A new pimarane from Mitrephora tomentosa

A new diterpenoid named (-)-8beta-hydroxypimar-15-en-18-oic acid was isolated, along with (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, 13,14-dihydrooropheic acid and beta-sitosterol, from the bark of Mitrephora tomentosa.     

Effect of some ent-kaurenes on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The possible cytotoxic activity of some ent-kaurenes on human mononuclear cells, obtained from peripheral blood, was studied having in mind future studies on their antitumor activity. The cells were obtained using the Ficoll-Hypaque method, adjusted to 2 x 10(6) cells/mL, and incubated with kaurenes for 48 hours at 3 x 10(-5), 30 x 10(-5), 300 x 10(-1) and 3000 x 10(-5) micromol/well. Ent-kaurenic acid showed no toxicity at all concentrations studied. The least toxic of all the kaurene derivatives studied was ent-15,16-epoxy-17-acetoxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid, with a cellular viability of 99% at 3 x l0(-5) micromol/well, and 94% at 30 x 10(-1) micromol/well. Another compound that showed low toxicity was the 2,3,4,6-tetra-acetyl-alpha-D-pyranosyl ester of ent-15-oxo-(-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid with 44% viability at 3000 x 10(-5) micromol/well. The most toxic compounds at all concentrations tested were ent-kaur-16-en-19-ol acetate and ent-16alpha-hydroxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid. On the other hand, ent-kaur-9(11)16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-kauran-19-oic acid, and ent-kaur-16-en-19-ol were toxic only at the highest concentration studied. According to these results, and considering the concentrations employed, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid and ent-15,16-epoxy-17-acetoxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid could be used for in vivo experiments and possibly for therapeutic purposes on humans, without much risk.     

Terpenoids from Turraeanthus species

Chemical investigation of the root bark of Turraeanthus mannii and the stem of T. longipes resulted in the isolation of two new diterpenes, 13-methyl-labda-8(17)-en-15-oic acid (1) and 13-(hydroxymethyl)-14-hydroxy-ent-labda-8(17)-en-15-oic acid (2), along with two known diterpenes, 19-hydroxy-ent-labda-8(17),13-dien-15,16-olide (3) and 19-acetoxy-ent-labda-8(17),13-dien-15,16-olide (4), and the phytosterol, stigmasterol. The structure elucidation of the new compounds has been achieved using spectroscopic techniques.     

Three diterpenoids (excoecarins V1-V3) and a flavanone glycoside from the fresh stem of Excoecaria agallocha

Three new diterpenoids, excoecarins V1-V3 (1-3) and a new flavanone glycoside (7) were isolated from the fresh stem of Excoecaria agallocha L. Their structures were elucidated as: 2alpha,3alpha,18-trihydroxy-3beta,20-epoxybeyer-15-ene (1), ent-2,3-secokaur-16-en-2,3-dioic acid (2), ent-3,4-seco-16alpha-hydroxyatis-4(19)-en-3-oic acid (3), and 3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxy-2R,3R-flavanonol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (7) on the basis of spectroscopic data, chemical evidence, and/or X-ray analysis.     

Components from the steamed leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum and their effects on PPAR activity in HepG2 cells

Three ent-kaurane diterpenes (1-3), four lupane-triterpene glycosides (4-7), and an oleanane-triterpene glycoside (8) were isolated from the ethyl acetate and water extracts of the steamed leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum using a combination of various column chromatographies. The structures of the isolates were determined by 1H-, 13C-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. To investigate the biological effects of the eight compounds (1-8) on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), luciferase reporter assays were used. Among the tested compounds, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (1), 16alpha-hydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (2), and 17-hydroxy-ent-kaur-15-en-19-oic acid (3) showed considerable effects on PPARgamma activity, compared with the positive control, troglitazone. To evaluate specificity and sensitivity of the active compounds (1-3) in the regulation of transactivation of PPARs, Gal4-PPARs-LBD luciferase reporter assays were examined. In this study, the three ent-kaurane diterpenes (1-3) were found to up-regulate PPARbeta/delta and PPARgamma activities, whereas they did not activate PPARalpha activity.     

Identification of Kaurane-Type Diterpenes as Inhibitors of Leishmania Pteridine Reductase I

The current treatments against Leishmania parasites present high toxicity and multiple side effects, which makes the control and elimination of leishmaniasis challenging. Natural products constitute an interesting and diverse chemical space for the identification of new antileishmanial drugs. To identify new drug options, an in-house database of 360 kauranes (tetracyclic diterpenes) was generated, and a combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening (VS) approach was performed to select potential inhibitors of Leishmania major (Lm) pteridine reductase I (PTR1). The best-ranked kauranes were employed to verify the validity of the VS approach through LmPTR1 enzyme inhibition assay. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of selected bioactive compounds were examined using the random forest (RF) model (i.e., 2β-hydroxy-menth-6-en-5β-yl ent-kaurenoate (135) and 3α-cinnamoyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (302)) were below 10 μM. A compound similar to 302, 3α-p-coumaroyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (302a), was also synthesized and showed the highest activity against LmPTR1. Finally, molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were performed for the VS-selected, most-active kauranes within the active sites of PTR1 hybrid models, generated from three Leishmania species that are known to cause cutaneous leishmaniasis in the new world (i.e., L. braziliensis, L. panamensis, and L. amazonensis) to explore the targeting potential of these kauranes to other species-dependent variants of this enzyme.     

Isolation and Stucture Elucidation of Diterpenes from Wedelia prostrata and Their Cytotoxicity Activities

In this paper, a new diterpene together with seven known diterpenes was isolated from Wedelia prostrata. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated via 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) techniques and mass spectrometry and identified to be 3α-phenylpropionoyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-oic acid(1). The isolated diterpenes were tested for their cytotoxicity activities via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. The results show that compounds 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 exhibit different levels of cytotoxic activities. Especially, compound 2 shows significant cytotoxicity toward HeLa and A549 cell lines(IC₅₀=6.14 and 8.76 μmol/L).     

Analgesic principles from Aralia cordata Thunb

The analgesic principles from Aralia cordata Thunb, were identified with (ent)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (KA) and (ent)-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (PA), respectively. Both compounds were significantly effective regarding analgesics, hypothermia, duration of pentobarbital-induced anesthesia, and depression of locomotor activity enhanced by methamphetamine at doses of 300 mg/kg (KA) and 500 mg/kg (PA) by oral administration.     

New cyclopiane diterpenes with anti-inflammatory activity from the sea sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp. TJ403-2

Three new rare cyclopiane diterpenes(1-3),together with thirteen known compounds(4-16),were isolated and identified from a sea sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp.TJ403-2.The planar and relative structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by HRESIMS,one-and two-dimensional NMR analyses,and their absolute configurations were further established by X-ray crystallography experiment.Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced NO production,and compound 1 showed notable inhibitory potency with an IC50 value of2.19±0.25μmol/L,which was three fold lower than the positive control indomethacin(IC50=8.76±0.92μmol/L).Further Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated its mechanism of action to be that 1 inhibited the NF-κB-activated pathway,highlighting it as a promising starting point for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.     

New ent-kaurane diterpenoid dimer from Pulicaria inuloides

A new naturally occurring ent-kaurane diterpenoid dimer, 15β, 15′β-oxybis (ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid) (1) along with six known compounds, 15β-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (2), 15β-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oate-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), 6-hydroxykaempferol-3, 7-dimethyl ether (4), quercetagetin 3, 7, 3′-trimethyl ether (5), β-sitosterol (6) and β-sitosterol glucoside (daucosterol) (7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Pulicaria inuloides DC. Compounds 2–5 were isolated for the first time from genus Pulicaria. The structures of compounds 1–7 were established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques in combination with ESI-MS. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Sulphorhodamine B cytotoxic assay against HepG2 (liver cancer) cell line and ABTS antioxidant assay were carried out.     

New synthesis of diterpenoid (16<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-dihydrosteviol

A new procedure has been developed for the synthesis of diterpenoid (16S)-dihydrosteviol [(16S)-13-hydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid] by acid hydrolysis (0.7% hydrochloric acid) of SWETA food sweetener and subsequent reduction of the resulting mixture of caurenoids with hydrazine hydrate over Raney nickel. The molecular geometry of (16S)-dihydrosteviol, as well as of Δ¹⁵-steviol (13-hydroxy-ent-kaur-15-en-19-oic acid), was determined for the first time by X-ray analysis.     

<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.     

Improved preparation of (1S,3’R,4’S,5’S,6’R)-5-chloro-6-[(4-ethylphenyl)methyl]-3’,4’,5’,6’-tetrahydro-6’-(hydroxymethyl)-spiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),2’-[2H]pyran]-3’,4’,5’-triol

A convenient approach for the preparation of(1S,3’R.4’S,5’S,6’R)-5-chloro-6-[(4-ethylphenyl)methyl]- 3’,4’,5’,6’-tetrahydro-6’-(hydroxymethyl)-spiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),2’-[2H]pyran]-3’,4’,5’-triol is developed. The targeted compound was synthesized from 2-bromo-4-methylbenzoic acid in nine steps and the isomers of undesired ortho-products were avoided during the preparation.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from the roots of Ardisia crenata

A new triterpenoid saponin.3 β-O-{ β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1—4)-[ β-D-glucopyranosyl-[1-2)]- α-L-arabinopyranosyl}-16α, 28-dihydroxyolean-12-en-30-oic acid 30-O- β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(ardisicrenoside N.1),together with two known saponins, ardisicrenoside C(2) and D(3),were isolated from the roots of Ardisia crenata Sim.Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences.Saponins 1 showed cytotoxicity against MCI-7 and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines at 11.0μmol/L and 22.1μmol/L in vitro.     

The Constituents from the Stems of Annona cherimola

Thirty-five compounds including twenty-one alkaloids, lysicamine ( 1 ), liriodenine ( 2 ), atherospermidine ( 3 ), oxoxylopine ( 4 ), oxoanolobine ( 5 ), oxoglaucine ( 6 ), (-)-anonaine ( 7 ), (-)-asimilobine ( 8 ), (-)-xylopine ( 9 ), (-)-anolobine ( 10 ), (-)-norisocorydine ( 11 ), (+)-laurotetanine ( 12 ), (+)-isocorydine ( 13 ), (-)-N-methylasimilobine ( 14 ), (+)-N-methyllaurotetanine ( 15 ), (-)-norushinsunine ( 16 ), (-)-ushinsunine ( 17 ), (-)-N-formylanonaine ( 18 ), (+)-stepharine ( 19 ), (+)-orentaline ( 20 ), and (-)-kikemanine ( 21 ); four kauranes, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid ( 22 ), 16β-hydroxy-17-acetoxy-ent-kauran-19-al ( 23 ), 17-acetoxy-16β-ent-kauran-19-oic acid ( 24 ), and 16β-hydroxy-17-acetoxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid ( 25 ); two amides, N-trans-femloyltyramine ( 26 ), and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine ( 27 ); one purine, adenosine ( 28 ); one lactam amide, squamolone ( 29 ); and six steroids, β-sitosterol ( 30 ), stigmasterol ( 31 ), β-sitostenone ( 32 ), stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one ( 33 ), 6β-hydroxy-β-sitosterone ( 34 ), and 6β-hydroxystigmasterone ( 35 ) are isolated from the stems of Annona cherimola. These compounds were characterized and identified by physical and spectral evidence. Among them, (-)-norisocorydine (11) was elucidated as a new enantiomer with a levorotary configuration, which is isolated for the first time.     

Clerodane diterpenoids and flavonoids with NGF-potentiating activity from the aerial parts of Baccharis gaudichaudiana

A new clerodane diterpene, 15-hydroxy-16-acetoxy-ent-clerod-3-en-18-oic acid (1), together with three known clerodane diterpenes (2-4) and three known flavones (5-7), were isolated from the aerial parts of Baccharis gaudichaudiana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 showed enhancing activity of nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in PC 12D cells.     

Additional minor diterpene glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, two additional new diterpenoid glycosides were isolated and their structures were characterized as 13-[(2-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 13-[(2-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2) on the basis of extensive spectral data (NMR and MS) and chemical studies.     

Regioselective Enzyme-Mediated Glycosylation of Natural Polyhydroxy Compounds. Part 1. Galactosylation of stevioside and steviolbioside

Bovine β-1,4-galactosyltransierase is an efficient catalyst for the regioselective transfer of galactose from UPD-galactose, generated in situ with the UDP-glucose/UDP-glucose-4-epimerase system, to the kaurane glycosides stevioside ( 1 ) and Steviolbioside ( 2 ), affording the corresponding galactosyl derivatives 3 and 4 in high yields. By a combination of 2D NMR techniques (COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC), the structure of the products is established as 13-[(β -D -galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- β -D -glucopyranosyl)oxy]kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β -D -glucopyranosyl ester ( 3 ) and 13-[(β-D -galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)- β-D -glu-copyranosyl-(1 → 2)- β-D -glucopyranosyl)oxy]kaur-16-en-19-oic acid ( 4 ).     

Scope and limitations of the double [4+3]-cycloadditions of 2-oxyallyl cations to 2,2'-methylenedifuran and derivatives

The reactivity of various 2-oxyallyl cations toward 2,2'-methylenedifuran (1b), 2,2'-(hydroxymethyl)difuran (1c), 2,2'-(trimethylsilylmethylene)difuran (1d), and di(2-furyl)methanone (1e) has been explored. Difuryl derivatives 1c, 1d, and 1e refused to undergo formal double [4+3]-cycloadditions. Conditions have been found to convert 1b into meso-1,1'-methylenedi[(1R,1'S,5S,5'R)- (3) and (+/-)-1,1'-methylenedi[(1RS,1'SR,5SR,5'RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one] (4) that do not require CF(3)CH(OH)CF(3) as solvent. High yields of meso-1,1'-methylenedi[(1R,1'S,2S,2'R,4R,4'S,5S,5'R)- (5) and (+/-)-1,1'-methylenedi[(1RS,1'RS,2SR,2'SR,4RS,4'RS,5SR,5'SR)-2,4-dimethyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one] (6) have been obtained when 1b was reacted with 2,4-dibromopentan-3-one (7h) and NaI/Cu.     

A new neuroprotective pinusolide derivative from the leaves of Biota orientalis

A new pinusolide derivative, 15-methoxypinusolidic acid (1), and another new isopimarane diterpene, ent-isopimara-15-en-3 alpha,8 alpha-diol (2) with three known diterpenes, lambertianic acid (3), isopimara-8(9),15-dien-18-oic acid (4) and isopimara-7(8),15-dien-3 beta,18-diol (5) were isolated from the 90% MeOH fraction of Biota orientalis (L.) ENDL. (Cupressaceae) leaves. Chemical structures of 1-5 were elucidated by analyses of their spectral data, including the two-dimensional (2D) NMR technique. Compound 1 showed significant protective activity against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells.