A new fatty aldol ester from the aerial part of Mimosa invisa (Mimosaceae)

A new aldol ester named 17-O-triacontanoylheptadecanal (1) was isolated from the aerial part of Mimosa invisa (Mimosaceae) together with eight known compounds identified as β-sitosterol (2), α-amyrine (3), lupeol (4), 4'-O-methylepinumisoflavone (5), alpinumisoflavone (6), betulinic acid (7), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of sitosterol (8) and epirobinetinidol (9). The structures of compounds were determined on the basis of NMR and mass spectrometry data as well as by comparing the data reported in the literatures. The antimicrobial activities of the crude extract and compounds 1 and 9 were investigated against seven microbial species. The natural products showed moderate activities compared to that of the crude extract.     

Studies on the Constituents of Paris Formosana Hayata Part II

Methyl palmitate (I), methyl stearate (II), stigmasterol (III), β-sitosterol (IV), (O -acyl)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-stigmasterol (V), (O -acyl)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-sitosterol (VI), β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-stigmasterol (VII), β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-sitosterol (VIII), β-D -ecdysone (IX), diosgenin-3-α-L -rhamopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L -arabinofuranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D -glucopyranoside (X), diosgenin-3-O -β-chacotrioside (dioscin) (XI), and diosgenin-3-O -α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D -glucopyranoside (XII) were isolated and characterized from the stems of Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae).     

Constituents of Clinopodium Umbrosum

The isolation and identification of fifteen crystalline components from the whole herb of Clinopodium umbrosum (Bieb.) C. Koch (Labiatae) are described. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical transformation. These compounds include five steroids (α-spinasterone, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, α-spinasterol, and α-spinasteryl-3-O-β-glucopyranoside), four triterpenoids (3β-hydroxyurs-11-en-28,13-olide, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid), four flavonoids (luteolin, luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-β-glucuronide, and apigenin-7-O-β-methylglucuronate), and two lignolic acids [3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)- lactic acid and rosmarinic acid].     

A new triterpene from Barringtonia asiatica

The freeze-dried bark of Barringtonia asiatica afforded a new triterpene: (3β,11α)-11-hydroxyolean-12-en-3-yl palmitate (1). The bark also yielded mixtures of (3β)-olean-12-en-3-yl palmitate (2a), (3β)-urs-12-en-3-yl palmitate (2b) and (3β)-olean-18-en-3-yl palmitate (2c) in a 2?:?1?:?4 ratio; β-amyrin (3a), α-amyrin (3b) and germanicol (3c) in a 3?:?1?:?4 ratio; 22-O-tigloylcamelliagenin A (4a) and betulinic acid (4b) in a 2?:?1 ratio; olean-12-en-3β,16β,22α-triol (5), β-sitosterol, spinasterol, squalene and trilinolein. The roots yielded 2a-c and 3a-c as well as trilinolein, spinasterol and squalene, while the flowers afforded verimol k (6), linoleic acid, spinasterol, squalene, phytyl fatty acid ester and trilinolein. Compounds 1-4 and 6 were tested for antimicrobial property against seven microorganisms. All compounds tested exhibited slight activity against Candida albicans and were found inactive against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus niger. Except for the mixture of 4a and 4b that proved to be inactive, all the compounds were slightly active against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, while 3a-c were slightly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Structure elucidation and NMR assignments of two new triterpenoids from the stems of Paragonia pyramidata (Bignoniaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of dichloromethane (DCM) extract from the stems of Paragonia pyramidata var. pyramidata L. Rich. (Bur.) resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new triterpenoids 3β,19β-dihydroxylup-12, 20(29)-diene-28-oic acid (1) and 3β,19β-dihydroxylup-12-en-28-oic acid (2), three known triterpenoids lupeol (3), spinosic acid A (4) and oleanolic acid (5), together with four known steroids (20R)-22E-24-ethylcholesta-4,22-dien-3-one (6), (20R)-24-ethylcholest-4-en-3-one (7), stigmasterol (8) and β-sitosterol (9). HREIMS, GC-MS and NMR experiments including HSQC, HMBC, COSY and NOESY were used for the determination of the structures and NMR spectral assignments. This is the first report about the chemical constituents for this plant.     

New Triterpenes from the Heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L.

Fourteen chemical constituents were isolated from the CHCl₃ soluble portion of the heartwood of Melaleuca leucadendron L. These compounds include β-sitosterol (1) , β-sitostenone (2) , 6-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-3-hepten-2-one (3) , naphthalene (4) , squalene (5) , 2α3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (6) , 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-27,28-dioic acid (7) , 2α,3β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (8) , 3β,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (9) , 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (10) , 3β-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (11) , and three novel oleanane derivatives 23-trans-p-coumaroyloxy-2α,3β-dihydroxyotean-12-en-28-oic acid (12), 3β-trans-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (13) , and its isomer 3β-cis-caffeoyloxy-2α,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (14) , The three novel compounds were characterized as the two and three O-methylated derivatives, respectively.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of Xanthium sibiricum

Xanthium sibiricum patrin ex Widder (Compositae) is an annual herb which grows all around China. Chemical investigations of its roots resulted in the identification of 15 compounds: stigmast-4-en-6β-ol-3-one (1), β-sitostenone (2), β-sitosterol (3), nonadecanoic acid (4), 5α,8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (5), scopoletin (6), Jatrocin B (7), (±)syringaresinol (8), 9,9'-O-di-(E)-feruloyl-(-)-secoisolariciresinol (9), cleomiscosin A (10), cleomiscosin C (11), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (12), daucosterol (13), 5-methyluracil (14) and uracil (15). Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (NMR and MS) methods and confirmed by comparing with reference samples and literature data. Compounds 1-2, 4-12, 14, and 15 were isolated from this genus for the first time, while this is the first report of coumarinolignoids in the Compositae family, and coumarinoligoids could be considered as valuable chemotaxonomic markers for the plant.     

Chemical constituents of Asplenium ruta-muraria L

A phytochemical study of Asplenium ruta-muraria L. (Aspleniaceae) led to the isolation of a new caffeic acid glycoside, 2-O-caffeoyl-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2?→?1)-α-D-glucopyranoside and an (α, β)-isomeric pair of 2E-caffeoyl-D-glucopyranoside, together with kaempferol-3-O-β-D-[6-E-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?→?2)glucopyranoside]-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-caffeoyl glycoside, sucrose, diploptene and β-sitosterol. Their structures were established by means of MS and capillary NMR techniques. Additionally, aromatase inhibitory activity of the extracts and phenolic compounds was evaluated.     

Two new epoxysteroids from Helianthus tuberosus

Two new epoxy steroids, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1) and 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2), and ten known steroids including (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5), β-sitosterol (6), sitost-5-en-3β-ol acetate (7), 7α-hydroxysitosterol (8), schleicheol 2 (9), (24R)-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (10), 7α-hydroxystigmasterol (11), and stigmasterol (12) were isolated from Helianthus tuberosus grown in Laizhou salinized land of coastal zone of Bohai Sea, China. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The new compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity and no antifungal activity.     

Cytotoxic compounds from the leaves of Gaillardia aristata Pursh. growing in Egypt

Ten compounds, neopulchellin (1), 6α- hydroxyneopulchellin (2), β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (3), apigenin (4), quercitin (5), eupafolin (6), kaempferol-3-methoxy-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (7), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), α-amyrin (9) and β-sitosterol (10), were isolated from the leaves of Gaillardia aristata by applying bioassay guided fractionation. The cytotoxicity was traced against two human cancer cell lines (breast (MCF7) and colon (HCT116)). The highest cytotoxicity was revealed by compounds 1 and 2 (isolated from chloroform extract); with IC(50) values of 0.43, 0.32?μg?mL(-1) against MCF7 and 0.46, 0.34?μg?mL(-1) against HCT116, respectively. Compounds 9 and 10 (isolated from the n-hexane extract) exhibited lower IC(50) values of 3.05, 2.35?μg?mL(-1) against MCF7 and 3.05, 2.35?μg?mL(-1) against HCT116, respectively, while compounds 4-7 obtained from the ethyl acetate extract revealed the lowest cytotoxicity. Identification of the aforementioned compounds was carried out on the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis (UV, EI/MS, 1D and 2D).     

Inhibitory effects of constituents from Morus alba var. multicaulis on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells

A new arylbenzofuran, 3',5'-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-prenyl-2-arylbenzofuran (1), and 25 known compounds, including moracin R (2), moracin C (3), moracin O (4), moracin P (5), artoindonesianin O (6), moracin D (7), alabafuran A (8), mulberrofuran L (9), mulberrofuran Y (10), kuwanon A (11), kuwanon C (12), kuwanon T (13), morusin (14), kuwanon E (15), sanggenon F (16), betulinic acid (17), uvaol (18), ursolic acid (19), β-sitosterol (20), oxyresveratrol 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (21), mulberroside A (22), mulberroside B (23), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (24), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (25) and adenosine (26), were isolated from Morus alba var. multicaulis Perro. (Moraceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The prenyl-flavonoids 11-14, 16, triterpenoids 17,18 and 20 showed significant inhibitory activity towards the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The arylbenzofurans 1-10 and prenyl-flavonoids 11-16 also showed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effects in RAW264.7 cells.     

Acid-Catalysed Rearrangements of α-Vinylcyclobutanones

The BF₃ · Et₂O- and the CH₃SO₃H-catalysed rearrangements of 10 α-vinylcyclobutanones have been examined. With little acid, the β,β-dialkyl derivatives 1 were transformed into linear dienones 2 and 3 ; with more acid, they were converted into cyclopentenones 4 by Nazarov cyclisation of initially formed 2/3 . The β-monoalkyl (including the β,γ-dialkyl) derivatives 7 rearranged only with a high acid concentration to afford the cyclopentenones 8 by 1,2-acyl migration. In the case of 7a , the cyclopentenone 8a was accompanied by the unexpected constitutional isomer 9a , which is explained by a reversible interconversion of the cyclobutanone 7a with its isomer 19 via a cyclopropane intermediate like 18 . In the case of the β,β-dialkyl derivative 5 , which contains an α-isobutenyl (instead of an α-vinyl) group, the acid-catalysed rearrangement product was the bicyclo[3. 1. 0]hexanone derivative 6 .     

Isolation and Identification of α-Glucosidase and Protein Glycation Inhibitors from Stereospermum colais

Stereospermum colais (family Bignoniaceae) is a well-known pharmacologically potent medicinal plant reported in traditional systems of medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the roots of S. colais resulted in the isolation of seven compounds, and the metabolites were screened for its α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and anti-glycation property. The compounds identified were β-sitosterol (1), 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl undecanoate (2), 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl pentadecanoate (3), 5α-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (4), ursolic acid (5), lapachol (6), and pinoresinol (7). Ursolic acid, lapachol, and pinoresinol possessed IC₅₀ values of 119.01, 130.29, and 125.62 nM, respectively, compared to standard ascorbic acid with an IC₅₀ value of 201.01 nM. The other compounds failed to show the activity. Results of the current study showcased the possible exploration of this medicinal plant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in line with the development of phytopharmaceutical industry.     

Chemical constituents and antibacterial activity of Melastoma malabathricum L

The aqueous methanolic extracts of Melastoma malabathricum L. exhibited antibacterial activity when assayed against seven microorganisms by the agar diffusion method. Solvent fractionation afforded active chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions from the leaves and the flowers, respectively. A phytochemical study resulted in the identification of ursolic acid (1), 2α-hydroxyursolic acid (2), asiatic acid (3), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) and the glycolipid glycerol 1,2-dilinolenyl-3-O-β-D-galactopyanoside (5) from the chloroform fraction. Kaempferol (6), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (9), kaempferol 3-O-(2″,6″-di-O-E-p-coumaryl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (10), quercetin (11) and ellagic acid (12) were found in the ethyl acetate fraction. The structures of these compounds were determined by chemical and spectral analyses. Compounds 1-4, the flavonols (6 and 11) and ellagic acid (12) were found to be active against some of the tested microorganisms, while the kaempferol 3-O-glycosides (7-9) did not show any activity, indicating the role of the free 3-OH for antibacterial activity. Addition of p-coumaryl groups results in mild activity for 10 against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. Compounds 2-5, 7 and 9-12 are reported for the first time from M. malabathricum. Compound 10 is rare, being reported only once before from a plant, without assignment of the double bond geometry in the p-coumaryl moiety.     

Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Neolitsea hiiranensis

One triterpenoid, taraxerone ( 1 ); four germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones, linderane ( 2 ), linderalactone ( 6 ), pseudoneolinderane ( 7 ), (+)-linderadine ( 8 ); one sesquiterpene dilactone, pseudoneoliacine ( 10 ); three elemane-type sesquiterpenes, isolinderalactone ( 3 ), compound 4 and sericealactone ( 9 ); one eudesmane type sesquiterpene, cryptomeridol ( 11 ); one glucoside, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside ( 12 ) along with β-sitosterol (5) were isolated from the roots of Neolitsea hiiranensis. The structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectral properties.     

The Constituents of Cananga odorata

Sixteen compounds, (+)-ushinsunine-β-N-oxide ( 1 ), cleistopholine ( 2 ), liriodenine ( 3 ), (-)-anonaine ( 4 ), (+)-nornuciferine ( 5 ), (+)-N-acetylnornuciferine ( 6 ), (-)-ushinsunine ( 7 ), (-)-norushinsunine ( 8 ), (-)-asimilobine ( 9 ), (+)-reticuline ( 10 ), N-trans-feruloyltyramine ( 11 ), β-sitosterol (12) and stigmasterol ( 13 ), lyscamine ( 14 ), (-)-anaxagoreine ( 15 ) and trans-cinnamic acid ( 16 ) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the Cananga odorata. Among them, 1 is a new stereoisomer of ushinsunine-β-N-oxide. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectral experiments.     

Phenylpropanoids from the stem bark of Jacaranda mimosaefolia

Two new compounds: 2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) ethyl-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-4-O-p-hydroxyphenylacetyl-6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and 2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) ethyl-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-4-O-piperidine-3-carboxylic acid-6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the stem bark of Jacaranda mimosaefolia. In addition, the known compounds lupeol, betulinaldehyde, terminic acid, betulinic acid, maslinic acid, β-sitosterol glucoside and isoacteoside were isolated and identified.     

Aristolactams and Alkamides of Aristolochia gigantea

A new aristolactam, aristolactam 9-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside, and two alkamides, N-cis- and N-trans-p-coumaroyl-3-O-methyldopamine, were isolated from stems of Aristolochia gigantea, together with the known compounds allantoin, E-nerolidol, β-sitosterol, (+)-kobusin, (+)-eudesmin, trans-N-feruloyltyramine, trans-N-coumaroyltyramine, trans-N-feruloyl-3-O-methyldopamine, aristolactam Ia-N-β-D-glucoside, aristolactam Ia 8-β-D-glucoside, aristolactam IIIa, and magnoflorine. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses.     

Antibacterial compounds from Siraitia grosvenorii leaves

Luo Han Guo (LHG) fruits (Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle) have been used as traditional medicine in China for centuries to treat sore throats and coughs. However, LHG leaves are seldom used and minimal scientific information is available on them. In our recent study on the leaves of S. grosvenorii, the bioactive compounds β-amyrin (2), aloe emodin (5), aloe-emodin acetate (6), 5α,8α-epidioxy-24(R)-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (7) and p-hydroxyl benzyl acid (8), accompanied by n-hexadecaoic acid (1), 12-methyltetradecanoic acid (3), β-sitosterol (4) and daucosterol (9) were first obtained. Their structures have been identified on the basis of spectroscopic studies. The activities of these compounds were evaluated in?vitro against the growth of oral bacterial species Streptococcus mutans, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and the yeast Candida albicans, and their minimum inhibition concentrations were determined. Furthermore, the activity against S. mutans is likely to be due to the inhibition of glucosyltransferase. The experimental data provide important information on bioactive phytochemicals in the leaf of S. grosvenorii, which shows that the leaf can be a new resource as an antibacterial agent.     

An efficient reagent for synthesis of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 3-methylthio-2-propenyl p-tolyl sulfone

Alkylation of 3-methylthio-2-propenyl p-tolyl sulfone (1) with an alkyl halide and a base (NaH or KOH-TOMAC) took place at the position α to the sulfonyl group to give optionally a mono- or dialkylated product (2 or 3), which was converted to β-monosubstituted or β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (6 or 7), respectively, by TiCl₄-assisted hydrolysis followed by the removal of p-toluenesulfinic acid.