Phytochemical screening and biological activities of Eminium spiculatum (Blume) Kuntze (family Araceae)

Eminium spiculatum (Blume) Kuntze (Araceae) is an indigenous plant in Jordan used as an anticancer agent. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of E. spiculatum and its antimicrobial, antiplatelet and antiproliferative activities. After isolation, antimicrobial activity was tested using well-in-agar method and in vitro platelet aggregation by aggrometric method. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated by Sulphorhodamine B assay. Luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, isoorientin, vitexin, chrysoeriol-7-O-glucoside and β-sitosterol were isolated and their structures determined. Luteolin exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in 1 μg mL(-1) concentration. Luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and vitexin inhibited ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. For the determination of the antiproliferative activity, MCF-7 and T47D were used. Luteolin demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity with IC(50) values of 14.92 and 18.49 μmol L(-1) for MCF-7 and T47D, respectively. This research provided evidence about the chemical composition and biological activity of E. spiculatum.     

Capillary electrochromatography of selected phenolic compounds of Chamomilla recutita

This article explores the use of capillary electrochromatography for the analysis of chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) extracts. After a thorough study of analytical parameters such as mobile and stationary phase composition, applied voltage, and temperature, a methodology to determine 11 bioactive phenolic compounds (coumarins: herniarin, umbelliferone; phenylpropanoids: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid; flavones: apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside; flavonols: quercetin, rutin and flavanone: naringenin) in chamomile extracts was proposed. The method was performed in a Hypersil SCX/C18 column with pH 2.8 phosphate buffer at 50 mmol L(-1) containing 50% acetonitrile (pH adjusted before the addition of the organic solvent). All compounds were separated in less than 7.5 min under isocratic conditions. Figures of merit include linearity (peak area versus apigenin concentration) from 50.0-1000 microg/mL (r2=0.995), and intra-day precision of retention time and peak area better than 1.3% CV and 15%, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification for apigenin were 35.0 microg/mL and 150.0 microg/mL, respectively. This article also describes an NMR 1H study, carried out to monitor a new clean-up procedure for extracts containing propyleneglycol, whose components are poorly retained in conventional octadecyl silica cartridges.     

吡嗪类化合物的合成及其抗血小板凝集活性测试

为提高川芎嗪的抗血小板凝集活性,分别以不同的二胺、2,3-丁二酮和硫辛酸为起始原料,采用溴代、水解、环化、氧化、氢化、取代等反应,通过四条路线合成了7个川芎嗪衍生物,其结构经1H NMR、13C NMR及ESI-MS确证。采用Born比浊法初步测试了化合物的体外抗血小板凝集活性,结果显示,化合物1(IC50=0. 26mmol/L)、2(IC50=0. 27mmol/L)和7(IC50=0. 21mmol/L)对由二磷酸腺苷(ADP)诱导的血小板凝集具有一定的抑制活性,优于先导化合物川芎嗪(IC50=0. 49mmol/L)。因此,在不改变川芎嗪药效团的前提下对其进行不同程度的环化,能明显提高川芎嗪的抗血小板凝集活性,此研究为后期化合物的结构修饰提供了一定的参考价值。     

Isolation and purification of four flavonoid constituents from the flowers of Paeonia suffruticosa by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Four flavonoids, apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and kaempferol-7-O-glucoside have been isolated and purified for the first time from the flowers of Paeonia suffruticosa by high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:0.25:5, v/v). Then, 5 mg apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, 4 mg luteolin-7-O-glucoside, 9 mg apigenin-7-O-glucoside and 2.5 mg kaempferol-7-O-glucoside could be obtained after injecting 40 mg sample and their purities were 94, 97, 97 and 96%, respectively. All these constituents were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.     

Novel non-peptide GPIIb/IIIa antagonists: synthesis and biological activities of 2-[4-[2-(4-amidinobenzoylamino)-2-(substituted)acetyl]-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-2-oxopiperazinyl] acetic acids

To improve the in vitro and in vivo potency of our first low molecular weight GPIIb/IIIa antagonist 1 (TAK-029), a series of 2-[4-[2-(4-amidinobenzoylamino)-2-(substituted)acetyl]-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-2-oxopiper-azinyllacetic acids were synthesized through modification of the glycine moiety of 1 and evaluated for their ability to inhibit in vitro adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation of guinea pig platelet rich plasma (PRP). Among the compounds examined, the (3S,2S)-4-methoxyphenylalanine derivative 4h showed the most potent antagonistic activity with an IC50 value of 13 nM. Dose-dependent inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation was achieved with oral administration of 4h (0.3-1.0 mg/kg) to guinea pigs. Complete inhibition was observed for up to 8 h, and 43% inhibition could still be observed 24 h after oral administration of 1.0 mg/kg. The long-lasting antiplatelet effect of 4h suggests that 4h would be suitable for once-a-day dosing. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) were examined in the series of the phenylalanine derivatives. An increase in the electron density around the 4-position of the phenyl ring of the phenylalanine moiety led to an increase in the antiplatelet activity, suggesting the existence of a hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction site in addition to the ionic binding sites in the GPIIb/IIIa.     

Cytotoxic compounds from the leaves of Gaillardia aristata Pursh. growing in Egypt

Ten compounds, neopulchellin (1), 6α- hydroxyneopulchellin (2), β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (3), apigenin (4), quercitin (5), eupafolin (6), kaempferol-3-methoxy-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (7), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), α-amyrin (9) and β-sitosterol (10), were isolated from the leaves of Gaillardia aristata by applying bioassay guided fractionation. The cytotoxicity was traced against two human cancer cell lines (breast (MCF7) and colon (HCT116)). The highest cytotoxicity was revealed by compounds 1 and 2 (isolated from chloroform extract); with IC(50) values of 0.43, 0.32?μg?mL(-1) against MCF7 and 0.46, 0.34?μg?mL(-1) against HCT116, respectively. Compounds 9 and 10 (isolated from the n-hexane extract) exhibited lower IC(50) values of 3.05, 2.35?μg?mL(-1) against MCF7 and 3.05, 2.35?μg?mL(-1) against HCT116, respectively, while compounds 4-7 obtained from the ethyl acetate extract revealed the lowest cytotoxicity. Identification of the aforementioned compounds was carried out on the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis (UV, EI/MS, 1D and 2D).     

Synthesis of Coumarin Derivatives as Inhibitors of Platelet Aggregation

In a search for the inhibitors of platelet aggregation, certain coumarin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiplatelet activity against thrombin(Thr)-, arachidonic acid(AA)-, collagen(Col)-, and platelet-activating-factor(PAF)-induced aggregation in washed rabbit platelets. These compounds were synthesized from 4-hydroxycoumarin ( 1 ) or naphthalen-1-ol via alkylation and Reformatsky-type condensation (Schemes 1–3). Among them, 4-[(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4-methylidene-5-oxo-2-phenylfuran-2-yl)methoxy]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one ( 6b ) showed potent antiplatelet effects on AA- and PAF-induced aggregation with IC₅₀ values of 8.21 and 103.67 m?M , respectively (see Tables 1 and 2). The antiplatelet potency of 6b against PAF-induced aggregation could be further improved by introducing a proper substituent at the 2-phenyl group of the lactone ring.     

Seasonal variation in total phenolic and flavonoid contents and DPPH scavenging activity of Bellis perennis L. flowers

Variations in total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant activity of Bellis perennis (common daisy) flowers were investigated. The flowers were collected monthly (from March to October, i.e., during the usual flowering season of the plant) at three localities in three different years. Total flavonoids were determined spectrophotometrically by two methods: by formation of a complex with aluminium chloride after acidic hydrolysis of flower extracts (method 1) and by reaction with boric and oxalic acids in extracts without their modification (method 2). Total phenolics were determined spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity was determined spectrophotometrically by a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The contents of flavonoids varied from 0.31 to 0.44 mg quercetin equivalent/100 mg dry weight (method 1) and from 1.37 to 2.20 mg pigenin-7-glucoside equivalent/100 mg dry weight (method 2). Total phenolics ranged from 2.81 to 3.57 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 mg dry weight. The antioxidant activity expressed as IC(50) values varied from 66.03 to 89.27 μg/mL; it is about 50, 30, 20, and 10 times lower as compared with quercetin, ascorbic acid, Trolox?, and butylhydroxytoluene, respectively, and about five times higher in comparison with apigenin-7-glucoside. There is a significant correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolics. No correlation between total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity was observed. Contents of phenolics and flavonoids as well as antioxidant activity of daisy flowers vary to a relatively small extent during the year and are not dependant on the time of collection. Thus, the flowers possess comparable quality as to these characteristics over the whole flowering season of Bellis perennis. Effects of environmental factors on the amounts of secondary metabolites in plants are also discussed.     

Co-activation of Gi and Gq proteins exerts synergistic effect on human platelet aggregation through activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ signalling pathways

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.     

Antiplatelet Activity of Coumarins: In Vitro Assays on COX-1

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in developing new potent and safe antiplatelet agents. Coumarins are a family of polyphenolic compounds with several pharmacological activities, including platelet aggregation inhibition. However, their antiplatelet mechanism of action needs to be further elucidated. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the biochemical mechanisms involved in this activity, as well as to establish a structure–activity relationship for these compounds. With this purpose, the antiplatelet aggregation activities of coumarin, esculetin and esculin were determined in vitro in human whole blood and platelet-rich plasma, to set the potential interference with the arachidonic acid cascade. Here, the platelet COX activity was evaluated from 0.75 mM to 6.5 mM concentration by measuring the levels of metabolites derived from its activity (MDA and TXB₂), together with colorimetric assays performed with the pure recombinant enzyme. Our results evidenced that the coumarin aglycones present the greatest antiplatelet activity at 5 mM and 6.5 mM on aggregometry experiments and inhibiting MDA levels.     

Involvement of thromboxane A2 and tyrosine kinase in the synergistic interaction of platelet activating factor and calcium ionophore A23187 in human platelet aggregation

The present study was carried out to examine the mechanisms of the synergistic interaction of PAF and A23187 mediated platelet aggregation. We found that platelet aggregation mediated by subthreshold concentrations of PAF (5 nM) and A23187 (1 mM) was inhibited by PAF receptor blocker (WEB 2086, IC50 = 0.65 mM) and calcium channel blockers, diltiazem (IC50 = 13 mM) and verapamil (IC50 = 18 mM). Pretreatment of platelets with PAF and A23187 induced rise in intracellular calcium and this effect was also blocked by verapamil. While examining the role of the down stream signaling pathways, we found that platelet aggregation induced by the co-addition of PAF and A23187 was also inhibited by low concentrations of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor (U73122; IC50 = 10 mM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin; IC50 = 0.2 mM) and inhibitor of TLCK, herbimycin A with IC50 value of 5 mM. The effect was also inhibited by a specific TXA2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29548 with very low IC50 value of 0.05 mM. However, the inhibitors of MAP kinase, PD98059 and protein kinase C, chelerythrine had no effect on PAF and A23187-induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that the synergism between PAF and A23187 in platelet aggregation involves activation of thromboxane and tyrosine kinase pathways.     

Inhibitory effects of phylligenin and quebrachitol isolated from Mitrephora vulpina on platelet activating factor receptor binding and platelet aggregation

Phylligenine, together with quebrachitol, stigmasterol and two aporphine alkaloids--oxoputerine and liriodenine--were isolated from the twigs of Mitrephora vulpina C.E.C. Fisch. They were evaluated for their ability to inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding to rabbit platelets using 3H-PAF as a ligand and their antiplatelet aggregation effect in human whole blood induced by arachidonic acid (AA), collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Of all the compounds tested, phylligenin and quebrachitol exhibited potent and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on PAF receptor binding, with IC(50) values of 13.1 and 42.2 μM, respectively. The IC(50) value of phylligenin was comparable to that of cedrol (10.2 μM), a potent PAF antagonist. Phylligenin also showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation induced by AA and ADP.     

Systemic chemical characterization of Lemna minor by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS coupled with parallel reaction monitoring

Lemna minor L. (LM) has been used for measles opacity, rubella itching, edema, and oliguria, and the main active ingredients were flavonoids, namely, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside. However, few systematic analyses of their constituents have been performed; thus, it was necessary to establish a fast and efficient method to identify the chemical composition of LM. In this study, the UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry coupled with parallel reaction monitoring was established. Finally, a total of 112 constituents, including 30 dipeptides, 28 nucleosides, 11 amino acids, 10 organic acids, 10 flavonoids, and 23 other compounds, were identified by MS, diagnostic fragment ions, and retention time. One hundred one of those chemicals were first found in LM, which was very beneficial for the further development and utilization of nutriments and the medicinal use of LM.     

The Role of Allium subhirsutum L. in the Attenuation of Dermal Wounds by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Wistar Albino Rats

In our study, Allium subhirsutum L. (AS) was investigated to assess its phenolic profile and bioactive molecules including flavonoids and organosulfur compounds. The antioxidant potential of AS and wound healing activity were addressed using skin wound healing and oxidative stress and inflammation marker estimation in rat models. Phytochemical and antiradical activities of AS extract (ASE) and oil (ASO) were studied. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group I served as a control and was treated with simple ointment base, group II was treated with ASE ointment, group III was treated with ASO ointment and group IV (reference group; Ref) was treated with a reference drug “Cytolcentella^® cream”. Phytochemical screening showed that total phenols (215 ± 3.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (172.4 ± 3.1 mg QE/g) were higher in the ASO than the ASE group. The results of the antioxidant properties showed that ASO exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 0.136 ± 0.07 mg/mL), FRAP test (IC50 = 0.013 ± 0.006 mg/mL), ABTS test (IC50 = 0.52 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 0.34 ± 0.06 mg/mL). In the wound healing study, topical application of ASO performed the fastest wound-repairing process estimated by a chromatic study, percentage wound closure, fibrinogen level and oxidative damage status, as compared to ASE, the Cytolcentella reference drug and the untreated rats. The use of AS extract and oil were also associated with the attenuation of oxidative stress damage in the wound-healing treated rats. Overall, the results provided that AS, particularly ASO, has a potential medicinal value to act as effective skin wound healing agent.     

川芎嗪衍生物的设计、合成及抗血小板凝集活性研究

分别以川芎嗪(TMP)和邻苯二胺为起始原料,经KMn O4氧化、酯缩合、环化、还原等步骤合成了7个新型的川芎嗪衍生物,其结构经1H NMR、13C NMR及HRMS确证。并采用Born比浊法初步测试了化合物的体外抗血小板凝集活性。结果表明,化合物3和7对二磷酸腺苷(ADP)诱导的血小板凝集抑制率IC50分别为0.23mmol/L和0.27mmol/L,优于母体化合物川芎嗪(0.42mmol/L)。     

Bandunamide, a Novel Cyclopeptide from the Streptomyces Griseovariabilis bandungensis

A new cyclic octapeptide, bandunamide, was isolated from the acetone extracts of streptomyces griseovariabilis bandungensis. This cyclic octapeptide exhibits strong antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora drechsleri (IC50=15 ng/mL), Colletotrchum higginsiannum(IC50=15.6 ng/mL), Piricularia oxyzae (IC50=0.2 μg/mL), and Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp.(IC50= 100μg/mL). The structure elucidation of bandunamide is herein reported.     

Inhibitory effects of 2'-hydroxychalcones on rat lens aldose reductase and rat platelet aggregation

Inhibitory effects of synthetic 2'-hydroxychalcone derivatives on rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) and on platelet aggregation were investigated for the prevention or the treatment of chronic diabetic complications. 5'-chloro-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone (8) and 5'-chloro-3,2'-dihydroxychalcone (27) exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on rat platelet aggregation induced by ADP (IC50=0.10 and 0.06 mg/ml, respectively) and collagen (IC50=44 and 16 microg/ml, respectively) but showed relatively weak inhibitory activities on RLAR.     

Dereplication coupled with in vitro antioxidant assay of two flavonoid glycosides from Diospyros peregrina fruit

Diospyros peregrina is an edible seasonal fruit found in coastal West Bengal, India. The fruits have been reported to possess a significant antioxidant activity. In this study, the aim was to isolate the lead compound responsible for the above-mentioned activity. The aqueous extract of D. peregrina fruit was subjected to dereplication coupled with an in?vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The n-butanol fraction of the aqueous extract of D. peregrina fruit exhibited significant antioxidant activity (IC(50), 131.10?μg?mL(-1)) as compared with the parent extract (IC(50), 285.15?μg?mL(-1)). The n-butanol fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatographic separation coupled with a chemo-autographic study of column eluents, employing ethanolic DPPH as a spraying reagent. Two bioactive flavonoid glycosides, namely luteoline-4'-methyl-ether-7-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-(glucosyl)-glucoside, were identified to exhibit IC(50) values of 74.04 and 65.78?μg?mL(-1), respectively in the DPPH assay.     

RP-HPLC analysis of Jirakadyarishta and chemical changes during fermentation

Jirakadyarishta, an Ayurvedic formulation prepared by the fermentation of a decoction of Cuminum cyminum (seeds) is traditionally used for intestinal disorders. RP-HPLC analysis of the decoction and the final processed formulation revealed that apigenin-7-O-[galacturonide (1 --> 4)-O-glucoside] and luteolin-4'-O-glucoside-7-O-galacturonide) were the two major constituents of the decoction of C. cyminum. Selective hydrolysis of 7-O-glucosides of luteolin and apigenin during fermentation resulted in an increase in the amount of luteolin and apigenin. The 4'-O-glucoside-7-O-galacturonide of luteolin and galacturonide derivative of apigenin were not hydrolyzed during fermentation. Monomeric phenolics, together with 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), were also introduced into the formulation through the jaggery and other plant materials during fermentation. This communication highlights the importance of the ancient processing methods used in Ayurveda.     

Chemical profiling and anticoagulant activity of Ginkgo Biloba leaves under the influence of harvesting time

Gingko biloba, family Gink, is used as a source of food and in traditional medicine for treatment of cough and promoting blood circulation, etc. The aim of the present work is to determine the chemical variation of G. biloba leaves collected from different harvesting time and in vitro anti-platelet aggregation effects, respectively. Methanol extract of G. biloba leaves was subjected to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry analysis and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The anti-platelet aggregation effects induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was measured by Born’s method. UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acid and terpene lactones in different sample. Partial least square discriminant analysis based on chemical profiling conducted to differentiate the samples according to their harvest time. All samples found highly effective against PAF-induced platelet aggregation with IC₅₀ of 98.87?μg/mL (summer sample) and 51.55?μg/mL (autumn sample). However, on ADP-induced platelet aggregation, IC50 of these samples were greater than 200?μg/mL. Both total contents of flavonoids and terpene lactones in autumn sample were greater than that in summer sample. Qualitative and quantitative analysis showed that the distribution of chemicals was variation in different harvesting time.