Cytotoxic constituents from Vicia monantha subsp. monantha seeds

Chemical investigation of Vicia monantha subsp. monantha Retz. revealed isolation of one new hydroxy- fatty acid (6) identified as (6-Z, 10-E)-9-hydroxy henicosa-6,10-dienoic acid in addition to six known metabolites; hexadecanoic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), β-amyrin (3), β-sitosterol-glucoside (4), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl tetradecanoate (5) and (Z)-9-hydroxypentadec-6-enoic acid (7). The cytotoxic effect of the isolated compounds was assessed by MTT assay using lung cancer A-549, prostate cancer PC3, breast cancer MCF-7, colon cancer HCT-116 and liver cancer HepG2 cell lines. Only compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 cells where compound 2 was the most active with IC₅₀ value of 22.61 μg/mL. In addition, compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 showed promising cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 21.03, 15.42, 10.089, and 11.34 μg/mL, respectively.     

A new butenolide cinnamate and other biological active chemical constituents from Polygonum glabrum

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Polygonum glabrum afforded one new natural product ( ? )-2-methoxy-2-butenolide-3-cinnamate (1) along with six known compounds, β-hydroxyfriedalanol (2), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene (3), ( ? ) pinocembrin (4), sitosterol-(6′-O-palmitoyl)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), ( ? ) pinocembrin-5-methyl ether (6) and sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7). Compound 1 showed promising in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity against primary isolates HIV-1_UG070 (X4, subtype D) and HIV-1_VB59 (R5, subtype C) assayed using TZM-bl cell line with IC₅₀ in the range of 15.68–22.43 μg/mL. The extract showed TI in the range of 19.19–27.37 with IC₅₀ in the range of 10.90–15.55 μg/mL. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited in vitro anti-mycobacterium activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra with IC₅₀ values of 1.43, 3.33 and 1.11 μg/mL in dormant phase and 2.27, 3.33 and 1.21 μg/mL in active phase, respectively. Compound 4 was found to be the most active antiproliferative with IC₅₀ values of 1.88–11.00 μg/mL against THP-1, A549, Panc-1, HeLa and MCF7 cell lines.     

A new antifungal and antiprotozoal bibenzyl derivative from Gavilea lutea

A new bibenzyl derivative (4), together with two glycosylated flavonoids (1 and 2), batatasin III (3) and the phenanthrene isohircinol (5) were isolated from the aerial parts of Gavilea lutea. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies including 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and HRESIMS. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activity towards Candida albicans. The new compound 4 showed inhibitory activity with a MIQ of 50 μg. In addition, compound 4 exhibited a selective activity (IC₅₀ = 2.3 μg/mL) against Leishmania donovani.     

New compound from Euphorbia alatavica Boiss

One new compound alatavinol (1), together with five known compounds, kaempferol (2), quercetin (3), laricircsinol (4), secoisolariciresinol (5) and loliolide (6) were isolated from the whole plant of Euphorbia alatavica Boiss. Those compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (1D, 2D NMR, and HR-MS) chemical analyses. All compounds were isolated for the first time from E. alatavica Boiss, and biochemical pathway of the new compound has been hypothesized. Furthermore, these compounds were evaluated for antioxidant properties based on the DPPH radical scavenging activities. Results showed that IC₅₀ values of compounds 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were 25.69, 1.88, 2.87, 11.55 and 17.81 μg/mL, respectively, as compared to the control ascorbic acid (5.34 μg/mL).     

Carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate and two carbazole alkaloids from the stems of Clausena excavata

A carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate, carbazomarin B (1), and two carbazole alkaloids, 6-methoxymukonidine (2) and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbazole (3), together with 27 known compounds (4–30), were isolated from the stems of Clausena excavata. Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity to HuCCA-1, MOLT-3 and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 15.09–28.50 μg/mL, but none to A549 cell line. Heptaphylline (6) and nordentatin (23) were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 12.33 and 11.33, respectively, while clausine K (27) exhibited strong cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of 1.05 μg/mL, better than a standard drug (etoposide, IC₅₀ 13.40 μg/mL).     

Airlanggins A-B,two new isoprenylated benzofuran-3-ones from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri

Two new isoprenylated benzofuran 3-ones, airlanggin A (1) and B (2) along with two known xanthones, ananixanthone (3) and trapezifolixanthone (4) were isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri. Structures of all the compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against P-388 cells, showing that compound 3 was the most active with IC₅₀ 0.68 μg/mL and compound 1 showed moderate activity with IC₅₀ 5.80 μg/mL.     

Structure activity relationship of bergenin,p-hydroxybenzoyl bergenin, 11-O-galloylbergenin as potent antioxidant and urease inhibitor isolated from Bergenia ligulata

Ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Bergenia ligulata was subjected to solvent–solvent separation followed by various chromatographic techniques that lead to isolation of bergenine (1), p-hydroxybenzoyl bergenin (2), 11-O-galloylbergenin (3) and methyl gallate (4) as major constituents. Ethyl acetate fraction showed a dose-dependent urease inhibitory pattern with IC₅₀ value of 54μg/mL. Structures of compounds 1 and 3 were established by XRD and 2, 4 by NMR. All these compounds were subjected to DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power assay and urease inhibitory activity. The EC₅₀ 7.45 ± 0.2 μg/mL and 5.39 ± 0.28 μg/mL values in terms of antioxidant and reducing power, respectively, were less for 3. Compounds 1–3 showed moderate to significant urease inhibitory potential with IC₅₀ 57.1 ± 0.7, IC₅₀ 48.4 ± 0.3 and 38.6 ± 1.5. Antioxidant activities and urease inhibitory potential were investigated and compound 3 was found to be the most active.     

Structures and bioactivities of seven flavonoids from Osmanthus fragrans ‘Jinqiu’ essential oil extraction residues

Osmanthus fragrans are well-known for their fragrance, but it is wasteful if to discard O. fragrans flower after extracting their essential oils. In this paper, we found that O. fragrans flower residues were rich in flavonoids. Six flavonoids and one phenylethanoid glycoside were isolated from the ethanol extract of O. fragrans flower residues, identified as quercetin (1), rutin (2), verbascoside (3), genistin (4), kaempferol (5), isorhamnetin (6) and naringin (7). In bioactivity study, kaempferol (IC₅₀ = 1.43 μg/mL) showed the best anti-inflammatory activity. Isorhamnetin, quercetin, kaempferol, verbascoside and rutin (the values of IC₅₀ were 18.30, 11.05, 16.88, 20.21 and 22.76 μg/mL, respectively) showed excellent DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Verbascoside performed relatively well at inhibiting the growth of both CT26 colonic carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 46.87 μg/mL) and HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 30.58 μg/mL). In addition, quercetin and kaempferol showed strong anti-proliferation activity against HepG2 cells.     

Activity-guided investigation of Carissa carandas (L.) roots for anti-inflammatory constituents

The present study was structured to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the extracts, fractions and compounds isolated from Carissa carandas (L.) roots. Bioassay guided fractionation of methanol extract based on inhibitory potential towards proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β and nitric oxide (NO)) led to the identification of stigmasterol (1), lupeol (2), oleanolic acid (3), carissone (4) and scopoletin (5) as potential anti-inflammatory agents. Carissone (4) (IC₅₀ = 20.1 ± 2.69 μg/mL) and scopoletin (5) (IC₅₀ = 24.6 ± 1.36 μg/mL) exhibited significant inhibition of NO production comparable to specific NO inhibitor (L-NAME; IC₅₀ = 19.82 ± 1.64 μg/mL) without affecting the cell viability. Also, 4 and 5 at a concentration of 30 μM were found to inhibit 41.88–53.44% of TNF-α and IL-1β. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report displaying the anti-inflammatory effects of C. carandas (L.) roots, partially mediated by inhibition of TNF-α, IL-1β and NO.     

Secondary metabolites from marine-derived Streptomyces antibioticus strain H74-21

A new secondary metabolite, (2S,3R)-l-threonine, N-[3-(formylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]-ethyl ester (streptomyceamide C, 1), together with four known compounds 1, 4-dimethyl-3-isopropyl-2,5-piperidinedione (2), cyclo-((S)-Pro-8- hydroxy-(R)-Ile (3), cyclo-((S)-Pro-(R)-Leu (4), and seco-((S)-Pro-(R)-Val) (5), were isolated from the EtOH extract of the fermented mycelium of the marine-derived streptomycete strain H74-21, which was isolated from sea sediment in a mangrove site. The structure of the new compound was established on the basis of its spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-TOF-MS. Their antifungal activities against Candida albicans and cytotoxicities against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7, human glioblastoma cell line SF-268 and human lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 were tested. Compounds 1 only displayed cytotoxicity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 with the IC₅₀ value of 27.0 μg/mL. However, compounds 1–5 do not show antifungal activities at the test concentration of 1 mg/mL, and 2–5 have no cytotoxicities at the test concentration of 50 μg/mL.     

New C20-gibberellin diterpene from the leaves of Schefflera sessiliflora De P. V.

From the leaves of Schefflera sessiliflora De P. V., one new C₂₀-gibberellin diterpene 2β,12β-dihydroxygibberellin (12β-hydroxy-GA₁₁₀ or 2β-hydroxy-GA₁₁₂) (1), together with three known compounds, trans-tiliroside (2), kaempferol 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (3), 5-p-trans-coumaroylquinic acid (4), was isolated for the first time from the genus Schefflera by various chromatography methods. Their structures were elucidated by IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, NMR 1D and 2D experiments and comparison with previous reported data. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of all compounds was measured. The isolates (2, 3) showed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 134.60, 147.10 μM, respectively) than the standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀ = 214.50 μM).     

A new phenylethanoid glycoside from Orobanche cernua Loefling

A novel phenylethanoid glycoside, 3′-O-methyl isocrenatoside (1), along with two known compounds, methyl caffeate (2) and protocatechuic aldehyde (3), were isolated from the fresh whole plant of Orobanche cernua Loefling. All the isolated compounds (1–3) were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS and NMR data. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated. Results showed that 3′-O-methyl isocrenatoside (1) and methyl caffeate (2) exhibited significant cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 71.89, 36.97 μg/mL and 32.32, 34.58 μg/mL against the B16F10 murine melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines, respectively.     

Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of the leaves of Garcinia travancorica Bedd.

Phytochemical analysis of the leaves of Garcinia travancorica, a hitherto uninvestigated endemic species to the Western Ghats of south India, resulted in isolation and characterisation of the polyisoprenylated benzophenones 7-epi-nemorosone (1) and garcinol (2) along with biflavonoids GB-1a (3), GB-1 (4), GB-2 (5), morelloflavone (6) and morelloflavone-7″-O-β-d-glycoside or fukugiside (7). The compounds were identified using various spectroscopic techniques, mainly through NMR and MS. The methanol extract and the biflavonoids 3, 4, 5 and 7 showed potential in vitro antioxidant activities. The IC₅₀ value of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of compound 7 was 8.34 ± 2.12 μg/mL, comparable to that of standard ascorbic acid (3.2 ± 0.50 μg/mL). In the superoxide radical scavenging assay, compound 7 gave IC₅₀ value of 6.95 ± 1.33 μg/mL close to standard ascorbic acid with IC₅₀ value of 5.8 ± 0.25 μg/mL. Validated HPTLC estimation revealed G. travancorica as a rich source of morelloflavone-7″-O-β-d-glycoside (7.12% dry wt. leaves).     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea rhizantha C.A. Meyer

Two new sesquiterpene lactones, rhizantholide A (1) and rhizantholide B (2), together with five known compounds (3-7) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurea rhizantha (Asteraceae). Sesquiterpene lactones belong to guaianolide class, and rhizantholide B is a rare guaianolide characterized by a free primary alcoholic function at C-10 along with a 3β,10β-epoxy function. Their structures have been established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as HR-ESIMS. The antimicrobial activity of compounds 1-7 has been evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Only deacylcynaropicrin 8-O-[3′-hydroxy-2′-methylpropionate] (5) showed moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC/MBC value of 500 μg/mL. All isolated compounds have been also evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against cancer cells. Among them, compound 5 showed the highest cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values in the range 5.02–16.76 μg/mL.     

Mesucalophylloidin,a new isoprenylated 4-phenylcoumarin from Mesua calophylloides (Ridl.) Kosterm

A new isoprenylated 4-phenylcoumarin derivative, mesucalophylloidin (1) along with three known compounds, mammea A/BA cyclo F (2), calolongic acid (3) and isocalolongic acid (4) were isolated from the stem bark of Mesua calophylloides (Ridl.) Kosterm. Structures of all the compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against P-388 cells, showing that compound 1 gave moderate activity with IC₅₀ 6.26 μg/mL.     

A new lignan glycoside from the aerial parts and cytotoxic investigation of Uvaria rufa

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Uvaria rufa (Dunal) Blume collected from Vietnam yielded one new lignan glycoside, ufaside (1), along with six known compounds, oxoanolobine (2), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (3), catechin (4), epicatechin (5), daucosterol (6) and glutin-5-en-3-one (7). Their chemical structures were determined by using NMR, HR-MS spectroscopic analyses and in comparison with the reported data. A cytotoxic analysis of U. rufa herb extracts was performed for the first time using nine human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, LNCaP, MKN7, SW480, KB, LU-1, HepG2 and HL-60) derived from different tumour types. Of these seven constituents, compounds 2 and 3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LU-1) with IC₅₀ values of 9.22 ± 1.02 μg/mL and 10.21 ± 1.16 μg/mL, respectively.     

New chemical constituents from the Piper betle Linn. (Piperaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of chloroform extract from Piper betle var. haldia, Piperaceae, leaves has resulted in the isolation of two new chemical constituents which were identified as 1-n-dodecanyloxy resorcinol (H1) and desmethylenesqualenyl deoxy-cepharadione-A (H4), on the basis of spectroscopic data 1D NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D NMR (¹H-¹H COSY and HMBC) as well as ESI-MS, FT-IR and HR-ESI-MS analyses. Compounds H1 and H4 showed excellent antioxidant DPPH free radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 7.14 μg/mL and 8.08 μg/mL compared to ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant drug with IC₅₀ value of 2.52 μg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma cell line (PLC-PRF-5) showed moderate effect with the GI₅₀ values of 35.12 μg/mL for H1, 31.01 μg/mL for H4, compared to Doxorubicin^® as a standard cytotoxic drug with GI₅₀ value of 18.80 μg/mL.     

Antileishmanial diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf

The crude extracts of tubers of Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf were investigated for in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major. The dichloromethane extract at pH 2.5 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ value of 27.10 ± 0.0 μg/mL. Chromatographic purification of the dichloromethane extract led to isolation of three C-19 norditerpenoid alkaloids indaconitine (1), chasmaconitine (2) and ludaconitine (3). Compounds 3 and 2 showed antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ = 36.10 ± 3.4 and 56.30 ± 2.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 was less effective (IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL). The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 2 and 3 studied against MCF7, HeLa and PC3 cancer cell lines and 3T3 normal fibroblast cell line did not show cytotoxicity at 30 μM.     

Triterpene tetraglycosides from the sea cucumber Stichopus horrens

Using various chromatographic separations, three triterpene tetraglycosides (1–3), including one new compound, namely stichorrenoside E (1) along with thelenotoside B (2) and deacetyl thelenotoside B (3), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the Vietnamese sea cucumber Stichopus horrens. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic experiments, such as 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. Deacetylated thelenotoside B (3) is firstly isolated as a natural product. Among these compounds, thelenotoside B (2) showed strong cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines as HepG2, KB, LNCaP, MCF7 and SK-Mel2 with the IC₅₀ values from 0.95 ± 0.08 to 1.90 ± 0.13 μM, whereas stichorrenoside E (1) and deacetyl thelenotoside B (3) exhibited significant activities with the IC₅₀ values from 6.87 ± 0.25 to 11.62 ± 1.05 μM.     

Coumarins and alkaloids from the roots of Toddalia asiatica

The EtOAc and MeOH extracts of the roots of Toddalia asiatica Lam. were investigated for the roots’ chemical constituents. Two new compounds including 2′R-acetoxytoddanol (1) and 8S-10-O-demethylbocconoline (3) as well as 15 known compounds were isolated. Compound 10 showed strong cytotoxicity against KB cells with an IC₅₀ value of 2.60 μg/mL, which is nearly equal to the ellipticine standard, but showed no activity against Vero cells. Alkaloid 3 displayed weak cytotoxicity against the KB cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 21.69 μg/mL.