Secoiridoids and other chemotaxonomically relevant compounds in Pedicularis: phytochemical analysis and comparison of Pedicularis rostratocapitata Crantz and Pedicularis verticillata L. from Dolomites

We compared the respective metabolite patterns of two Pedicularis species from Dolomites. Seven phenylethanoid glycosides, i.e., verbascoside (1), echinacoside (2), angoroside A (3), cistantubuloside B1 (4), wiedemannioside C (5), campneoside II (11) and cistantubuloside C1 (12), together with several iridoid glucosides as aucubin (6), euphroside (7), monomelittoside (8), mussaenosidic acid (9) and 8-epiloganic acid (13) were identified. Pedicularis verticillata showed also the presence of greatly unexpected secoiridoids, ligustroside (14) and excelside B (15), very rare compounds in Lamiales. Both PhGs and iridoids are considered of taxonomical relevance in the Asteridae and their occurrence in Pedicularis was discussed. In particular, the exclusive presence of several compounds such as 8-epiloganic acid (13), campneoside II (11), cistantubuloside C1 (12), ligustroside (14) and excelside B (15) in Pedicularis rostratocapitata, and angoroside A (3), cistantubuloside B1 (4) and wiedemannioside C (5) in P. verticillata could be considered specific markers for the two botanical entities.     

Unusual molecular pattern in Ajugoideae subfamily: the case of Ajuga genevensis L. from Dolomites

We analysed the ethanolic extract from Ajuga genevensis L. (Lamiaceae) growing in Dolomites, part of Italian Alps. Three new compounds for this species were identified: rosmarinic acid (1), oleanolic acid (2) and maslinic acid (3), representative of two different classes of chemical compounds (phenylpropanoids and pentacyclic triterpenes). A. genevensis resulted to be a valuable source of these compounds endowed with interesting biological activities (i.e. antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative). The recognition of compounds (1), (2) and (3) may also confirm the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant. From a chemotaxonomical point of view, it is worth noting that iridoids were not evidenced in this accession. Iridoids are considered chemotaxonomic marker in Lamiales, and, in contrast with a previous study on this species, the presence of aucubin was not confirmed. In addition, the presence of large amounts of rosmarinic acid (1) was unexpected for a species that does not belong to subfamily Nepetoideae.     

Chemical constituents from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. and their chemotaxonomic significance

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the whole plant of Agrimonia pilosa led to the isolation of 31 compounds, including 16 flavonoids (1–16), 5 triterpenes (17–21), 1 isocoumarin (22), 5 phenolic acids (23–27), 1 ceramide (28), 2 agrimols (29–30) and 1 fatty acid (31). Their structures were determined by various spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 5, 7 and 20 were firstly isolated from the genus Agrimonia, and compounds 6, 10–11, 15, 26, 28 and 31 were isolated from the family Rosaceae for the first time. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarised.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of a polar extract of Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur.

Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur. (Thymelaeaceae) is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. In order to continue our studies on this species, herein we report the isolation and characterisation of 20 compounds from a hydroalcoholic extract (EtOH–H₂O 7:3) of the aerial parts. They include monoterpene glucosides (1–3), phenolic acid derivatives (4, 8 and 9), phenylpropanoid glucosides (5 and 6), flavonoids (7, 10 and 11), a benzyl alcohol glucoside (12), ionol glucosides (13–16), lignans (17–19) and a bis-coumarin (20). All the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as ESI-MS analysis. Moreover, the extract of T. microphylla showed a significant and concentration-dependent free radical-scavenging activity in vitro, correlated to the presence of phenolic and chlorogenic acid derivatives (8, 9 and 4).     

A new glucosidic phthalide from Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum from La Maddalena Island (Sardinia,Italy)

In this study, we reported the analysis of the medium polarity fraction obtained from an accession of Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum from La Maddalena Island. Besides several compounds already evidenced in this species and related genera, i.e. micropyrone (1), arzanol (2), helipyrone (3), acetyl-bitalin derivatives (4, 5), gnaphaliol (6), caffeic acid (7), ursolic acid (8), 7-O-β-(d-glucopyranosyl)-5-methoxy-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone (9), gnaphaliol-9-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (11) and gnaphaliol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (12), the presence of a new glycosidic phthalide, 6-O-β-(d-glucopyranosyl)-4-methoxy-1(3H)-benzofuranone (10), was evidenced for the first time, which resulted in a structural isomer of compound (9). The occurrence of this new benzofuranone derivative is an additional evidence of the deep intraspecific variability expressed by this species, which was also stated for the non-volatile components, and may be a distinctive trait of the population growing on La Maddalena Island.     

A new dihydrofurocoumarin from the fruits of Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi

From the fruit of Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi, one new dihydrofurocoumarin, named pandanusin A (1) and 15 known compounds, including one furanocoumarin (2), two coumarins (3, 4), four lignans (5–8), one neolignan (9), two flavonoids (10, 11), three phenolics (12–14), one monoglyceride (15) and one monosaccharide (16) were isolated by various chromatography methods. Among them, compounds (3–5) were obtained from the Pandanus genus for the first time and compounds (9–14, 16) were reported from this species for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by 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 isolated compounds (1–12, 14) showed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 42.2, 36.5, 84.7, 73.2, 40.8, 26.7, 76.5, 33.8, 68.1, 14.4, 22.1, 81.5, 43.8 μM, respectively) than the standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀ = 214.5 μM).     

Iridoid glycosides and polyphenolic compounds from Teucrium chamaedrys L.

In this work, the phytochemical analysis of Teucrium chamaedrys L. collected in Italy was reported. Eight compounds were isolated and identified by means of classical column chromatography and spectroscopic techniques, such as NMR and MS. In detail, these compounds were: verbascoside (1), forsythoside b (2), samioside (3), alyssonoside (4), harpagide (5), 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (6), cirsiliol (7) and β-arbutin (8). The presence of these compounds, in particular iridoids and phenyl-ethanoid glycosides, has a chemotaxonomic relevance and results to be in perfect accordance with the current botanical classification of the species. In addition, it provides a phytochemical rationale for the use of this particular plant in the ethno-pharmacological field. Conversely, it is worth of mention the absence of potentially toxic components, unlike to what observed in other species of the genus which can no longer be used for ethno-medicinal purposes.     

Phytochemical analysis of Achillea ligustica All. from Lipari Island (Aeolian Islands)

A complete chemical investigation of Achillea ligustica All. growing at Lipari (Aeolian Island, Sicily) has been carried out. Seventeen metabolites have been isolated and characterised from dichloromethane and methanol extracts of flowers and aerial parts, and GC/MS analyses of petroleum ether extracts was carried out, revealing a composition in sesquiterpenoids similar to those reported for populations from Greece, Sicily and Algeria, showing the presence of (3RS,6RS)-2,6-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene-3,6-diol (1), 2,6-dimethyl-octa-3(E),7-diene-2,6-diol (2), iso-seco-tanapartholide (3) from DCM fraction. In addition from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts, peculiar flavonoid glucuronides have been isolated: i.e. apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (12) and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide (14). These metabolites have been reported in this species for the first time. The isolated flavonoids were previously recognised in several species of this complex genus and for this reason seems to be highly retained secondary metabolites of importance from the chemotaxonomic point of view.     

Radical scavenging activities of flavonoids from roots of Akschindlium godefroyanum

Chemical constituents of crude ethyl acetate extract of roots of Akschindlium godefroyanum (Kuntze) H. Ohashi were investigated and seven flavonoids were isolated. Their structures were identified based on spectroscopic methods as well as by comparison with spectral data reported in the literature as six flavanonols and a flavonol including 7,4′-dihydroxy-5,3′-dimethoxyflavanonol (1), neophellamuretin (2), taxifolin (3), erycibenin D (4), geraldol (5), fustin (6) and garbanzol (7). Compounds 2, 4 and 7 were found in the genus Akschindlium for the first time. Compounds 3, 5 and 6 appeared to have free radical scavenging activities using DPPH assay with IC₅₀ of 21, 40 and 15 μg/mL, respectively.     

New flavonoid glycosides and other chemical constituents from Clerodendrum phlomidis leaves: isolation and characterisation

Phytochemical investigation of the plant Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. F. (Lamiaceae) has now led to the isolation of two new flavonoid glycosides (1, 2) together with six known compounds identified as pectolinaringenin (3), pectolinaringenin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), 24β-ethylcholesta-5,22E,25-triene-3β-ol (5), 24β-ethylcholesta-5,22E,25-triene-3β-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), (2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-10-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (7) and andrographolide (8) mainly by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 4 and 6–8 are reported for the first time from C. phlomidis.     

Chemical composition of the endocarps of fruits of Styrax officinalis L.

Endocarps of fruits of Styrax officinalis L. have been subjected to a phytochemical investigation. Five compounds, americanin A (1), egonololeat (2), egonol-2?-metil butanoat (3), egonolgentiobiside (4) and homoegonolgentiobiside (5) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods and comparison with the literature data. This is the first report of the presence of compound 1 and compound 2 in the genus Styrax (Styracaceae family) and S. officinalis L. species, respectively.     

Iridoids and phenylethanoid from Pedicularis kerneri Dalla Torre growing in Dolomites,Italy

In this study, we report the first phytochemical analysis of polar fraction of Pedicularis kerneri Dalla Torre growing in Dolomites, Italy. Several iridoid glucosides were isolated, namely aucubin (1), monomelittoside (2), plantarenaloside (3), euphroside (4), mussaenosidic acid (5) and 8-epiloganic acid (6), showing a composition in accordance with previous study on this genus. The studied samples, collected from Dolomites, presented a chemotype already recognised in species from North America, characterised by euphroside (4) and aucubin (1) as main components, but the main character was the presence of monomelittoside (2) never reported in this genus. The identification of verbascoside (7), leucosceptoside A (9) and echinacoside (10) complete the systematic framing of this species since is ascertained the co-occurrence of phenylethanoid glycosides with iridoids in Lamiales species.     

Terpenoids of Linaria alpina (L.) Mill. from Dolomites,Italy

This paper reports the first phytochemical analysis of Linaria alpina (L.) Mill., collected in Dolomites (Italy), a species characteristic of mountain environment. Besides aucubin (4), which is rare in the subgenus Antirrhineae of Plantaginaceae, mainly acidic compounds were found, i.e. oleanolic acid (1), ursolic acid (2) maslinic acid (3) and shikimic acid (5). The pentacyclic triterpenes of L. alpina resulted in relatively high content, whereas flavonoids resulted in low content.     

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory active metabolites from the endophytic fungus Colletotrichum sp. YMF432

An endophytic fungus, Chaetomium sp. YMF432, was isolated from Huperzia serrata (Thunb. ex Murray) Trev. and subjected to phytochemical investigation based on its special environment. From the extracts of fermentation solid of strain YMF 432, eight compounds including 1-O-methylemodin (1), 5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-tricosyl-1,4-benzoquinone (2), 4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone (3), (3β,5α,6α, 22E)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7-one-8(14),22-dien-ergosta (4), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (5), β-sitostenone (6), β-sitosterol (7) and (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,7,22 -trien-3β-ol (8) were obtained. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data. These compounds were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities in vitro. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ from 37.7 ± 1.5 to 370.0 ± 2.9 μM).     

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).     

Anti-inflammatory activities of the chemical constituents isolated from Trametes versicolor

Twenty-seven compounds including nine triterpenoids (1–9), eight sterols (10–17), two ribonucleotides (18, 19), four phenols (20–23), three glycosides (24–26), and one furan (27) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd. This study is the first confirmation of the presence of the 11 compounds (3, 5, 6, 8, 18, 20, 21, 23–25, and 27) isolated from the Polyporaceae family, with six of these (2 and 12–16) from the genus Trametes. Compounds 3, 4, 10, 11, 16 and 17 were found to significantly inhibit the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner.     

A new naphthalenone isolated from the green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim.

Phytochemical study of green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. led to the isolation of a new naphthalenone, (4R)-3,4-dihydro-4-butoxy-5-hydroxy-naphthalen-1(2H)-one (1), together with 16 known compounds. Compounds 4–6, 13, 14 and 17 were isolated from the genus Juglans for the first time, and their chemotaxonomic significance was also evaluated.     

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.     

Reactions of diazoalkanes with unsaturated compounds. 14. Reactions of diazomethane,diazocyclopropane, and methyl diazoacetate with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-3-vinylcyclobutane and 2,3,3-trifluoro-1-vinylcyclobutene to form [3+2] and [1+2] cycloadducts

The reactions of diazomethane and diazocyclopropane generated in situ with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-3-vinylcyclobutane (1) and 2,3,3-trifluoro-1-vinylcyclobutene (2) proceeded at the double bond of the substituent as the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to form the corresponding 1-pyrazolines. Under the conditions of thermolysis (340—400 °C), the resulting cyclobutylpyrazolines 4 and 5 selectively lost the dinitrogen molecule to generate 3-cyclopropyl-1,1,2,2-tetrafluorocyclobutane (6) or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-3-spiropentylcyclobutane (7), respectively, in high yields. In the presence of Pd(acac)₂, the reactions of these fluorine-containing unsaturated compounds and 2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoro-3-vinylcyclobutane (3) with diazomethane gave rise directly to cyclopropane derivatives 6, 11, and 12, respectively. The reactions of compounds 1 and 2 with methyl diazoacetate in the presence of Rh₂(OAc)₄ proceeded analogously to yield cis- and trans-disubstituted cyclopropanes.     

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Pinus dalatensis Ferré

A phytochemical study of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Pinus dalatensis Ferré leaves led to the isolation of 11 compounds, including one caryolane sesquiterpenoid (1), five labdane diterpenoids (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), one serratane triterpenoid (7), one diacylated flavonoid glucoside (8), one stilbenoid (9) and two sterols (10, 11). The structural characterisation of the isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature report on the chemical constituents from Pinus dalatensis Ferré. Futhermore, three compounds 1, 4 and 6 were obtained for the first time from the genus Pinus. Besides, compounds (2, 3, 5, 8, 9) were also subjected to cytotoxicity effect on SK-LU-1, MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cell lines, but only compound 9 expressed activities with IC₅₀ values of 141.22, 127.81 and 166.84 μM, respectively.