Cytotoxic tropolones from the fungus Nemania sp. BCC 30850

Twelve new compounds, including nine tropolones, nemanolones A?I (1–9), three 7-isochromenones, nemanecins A?C (10–12), and a new naturally isolated 4-isochromanone (13), along with two known compounds, 7,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl isochroman-4-one (XJP), and chaetoquadrin F, were isolated from culture broth of the fungus Nemania sp. BCC 30850. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. Nemanolones exhibited cytotoxic activities and two of them, compounds 1 and 2, also showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and antifungal activity against Candida albicans.     

Enhancement of DNA hybridization under acoustic streaming with three-piezoelectric-transducer system

Recently, we have demonstrated that DNA hybridization using acoustic streaming induced by two piezoelectric transducers provides higher DNA hybridization efficiency than the conventional method. In this work, we refine acoustic streaming system for DNA hybridization by inserting an additional piezoelectric transducer and redesigning the locations of the transducers. The Comsol? Multiphysics was used to design and simulate the velocity field generated by the piezoelectric agitation. The simulated velocity vector followed a spiral vortex flow field with an average direction outward from the center of the transducers. These vortices caused the lower signal intensity in the middle of the microarray for the two-piezoelectric disk design. On the contrary, the problem almost disappeared in the three-piezoelectric-disk system. The optimum condition for controlling the piezoelectric was obtained from the dye experiments with different activation settings for the transducers. The best setting was to activate the side disks and middle disk alternatively with 1 second activating time and 3 second non-activating time for both sets of transducers. DNA hybridization using microarrays for the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from the optimized process yielded a three-fold enhancement of the signal compared to the conventional method. Moreover, a greater number of spots passed quality control in the optimized device, which could greatly improve biological interpretation of DNA hybridization data.     

Phytochemical and biological activity studies of the Bhutanese medicinal plant Corydalis crispa

The chemical constituents and biological activities of Corydalis crispa (Fumariaceae) were investigated for the first time. The phytochemical study resulted in the isolation of nine known isoquinoline alkaloids: protopine (1), 13-oxoprotopine (2), 13-oxocryptopine (3), stylopine (4), coreximine (5), rheagenine (6), ochrobirine (7), sibiricine (8) and bicuculline (9), with complete NMR data for 2 and 3 provided here for the first time. Crude extracts exhibitedsignificant anti-inflammatory (p < 0.01) activity against TNF-alpha production in LPS activated THP-1 cells. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of compounds 2, 4 and 7 and the antiplasmodial activity of compound 5 against P. falciparum strains TM4/8.2 and K1CB1 (multidrug resistant strain) are reported here for the first time. Stylopine (4) did not show antimalarial activity against the K1CB1 strain in contrast to a previous report. This study generated a scientific basis for the use of this plant in Bhutanese traditional medicine, either individually or in combination with other medicinal ingredients to treat a broad range of disorders. This study also identified compound 5 as potential new antimalarial lead compound.     

Semi-Synthesis of N-Aryl Amide Analogs of Piperine from Piper nigrum and Evaluation of Their Antitrypanosomal,Antimalarial, and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Activities

Piper nigrum, or black pepper, produces piperine, an alkaloid that has diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, N-aryl amide piperine analogs were prepared by semi-synthesis involving the saponification of piperine (1) to yield piperic acid (2) followed by esterification to obtain compounds 3, 4, and 5. The compounds were examined for their antitrypanosomal, antimalarial, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 main protease activities. The new 2,5-dimethoxy-substituted phenyl piperamide 5 exhibited the most robust biological activities with no cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines, Vero and Vero E6, as compared to the other compounds in this series. Its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense was 15.46 ± 3.09 μM, and its antimalarial activity against the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum was 24.55 ± 1.91 μM, which were fourfold and fivefold more potent, respectively, than the activities of piperine. Interestingly, compound 5 inhibited the activity of 3C-like main protease (3CL^Pro) toward anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at the IC₅₀ of 106.9 ± 1.2 μM, which was threefold more potent than the activity of rutin. Docking and molecular dynamic simulation indicated that the potential binding of 5 in the 3CL^pro active site had the improved binding interaction and stability. Therefore, new aryl amide analogs of piperine 5 should be investigated further as a promising anti-infective agent against human African trypanosomiasis, malaria, and COVID-19.     

Torrubiellutins A-C, from insect pathogenic fungus Torrubiella luteorostrata BCC 12904

Investigation of the insect pathogenic fungus Torrubiella luteorostrata led to the isolation of three new macrocyclic torrubiellutins A-C (1-3) and the known pyrone diterpene 4. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data including 1D, 2D NMR, and MS spectral data. The absolute stereochemistry was determined by chemical means using Mosher reactions and Marfey's reagent, together with NOESY spectral data. Torrubiellutin C showed biological activities against KB, MCF-7, NCI-H187, and Vero cell lines with IC₅₀ varying from 0.78 to 4.36 μg/mL, while compound 4 exhibited antimalaria and anti-inflammatory activity with IC₅₀ values of 3.49 and 1.21 μg/mL, respectively.     

Actinomadurone,a polycyclic tetrahydroxanthone from Actinomadura sp. BCC 35430

A polycyclic tetrahydroxanthone, actinomadurone, was isolated from the actinomycete Actinomadura sp. BCC 35430. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Actinomadurone showed antifungal activities against Curvularia lunata, Alternaria brassicicola, Colletotrichum capsici, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; and displayed cytotoxic activity against Vero cell lines.     

Simultaneous determination of Cr(III)-EDTA and Cr(VI) by ion interaction chromatography using a C18 column

The simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) by ion interaction chromatography has been investigated. The mobile phase consisted of a 5 mM octylammonium orthophosphate at pH 4.0 with 35% (v/v) MeOH. The Nucleosil-100, C18 (5 microm, 250 x 4.6 mm) was used as the separating column and the component was detected at 200 nm. The separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was based on anionic interaction. Since the Cr(III) did not exist as an anionic form like the Cr(VI) (Cr2O7(2-)) presented at the optimum condition, Cr(II) was firstly reacted with EDTA (1:40 mole ratio) to form the anionic complex prior to injecting into the chromatographic system. The characteristics of the method for separation of Cr(III)-EDTA and Cr(VI) were satisfactory. The wide linear range (0.3-50.0 mg l(-1)) was achieved. The repeatabilities (%R.S.D.) calculated from peak areas were 0.49% and 0.14%, detection limit (signal to noise ratio of 3) of 0.02 mg l(-1) and 0.3 mg l(-1) were obtained and the average of percent recoveries were found to be 98.5% and 99.6% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively.     

Control of various morphological changes of poly(meth)acrylate microspheres and their swelling degrees by SPG emulsification

Crosslinked poly(meth)acrylate polymers with a variety of morphologies were synthesized with two steps. In the first step, a microporous glass membrane (Shirasu Porous Glass, SPG) was employed to prepare uniform emulsion droplets by applying an adequate pressure to the monomer phase, which was composed of the ADVN initiator, solvent of toluene or heptane or their mixture, and a mixture of (meth)acrylate monomers. The droplets were formed continuously through the membrane and suspended in the aqueous solution, which contained a PVA‐127 suspending agent, SLS emulsifier, and NaNO₂ inhibitor to suppress the nucleation of secondary particles. SPG pore sizes of 0.90, 5.25, and 9.25 μm were used. Then the emulsion droplets were polymerized at 343 K with a rotation rate 160 rpm for 24 h. The (meth)acrylate monomers 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (2‐EHMA), cyclohexyl acrylate (CHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), lauryl acrylate (LA), and lauryl methacrylate (LMA) were used in this research. The influences of the ratios of the monomer and crosslinking agent EGDMA, the amount of diluents, the monomer type on the polymer particle morphology, the swelling degree, and the polymer particle size were investigated. It was found that an increase in the concentrations of EGDMA and heptane resulted in higher coarse porous spheres and smaller polymer particle sizes. A coefficient with a variation close to 10%, or a standard deviation of about 4, was obtained. The capacity of these spheres as solvent absorption materials was examined. The highest swelling degrees of heptane and toluene were obtained when LA was employed as the monomer with 30% (by weight) of EGDMA and 70% (by weight) of heptane as an inert solvent. The highest capacity of the solvent absorption was obtained when using a polymer particle size of 4.81 μm, as prepared by SPG pore size 0.9 μm. The polymer particles were able to absorb aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and a mix of aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as toluene and heptane. The capacity of solvent absorption for the aromatic hydrocarbon solvents was higher than for the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, the particles did not rupture or collapse after absorption in solvents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4038–4056, 2000     

Phenylglycol Metabolites from Cultures of the Basidiomycete Mycena pruinosoviscida BCC 22723

Mycenadiols A–D ( 1 – 4 , resp.), phenylglycols possessing an ethynyl or vinyl (ethenyl) group were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Mycena pruinosoviscida BCC 22723. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR‐spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by synthesis. Compounds 1 – 4 are synthetically known, but, they have not been previously isolated from natural sources.     

New mycotoxins from the scale insect fungus Aschersonia coffeae Henn. BCC 28712

Nine new mycotoxins; five xanthones 1–5, hydroxanthone 6, and three anthraquinones 7–9, together with nine known compounds; sterigmatocystin (10), demethylsterigmatocystin (11), dihydrodemethylsterigmatocystin (12), sterigmatin (13), austocystin F (14), averufin (15), aflatoxin B1, paeciloquinone A, and zeorin, were isolated from the scale insect fungus Aschersonia coffeae Henn. BCC 28712. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using NMR spectroscopic and MS spectrometric analyses. Compounds 1–3 and 6–9 displayed cytotoxic activity while the xanthone 2 and anthraquinones 8 and 9 also showed antimalarial activity.