Lamiaceae carbohydrates. VI. Water-soluble polysaccharides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophanthus chinensis</Emphasis>

The composition of water-soluble polysaccharides from the aerial part of Lophanthus chinensis Benth. (Lamiaceae) was studied. The dominant polymer LCW_H-2, which was a partially acetylated glucoarabinogalactan, the main chain of which was constructed of α-(1→6)-bonded galactopyranose, was isolated and characterized. Atoms C-2 and C-3 of the main chain had branches of single glucopyranose and arabinopyranose units and short chains of (1→3)-bonded arabinose. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 258–260, May–June, 2009.     

Pectinic substances from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe arborescens</Emphasis>

Pectinic substances were isolated in 3.82% yield of the fresh material mass from leaves of Aloe arborescens Mill. (Asphodelaceae). Fractionation over DEAE-cellulose produced the dominant polymer APS-3 of molecular weight 71.1 kDa, [α]_D²⁰ +224.4°. Physicochemical methods established that APS-3 was a partially methoxylated and acetylated rhamnopolygalacturonan consisting of α-(1→4)-bonded galacturonic acid and α-(1→2)-bonded rhamnopyranose in the main chain. Side substituents of single galacto- and glucopyranose units were located on the C-3 atom of galacturonic acid.     

Polysaccharides of Fabaceae. II. Galactomannan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus danicus</Emphasis> seeds

Galactomannan of molecular weight 472 kDa was isolated from Astragalus danicus Retz. (Fabaceae) seeds and consisted of galactose and mannose units in a 1:1.40 molar ratio. The main chain of the macromolecule was constructed of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units, 71% of which were substituted at C-6 by single α-D-galactopyranose units. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 255257, May-June, 2009.     

Lamiaceae carbohydrates. IV. Water-soluble polysaccharides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scutellaria baicalensis</Emphasis>

The composition of water-soluble polysaccharides from the aerial part of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae) was studied. It was found that the dominant polymers were WSPS′-1, WSPS′-2, and WSPS′-3, which were characterized preliminarily as partially acetylated glucoarabinogalactans, for which antioxidant activity was found. Two homoglucans of the starch type were minor components. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 451–453, September-October, 2008.     

A bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignan and toxicity of the ethanol extract from the fruit of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocotea heterochroma</Emphasis>

A new bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignan rel-(7S,8R,1′S,2′R,3′S)-Δ8′-2′-hydroxy-5,1′,3′-trimethoxy-3,4methylenedioxy-7,3′,8,1′-neolignan (1) was isolated from ethanol extract from the fruit of Ocotea heterochroma Mez & Sodiro ex Mez as well as the known compounds β-friedelanol (2), meso-dehydroguaiaretic acid (3), and yangambin (4), whose structures were elucidated on the basis of their comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including 2D NMR data. Lethality bioassay using brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach) was evaluated with the ethanol extract from the Ocotea heterochroma’s fruit. The toxicity of this extract was greater than the toxicity of those fractions obtained in a first solvent partition (benzene, ethyl acetate, and butanol subfractions) and that of a mixture of acetylated 2′-epimers from the new neolignan 1. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 158–160, March–April, 2009.     

Triterpene Glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cussonia paniculata</Emphasis>. II. Acetylated Glycosides from Leaves

Structures of 13 new acetylated triterpene glycosides from leaves of Cussonia paniculata (Araliaceae) were established as 28-O-(2-O-acetyl- and 3-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β -D-glucopyranosides of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid (1a and 1b) and hederagenin (2a and 2b), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-(2-O-acetyl- and 3-O-acetyl-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→ 4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glycopyranosides of oleanic (3a and 3b) and ursolic (3c and 3d) acids, 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-(4-O-acetyl-, 2-O-acetyl-, and 3-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→ 6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosides of hederagenin (4, d5a and 5b), and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-(2-O-acetyl- and 3-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D- glucopyranosides of oleanic acid (6a and 6b). The structures of the compounds were established using chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 351–356, July–August, 2005.     

Epimerization,transacylation and bromination of dihydroquercetin acetates; synthesis of 8-bromodihydroquercetin

Dihydroquercetin (dhq) and its 3-acetate react with acetic anhydride in the absence of a base catalyst to yield mixtures of partially acetylated products. Three new esters were characterized by NMR spectroscopy as dhq 3,7,3′-triacetate, 3,7,4′-triacetate and 5,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate. At its melting point neat dhq 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate is partially converted to dhq 3,3′,4′-triacetate and dhq pentaacetate by intermolecular acetyl transfer. Dhq 7,3′,4′-triacetate yields exclusively dhq 3′,4′-di- and 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate under these conditions. The acetylation/deacetylation reactions are accompanied by partial epimerization: 3 new acetates with 2,3-cis stereochemistry (dhq 3-, 3,7,3′,4′-tetra- and penta-) were identified. Dhq and its 3,7,3′,4′-tetraacetate undergo regiospecific dibromination at C-6 and C-8 with excess N-bromosuccinimide in polar solvents, and 6,8-dibromo-dhq can be regioselectively debrominated to 8-bromo-dhq with sodium sulfite.     

Lamiaceae carbohydrates. II. Water-soluble polysaccharides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mentha x piperita</Emphasis>

The composition of water-soluble carbohydrates from the aerial part of Mentha x piperita variety Krasnodar 2 was studied. Fructose, glucose, saccharose, and raffinose were observed in the free carbohydrates. Water-soluble polysaccharides were represented by α-(1→4)-glucans branched at C-6 (MPW_C1, MPW_C4, MPW_H1) and β-(1→4)-galactans (MPW_C2, MPW_C3, MPW_C5, MPW_H2, MPW_H3). The isolated compounds were found to have membrane-stabilizing and antiatherogenic activities. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 537–539, November–December, 2007.     

Elimination of C-8-functional groups from driman-8<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>,11-diol-11-monoacetate and-diacetate

The dehydration products of driman-8α,11-diol-11-monoacetate that are formed upon reaction with several dehydrating agents and the products from elimination of the C-8 acetoxy group in driman-8α,11-diol diacetate were investigated in detail. A new effective synthesis of drimenylacetate from driman-8α, 11-diol-11-monoacetate by its regioselective dehydration using methanesulfonic acid trimethylsilyl ether was developed. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 340–343, July–August, 2007.     

Separation and identification of steroidal compounds with cytotoxic activity against human gastric cancer cell lines <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> from the rhizomes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paris polyphylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">chinensis</Emphasis>

A novel steroidal saponin, along with 12 known steroidal compounds, was isolated from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis. Spectral data, including two-dimensional NMR, showed that the structure of the novel saponin was 3β,21-dihydroxypregnane-5-en-20S-(22,16)-lactone-1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside. The isolated steroidal compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cell line HepG₂, SGC7901, BxPC3. Diosgenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-L-rabinofuranosyl(1→4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity among the isolated steroids. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 556–560, November–December, 2007.     

Polysaccharides of Fabaceae. VI. Galactomannans from seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus alpinus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. tibetanus</Emphasis>

Galactomannans with galactose:mannose ratios 1:1.48 and 1:1.33, [α]_D +67.9 and +76.4°, [η] 870.3 and 1337.1 mL/g, and molecular weights 999 and 1549 kDa, respectively, were isolated in 0.59 and 4.65% yields (of seed mass) from seeds of Astragalus alpinus and A. tibetanus (Fabaceae). Physicochemical methods (CrO₃ oxidation; methylation–GC/MS; IR, NMR, and ¹³C spectroscopy) found that the main polysaccharide chain consisted of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units substituted 67.5% (A. alpinus) and 75.2% (A. tibetanus) at the C-6 position by single α -D-galactopyranose units. The contents of mannobiose blocks Man–Man, (Gal)Man–Man/Man–Man(Gal), and (Gal)Man–Man(Gal) variously substituted with galactose were according to ¹³C NMR spectroscopy 15.9, 55.5, and 28.6% in A. alpinus galactomannan and 9.9, 42.3, and 47.8% in A. tibetanus galactomannan.     

Comprehensive structure characterization of lipid a extracted from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pestis</Emphasis> for determination of its phosphorylation configuration

We report on comprehensive structure characterization of lipid A extracted from Yersinia pestis (Yp) for determination of its phosphorylation configuration that was achieved by combining the methods of molecular biology with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. The phosphorylation pattern of diphosphorylated lipid A extracted from Yp has recently been found to be a heterogeneous mixture of C-1 and C-4′ bisphosphate, C-1 pyrophosphate, and C-4′ pyrophosphate (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2008, 105, 12742). To reduce the inherent phosphate heterogeneity of diphosphorylated lipid A extracted from Yp, we incorporated specific C-1 and C-4′ position phosphatases into wild type KIM6+ Yp grown at 37°C. Comprehensive high-resolution tandem mass spectrometric analyses of lipid A extracted from Yp modified with either the C-1 or C-4′ phosphatase allowed for unambiguous structure assignment of monophosphorylated and diphosphorylated lipid A and distinction of isomeric bisphosphate and pyrophosphate forms. The prevalent aminoarabinose modification was determined to be exclusively attached to the lipid A disaccharide via a phospho-diester linkage at either or both the C-1 and C-4′ positions.     

Polysaccharides of Fabaceae. I. Galactomannan of Astragalus sericeocanus seeds

Galactomannan (yield 3.58% of seed mass) of molecular weight 876 kDa was isolated from seeds of Astragalus sericeocanus Gontsch. (Fabaceae). Its solutions had high viscosity [η], 764.6 mL/g, and optical density [α]_D +65.3°. The polysaccharide consisted of galactose and mannose in molar ratio 1:1.58. The main chain of the galactomannan macromolecule was constructed of 1,4-β-D-mannopyranose units, 63% of which were substituted at C-6 by single α-D-galactopyranose units. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy established that the galactomannan contained units of differently substituted galactose mannobiose units: Man-Man, (Gal)Man-Man, and/or Man-Man(Gal) in addition to (Gal)Man-Man(Gal), the ratio of which was 0.15:0.51:0.34. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 555–557, November–December, 2008.     

Triterpene glycosides from Kalopanax septemlobum. VI. Glycosides from leaves of Kalopanax septemlobum var. typicum introduced to crimea

Thirteen known glycosides of hederagenin and oleanolic acid and the three new triterpene glycosides of oleanolic acid-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→ 3)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside of oleanolic acid and the 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-6-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→ 6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl esters 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside of oleanolic acid and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-Dxylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→ 2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside of oleanolic acid were isolated from leaves of Kalopanax septemlobum var. typicum introduced to Crimea. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 40–43, January–February, 2006.     

Dihydroridentin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia pontica</Emphasis> and its Stereochemistry

The germacranolide 11,13-dihydroridentin, for which the previously unknown S-configuration of the asymmetric center on C-11 was established, was isolated for the first time from Artemisia pontica L. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 341–342, July–August, 2005.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

Mercaptan addition to 1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-acetyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-D-galactopyranose

Addition of ethyl-, propyl-, and n-butylmercaptans to 1-O-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose in the presence of benzoyl peroxide catalyst was studied for the first time. The products were 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, 1-O-(3-propylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, and 1-O-(3-butylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose. Deacetylation of 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose produced 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-β-D-galactopyranose. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 209–211, May–June, 2007.     

Two new isomeric lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusideroxylon zwageri</Emphasis>

Two new lignans were isolated with two other known compounds, eusiderin A and eusiderin I, from Eusideroxylon zwageri (billian). The two new lignans have isomeric structure. The structures of the new lignans were determined to be (2R,3R,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy (3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin and (2R,3S,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 303–305, May–June, 2009.     

Triterpene glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus</Emphasis> and their genins. LXXX. Cyclomacroside D,a new bisdesmoside

The structure of the new cycloartane glycoside cyclomacroside D, which was isolated from Astragalus macropus Bunge (Leguminosae) and is 24R-cycloartan-1α,3β,7β,24,25-pentaol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside–24-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, was proved. Presented at the 7th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds (SCNC, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, October 16–18, 2007). Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 48–50, January–February, 2009.     

A new stilbene glycoside from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butanol fraction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Veratrum dahuricum</Emphasis>

A new stilbene glycoside, 5-methylresveratrol-3,4′-O-β-D-diglucopyranoside (1), was isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the rhizomes of Veratrum dahuricum, together with five known stilbenoids: resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (2), 4′-methylresveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (3), oxyresveratrol-4′-O-β-D-glycoside (4), oxyresveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (5), and oxyresveratrol-3,4′-O-β-D-diglycoside (6), and found for the first time in the investigated plant. The structures of six isolates were identified on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1–6 showed platelet aggregation inhibition, and compound 1 had an IC₅₀ value of 383.6 μM against platelet aggregation induced by AA. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 279–282, May–June, 2009.