2,3-Seco-2,3-dioxo-lyngbyatoxin A from a Red Sea strain of the marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens

Chemical investigation of the organic extract of a Red Sea strain of the cyanobacterium Moorea producens has afforded 2,3-seco-2,3-dioxo-lyngbyatoxin A (1). Five known compounds including lyngbyatoxin A (2), majusculamides A and B (3 and 4), aplysiatoxin (5) and debromoaplysiatoxin (6) were also isolated. Their structures were elucidated by using HR-FAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR analyses. The compounds were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against HeLa cancer cells. Lyngbyatoxin A (2) showed potent activity, with an IC₅₀ of 9.2 nM, while 5 and 6 displayed modest activity with IC₅₀ values of 13.3 and 3.03 μM, respectively. In contrast, compounds 1, 3 and 4 were inactive, with IC₅₀ values greater than 50 μM. The lack of cytotoxicity for 2,3-seco-2,3-dioxo-lyngbyatoxin A (1) demonstrates that the indole moiety in lyngbyatoxin (2) is essential for its cytotoxicity, and suggests that detoxification of 2 may be carried out by biological oxidation of the indole moiety to yield 1.     

On the metabolites produced by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides a fungus proposed for the Ambrosia artemisiifolia biocontrol; spectroscopic data and absolute configuration assignment of colletochlorin A

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is responsible for serious allergies induced on humans. Different approaches for its control were proposed during the COST Action FA1203 “Sustainable management of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe” (SMARTER). Fungal secondary metabolites often show potential herbicidal activity. Three phytotoxins were purified from the fungal culture filtrates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, isolated from infected leaves of A. artemisiifolia. They were identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods as colletochlorin A, orcinol and tyrosol (1, 2 and 3). The absolute configuration 6’R to colletochlorin A was assigned for the first time applying the advanced Mosher’s method. When assayed by leaf-puncture on A. artemisiifolia only 1 caused the appearance of large necrosis. The same symptoms were also induced by 1 on ambrosia plantlets associated with plant wilting. On Lemna minor, colletochlorin A caused a clear fronds browning, with a total reduction in chlorophyll content.     

Argininosecologanin,a secoiridoid-derived guanidine alkaloid from the roots of Lonicera insularis

A new secoiridoid-derived guanidine alkaloid, argininosecologanin (1), along with 12 known iridoids and secoiridoids (2–13), was isolated from the roots of Lonicera insularis. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by the spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their spectral data with previously reported data. Compound 1 was assigned as the first secoiridoid-derived guanidine alkaloid isolated as a natural product. A plausible biogenetic pathway for 1 is suggested based on its structural similarity to (E)-aldosecologanin (4).     

A new pair of enantiomeric lignans from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia and their absolute configuration

A new pair of sesamin-type lignan enantiomers (±)-morifolia A (1a/1b) together with eight known analogues (2–9) were isolated from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia. Their structures were established by spectroscopic data and the absolute configurations of 1a/1b were determined by ECD calculation. All compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and compounds 1a, 1b, 2–4 and 7–9 exhibited pronounced inhibition with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.97–8.01 (μM, being more active than the positive control, quercetin (IC₅₀ = 15.32 (M).     

UV-stability and UV-protective activity of alkaloids from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa

Alkaloids from the marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa damirones A (1) and B (2); makaluvamines H (3), C (4), G (5), and L (6); and zyzzyanones A (8) and B (9) were investigated for the ability to protect egg-cell membranes of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus from UV-radiation. Damirones, zyzzyanones, and tricyclic makaluvamines C (4) and H (3) exhibited the greatest membrane-protective activity. It was shown that makaluvamines G (5) and L (6) were converted by UV-irradiation into damirones A (1), B (2), tricyclic makaluvamines H (3), C (4), and zyzzyanones A (8) and B (9), respectively. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 62–64, January–February, 2006.     

New 1, 2-naphthoquinone-derived pigments from the mycobiont of lichen Trypethelium eluteriae Sprengel

A new yellow pigment trypethelonamide A (1), and a new dark violet-red pigment 5′-hydroxytrypethelone (2), as well as three known dark violet-red pigments (+)-8-hydroxy-7-methoxytrypethelone (3), (+)-trypethelone (4) and (-)-trypethelone (5) were isolated from the cultured lichenized fungus Trypethelium eluteriae. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined to be 1, 2-naphthoquinone derivatives by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were assigned by quantum electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicities against A549, HepG2 and RKO cell lines, and antioxidant effects on DPPH. Compounds 1–5 showed moderate and weak cytotoxicities against RKO cell line with IC₅₀ from 22.6 to 113.5 μM.     

A new abietane diterpenoid from the roots of Tripterygium regelii

A new abietane diterpenoid, tripterregeline A (1), together with six known diterpenoids (2–7), were isolated from the roots of Tripterygium regelii. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the known compounds were identified by comparison with data reported in the literature. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 1–7 showed significant inhibitory effects against various human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.58 to 21.06 μM.     

Bioactive furanocoumarins from the stems and leaves of Clausena hainanensis

A new furanocoumarin, clauhainanin A (1), together with seven known furanocoumarins (2–8), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Clausena hainanensis. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and the known compounds were identified by comparisons with data reported in the literature. All known compounds (2–8) were isolated from C. hainanensis for the first time. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines: HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 in vitro. Compounds 1–8 exhibited significant inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.36 to 18.96 μM.     

New 19-oxygenated steroid from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea

A new 19-oxygenated steroid, 25-acetate-nebrosteroid K (1), and five known steroids (2–6), along with one known 19-hydroxy steroidal glycoside (7) were obtained from the gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea collected from the South China Sea. The structure and relative configuration of 1 were elucidated by using comprehensive spectroscopic data including NOESY spectra. Compound 1 represents the first example of 19-oxygenated steroid with a 19-oic acid methyl ester group isolated from gorgonians. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for lethal activity to brine shrimp Artemia salina and cytotoxicity against A549 and HL-60 cell lines. Among them, 1 showed strong lethality towards A. salina.     

Two new linear acetogenins from the fruits of Goniothalamus gracilipes

Two new linear acetogenins, gracilipin A (1) and methylsaccopetrin A (2) along with seven known compounds, saccopetrin A (3), 7,3′,4′-trimethylquercetin (4), rhamnazin (5), casticin (6), isokanugin (7), melisimplexin (8) and 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyflavone (9) were isolated from the fruits of Goniothalamus gracilipes Bân. Their structures were established by spectral analysis, such as mass spectrometry, 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and circular dichroism (CD). Compounds 1 and 3 showed cytotoxic activity against KB cell line with IC₅₀ values of 14.6 and 15.3 μM, respectively.     

New coumarin from the roots of Prangos pabularia

The new coumarin 1, yuganin A (7-methoxy-8-((1S,2S)-1,2,3-trihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-2H-chromen-2-one) along with nine known coumarins, heraclenol 3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), oxypeucedanin hydrate 3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), heraclenol (4), oxypeucedanin hydrate (5), osthole (6), oxypeucedanin (7), heraclenin (8), isoimperatorin (9), imperatorin (10) and the disaccharide sucrose (11), have been isolated from the roots of Prangos pabularia, and the structures of these isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic means, especially, UV, HR-ESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the anti-melanogenic effect of yuganin A and its inhibitory effect on B16 cells were evaluated. Yuganin A may be useful in the treatment of hyperpigmentation and as a skin-whitening agent in the cosmetics industry.     

A new12-membered lactone from the stems of Ficus auriculata

A new lactone ficusine D (1), together with six known compounds (2–7) were isolated from the stems of the Ficus auriculata. The new compound 1 was a rare 12-membered lactone containing a quinone ring skeleton. The structure of the 1 was elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data. The relative and absolute configurations of 1 were elucidated by the ROESY analysis and biogenesis pathway. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six pathogenic bacteria in vitro. Compounds 6 and 7 exhibited potent antibacterial activities against Bacillus cereus with the MIC values of 2.5 and 5 μM, respectively.     

Experimental evidence for the breakdown of conventional elasticity in smectics A

Abstract

Grinstein and Pelcovits have shown that anharmonic terms in the ‘microscopic’ elastic free energy lead to a qualitative change in the macroscopic elastic expressions describing the equilibrium behaviour of smectic A liquid crystals. In particular, they showed that the elastic moduli B(ω = 0,q) and K ₁ (ω = 0,q) vanish and diverge, respectively as In(q) for small wavevector q. In the dynamical case (ω ≠ 0), as predicted by Mazenko, Ramaswamy and Toner, the influence of anharmonicity is more dramatic: some viscosities diverge as 1/ω We present in this paper a finite ω version of the non-linear hydrodynamics of smectic A and what we believe to be the first experimental evidence of the decrease of the layer compressional modulus B(ω, q), at low frequency ω and wavevector q.     

A new arbutin derivative from the leaves of Vaccinium dunalianum wight

A new arbutin derivative, namely dunalianosides J (1), along with six known compounds, arbutin (2), robustaside A (3), 6′-O-caffeoylarbutin (4), dunalianoside D (5), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-sambubioside (7) were isolated from the leaves of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight (Ericaceae). The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR, HR-MS and CD spectroscopic analyses. In which, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-sambubioside (7) was isolated from the genus Vaccinium for the first time.     

Construction of the 17-Thiasteroid Ring System by the Diene-Sulfur Dioxide Cycloaddition Reaction

Abstract

We recently showed² that the steroid ring system can be constructed with a phosphorus atom replacing a carbon in the D-ring by the cycloaddition of a phosphorus (III) halide with a diene that is a vinyl dihydrophenanthrene derivative, such as (1). The phosphine oxide (3) resulting from the hydrolysis of the initial cycloadduct (2) has some resemblance to the hormone equilenin, which also has rings A and B in naphthalene form.     

A facile method for the synthesis of free-standing pillar[5]arene-based two-dimensional covalent organic monolayers in solution

ABSTRACT

This report describes a facile method by which, without using any surface-assisted growth or pre-organisation, free-standing two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic monolayers (COMs) were synthesised through condensation reactions of planar tri-aldehydes with A1/A2-diamino-substituted pillar[5]arene (DAP5). In the as-formed monolayers (DAP5-COM-1 and DAP5-COM-2), the tubular pentagonal pillar[5]arene units positioned out of the 2D polymer planes suppress efficiently the interlayer π-π stacking interactions. Both DAP5-COM-1 and DAP5-COM-2 can be transferred onto solid surfaces for further characterisation and were found to possess unusual fluorescence up-conversion property.     

Cytotoxic monoterpenoid indole alkaloids isolated from the barks of Voacanga africana Staph.

A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid compound (1) and six known monoterpenoid indole alkaloids compounds (2–7) were isolated from the barks of Voacanga africana Staph. The structures were established by spectral analysis as ibogamine-16-carboxylic acid,17,20-didehydro-5,6-dioxo-10-methoxy-methyl ester (1), voacamine (2), vobasine (3), voacangine (4), voacristine (5), 19-epi-voacristine (6) and 19-epi-heyneanine (7). Compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against five cell lines (HEPG-2, A375, MDA-MB-231, SH-SY5Y, CT26). Among them, compounds 2 and 6 displayed significant inhibitory activities, compounds 3, 4 and 5 showed moderate inhibitory activities, while compounds 1 and 7 showed no inhibitory activities against the five cell lines.     

化学修饰1，4，7，10-四氮杂环十二烷提高铼酸化合物的相变温度

通过碘甲烷对1,4,7,10-四氮杂环十二烷（cyclen）进行化学修饰得到甲基取代的N-甲基-1,4,7,10-四氮杂环十二烷（Me-cyclen）。将cyclen和Me-cyclen与HReO₄以1∶2的比例进行反应,分别获得化合物（cyclen）（ReO₄）₂（1）和（Me-cyclen）（ReO₄）₂（2）。差示扫描量热法和介电研究发现化合物1和2具有可逆的相变,相变温度为324 K （1）和384 K （2）。以上研究表明：通过对环状有机胺进行化学改性,在降低分子对称性同时可以显著提高该有机-无机杂化材料的相变温度。     

Two new 2-arylbenzofurnan derivatives from the leaves of Morus alba

Two new 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives, moracinfurol A and B (1–2), and ten known compounds (3–12) were isolated from the leaves of Morus alba. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. All of the 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxicity against A549 cells. Some cytotoxic 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives might induce autophagy characterized by the accumulation of LC-3 Ⅱ.     

Two new phenolic constituents from the root bark of Morus alba L. and their cardioprotective activity

A new biphenyl-furocoumarin, named morescoumarin A (1), and a new prenylated flavanone, named morflavanone A (2) were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L., together with four known compounds (3–6). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. The cardioprotective effects of these compounds against doxorubicin-induced cell death were evaluated by MTT method.