Secondary metabolites isolated from the fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Biscogniauxia cylindrospora</Emphasis> BCRC 33717

One new dihydroisocoumarin, (3S)-5-hydroxy-8-O-methylmellein (1), as well as nine known compounds, 5-formylmellein (2), mellein-5-carboxylic acid (3), 5-hydroxymethylmellein (4), 3β-hydroxystigmast-5- en-7-one (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (7), vanillic acid (8), methyl paraben (9), and syringaldehyde (10), were isolated from the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of rice fermented with the endophytic fungus Biscogniauxia cylindrospora (BCRC 33717). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy together with HR-ESI-MS analysis and comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds.     

New lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syringa reticulata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mandshurica</Emphasis>

In the search for platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists, two new lignan compounds were isolated from the leaves of Syringa reticulata Hara var. mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated as (7R,8S, 8'S)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-8,9-dihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol A) and (7R,8S,8'S)-3',4'methylenedioxy-4-methoxy-3,8,9-trihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol B), Mandshuricol A and B showed antagonistic activity on PAF in the [³H] PAF receptor binding assay with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 × 10^–5 M and 3.5 × 10^–5 M, respectively.     

A new ten-membered lactone from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tubercularia</Emphasis> sp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> TF5, an endophytic fungus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus mairei</Emphasis>

One new ten-membered lactone (1) named (Z)-4,6,9-trihydroxy-10-nonyl-3,4,5,6,9,10-hexahydrooxecin-2-one along with 5-methoxycarbonylmellein (2) and cytochalasin D (3) were isolated from the culture of the endophytic fungus strain Tubercularia sp. TF5, originally separated from the inner bark of Taxus mairei obtained in Fujian Province, Southeast China. The structures of compounds 1–3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of 1 were analyzed but it showed no significant activities.     

A new cytotoxic isocoumarin from endophytic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> SP. 091402 of the mangrove plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bruguiera sexangula</Emphasis>

A new isocoumarin, (3R*,4S*)-6,8-dihydroxy-3,4,7-trimethylisocoumarin (1), and five known compounds were isolated from mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. 091402. The structures of all the compounds were elucidated by analysis of spectrometric data.     

C-glucosyl flavones from the seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus jujuba</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">spinosa</Emphasis>

A new C-glucosyl flavone, 6‴-vanilloylspinosin (1), was isolated from the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, together with three known C-glucosyl flavones, spinosin (2), 6‴-feruloylspinosin (3), and isospinosin (4). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectral methods (1D NMR, ESI-MS, HR-MS, 2D NMR).     

A new griseofulvin derivative from the mangrove endophytic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporothrix</Emphasis> SP.

A new griseofulvin derivative, 7-chloro-2',5,6-trimethoxy-6'-methylspiro(benzofuran-2(3H),1'-(2) cyclohexene)3,4'-dione (1), together with the known 2-acetyl-7-methoxybenzofuran (2), was isolated from the marine-derived mangrove endophytic fungus Sporothrix sp. (No. 4335). The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-conformers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chloroacetylcytisine

N-Chloroacetylcytisine was synthesized by acylation of (–)-cytisine. Stable Z- and E-conformers with respect to rotational isomerism around the N-12–CO bond were found in PMR spectra at room temperature. The point at which PMR resonances of the Z- and E-conformers coalesced upon heating was measured. The transition barrier between the conformers was estimated.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.     

Lipids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halostachys caspica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halocharis hispida</Emphasis>

The composition of lipids from the aerial parts of two species of halophytes from the family Chenopodiaceae, Halostachys caspica C. A. Mey. and Halocharis hispida Bge. was determined. Neutral lipids (NL, 62.1 and 54.2%, respectively) dominated the total lipids (TL) of these plants. More than a third of the NL were esters of aliphatic alcohols and phytosterols (FAE). Fatty acids 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 dominated the acids of FAE; 16:0, 18:1, and 18:3, the phospholipids. The principal fatty acids of glycolipids were unsaturated acids (68.3 and 75.1%) with linolenic acid dominating (44.9 and 43.5%). Presented at the 7th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Tashkent, October 16–18, 2007. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 276–278, May–June, 2009.     

Secondary metabolites of the Vietnamese nudibranch mollusk <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllidiella pustulosa</Emphasis>

The chemical composition of the EtOH extract of the nudibranch mollusk Phyllidiella pustulosa was studied. Six sesquiterpenoids including the novel secondary metabolite (+)-10(R)-isothiocyanoalloaromodendrane were isolated. The steroid composition of the extract was studied. The structures of three previously known ketosteroids and six sterols were identified.     

Constituents of the Endophytic Fungus Annulohypoxylon boveri var. microspora BCRC 34012

A new azaphilone metabolite with a new substitution pattern, named annulohypoxylin ( 1 ), together with twelve known compounds, were isolated from the BuOH‐soluble fraction of the 95% EtOH extract of long‐grain rice (Oryza sativa) fermented with the endophytic fungus Annulohypoxylon boveri var. microspora (BCRC 34012). Annulohypoxylin ( 1 ) contains a dihydrobenzofuran‐2,4‐dione backbone, 1‐hydroxyoctyl side chain, and one γ‐lactone ring. Its structure was determined on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses in combination with HR‐ESI‐MS. The relative configuration of 1 was confirmed by NOESY experiment. Other known compounds were identified by comparing their spectral data with those in the literature. All known compounds were isolated from this species for the first time.     

Chemical constituents isolated from the fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monascus</Emphasis> sp.

Further study of a 95% EtOH extract of red mold rice fermented with the yellow mutant of the fungus Monascus sp. led to the isolation of one new chroman derivative, namely monascuskaochroman (1), together with nine known compounds. The structure of the new compound was determined as 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-chroman-4-carboxylic acid amide. The known compounds were identified as monascin (2), ankaflavin (3), (3R,6R,7E)-(+)-3-hydroxy-4,7-megstigmadien-9-one (4), vanillin (5), syringic acid (6), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (7), trans-methyl p-coumarate (8), ferulic acid (9), and methyl N-methyl anthranylate (10).This is the first report of a naturally occurring chroman skeleton isolated from Monascus species. Compounds 4–10 were isolated from this species for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy together with HR-ESI-MS analysis, and comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-Kaurane skeleton diterpenoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton oblongifolius</Emphasis>

A new seco-kaurane type diterpenoid, ent-3,4-seco-17-oxo-kaur-4(19),15(16)-dien-3-oic acid, and a known compound, ent-3,4-seco-kaur-4(19),16(17)-dien-3-oic acid, were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data.