Complete 1H and 13C NMR spectral assignment of 17-hydroxy epimeric sterols with planar A or A and B rings

Complete 1H and 13C spectral assignments of 17beta- and 17alpha-hydroxy epimers of three biologically active sterols (boldenone, 3-methoxyestradiol and 3-methoxydihydroequilenin) were achieved making use of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques (1D-HOHAHA, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HSQC and COLOC).     

Monolayers (Langmuir films) behavior of multi-component systems composed of a bile acid with different sterols and with their 1:1 mixtures

Different physicochemical properties of Langmuir films (monolayers) composed of 10 mixed systems of a bile acid, deoxycholic acid (DC) with various plant sterols, such as stigmasterol (Stig), beta-sitosterol (Sito) and campesterol (Camp) and a stanol, cholestanol (Chsta) in addition to an animal sterol, cholesterol (Ch) [these sterols and Chsta are abbreviated as St] and DC with 1:1 St mixtures; (Ch+Chsta), (Ch+Stig), (Stig+Chsta), (Ch+Sito) and (Ch+Camp) on the substrate of 5M aqueous NaCl solution (pH 1.2) at 25 degrees C, were investigated in terms of mean surface area per molecule (A(m)), the partial molecular area (PMA), surface excess Gibbs energy (DeltaG((ex))), interaction parameter (I(p)) as well as activity coefficients (f(1) and f(2)) in 2-D phase of each binary (or ternary) component system and elasticity (Cs(-1)) of formed films; these were analyzed on the basis of the respective surface pressure (pi) versus A(m) isotherms as a function of mole fraction of Sts (X(st)) in the DC/St(s) mixtures at discrete surface pressures. Notable findings are: (i) all the binary component systems did form patched film type monolayers consisting of (a) DC-dominant film solubilizing a trace amount of St molecules and (b) St dominant film dissolving a small amount of DC molecules, (ii) DC in 2-D phase exhibited a transition from LE film to LC film at a constant pressure (pi(C)(1)) accompanied by compression and (iii) DeltaG((ex)) as well as I(p) was found to be greatly dependent on (a) the combinations of DC with different St species and (b) to be markedly varied by a difference in mixing ratio of DC to Sts. Compressibility (or elasticity) analyses and fluorescence microscopy images could support the above findings as well as interpretation.     

Coumarins as new matrices for matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric analysis of hydrophobic compounds

Hydrophobic compounds with hydroxyl, aldehyde or ketone groups are generally difficult to detect using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), because these compounds have low proton affinity and are poorly ionized by MALDI. Herein, coumarins have been used as new matrices for MALDI-MS analysis of a variety of hydrophobic compounds with low ionization efficiency, including steroids, coenzyme Q10, a cyclic lipopeptide and cholesterol oleate. Five coumarins, including coumarin, umbelliferone, esculetin, 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (HCA) and 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DCA), were compared with the conventional matrices of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA). Coumarins with hydroxyl or carboxylic acid groups enabled detection. Taking DCA as an example, this matrix proved to be superior to DHB or CHCA in detection sensitivity, stability, spot-to-spot and sample-to-sample reproducibility, and accuracy. DCA increased the stability of the target compounds and decreased the loss of water. The [M + Na]⁺ peaks were observed for all target compounds by adding NaCl as an additive, and the [M − H₂O + H]⁺ and [M + H]⁺ peaks decreased. DCA was selected for the identification of sterols in yeast cells, and thirteen sterols were detected by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT ICR) mass spectrometry. This work demonstrates the potential of DCA as a new matrix for detection of hydrophobic molecules by MALDI-MS and provides an alternative tool for screening sterols in antifungal research.     

肉芝软珊瑚Sarcophyton crassocaule中新的多羟基甾醇的分离

报道了从三亚海域的一种肉芝软珊瑚Sarcophyton crassocaule Mosre中分离得到2个多羟基甾醇1和2. 通过波谱分析等方法测定了它们的化学结构, 化合物1为新化合物, 命名为Sarcrasterol. 化合物2为已知物[24ξ-methyl-colestane-3β,5β,6α,25-tetrol], 但其C24构型未确定, 通过X射线单晶衍射分析测定了其相对构型为24S.     

Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Potential of Tamus communis Rhizomes

Tamus communis L. is a plant distributed in a number of geographical areas whose rhizome has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the chemical composition and biological activity of the extracts or individual compounds of the rhizome. The data for the principal secondary metabolites are systematized: sterols, steroidal saponins, phenanthrenes, dihydrophenanthrenes, etc. Results of biological tests for anti-inflammatory action, cytotoxicity, anticholinesterase effect, and xanthine oxidase inhibition are presented. Some open questions about the therapeutic properties of the plant are also addressed.     

Characterization of ancient lipids in prehistoric organic residues: Chemical evidence of livestock‐pens in rock‐shelters since early neolithic to bronze age

The characterization of ancient lipids from prehistoric sediments (fumiers ) located in a rock‐selter has been possible after the optimization of an analytical method based on the microwave‐assisted extraction and solid‐phase extraction clean‐up step and a final derivatization step followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Eight sterols and two bile acids were detected just in the partially burned and unburned layers of the fumiers (animal organic residues deriving from manure/dung). The relationship between some of these compounds can be used to distinguish the biogenic origin of the samples, concluding that these strata (from Early Neolithic to Late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age) can be classified as ruminant residues. Three main periods of activity are observed over a period of 2000 years: one from 3990 ± 40 before present (4530–4410 calibrated before present) to 4100 ± 40 before present (4820–4750/4730–4510/4470–4450 calibrated before present), the second from 4470 ± 40 before present (5300–4970 calibrated before present) to 5490 ± 30 before present (6310–6275/6230–6220 calibrated before present) and the third from 5880 ± 30 before present (6775–6765/6750–6645 calibrated before present) to 6010 ± 30 before present (6940–6780/6765–6755 calibrated before present). Chemical data obtained are in concordance with the previous results obtained in the area.     

Sterols associated with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs): intrinsic mobility role for 1H NMR detection

Small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) of phospholipids are often used as a membrane model system for studying the interaction of molecules. When using NMR under the standard liquid‐state conditions, SUV phospholipid proton spectra can be recorded, exhibiting sharp signals. This is not only because of the fast vesicular tumbling but also because of the combination of this tumbling with the individual motion of the lipids inside the bilayer. This appears evident because addition of cholesterol is responsible of broader resonances because of the slowing down of the lipid motion. On the other hand, no ¹H signal is detected for cholesterol in the bilayer. This lack of detection of the inserted molecules explains why generally SUVs are not considered as a good model for NMR studies under the standard liquid‐state conditions. Here, we use two other sterols in order to demonstrate that an increase of the molecular mobility inside the bilayer could allow the detection of their proton resonances. For desmosterol and lanosterol, which show higher mobility inside the bilayer, with increasing lateral diffusion rates, ¹H sterol signals are detected in contrast to cholesterol. For the fast diffusing lanosterol, no significant improvement in detection is observed using deuterated lipids, demonstrating that homonuclear dipolar coupling is fully averaged out. Furthermore, in the case of low mobility such as for cholesterol, the use of a fast magic angle spinning probe is shown to be efficient to recover the full proton spectrum. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatty acid,tocopherol, and sterol content of three <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium</Emphasis> species from Tunisia

In the present study analyses concerning the composition of vitamin E, sterols, triglycerides, and fatty acids of three Teucrium species (Teucrium alopecurus, T. nabli, and T. polium) seed oil were performed. Linoleic, linolenic, and palmitic were the major fatty acids. The oil was characterized by a high amount of phytosterol, wherein clerosterol, sitosterol, and stigmasterol are the main constituents. The amount of tocopherol is nearly 550 mg/kg of oil, with α-tocopherol as the major isomer. Information concerning the composition of Teucrium seed oil is very important for evaluating the therapeutic effect of this oil. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 261–264, May–June, 2009.     

Identification of biologically active triterpenes and sterols present in hexane extracts from Miconia species using high-resolution gas chromatography

In this work we describe the identification of the biologically active triterpenes and sterols present in the hexane extracts of six species of Miconia using gas chromatography. The main compounds present in these extracts are beta-amyrin, alpha-amyrin, and beta-sitosterol. The technique employed herein is shown to be a valuable and rapid tool for determining biologically active triterpenes and sterols present in non-polar extracts.     

Lipids of Ricinus communis Seeds

Lipids of Kazachok castor seeds were studied. The compositions of neutral lipids of the benzine extract and of the fatty acids of neutral and polar lipids were found. The principal acids were palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and 12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic.