Techniques for the analysis of pentacyclic triterpenoids in medicinal plants

Triterpenes are a major class of chemical compounds found in natural plants and can be categorized into acyclic triterpenoids, monocyclic triterpenoids, tricyclic triterpenoids, tetracyclic triterpenoids, and pentacyclic triterpenoids. Among them, pentacyclic triterpenoids have gained more extensive attention due to their biological activities, including anti‐inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidation, antitumor, anti‐HIV, hepatoprotection, and immunological adjuvant properties. In this review, we summarize the extraction and analytical methods for pentacyclic triterpenoids, where more than 56 triterpenes from 49 kinds of plants were involved. The analysis methods include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, thin‐layer chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray spectroscopy. This review provides valuable reference for the determination of pentacyclic triterpenoids in medicinal plants.     

Triterpenoid‐Based Self‐Healing Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogels Formed by Host–Guest Interactions

Pentacyclic triterpenoids, a class of naturally bioactive products having multiple functional groups, unique chiral centers, rigid skeletons, and good biocompatibility, are ideal building blocks for fabricating versatile supramolecular structures. In this research, the natural pentacyclic triterpenoid glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was used as a guest molecule for β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) to form a GA/β‐CD (1:1) inclusion complex. By means of GA and β‐CD pendant groups in N,N′‐dimethylacrylamide copolymers, a supramolecular polymer hydrogel can be physically cross‐linked by host–guest interactions between GA and β‐CD moieties. Moreover, self‐healing of this hydrogel was observed and confirmed by step‐strain rheological measurements, whereby the maximum storage modulus occurred at a [GA]/[β‐CD] molar ratio of 1:1. Additionally, these polymers displayed outstanding biocompatibility. The introduction of a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid into a hydrogel system not only provides a biocompatible guest–host complementary GA/β‐CD pair, but also makes this hydrogel an attractive candidate for tissue engineering.     

Copper-Catalyzed Radical Enantioselective Synthesis of γ-Butyrolactones with Two Non-vicinal Carbon Stereocenters

Chiral heterocycles with two or more carbon stereocenters are quite important skeletons in many fields. However, powerful strategies for the construction of such synthetically valuable heterocycles, especially with two or more remote carbon stereocenters, have largely lagged behind. We report here a powerful method for the synthesis of chiral γ-butyrolactones with two non-vicinal carbon stereocenters from readily available chemical feedstocks under mild conditions. Both of the two diastereoisomers can be obtained with good to excellent enantioselectivities. The well-designed copper/PyBox catalytic system overrides the intrinsic stereoinduction of the close chirality center generated by the previous innocent radical addition step. Nevertheless, this work has the power to selectively provide one single diastereoisomer by taking advantage of the epimerization effect but also to synthesize all four diastereoisomers with the pair of chiral ligands L2 and L2′ having opposite chirality. The obtained useful chiral γ-butyrolactones can be synthetically transformed into acyclic or cyclic molecules with two non-vicinal carbon stereocenters. Mechanistic studies reveal that this radical reaction follows a linear relationship and can be well performed with a less loading amount of ligand compared to that of the copper catalyst.     

Bioactive Evaluation of Ursane-Type Pentacyclic Triterpenoids: β-Boswellic Acid Interferes with the Glycosylation and Transport of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells

Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids exert various biological effects, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. We previously reported that ursolic acid, corosolic acid, and asiatic acid interfered with the intracellular trafficking and glycosylation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells stimulated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1α. However, the structure–activity relationship of ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids remains unclear. In the present study, the biological activities of seven ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids (β-boswellic acid, uvaol, madecassic acid, 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, ursolic acid, corosolic acid, and asiatic acid) were investigated. We revealed that the inhibitory activities of ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids on the cell surface expression and glycosylation of ICAM-1 and α-glucosidase activity were influenced by the number of hydroxy groups and/or the presence and position of a carboxyl group. We also showed that β-boswellic acid interfered with ICAM-1 glycosylation in a different manner from other ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids.     

Enantiopurity analysis of new types of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates by capillary electrophoresis with cyclodextrins as chiral selectors

CE methods have been developed for the chiral analysis of new types of six acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, nucleotide analogs bearing [(3‐hydroxypropan‐2‐yl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl]phosphonic acid, 2‐[(diisopropoxyphosphonyl)methoxy]propanoic acid, or 2?(phosphonomethoxy)propanoic acid moieties attached to adenine, guanine, 2,6‐diaminopurine, uracil, and 5‐bromouracil nucleobases, using neutral and cationic cyclodextrins as chiral selectors. With the exception of the 5‐bromouracil‐derived acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with a 2‐(phosphonomethoxy)propanoic acid side chain, the R and S enantiomers of the other five acyclic nucleoside phosphonates were successfully separated with sufficient resolutions, 1.51–2.94, within a reasonable time, 13–28 min, by CE in alkaline BGEs (50 mM sodium tetraborate adjusted with NaOH to pH 9.60, 9.85, and 10.30, respectively) containing 20 mg/mL β‐cyclodextrin as the chiral selector. A baseline separation of the R and S enantiomers of the 5‐bromouracil‐derived acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with 2‐(phosphonomethoxy)propanoic acid side chain was achieved within a short time of 7 min by CE in an acidic BGE (20:40 mM Tris/phosphate, pH 2.20) using 60 mg/mL quaternary ammonium β‐cyclodextrin chiral selector. The developed methods were applied for the assessment of the enantiomeric purity of the above acyclic nucleoside phosphonates. The preparations of all these compounds were found to be synthesized in pure enantiomeric forms. Using UV absorption detection at 206 nm, their concentration detection limits were in the low micromolar range.     

Quantitative determination of three pentacyclic triterpenes from five Swertia L. species endemic to Western Ghats,India, using RP-HPLC analysis

Aim of this study was to identify pentacyclic triterpenoids betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) from five Swertia species endemic to Western Ghats, which are used as substitutes as well as adulterants to Swertia chirayita. Our results indicate that the concentration of active compound vary largely among and within the species from different localities. OA was found in a higher amount in all species compared to BA and UA. From the results, it was clear that BA, OA and UA are present in the endemic species collected from Western Ghats, thus advocating the use of these species as alternate sources to S. chirayita. This in due course may release pressure of exploitation from natural resources of S. chirayita and help to bring it out from an endangered category from conservation point of view.     

Triterpenoids and Iridoid Glycosides from Gentiana dahurica

One new and six known pentacyclic triterpenoids, 1 and 4 – 9 , resp., along with two new and three known iridoid glycosides, 2 and 3 , and 10 – 12 , resp., were isolated from the roots of Gentiana dahurica (‘Qin‐Jiao’). The new structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic and chemical methods as 1β,2α,3α,24‐tetrahydroxyursa‐12,20(30)‐dien‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ), 6′‐O‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 2 ), and 3′‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 3 ). Isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against the MCF‐7 human breast cancer cell line using the MTT assay. Among them, triterpenoids 2α,3β,24‐trihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 6 ) and 3β,24‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 9 ) were found to have moderate cytotoxic effects with IC₅₀ values of 20.9 and 21.7 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the chemotaxonomic significance of the identified secondary metabolites is briefly discussed.     

Engineering Homochiral Metal–Organic Frameworks by Spatially Separating 1D Chiral Metal–Peptide Ladders: Tuning the Pore Size for Enantioselective Adsorption

The reaction of the chiral dipeptide glycyl‐L(S)‐glutamate with Co^II ions produces chiral ladders that can be used as rigid 1D building units. Spatial separation of these building units with linkers of different lengths allows the engineering of homochiral porous MOFs with enhanced pore sizes, pore volumes, and surface areas. This strategy enables the synthesis of a family of isoreticular MOFs, in which the pore size dictates the enantioselective adsorption of chiral molecules (in terms of their size and enantiomeric excess).     

Development of Asymmetric Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral Organotin‐Alkoxide Reagents

Asymmetric catalysis under almost‐neutral reaction conditions is key for the efficient synthesis of optically active polar molecules. We have developed catalytic enantioselective reactions of acyclic or cyclic alkenyl esters by using an (S)‐BINOL‐derived chiral tin‐dibromide reagent that possesses a bulky aryl group at the 3 or 3′ position as the chiral pre‐catalyst in the presence of a sodium alkoxide and an alcohol, in which a chiral tin alkoxide bromide is generated in situ and recycled with the assistance of an alcohol. In this Personal Account, we describe three types of asymmetric transformation that proceed through a chiral tin enolate: 1) The asymmetric aldol reaction of alkenyl esters or unsaturated lactones with aldehydes or isatins; 2) the asymmetric three‐component Mannich‐type reaction of alkenyl esters and related cycloaddition reactions; and 3) the asymmetric N‐nitroso aldol reaction of unsaturated lactones with nitrosoarenes.     

Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from Sabia discolor Dunn and Their α-Glycosidase Inhibitory Activities

Four new pentacyclic triterpenoids named Sabiadiscolor A–D (1 and 7–9) together with eleven known ones were isolated by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were identified and characterized by NMR and MS spectral data as 6 oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids (1–6), 7 ursane-type ones (7–13), and 2 lupanane-type ones (14–15). Except for compound 15, all other compounds were isolated from Sabia discolor Dunn for the first time. Their α-glycosidase inhibitory activities were evaluated, which showed that compounds 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, and 15 implied remarkable activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.09 to 0.27 μM, and the preliminary structure–activity relationship was discussed.     

Common vertex matrix: A novel characterization of molecular graphs by counting

We present a novel matrix representation of graphs based on the count of equal‐distance common vertices to each pair of vertices in a graph. The element (i, j) of this matrix is defined as the number of vertices at the same distance from vertices (i, j). As illustrated on smaller alkanes, these novel matrices are very sensitive to molecular branching and the distribution of vertices in a graph. In particular, we show that ordered row sums of these novel matrices can facilitate solving graph isomorphism for acyclic graphs. This has been illustrated on all undecane isomers C₁₁H₂₄ having the same path counts (total of 25 molecules), on pair of graphs on 18 vertices having the same distance degree sequences (Slater's graphs), as well as two graphs on 21 vertices having identical several topological indices derived from information on distances between vertices. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Turning on Asymmetric Catalysis of Achiral Metal-Organic Frameworks by Imparting Chiral Microenvironment

The development of heterogeneous asymmetric catalysts has attracted increasing interest in synthetic chemistry but mostly relies on the immobilization of homogeneous chiral catalysts. Herein, a series of chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been fabricated by anchoring similar chiral hydroxylated molecules (catalytically inactive) with different lengths onto Zr-oxo clusters in achiral PCN-222(Cu). The resulting chiral MOFs exhibit regulated enantioselectivity up to 83 % ee in the asymmetric ring-opening of cyclohexene oxide. The chiral molecules furnished onto the catalytic Lewis sites in the MOF create multilevel microenvironment, including the hydrogen interaction between the substrate and the chiral −OH group, the steric hindrance endowed by the benzene ring on the chiral molecules, and the proximity between the catalytic sites and chiral molecules confined in the MOF pores, which play crucial roles and synergistically promote chiral catalysis. This work nicely achieves heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis by chiral microenvironment modulation around Lewis acid sites.     

Biomimetic Polyene Cyclizations

Certain polyenic substances having trans olefinic bonds in a 1,5 relationship can be induced to undergo stereospecific, non-enzymic, cationic cyclization to give polycyclic products with all-trans (“natural”) configuration. These transformations appear to mimic in principle the biogenetic conversion of squalene into polycyclic triterpenoids. Acetal and allylic alcohol functions are effective initiators for these cyclizations, and methylacetylenic end groups are particularly useful terminators since they lead to five-membered rings. Thus a tetraenic acetal having no chiral centers has been converted in a single step into a tetracyclic product having seven such centers. The process is highly stereoselective, giving only two of 64 possible racemates. Systems have also been developed for effecting the total synthesis of the steroid nucleus in a single step starting from a substrate containing only one ring. The mechanism of these biomimetic cyclizations and also that of their enzymic counterparts is still unknown, but the balance of the evidence favors a synchronous process.     

Three New Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from Centella asiatica

Three new pentacyclic triterpenoids, named centellasaponin I ( 1 ), centellasaponin J ( 2 ), and centellasaponin E ( 3 ), together with three known compounds, were isolated from the whole plants of Centella asiatica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR and HR‐MS experiments, and by comparison with literature data.     

New Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from Centella asiatica

Three new pentacyclic triterpenoids, named centellasaponins G, H, and F ( 1 – 3 , resp.), together with four known compounds, 4 – 7 , were isolated from the whole plants of Centella asiatica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR and HR‐MS experiments, and by comparison with literature data.     

Two New Cycloartane Triterpenoids from Kleinhovia hospita

Two new cycloartane triterpenoids, (23R)‐21,23:23,27‐diepoxycycloarta‐1,24‐diene‐3,27‐dione ( 1 ) and (3α)‐(α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyloxy)‐1α‐hydroxy‐23‐oxocycloartan‐28‐oic acid ( 2 ), together with six known pentacyclic triterpenoids, 3 – 8 , and five known C₂₉ steroids, 9 – 13 , were isolated from Kleinhovia hospita. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Moreover, the absolute configuration of 1 was confirmed by quantum‐chemical TDDFT calculation of its ECD spectrum. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human colon carcinoma (HCT116) and gastric carcinoma (SGC7901) cell lines, and compounds 6, 7, 8, 11 , and 12 exhibited antiproliferative activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 23.0 to 91.8 μM .     

Mesogenic Unsymmetric dimers containing cholesteryl ester and tolane moieties

Among unsymmetric oligomesogens, chiral dimers formed by connecting a cholesteryl ester fragment with various aromatic mesogenic cores through a polymethylene spacer have been attracting much attention due to their remarkable thermal behaviour. In particular, dimers containing a diphenylacetylene segment having an alkoxy chain have shown interesting mesomorphic behaviour. In view of this a new series of unsymmetric dimers consisting of a diphenylacetylene moiety having an alkyl chain and a cholesteryl ester unit joined through a paraffinic spacer have been synthesized and their liquid crystalline properties characterized. The lengths of the central methylene spacer (C₃, C₄, C₅ and C₇) as well as that of the alkyl chain (n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl and n-heptyl) have been varied to establish structure–property relationships. These investigations have revealed that all the dimers exhibit smectic A, twist grain boundary and chiral neamtic (N*) phases with the exception of one of the dimers for which only the N* phase was observed. Some differences in the mesomorphic properties of the unsymmetric dimers containing odd or even parity methylene spacers have been observed. The majority of dimers having an even (C₄) parity paraffinic spacer show a blue phase while the dimers with odd (C₃, C₅ and C₇) parity spacers exhibit the chiral smectic (SmC*) phase. In some cases, the SmC* phase exists well below (?60°C) and above room temperature.     

Influence of a Change in Helical Twisting Power of Photoresponsive Chiral Dopants on Rotational Manipulation of Micro‐Objects on the Surface of Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystalline Films

Herein we report a group of five planar chiral molecules as photon‐mode chiral switches for the reversible control of the self‐assembled superstructures of doped chiral nematic liquid crystals. The chiral switches are composed of an asymmetrically substituted aromatic moiety and a photoisomerizing azobenzene unit connected in a cyclic manner through methylene spacers of varying lengths. All the molecules show conformational restriction in the rotation of the asymmetrically substituted aromatic moiety in both the E and Z states of the azobenzene units resulting in planar chirality with separable enantiomers. Our newly synthesized compounds in pure enantiomeric form show high helical twisting power (HTP) in addition to an improved change in HTP between the E and Z states. The molecule with a diphenylnaphthalene unit shows the highest ever known initial helical twisting power among chiral dopants with planar chirality. In addition to the reversible tuning of reflection colors, we employed the enantiomers of these five compounds in combination with four nematic liquid crystalline hosts to study their properties as molecular machines; the change in HTP of the chiral dopant upon photoisomerization induces rotation of the texture of the liquid crystal surfaces. Importantly, this study has revealed a linear dependence of the ratio of the difference between HTPs before and after irradiation against the absolute value of the initial HTP, not the absolute value of the change in helical twisting power between two states, on the angle of rotation of micro‐objects on chiral nematic liquid crystalline films. This study has also revealed that a change in irradiation intensity does not affect the maximum angle of rotation, but it does affect the speed of rotational reorganization of the cholesteric helix.     

Enantioselective Divergent Syntheses of Several Polyhalogenated Plocamium Monoterpenes and Evaluation of Their Selectivity for Solid Tumors

The family of polyhalogenated monoterpenes from Plocamium counts over a hundred known members. Using glyceraldehyde acetonide as a chiral‐pool precursor, an enantioselective and divergent strategy was developed that provides a blueprint for the synthesis of many of the small yet complex acyclic members of this family. The broad applicability of this approach is demonstrated with the short, eight‐step synthesis of four natural products and three analogues. These syntheses are the first of any members of the acyclic polyhalogenated Plocamium monoterpenes and permitted the evaluation of their selectivity against a range of tumor cell lines.     

Synthesis of 1,2-Epoxy-3-alkanols via Mitsunobu Reaction on Unprotected Enantiopure Acyclic 1,2,3-Triols

Mitsunobu reaction directly carried out on unprotected enantiopure acyclic 1,2,3-triols gave the corresponding chiral 1,2-epoxy-3-alkanols. Higher yields are obtained with relative threo configuration than with relative erythro configuration.