Alkaloids ofHaplophyllum foliosum

The alkaloids skimmianine, dubinidine, foliosidine, graveoline, and compounds (I) and (II) have been isolated from the epigeal part of the plantHaplophyllum foliosum Vved. (family Rutaceae). On the basis of the spectral characteristics of (I) and its 0-isopropylidene derivative it has been established that the compound is the alkaloid edulinine. Substance (II) was identified as ferulic acid by direct comparison with an authentic sample. This is the first time that edulinine and ferulic acid have been detected in plants of the genusHaplophyllum.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 803–805, November–December, 1980.     

Cool Temperature Enhances Growth,Ferulic Acid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis While Inhibiting Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis, a perennial herb that produces ferulic acid and phthalides for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, prefers growing at an altitude of 1800–3000 m. Geographical models have predicted that high altitude, cool temperature and sunshade play determining roles in geo-authentic formation. Although the roles of altitude and light in yield and quality have been investigated, the role of temperature in regulating growth, metabolites biosynthesis and gene expression is still unclear. In this study, growth characteristics, metabolites contents and related genes expression were investigated by exposing A. sinensis to cooler (15 °C) and normal temperatures (22 °C). The results showed that plant biomass, the contents of ferulic acid and flavonoids and the expression levels of genes related to the biosynthesis of ferulic acid (PAL1, 4CLL4, 4CLL9, C3H, HCT, CCOAMT and CCR) and flavonoids (CHS and CHI) were enhanced at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. The contents of ligustilide and volatile oils exhibited slight increases, while polysaccharide contents decreased in response to cooler temperature. Based on gene expression levels, ferulic acid biosynthesis probably depends on the CCOAMT pathway and not the COMT pathway. It can be concluded that cool temperature enhances plant growth, ferulic acid and flavonoid accumulation but inhibits polysaccharide biosynthesis in A. sinensis. These findings authenticate that cool temperature plays a determining role in the formation of geo-authentic and also provide a strong foundation for regulating metabolites production of A. sinensis.     

Consecutive Fragmentation Mechanisms of Protonated Ferulic Acid Probed by Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation Spectroscopy and Electronic Structure Calculations

Protonated ferulic acid and its principle fragment ion have been characterized using infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations at the B3LYP/6-311?+?G(d,p) level of theory. Due to its extensively conjugated structure, protonated ferulic acid is observed to yield three stable fragment ions in IRMPD experiments. It is proposed that two parallel fragmentation pathways of protonated ferulic acid are being observed. The first pathway involves proton transfer, resulting in the loss of water and subsequently carbon monoxide, producing fragment ions m/z 177 and 149, respectively. Optimization of m/z 177 yields a species containing an acylium group, which is supported by a diagnostic peak in the IRMPD spectrum at 2168?cm^?1. The second pathway involves an alternate proton transfer leading to loss of methanol and rearrangement to a five-membered ring.     

Polymeres porteurs de greffons peptidiques: Polymérisation et copolymérisation de monomères styréniques parasubstitués par des oligopeptides

Polymers and copolymers with peptide pendant chains have been prepared by polymerization and copolymerization of styrene with para styryl peptide monomers terminated by a carboxylic acid or primary amine group.

Polymerizations of I and II have been initiated by AIBN, in tetrahydrofuran or N,N-dimethylformamide. For polymers with functional ends on side-chains protected by urethane functions (amino group) or ester function (acid group), polymer regeneration has been carried out by acidolysis (urethane) and basic hydrolysis (ester). The influences of monomer structure on polymerization yield and the water solubility after neutralisation, have been considered. Copolymerizations of styrene with I and II have been studied. Random copolymers, with solubility in various solvents depending on their composition, have been obtained. Reactivity ratios have been determined.     

Rate studies of silylation with silylamides

The rates of silylation of p-nitrophenol with N,O-bis(trialkylsilyl)acetamides in dioxane have been measured, the reaction shown to be slowed down by replacing methyl by ethyl in the trialkylsilyl group. The rates of methanolysis of some N,O-bis(aryldimethylsilyl)acetamides (I) and N-aryldimethylsilylacetamides (II) have been measured. The reactions of compounds II were found to be acid catalyzed and accelerated by electron-withdrawing substituents in the benzene ring. At 30°C the methanolysis was shown to be entropy controlled. Compounds of series I were found to be aproximately 1000 times more reactive than those of series II. Introducing a methyl at nitrogen in the monosilylamides produced a similar rate enhancing effect as introduction of a second silyl group. Promotion of (p-d)π coordination of silicon to oxygen or nitrogen in the ground state of the silylamide molecule is suggested as the factor responsible for this effect.     

Alkaloids ofCorydalis paniculigera

The alkaloid composition of the roots ofCorydalis paniculigera Rgl., collected in the flowering phase in the Alai range, has been studied. Chloroform extraction yielded 0.39% of total alkaloids, from which were isolated wilsonirine, thalicmidine, coclaurine, stylopine, dihydrosanguinarine, sanguinarine, oxosanguinarine, adlumine, adlumidine, bicucculine, sibiricine, protopine, pancorine, and corunnine, and new alkaloids which have been called pancoridine (I) and pancorinine (II). The structures of (I) and (II) have been established on the basis of spectral characteristics and also the production of wilsonirine on their reduction in sulfuric acid.     

New coumarins ofHaplophyllum obtusifolium

Two coumarins have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the epigeal part ofHaplophyllum obtusifolium Lebed.: capensin (I) and the new coumarin obtusicin, C₅H₁₆O₆, (II), mp 81–91°C (CH₃OH). The acid hydrolysis of (I) and (II) leads to fraxetin. On the basis of the results of a study of acetylation products and the spectral characteristics (IR, UV, PMR, and mass spectra) it has been established that obtusicin has the structure of 8-hydroxy-7-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methyl-but-2′-enyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin.     

Glass transition temperatures of poly(itaconic acid ester)s containing pendant cycloalkyl rings

A series of poly(itaconic acid ester)s with pendant cycloalkyl rings, ranging in size from cyclopropyl to cyclododecyl, have been prepared. Two distinct groups have been synthesized; Group I derivatives have the ring attached directly to the main chain through an oxycarbonyl group and Group II polymers have a methylene unit inserted between the ring and the oxycarbonyl group. The glass transition temperatures, T_g, have been measured for polymers in each group. In Group I, T_g increased with ring size up to the dicyclohexyl derivative, but it then decreased with further increase in ring size. The decrease in T_g is due to the inherent flexibility of the ring which leads to internal plasticization of the sample. This effect appears to predominate over ring size in determining the magnitude of T_g, for 7–12 membered rings. Similar trends have been found in the Group II polymers, but the effect of the ring becomes less important the further it is moved away from the chain backbone.     

Phytoecdysteroids of plants of the genusSilene. III. Sileneoside A — A new glycosidic ecdysteroid ofSilene brachuica

Ecdysterone (I), viticosterone E, polypodine B, and integristerone A (II) have been isolated from the epigeal part of the plantSilene brachuica Boiss. In addition to substances (I) and (II), the phytoecdysteroid sileneoside A has been isolated from the root of this plant. It has been shown that sileneoside A is ecdysterone 22-O-α-D-galactoside.     

Synthesis, electrochemistry and metal binding properties of monosubstituted ferrocenoyl peptides with thioether-containing sidechains

Ferrocenoyl peptides incorporating thioether functionality respond more strongly to mercury(II) than to other heavy metal ions in solution. Compounds reported previously in this context are all 1,1′-disubstituted, and all include two or more sulfur-containing amino acids. To test whether two thioether groups are required for effective mercury binding by these systems, we have prepared a series of singly-substituted ferrocenoyl peptides from ferrocenecarboxylic acid and l-methionine, S-methyl-l-cysteine or S-trityl-l-cysteine, and tested them as electrochemical probes for mercury(II). Nine ferrocenoyl peptides have been synthesised using a Boc-protecting group strategy and HBTU-mediated peptide coupling. The electrochemical properties of these compounds have been determined using cyclic voltammetry, and all show fully reversible one electron oxidation steps. Forward sweep half wave peaks (E_F), reverse sweep half wave peaks (E_R), peak separations (ΔE_P) and half wave potentials (E_1/2) are reported. Changes in the potential of the iron(II)/iron(III) redox couple of the ferrocene core have been used to quantify heavy metal-peptide interactions, revealing that these monotopic systems also respond more strongly to mercury(II) than to zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I) and lead(II). NMR experiments to characterise the peptide-mercury interaction implicate the thioether sulfur as the site of mercury binding and indicate 1:1 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of ferrocenoyl-S-methyl-l-cysteine methyl ester is also reported. The greater responsiveness of these systems to mercury(II) makes them interesting leads for the development of biologically inspired sensors for this toxic heavy metal.     

Identification and quantification of 13 components in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with pressurized liquid extraction

Angelica sinensis (Danggui in Chinese), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is also used as a health food product for women's care in Europe and America. Therefore, the demand for Danggui is enormous throughout the world. Due to the shortage of Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas are commonly used as the substitutes of Danggui in the market of southeast Asia. However, the three common Angelica roots showed variation in their genetic and chemical composition. Up to date, it is thought that ferulic acid, ligustilide and other phthalides such as butylidenephthalide are the biologically active components of Danggui. In this paper, the contents of 13 compounds including ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, E-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, E-butylidenephthalide, 3-butylphthalide, 3-butylidene-4-hydroxyphthalide, senkyunolide A, 6,7-epoxyligustilide, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide I, and 6,7-dihydroxyligustilide were determined or estimated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The results showed that GC-MS coupled with PLE offered a simple, rapid and high sensitive method to analysis of components in Angelica root. And the contents of investigated compounds in Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas, which are used as Danggui in China, Japan and Korea, respectively, were highly variant. It is thought that interaction of multiple chemical compounds contributes to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines. However, the overall clinical efficacy of these different Danggui has not been determined. Therefore, comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activities of different Angelica root is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of therapeutic effects of Danggui.     

Determination of Trace Amounts of Chlorogenic Acid and Three of Its Metabolites Using Time-Resolved LPME and LC-UV Detection in Biological Specimens

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an effective antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. Since the absorption and metabolism of CGA remains controversial, time-resolved binary-solvent synergy liquid-phase microextraction (TRBSS-LPME) using hollow fiber was developed for the extraction of CGA and its metabolites: caffeic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid, from biological specimens. In this technique, the target drugs were extracted into a binary-solvent immobilized in the wall pores of hollow fiber. The extraction occurred due to a pH gradient between the two sides of the fiber. After extraction, an aliquot was analyzed by LC. Under the optimal conditions, the CGA, caffeic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid had good correlation of determination values (R > 0.97) and the detection limits (LODs) were 1.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 ng mL^?1 in plasma; and 1.0, 50, 10, and 50 ng mL^?1 in urine. The mean recoveries in plasma were 90.8–119.8% for CGA and its metabolites: caffeic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid evaluated and the mean recoveries of caffeic acid and p-hydroxycinnamic acid in urine were 81.6–111.6%. Finally, TRBSS-LPME was successfully used for the determination of target drugs in biological specimens. It not only extended the linear range of CGA determination in biological samples and improved the sensitivity, but also eliminated interferences from complex constituents in the biological specimens and reduced the LOD.     

4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and ruthenium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis and transfer hydrogenation of ketones

4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ag(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes and Ru(II) NHC complexes have been synthesized. The Ag(I) complexes were synthesized from the imidazolium salts and Ag₂O in dichloromethane at room temperature. The Ru(II) complexes were prepared from Ag(I) NHC complexes by transmetallation. The six 4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ag(I) NHC complexes and six 4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ru(II) NHC complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. The Ru(II) NHC complexes show catalytic activity for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones.     

An efficient proton-coupled electron-transfer process during oxidation of ferulic acid by horseradish peroxidase: coming full cycle

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations were utilized to study the process of oxidation of a native substrate (ferulic acid) by the active species of horseradish peroxidase (Dunford, H. B. Heme Peroxidases; Wiley-VCH: New York, 1999), Compound I and Compound II, and the manner by which the enzyme returns to its resting state. The results match experimental findings and reveal additional novel features. The calculations demonstrate that both oxidation processes are initiated by a proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) step, in which the active species of the enzyme participate only as electron-transfer partners, while the entire proton-transfer event is being relayed from the substrate to and from the His42 residue by a water molecule (W402). The reason for the observed (Henriksen, A; Smith, A. T.; Gajhede, M. J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 35005-35011) similar reactivities of Compound I and Compound II toward ferulic acid is that the reactive isomer of Compound II is the, hitherto unobserved, Por(*)(+)Fe(III)OH isomer that resembles Compound I. The PCET mechanism reveals that His42 and W402 are crucial moieties and they determine the function of the HRP enzyme and account for its ability to perform substrate oxidation (Poulos, T. L. Peroxidases and Cytochrome P450. In The Porphyrin Handbook; Kadish, K. M., Smith, K. M., Guilard, R., Eds.; Academic Press: New York, 2000; Vol. 4, pp 189). In view of the results, the possibility of manipulating substrate oxidation by magnetic fields is an intriguing possibility.     

Screening of Potential Thrombin and Factor Xa Inhibitors from the Danshen–Chuanxiong Herbal Pair through a Spectrum–Effect Relationship Analysis

In this study; a spectrum–effect relationship analysis combined with a high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis was established to screen and identify active components that can inhibit thrombin and factor Xa (THR and FXa) in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma–Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Danshen–Chuanxiong) herbal pair. Ten potential active compounds were predicted through a canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and eight of them were tentatively identified through an LC–MS analysis. Furthermore; the enzyme inhibitory activity of six available compounds; chlorogenic acid; Z-ligustilide; caffeic acid; ferulic acid; tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA; were tested to verify the feasibility of the method. Among them; chlorogenic acid was validated to possess a good THR inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ of 185.08 µM. Tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA are potential FXa inhibitors with IC₅₀ of 112.59 µM and 138.19 µM; respectively. Meanwhile; molecular docking results show that tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA; which both have binding energies of less than −7.0 kcal·mol⁻¹; can interact with FXa by forming H-bonds with residues of SER214; GLY219 and GLN192. In short; the THR and FXa inhibitors in the Danshen–Chuanxiong herbal pair have been successfully characterized through a spectrum–effect relationship analysis and an LC–MS analysis.     

RP-LC Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Ferulic Acid and Isoferulic Acid in Rat Plasma After Taking Traditional Chinese Medicinal-Preparation: Guanxinning Lyophilizer

A sensitive, simple, and accurate method for determination and pharmacokinetic study of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid in rat plasma was developed using a reversed-phase column liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) method with UV detection. Sample preparations were carried out by protein precipitation with the addition of methanol, followed by evaporation to dryness. The resultant residue was then reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into a Kromasil C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d. with 5 μm particle size). The mobile phase was methanol-1% formic acid (33:67, v/v). The calibration plots were linear over the range 5.780–5780 ng·mL^?1 for ferulic acid and 1.740–348.0 ng·mL^?1 for isoferulic acid. Mean recoveries were 85.1% and 91.1%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of within-day and between-day precision were not above 15% for both of the analytes. The limits of quantification were 5.780 ng·mL^?1 for ferulic acid and 1.740 ng·mL^?1 for isoferulic acid. This RP-LC method was used successfully in pharmacokinetic studies of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid in rat plasma after intravenous injection of Guanxinning Lyophilizer.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of copper(II) and silver(I) complexes of a biphenyl-bridged bipyrazolyl ligand

A semirigid bipyrazolyl ligand, 4,4??-bis[(3??,5??-diethyl-1H-pyrazol-4??-yl)methylene)]-1,1??-biphenyl (H₂L), and four of its Ag(I) and Cu(II) complexes have been prepared and structurally characterized. X-ray analysis demonstrates that the Ag(I) complexes are dinuclear molecular rectangle, while the Cu(II) complexes display a twisted rectangular structure. Two different conformations, namely cis and trans, have been observed for this bipyrazolyl ligand.     

Diagrammes potentiel—niveau d'acidite dans les milieux H2OH3PO4—I Systemes electrochimiques ne faisant pas intervenir le proton

The conditional potentials of redox systems not involving protons have been studied as a function of phosphoric acid concentration (1–14M), with the ferricinium/ferrocene couple as the comparison system. The following systems were considered: Cu(II)/Cu, Cd(II)/Cd, Sn(II)/Sn, Zn(II)/Zn, Ag(I)/Ag, Pb(II)/Pb, Hg(II)/Hg, Bi(III)/Bi and particularly Fe(III)/Fe(II) and Fe(II)/Fe. The hexacyanoferrate(III)/hexacyanoferrate(II) and iodine/iodide couples were also studied. The results are presented as a potential—H₃PO₄ concentration diagram (or potential—acidity level diagram).     

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide: : A selective organic extractant

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide (TOPS) has been investigated as the stationary phase in reversed-phase partition paper Chromatographie separations using nitric or hydrochloric acids as the mobile phase. TOPS has also been studied as an extractant for metal ions. Silver, mercury (II), and palladium (II) were found to have RF values of zero when nitric acid was used as the mobile phase. These same ions were also selectively extracted from aqueous nitric acid solutions. Gold(III), mercury(II), palladium (II), and platinum (IV) were found to have RF values of zero when hydrochloric acid was used as the mobile phase. However, only gold(III) and mercury(II) were extracted from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions in liquid-liquid extraction systems. Several separations were successfully performed from 1 M nitric acid.     

The enthalpies of protonation of propenyllithiums,phenyllithium, and ethyllithium

The enthalpies of protonation of allyllithium (I), trans-1-propenyllithium (II), 2-propenyllithium (III), phenyllithium (IV), and ethyllithium (V) in diethyl ether have been determined calorimetrically. The aggregations of I, II, III, and V have been determined by vapor pressure measurements. The significance of the data is discussed.