Structure and X-ray conformation of pseudodesmins A and B, two new cyclic lipodepsipeptides from Pseudomonas bacteria

Two new cyclic lipodepsipeptides named pseudodesmins A and B have been isolated from Pseudomonas bacteria collected from the mucus layer in the skin of the black belly salamander. Both compounds show moderate antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, including MRSA. Complete ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR assignment of both compounds afforded their covalent structure and served to guide the analysis of LC-MS and X-ray diffraction data from which the final stereochemistry could be established. Both molecules can be categorized as new members of the viscosin group of cyclic lipodepsipeptides.     

Acremines A-F, novel secondary metabolites produced by a strain of an endophytic Acremonium, isolated from sporangiophores of Plasmopara viticola in grapevine leaves

Six novel metabolites, acremines A-F have been isolated from agar cultures of a strain of Acremonium sp. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of ¹³C and ¹H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments and X-ray analysis. Acremines A-D inhibited the germination of sporangia of Plasmopara viticola.     

Caldaphnidines A-F, six new Daphniphyllum alkaloids from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Six new Daphniphyllum alkaloids, namely caldaphnidines A-F (1-6), together with eight known ones, deoxycalyciphylline B, deoxyisocalyciphylline B, bukittiggine, calycicine A, methyl homosecodaphniphyllate, daphnilactone B, and daphnezomines L-M, were isolated from the leaves and the seeds of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The structure of 1 was determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, and the structures of 2-6 were established by spectral methods, especially two-dimensional NMR techniques (¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY).     

Acremines H-N, novel prenylated polyketide metabolites produced by a strain of Acremonium byssoides

Five novel metabolites, acremines H-N, have been isolated from malt extract-peptone-glucose agar cultures of a strain of Acremonium byssoides. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of ¹³C and ¹H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments. Acremines H-N inhibited the germination of sporangia of Plasmopara viticola.     

A novel 3,8-seco-taxane metabolite from the seeds of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei

The structure of a novel 3,8-seco-bicyclic taxanoid metabolite, isolated from the methanol extract of seeds of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei, was established as (11αH)-3,8-seco-taxa-3E,7E,12(18)-triene-2α,6α,9β-triol (1) on the basis of spectral analysis including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and HR-FABMS.     

Isolation,characterization, and NMR spectroscopic data of indole and oxindole alkaloids from Mitragyna speciosa

A new indole alkaloid, 7β-hydroxy-7H-mitraciliatine (1) and a new oxindole alkaloid, isospeciofoleine (2) together with nine known alkaloids were isolated from Mitragyna speciosa and characterized by NMR, CD, and MS spectroscopic data analyses. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data of isospeciofoline (3), isorotundifoline (4), paynantheine (5), and 3-isopaynantheine (6) were also reported for the first time.     

New cytotoxic halogenated sesquiterpenes from the Egyptian sea hare, Aplysia oculifera

Two new sesquiterpenes, oculiferane (1) and epi-obtusane (2) have been isolated and identified from an acetone extract of the digestive gland of the sea hare, Aplysia oculifera. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including HREIMS, ¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC NMR; the relative configuration was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity in vitro against several human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the low μg/ml range.     

Xylomexicanins E-H,new limonoids from Xylocarpus granatum

Four novel tetranortriterpenoids, xylomexicanins E–H (1–4), were isolated from the seeds of the Chinese mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum. Among them, xylomexicanin E (1) represents the first example of limonoid with azaspiro skeleton between B (pyrrolidine) and C rings, whose biosynthetic pathways were proposed. The structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR (including ¹H, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, ¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Compound 2, the second example of a limonoid with a C-9–C-30 linkage, showed moderate activity against the A549 and RERF cell line with IC₅₀ value of 18.83 and 15.83 μM,     

Rakanmakilactones A-F, new cytotoxic sulfur-containing norditerpene dilactones from leaves of Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki

Six new S-containing norditerpene dilactones, rakanmakilactones A-F (5-10), were isolated from the leaves of Podocarpus macrophyllus D. Don var. maki Endl., along with four known norditerpene dilactones (1-4). Their structures, stereochemistry and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic studies (HRMS, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR), and single-crystal X-ray analyses. Rakanmakilactones were found to have a cytotoxic effect against P388 murine leukemia cells.     

Thyonosides A and B, two new saponins isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea

The structures of two saponins, thyonosides A and B, isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea collected in Namibia, were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹H J-resolved, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). The two compounds have the same aglycon but different oligosaccharidic chains. Thyonoside A has a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-6-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain, and thyonoside B a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain. The holostane-type aglycon features an endocyclic double bond at position 7-8, a double bond at position 25-26 and a β-acetoxy group at C16.     

Antioxidant benzylidene 2-aminoimidazolones from the Mediterranean sponge Phorbas topsenti

Three new benzylidene 2-aminoimidazolones, named phorbatopsins A-C, have been isolated from the Mediterranean marine sponge Phorbas topsenti, in addition to the known astaxanthin, adonirubin, taurine, and taurobetain. Their structures were elucidated through mass spectrometric and detailed 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The relative configuration of the molecules was determined on the basis of ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts and proton-proton coupling constants. The absolute configuration of the chiral carbon C-6 of phorbatopsin B was determined by modified Mosher's method. The antioxidant activity, evaluated through the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay, was also reported for the seven isolated compounds and structure-activity relationships are discussed. Phorbatopsin A appeared as the most active with an ORAC value of 0.88. Further investigations to support the promising antioxidant activity of phorbatopsin A will be followed.     

Marine bacterial inhibitors from the sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus sp.

Chromatographic separation of a crude extract obtained from the fungus Aspergillus sp., isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Tethya aurantium, yielded a new tryptophan derived alkaloid, 3-((1-hydroxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]diazepine-2,5-dione (1), and a new meroterpenoid, austalide R (2), together with three known compounds (3–5). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive one and two-dimensional NMR (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HMBC, and ROESY) and mass spectral analysis. Interestingly, the compounds exhibited antibacterial activity when tested against a panel of marine bacteria, with 1 selectively inhibiting Vibrio species and 2 showing a broad spectrum of activity. In contrast, no significant activity was observed against terrestrial bacterial strains and the murine cancer cell line L5178Y.     

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids from Huperzia carinata and Huperzia squarrosa

Eleven Lycopodium alkaloids with lycodine-type, lycopodine-type, and fawcettimine-related skeletons were isolated from the whole plants of Huperzia carinata (Desv. Ex. Poir.) Trevis and Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst) Trevis (Huperziaceae). Among them, 8,15-dihydrohuperzine A (2), lycocarinatine A (3), and lycoposerramine U N-oxide (11) are new compounds. The structures of these new alkaloids were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR correlations. Some of these isolated alkaloids were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity.     

Bacillamide, a novel algicide from the marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. SY-1, against the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides

Bacillamide (1) was isolated as a new algicide against the harmful dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, from the marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. SY-1, and its structure was elucidated by extensive two-dimensional NMR techniques including ¹H-¹⁵N HMBC analysis and mass analysis. Bacillamide showed algicidal activity against C. polykrikoides with LC₅₀ of 3.2 μg/ml.     

Structures of new alkaloids sessilifoliamides A-D from Stemona sessilifolia

Four new Stemona alkaloids, sessilifoliamides A-D (1-4), were isolated from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia, along with five known alkaloids, stenine (5), 2-oxostenine (6), stemoninoamide (7), tuberostemonone (8), and neotuberostemonol (9). The structures and absolute configurations of the new alkaloids were determined by the spectral studies (HRMS, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR), single-crystal X-ray analyses, and chemical correlations. The absolute configuration of 7 was also determined by the modified Mosher's method.     

Terreinol--a novel metabolite from Aspergillus terreus: structure and C labeling

A novel metabolite from Aspergillus terreus, named terreinol, was isolated and its biosynthetic origin was determined by NMR based on the incorporation of [1-¹³C]-d-glucose. The labeling pattern indicated a predominant polyketide biosynthetic origin for this metabolite.     

New polyhydroxy sterols from the marine sponge Callyspongia fibrosa (Ridley & Dendly)

Four new polyhydroxylated sterols are isolated from Marine sponge Callyspongia fibrosa collected from the Gulf of Mannar, western Bay of Bengal (India). The structural assignment is based on ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. All sterols are based on the known 24S-24-methyl cholesterol 1 which is also isolated, and contain 3β,6β-dihydroxy system and 25-O-acetate as common features (except in the case of sterol 6 that has a Δ²⁵ in the place of 25-OAc). Additional OH substitution is also present at 5α in 4a and at 8β in 5. A further 12β-OH is present in 6 and 7. The hydroxylation pattern is so far known only in coral sterols but is without a precedent in sponge sterols. The major steroid 4a showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum on the chloroquine-resistant stain better than on the chloroquine-sensitive strain.     

Infectopyrone, a potential mycotoxin from Alternaria infectoria

A new metabolite, infectopyrone (1), has been isolated from the filamentous fungus Alternaria infectoria. The structure of 1 was elucidated by analysis of 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compound 1 is an α-pyrone resembling known toxins, and is a useful phenotaxonomic marker for the A. infectoria species-group. Infectopyrone (1) was also produced by species within Stemphyllium and Ulocladium, and found in mouldy food.     

Cytosporones O, P and Q from an endophytic Cytospora sp.

Cytosporones O, P and Q, together with the known compounds cytosporones B, C, D, E and dothiorelones A, B, C, and H were isolated from the ascomycete fungus Cytospora sp. during a chemotaxonomic study of fungal endophytes belonging to the related genera Cytospora and Phomopsis from Brazil. The structures were determined by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. With exception of cytosporones D, E, Q, and dothiorelone B, all compounds were consistently detected in the metabolite profiles of eight Cytospora isolates investigated; and were also produced by a distinct chemotype of Phomopsis.     

Structure and absolute configuration of new acidic metabolites from Stachys ehrenbergii

Two novel metabolites have been isolated from the aerial parts of Stachys ehrenberiigii. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of ¹³C and ¹H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments and mass analysis. The development of an enantioselective synthesis of 3-(2′-acetoxy-4-phenylbut-3′-enoylamino)propionic acid allowed to confirm the structure and assign the (R) absolute configuration at C-2′ of the natural product.