Microbial metabolism. Part 12. Isolation, characterization and bioactivity evaluation of eighteen microbial metabolites of 4'-hydroxyflavanone

Fermentation of 4'-hydroxyflavanone (1) with fungal cultures, Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 13144 and ATCC 7159) yielded 6,3',4'-trihydroxyflavanone (2), 3',4'-dihydroxyflavanone 6-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (3), 4'-hydroxyflavanone 3'-sulfate (4), 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone 3'-sulfate (5) and 4'-hydroxyflavanone 6-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (7). B. bassiana (ATCC 13144) and B. bassiana (ATCC 7159) in addition, gave one more metabolite each, namely, flavanone 4'-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (6) and 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone (8) respectively. Cunninghamella echinulata (ATCC 9244) transformed 1 to 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone (8), flavanone-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), 3'-hydroxyflavanone 4'-sulfate (10), 3',4'-dihydroxyflavanone (11) and 4'-hydroxyflavanone-3'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12). Mucor ramannianus (ATCC 9628) metabolized 1 to 2,4-trans-4'-hydroxyflavan-4-ol (13), 2,4-cis-4'-hydroxyflavan-4-ol (14), 2,4-trans-3',4'-dihydroxyflavan-4-ol (15), 2,4-cis-3',4'-dihydroxyflavan-4-ol (16), 2,4-trans-3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyflavan-4-ol (17), flavanone 4'-O-α-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (18) and 2,4-cis-4-hydroxyflavanone 4'-O-α-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (19). Metabolites 13 and 14 were also produced by Ramichloridium anceps (ATCC 15672). The former was also produced by C. echinulata. Structures of the metabolic products were elucidated by means of spectroscopic data. None of the metabolites tested showed antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities against selected organisms.     

Microbial metabolism part 9. Structure and antioxidant significance of the metabolites of 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin), and 5- and 6-hydroxyflavones

5,7-Dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) (1) when fermented with fungal cultures, Aspergillus alliaceous (ATCC 10060), Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 13144) and Absidia glauco (ATCC 22752) gave mainly 4'-hydroxychrysin (4), chrysin 7-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (5) and chrysin 7-sulfate (6), respectively. Mucore ramannianus (ATCC 9628), however, transformed chrysin into six metabolites: 4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxychrysin (chrysoeriol) (7), 4'-hydroxychrysin (apigenin) (4) 3',4'-dihydroxychrysin (luteolin) (8), 3'-methoxychrysin 4'-O-alpha-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (9), chrysin 4'-O-alpha-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (10), and luteolin 3'-sulfate (11). Cultures of A. alliaceous (ATCC 10060) and B. bassiana (ATCC 13144) metabolized 5-hydroxyflavone (2) into 5,4'-dihydroxyflavone (12) and 4'-hydroxyflavone 5-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (13), respectively. 6-Hydroxyflavone (3) was transformed into 6-hydroxyflavanone (14), flavone 3-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (15) and (+/-)-flavanone 6-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (16) by cultures of Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 13144). The structures of the metabolic products were elucidated by means of spectroscopic data. The significance of the metabolites as antioxidants in relation to their structure is briefly discussed.     

Structural determination of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens

Eight flavonoids were isolated from Sophora flavescens. Among them, three prenylflavanones: (2S)-6[2(3-hydroxyisopropyl)-5-methyl-4-hexenyl]-5-methoxy-7,2', 4'-trihydroxyflavanone (1), (2S)-5, 4'-dimethoxy-8-lavandulyl-7, 2'-dihydroxy flavanone (2) and (2S)-8-(5-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-5-methylhexyl)-7-methoxy-5,2', 4'-trihydroxyflavanone (3) are new compounds. Their chemical structures were determined by spectral methods including 2D NMR.     

Synthesis and immunosuppressive activity of L-rhamnopyranosyl flavonoids

Astilbin, a flavonoid isolated from different plants, shows diverse biological activities. This paper reports the synthesis and immunosuppressive activity of seven analogues of astilbin, which may shed light on the structure-activity relationship of the compounds. The following glycosyl flavonoids, 6-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxyflavanone (20), 3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxyflavone (22), 3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxyflavanone (24), 3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxychromanone (26), 4-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxychromanol (27), 7-hydroxy-3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxyflavanone (30) and 4'-hydroxy-3-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyloxyflavanone (32) were prepared respectively by glycosylation of 6-hydroxyflavanone (1), 3-hydroxyflavone (2), 3-hydroxyflavanone (5), 3-hydroxychromanone (8), 4-chromanol (9), 7-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyflavanone (12), 4'-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyflavanone (15). Among them, compounds 5, 8, 12 and 15 were synthesized from flavanone (3), 4-chromanone (6), 7-hydroxyflavanone (10) and 4'-hydroxyflavanone (13) respectively. Similar to astilbin (4), compounds 22, 24, 26, 30 and 32 significantly inhibited the single mixed lymphocytes reaction (sMLR) and enhanced the apoptosis of spleen cells isolated from mice with sheep red blood cell-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity respectively. However, compound 20 only showed a slight tendency to inhibit sMLR at higher concentration. Both compounds 20 and 27 did not influence the cell apoptosis. These data suggest that the following factors play essential roles in determining the biological activity of the flavonoids: the position at which the sugar is linked to the flavone, the presence of carbonyl on C-4 and phenol hydroxyl group in A or B ring. However, the presence of a B ring is unfavorable for the biological activity and the double bond at C2-C3 in C-ring shows little effect on the activity.     

Two new prenylflavanones from Erythrina sigmoidea

Two new prenylflavanones named sigmone and sigmotriol have been isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina sigmoidea along with two known constituents 8-(3"-methylbut-2"-enyl)-7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavanone and 7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavanone. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Microbial metabolism. Part 6. Metabolites of 3- and 7-hydroxyflavones

Fermentation of 3-hydroxyflavone (1) with Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 13144) yielded 3,4'-dihdroxyflavone (3), flavone 3-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (4) and two minor metabolites. 7-Hydroxyflavone (2) was transformed by Nocardia species (NRRL 5646) to 7-methoxyflavone (5) whilst Aspergillus alliaceus (ATCC 10060) converted it to 4',7-dihydroxyflavone (6). Flavone 7-O-beta-D-4-O-metylglucopyranoside (7) and 4'-hydroxyflavone 7-O-beta-D-4-O-methylglucopyranoside (8) were the metabolic products of 7-hydroxyflavone (2) when fermented with Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 7159). One of the minor metabolites of 3-hydroxyflavone (1) was tentatively assigned a beta'-chalcanol structure (9). Compounds 4, 7 and 8 are reported as new compounds. Structure elucidation of the metabolites was based on spectroscopic data.     

Allergy-preventive flavonoids from Xanthorrhoea hastilis

Allergy-preventive activity was demonstrated for an extract of resins from Xanthorrhoea hastilis R. BR. in a search for allergy-preventive substances from natural sources. By bioassay-directed fractionation of this plant extract, a new flavanone, 3',5'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone (1), and two new chalcones, 3,5,2'-trihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (2) and 5,2'-dihydroxy-3,4,4'-trimethoxychalcone (3), were isolated together with five known compounds, 5'-hydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavanone (4), 3'-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone (5), liquiritigenin 7-methyl ether (6), 4,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (7) and sakuranetin (8). The structures of 1, 2 and 3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All of these compounds showed allergy-preventive effects.     

NMR spectral assignments of a new [C--O--C] isoflavone dimer from Andira surinamensis

The phytochemical investigation of extracts from the branch wood and branch barks of Andira surinamensis yielded a novel isoflavone dimer, 4'-methoxyisoflavone-(7-O-7')-3',4'-methylenedioxyisoflavone (surinamensin), along with the triterpene lupeol and the known isoflavones 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (biochanin A), 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (prunetin), 7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (calycosin), and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (pratensein). The structure of the new isoflavone was elucidated by 1D and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and by comparison with published data for closely related compounds.     

Cytotoxic and antimicrobial aporphine alkaloids from Fissistigma poilanei (Annonaceae) collected in Vietnam

Two new aporphine alkaloids: 8-hydroxy-9-methoxy-1,2-methylenedioxyaporphine (1) and 8-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxy-1,2-methylenedioxyaporphine (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Fissistigma poilanei along with five known compounds: oxocrebanine (3), kuafumine (4), (2R,3R)-3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), (+)-catechin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6) and quercetine 3,7-dimethoxy-3'-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?→?2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (7). These two new aporphine alkaloids exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines (KB, Hep-G2, MCF-7, LU) as well as antimicrobial activity against Lactobacillus fermentum, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtillis.     

Flavonol glycosides from Epimedium pubescens

Five new flavonol glycosides (1, 3, 5-7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Epimedium pubescens Maxim., along with two known compounds, sagittasine C (2) and 4',5-dihydroxyl-8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-flavonol 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→3)-4-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside]-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). The structures were elucidated on the basis of their 1D-, 2D-NMR, MS, UV and IR spectra data.     

Three new flavonoid glycosides, byzantionoside B 6'-O-sulfate and xyloglucoside of (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol from Ruellia patula

Three new flavonoid glycosides, demethoxycentaureidin 7-O-β-D-galacturonopyranoside, pectolinarigenin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?→4″)-β-D-glucopyranoside and 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?→4″)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside, a new megastigmane glucoside, byzantionoside B 6'-O-sulfate, and a new (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from leaves of Ruellia patula JACQ., together with 12 known compounds, β-sitosterol glucoside, vanilloside, bioside (decaffeoyl verbascoside), acteoside (verbascoside), syringin, benzyl alcohol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, cistanoside E, roseoside, phenethyl alcohol O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isoacteoside and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1″→6')-β-D-glucopyranoside. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analyses.     

Inhibitory effects of constituents from Morus alba var. multicaulis on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells

A new arylbenzofuran, 3',5'-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-7-prenyl-2-arylbenzofuran (1), and 25 known compounds, including moracin R (2), moracin C (3), moracin O (4), moracin P (5), artoindonesianin O (6), moracin D (7), alabafuran A (8), mulberrofuran L (9), mulberrofuran Y (10), kuwanon A (11), kuwanon C (12), kuwanon T (13), morusin (14), kuwanon E (15), sanggenon F (16), betulinic acid (17), uvaol (18), ursolic acid (19), β-sitosterol (20), oxyresveratrol 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (21), mulberroside A (22), mulberroside B (23), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (24), 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (25) and adenosine (26), were isolated from Morus alba var. multicaulis Perro. (Moraceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The prenyl-flavonoids 11-14, 16, triterpenoids 17,18 and 20 showed significant inhibitory activity towards the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The arylbenzofurans 1-10 and prenyl-flavonoids 11-16 also showed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effects in RAW264.7 cells.     

Flavonoids and other compounds from Ouratea ferruginea (Ochnaceae) as anticancer and chemopreventive agents

The chemical study of the extracts from leaves and stems of Ouratea ferruginea allowed the identification of a new isoflavone, 5-hydroxy-7,3'4'5'-tetramethoxyisoflavone, and twenty two known compounds, including friedelin, 3β-friedelinol, lupeone, a mixture of sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol, sitosteryl- and stigmasteryl-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosides, 5,4'-dihydroxy-7,5',3'-trimethoxyisoflavone, 5,4'-dihydroxy-7,3'-di-methoxyisoflavone (7,3'-di-O-methylorobol), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (piscigenin), 2R,3R-epicatechin, syringic acid, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone, 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinone, syringic and ferulic aldehyde, a mixture of vanillic acid, 1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-(1E-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-benzene and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-dihydrocinamaldehyde, besides amenthoflavone and 7-O-methylamenthoflavone (sequoiaflavone) which are considered as chemotaxonomic markers of Ouratea. The structures were identified by IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR and GC-MS, HPLC-MS, besides comparison with literature data. The inhibitory effects of 5,4'-dihydroxy-7,5',3'-trimethoxyisoflavone, 7,3'-di-O-methylorobol, piscigenin and 7-O-methylamenthoflavone on cytochrome P450-dependent 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were evaluated in vitro. The 5,4'-dihydroxy-7,5',3'-trimethoxy-isoflavone was the best inhibitor, inhibiting almost 75% of GST activity. Sequoiaflavone was the most potent inhibitor, inhibiting ECOD assay in 75%. These activities allow us to consider both these flavonoids as potential anticancer and chemopreventive agents.     

Microbial hydroxylation and glycosidation of oleanolic acid by Circinella muscae and their anti-inflammatory activities

Biotransformation of oleanolic acid (OA) by Circinella muscae AS 3.2695 was investigated. Nine hydroxylated and glycosylated metabolites (1–9) were obtained. Their structures were elucidated as 3β,7β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3β,7β,21β-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 3β,7α,21β-trihydroxyolean-12-en- 28-oic acid (3), 3β,7β,15α-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), 7β,15α-dihydroxy- 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 7β-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (7), 3β,21β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28- oic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (8), and 3β,7β,15α-trihydroxyolean-12-en- 28-oic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (9) by spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compounds 4 and 9 were new compounds. In addition, anti-inflammatory activities were assayed and evaluated for the isolated metabolites. Most of the metabolites exhibited significant inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharides-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells.     

Triterpene glycosides of Hedera taurica X. Structures of compounds F4, I,and J from the leaves of Crimean ivy

Echinocystic acid 3-sulfate and new 3-sulfates — of the 28-O-[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl esters of oleanolic and echinocystic acids have been isolated from the leaves of Crimean ivyHedera taurica Carr. (fam. Araliaceae).     

A new hydrochalcone from Miliusa sinensis

A new dihydrochalcone 4',6'-dihydroxy-2',3',4-trimethoxydihydrochalcone (1) along with nine known compounds, pashanone (2), dihydropashanone (3), pinostrobin (4), 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone (5), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone (6), 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone (7), 24-methylencycloartane-3β,21-diol (8), liriodenine (9) and 3,5-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (10), were isolated from the extracts, exhibiting cytotoxic activity (n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts) of Miliusa sinensis. The structure of (1) was elucidated by the analysis of spectral data (IR, HR-MS, EI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR).     

Inhibitory effects of constituents from Euphorbia lunulata on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells

A new flavonol galactopyranoside, myricetin 3-O-(2',3'-digalloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (1), and 23 known constituents, including myricetin 3-O-(2'-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (2), myricitrin (3), myricetin (4), quercetin 3-O-(2', 3'-digalloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (5), quercetin 3-O-(2'-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (6), hyperin (7), isoquercetrin (8), quercetin (9), kaempferol (10), apigenin (11), luteolin (12), 3-O-methylquercetin (13), 5,7,2',5'-tetrahydroxyflavone (14), 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (15), 1,2,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (16), 1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (17), gallic acid (18), protocatechuic acid (19), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (20), 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (21), 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (22), ellagic acid (23) and esculetin (24) were isolated from Euphorbia lunulata Bge. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Isolated hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, and flavonol galactopyranoside gallates showed significant inhibition of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and triglyceride accumulation in maturing adipocytes, and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells.     

Ceramide and Cerebroside from the stem bark of Ficus mucuso (Moraceae)

Two new sphingolipids mucusamide (1) and mucusoside (2) have been isolated from methanol soluble part of the stem bark of Ficus mucuso WELW., together with fifteen known secondary metabolites including cellobiosylsterol (3), β-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), lupeol acetate (7), ursolic acid (8), procatechuic acid (9), 2-methyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone 8-C-β-D-glucoside (10), apigenin (11), (-)-epicatechin (12), (+)-catechin (13), N-benzoyl-L-phenylalanilol (14), α-acetylamino-phenylpropyl α-benzoylamino-phenylpropionate (15), asperphenamate (16) and bejaminamide (17). Structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods.     

Three new steroidal glycosides from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum

Three new steroidal glycosides, cyanoauriculosides F, G and H (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum (Asclepiadaceae) along with two known steroidal derivatives. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods, their structures were identified as 20-O-acetyl-8,14-seco-penupogenin-8-one 3-O-α-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-diginopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside (1), 2',3'-Z-gagaminine 3-O-α-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaro-pyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-diginopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside (2), 17-O-acetyl-kidjoranin 3-O-α-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-cymaro-pyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-digitoxopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-digitoxopyranoside (3), gagaminine 3-O-α-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-digino-pyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside (4) and wilfoside D1N (5).     

Phenolic compounds from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens

One new C-methyl flavanone glucoside, farrerol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens (MEISN.) C. A. MEYER. Fourteen known phenolic compounds such as farrerol (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether 5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (-)-pinoresinol (4), (-)-lariciresinol (5), (-)-dihydrosesamin (6), (±)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), rutarensin (8), umbelliferone (9), coniferyl aldehyde (10), sinapyl aldehyde (11), p-coumaric acid methyl ester (12), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (13), p-hydroxyacetophenone (14) and syringaldehyde (15) were also isolated for the first time from this plant. Structure of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data including two dimensional (2D)-NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and by the application of Klyne's rule.