constituents. Chemical variations of P. sylvestris samples were discussed. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 22–25, January–February, 2006.     

Composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carlina acanthifolia</Emphasis> Root Essential Oil

The root of Carlina acanthifolia All. (Asteraceae) contained 1.0% of essential oil (expressed in g per 100 g of dried plant material). Using GC and GC/MS, nine components were identified (100% of total oil). The structure of benzyl 2-furylacetylene (carlina oxide), which is the principal component of the oil (91.5%), was spectrometrically identified. __________ Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 331–332, July–August, 2005.     

A new component from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eupatorium cannabinum</Emphasis>

A new compound of formula C₂₈H₄₈O with mp 179-180°C (aqueous ethanol) that was called eucanbin was isolated pure by column chromatography of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Eupatorium cannabinum L. The structure 24α-methylcholest-20(21)-en-3β-ol was assigned based on chemical and spectral data. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 318–320, May–June, 2009.     

Composition of the lipophilic extract from the sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Axinella carteri</Emphasis> collected from the Bay of Bengal of the Orissa coast

The composition of the lipophilic extract from the two specimen of the sponge Axinella carteri (Dendy) collected from two different depths of the Bay of Bengal of the Orissa coast were investigated. Fatty acids, as well as volatile compounds and sterols, were identified. A high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was identified from depth species compared to the species collected from shallow water. The presence of a high concentration of a polymethyl-branched fatty acid, i.e., phytanic acid, and a demospongic acid (C26:2, Δ 5,9) were identified in both specimen, but the % composition of both acids were more in the species collected from depth than the species collected from shallow water. Important polyunsaturated fatty acids like 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were also found in depth species which were absent in the species collected from shallow water. Antimicrobial screening of the lipid extracts of A. carteri was also studied against different pathogens. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 224–227, May–June, 2008.     

Phenolic compounds from Filipendula ulmaria

A chromatographically inseparable crystalline mixture of the previously undescribed quercetin-4′-O-β-galactopyranoside and the known quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin) in a 7:5 ratio was isolated from the extract of the aerial part of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 122–124, March–April, 2006.