In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of Rhus tripartitum used as antidiarrhoeal in Tunisian folk medicine

Rhus tripartitum (African sumac) is a plant commonly used in Tunisian traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea and dysentery. In this study, we have demonstrated that R. tripartitum extracts exhibited a significant broad spectrum activity against one or more of the test microorganisms with a zone size ranging from 8 to 28?mm in diameter. These diameters are much higher than those obtained with standard antibiotics. The chloroformic extracts were found to be effective against bacterial and fungal strains tested, with MIC values ranging between 0.07 and 0.62?mg?mL(-1) against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. However, ethyl-acetate/methanol fractions showed a selective activity only against bacterial microorganisms with low MIC values between 0.07 and 0.15?mg?mL(-1). The overall results suggested that the traditional use of R. tripartitum for the treatment of diarrhoea tract infections was attributed to the presence of antibacterial agents.     

抗生育药山甘草的新三萜皂苷

从民间抗生育药山苷草Mussaenda pubesecus的总皂苷酸水解产物中, 分离得到MP-C、D、E和F四个化合物, 经UV、IR、NMR、MS解析和化学方法, 确定了它们的化学结构。MP-C为一种新型的含有酰胺键接γ-内酯环的三萜化合物, 一新近报道的Heinsiagenin A的结构一致。MP-D、E和F分别为MP-C的β-D吡喃葡萄糖苷、β-D-吡喃木糖苷和β-D吡喃葡萄糖(1→2)-β-D-吡喃木糖苷, 均为新化合物, 分别命名为MussaendosideA、B和C。     

Structures of new aromatics glycosides from a Japanese folk medicine, the roots of Angelica furcijuga

Three new aromatics glycosides, hyuganosides II, IIIa, and IIIb, were isolated from a Japanese folk medicine, the roots of Angelica furcijuga KITAGAWA. The structures of the new glycosides were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.     

Chemotaxonomic Classification of Peucedanum japonicum and Its Chemical Correlation with Peucedanum praeruptorum,Angelica decursiva,and Saposhnikovia divaricata by Liquid Chromatography Combined with Chemometrics

The roots of Peucedanum japonicum (Apiaceae) have been used as an alternative to the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Apiaceae) to treat common cold-related symptoms in Korea. However, a variety of Peucedanum species, including the roots of P. praeruptorum or Angelica decursiva (=P. decursivum), have been used to treat phlegm–heat-induced symptoms in China. Hence, as there are differences in the medicinal application of P. japonicum roots between Korea and China, chemotaxonomic classification of P. japonicum was evaluated. Sixty samples derived from P. japonicum, P. praeruptorum, A. decursiva, and S. divaricata were phylogenetically identified using DNA barcoding tools, and chemotaxonomic correlations among the samples were evaluated using chromatographic profiling with chemometric analyses. P. japonicum samples were phylogenetically grouped into the same cluster as P. praeruptorum samples, followed by S. divaricata samples at the next cluster level, whereas A. decursiva samples were widely separated from the other species. Moreover, P. japonicum samples showed higher chemical correlations with P. praeruptorum samples or A. decursiva samples, but lower or negative chemical correlations with S. divaricata samples. These results demonstrate that P. japonicum is more genetically and chemically relevant to P. praeruptorum or A. decursiva and, accordingly, the medicinal application of P. japonicum might be closer to the therapeutic category of these two species than that of S. divaricata.     

Two new iridoid glycosides from the Tibetan folk medicine Swertia franchetiana

Two new iridoid glycosides designated as senburiside III (2) and senburiside IV (3), together with one known iridoid glycoside senburiside I (1) and three known secoiridoid glucosides swertiamarin (4), gentiopicroside (5) and sweroside (6), were isolated from the whole plant of Swertia franchetiana. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

The structure of mogoltavin, a coumarin from the roots of Peucedanum mogoltavicum

Summary On the basis of NMR and mass spectra, hydrolysis products, and acetylation, it has been established that the coumarin mogoltavin is the ether of umbelliferone and 6-acetoxy-7-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-²-octahydro-1-naphthylmethanol (the natural 6-O-acetate of mogoltin).Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 43–45, January–February, 1972.     

Saponins from Chinese folk medicine, "zhu jie xiang fu," Anemone raddeana REGEL

From the Chinese folk medicine "Zhu jie xian fu" (roots of Anemone raddeana REGEL, Ranunculaceae), two new oleanane-type glycosides, named raddeanosides R8 (1) and R9 (2), were isolated. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-b eta-D- glucopyranoside and 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-al pha-L- arabinopyranosyl 27-hydroxyoleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-b eta-D- glucopyranoside, respectively.     

A new secoiridoid glucoside, amaronitidin, from the Peruvian folk medicine "Hercampuri" (Gentianella nitida).

A new secoiridoid glucoside designated amaronitidin (1) was isolated from the Peruvian folk medicine "Hercampuri" (Gentianella nitida) along with three known secoiridoid glucosides. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic investigation.     

Variation in chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils from two species of Houttuynia THUNB

Houttuynia THUNB. (Saururaceae) has been used for dozens of years in China for the treatment of cough, leucorrhea and ureteritis. The essential oils from the two species: Houttuynia emeiensis and Houttuynia cordata sold in China under one trade name 'Yuxingcao', obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by GC-MS. The results show that fifty-five components were identified and methyl nonyl ketone (2.10-40.36%), bornyl acetate (0.4-8.61%) and beta-myrcene (2.58-18.47%) were the most abundant components in oil, but the percentage of most of compounds in different species and parts varied greatly. The two fold broth dilution and agar dilution method were used to study essential oil of two Houttuynia THUNB. species for their antibacterial properties against microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Sarcina ureae. The two fold dilution method was allowed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oil from different parts and species. Results showed that all essential oils possessed antibacterial effect, with MIC values in the range of 0.0625 x 10(-3) to 4.0 x 10(-3) ml/ml. However, essential oil from different parts and species differed clearly in their antibacterial activities. The essential oil from the aboveground part of the cultivated Houttuynia emeiensis exhibited higher activity than both parts of the wild and cultivated Houttuynia cordata when used on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.25 x 10(-3) ml/ml) and Sarcina ureae (MIC = 0.0625 x 10(-3) ml/ml), and had the same activity as the positive control ampicillin sodium.     

A novel sesterterpenoid, nitiol, as a potent enhancer of IL-2 gene expression in a human T cell line, from the Peruvian folk medicine "Hercumpuri" (Gentianella nitida).

A novel sesterterpenoid designated as nitiol (1), possessing enhancement activity of IL-2 gene expression in a human T cell line, was isolated from the Peruvian folk medicine "Hercampuri" (Gentianella nitida). The structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic investigation.     

A new phenanthraquinone from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum

<正>A new compound,9,10-dihydrophenanthrinic acid,9,10-dione-3,4-methylenedioxy-8-methoxy(1) was isolated from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn on the basis of spectral evidences.     

Two new cucurbitacin glucosides, opercurins A and B, from the Brazilian folk medicine "Buchinha" (Luffa operculata)

The structures of two new cucurbitacin glucosides designated opercurins A (1) and B (2), isolated from the fruit of Luffa operculata, have been confirmed by extensive spectroscopic investigation.     

Kallisteine A and B, two new coumarins from the roots of Peucedanum paniculatum L, a species endemic to Corsica

From the dichloromethane extract of the roots of Peucedanum paniculatum L., two new coumarins, a species endemic to Corsica, have been isolated. Their structures were elucidated, on the basis of spectroscopic studies, particularly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as 6-(7'-beta-cyclolavandulyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin 1 and a spirodihydrofurano-coumarin 2 (Kallisteine A and B).     

Studies of coumarins from the Chinese drug Qianhu, XXVII: structure of a new simple coumarin glycoside from Bai-Hua Qianhu, Peucedanum praeruptorum

A new simple coumarin glycoside, named praeroside VI (1), along with six known coumarins, were isolated from an aqueous extract of Bai-Hua Qianhu, the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum DUNN. (Umbelliferae). Spectroscopic analysis and chemical studies were carried out to investigate the structure of the new coumarin, which was concluded to be 1. Additionally, two simple glycosidic coumarins and four simple nonglycosidic coumarins were identified as apiosylskimmin (2), hymexelsin (3), umbelliferone (4), scopoletin (5), isofraxidin (6) and 8-carboxy-7-hydroxy coumarin (7), respectively. This is the first reported identification of compound 7 as a constituent of plant materials.     

Thermal analysis of mumiyo, the legendary folk remedy from the Himalaya region

Mumiyo is a natural product found mainly in the high mountain ranges of the Himalayas and in some other regions, too. It has been well known as an expensive remedy for a number of diseases for thousands of years. It disappeared completely from the Western medicine and pharmacology, but was frequently used in the former Soviet Union. The present paper concentrates on physical, chemical and microbiological properties of mumiyo, investigated by means of thermal analysis, flow microcalorimetry, capillary electrophoresis, scanning electron microscopy, determination of its natural radioactivity and conventional bioassays with bacteria and fungi. The paper shows that mumiyo is a complex mixture of effective pharmacological substances that acts as a natural bacteriostatic or even bactericidal agent.