Synthesis of lupeol derivatives and their antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities

The natural product lupeol 1 was isolated from aerial parts of Vernonia scorpioides with satisfactory yield, which made it viable to be used as starting material in semisynthetic approach. Ten lupeol derivatives 2–11 were prepared by classical procedures. Including, five new esters derivatives 7–11, which were obtained by structural modifications in the isopropylidene fragment. All semisynthetic compounds and lupeol 1–11 were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS. Their antiprotozoal activity was evaluated in vitro against L. amazonensis and T. cruzi. Derivative 6 showed the best antitrypanosomal activity (IC₅₀ = 12.48 μg/mL) and the lowest cytotoxic derivative (CC₅₀ = 161.50 μg/mL). The mechanism of action of the most active derivatives (4, 6 and 11) is not dependent from the enzyme trypanothione reductase.     

ESI‐QTof‐MS characterization of hirsutinolide and glaucolide sesquiterpene lactones: Fragmentation mechanisms and differentiation based on Na+/H+ adducts interactions in complex mixture

Sesquiterpene lactones (SL) have been reported with various biological effects. Among the described SL skeletons, hirsutinolide and glaucolide have not been extensively studied by mass spectrometry (MS), especially how to distinguish them in organic matrices. Thus, this paper reports (1) a strategy of their differentiation based on MS behavior during the ionization and (2) a proposal of the fragmentation pattern for both SL‐subtypes. ESI(+)‐HRMS data of four isolated SL (hirsutinolides 1 and 3 ; glaucolides 2 and 4 ) were recorded by direct and UPLC water‐sample combined injections. These analyses revealed that hirsutinolides and glaucolides formed [M+Na]⁺ ion during the operation of the direct MS injection, and ([M+Na]⁺ and [M+H‐H₂O]⁺) and [M+H]⁺ ions were respectively observed for hirsutinolides and glaucolides during the operation of combined UPLC water and sample MS injection. Computational simulations showed that the complex hirsutinolide ( 1 )‐Na⁺ formed with a lower preparation energy compared with the complex glaucolide ( 2 )‐Na⁺. However, despite their different behavior during the ionization process, ESI(+)‐HRMS/MS analyses of 1 ‐ 4 gave similar fragmentation patterns at m/z 277, 259, 241, and 231 that can be used as diagnostic ions for both skeletons. Moreover, the differentiation strategy based on the nature of the complex SL‐adducts and their MS/MS fragmentation pattern were successfully applied for the chemical characterization of the extract from Vernonanthura tweedieana using UPLC‐ESI‐HRMS/MS. Among the characterized metabolites, SL with hirsutinolide and glaucolide skeletons showed the aforementioned diagnostic fragments and an ionization behavior that was similar to those observed during the water‐sample combined injection.     

Cytotoxic effect of some pentacyclic triterpenes and hemisynthetic derivatives of stigmasterol

Two different oxidation reactions (PCC and KMnO₄) of stigmasterol gave three products, stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (1a), stigmasta-4,22-diene-3,6-dione (1b), and 3-O-acetyl-5β,6β-epoxystigmast-22-ene-3-ol (1c). The cytotoxic activities of hemisynthetic compounds, stigmasterol, and four pentacyclic triterpens 2–5 previously isolated from cultivated and wild Triumfetta cordifolia and identified were investigated against human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080). Most of the drugs showed moderate cytotoxic activity. It was also notice that the triterpene skeleton had a range of number of OH functions in which activity was observed. Spectroscopic analyses (¹H and ¹³ C NMR) and mass were used to elucidate the structure of hemisynthetic compounds.     

Cytotoxicity of an unprecedented brominated oleanolide and a new furoceramide from the Cameroonian spice,Echinops giganteus

A preliminary study on Echinops giganteus (Asteraceae) showed that the methanolic extract has interesting cytotoxicities against a panel of cancer cell lines. From this extract, a lignan, a flavonoid and a polyacetylenic thiophene identified were three times less cytotoxic than the extract. In the search of the metabolites responsible for the bioactivity, a new harvested E. giganteus was subjected to a phytochemical study using chromatographic methods. In the course of the work, two new compounds: a brominated oleanolide (1) and a tetrahydrofurano-ceramide (2) were obtained along with β-amyrin acetate (3), 2-(penta-1,3-diynyl)-5-(4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl)-thiophene (4), 2-(penta-1,3-diynyl)-5-(3,4-dihydroxybut-1-ynyl)-thiophene (5) and 4-hydroxy-2,6-di-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo-(3.3.0)octane (6). Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry data in conjunction with those reported in the literature. The cytotoxicity of 1, 2 and 5 was evaluated by employing resazurin assay against a panel of cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in range 6.12 ± 0.46–46.96 ± 3.61 μM.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines and an Unexpected 1,3‐Oxazin‐6‐one

Eight heterocycles have been prepared in a one‐pot reaction manner based on the Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis. The synthesis afforded seven dihydropyridines (DHP) and one unexpected 1,3‐oxazin‐6‐one. Their structures were confirmed based on NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The obtained products have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity against eight cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. Two halogenated DHPs ( 7 and 8 ) displayed cytotoxicity toward all the nine tested cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values from 4.10 to 58.90 μm, while others showed selective activities. DHPs ( 7 and 8 ) bearing a Me group at C(2) and C(6) as well as a halogenated substituent at C(4′) were more antiproliferative than the others.     

Triumfettamide and Triumfettoside Ic,Two Ceramides and Other Secondary Metabolites from the Stems of Wild Triumfetta cordifolia A. Rich. (Tiliaceae)

Two new ceramides, triumfettamide ( 1 ) and triumfettoside Ic ( 2 ), characterized as (2R,6Z)‐2‐hydroxy‐N‐[(2S,3S,4R)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxyhexacosan‐2‐yl]heptadec‐6‐enamide and (2R)‐N‐{(1S,2R,3E,6Z, 9Z,12Z,15Z)‐1‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]‐2‐hydroxyheneicosa‐3,6,9,12,15‐pentaen‐1‐yl}‐2‐hydroxytetradecanamide, respectively, were isolated from the stems of Triumfetta cordifolia A. Rich. besides eight known secondary metabolites identified as heptadecanoic acid, β‐sitosterol glucopyranoside, friedelin, lupeol, betulin, maslinic acid, 2‐hydroxyoleanolic acid and the mixture of stigmasterol and β‐sitosterol. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods as well as HR‐MALDI‐FT‐ICR‐MS analysis, chemical transformation, and by comparison of their physical and spectral data with those reported in the literature and with authentic specimens for some known compounds. Five pentacyclic triterpenoids, friedelin, lupeol, betulin, maslinic acid, and 2‐hydroxyoleanolic acid, have been isolated from Triumfetta genus for the first time.     

Donellanic acids A–C: new cyclopropanic oleanane derivatives from Donella ubanguiensis (Sapotaceae)

Three new cyclopropanic oleanane triterpenoids and ten known compounds were obtained from Donella ubanguiensis using chromatographic methods. The structures were established on the basis of mass spectrometric and NMR data and by comparison with values reported in the literature. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A part of the isolated compounds was evaluated for cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities.     

Coumarin derivatives from Pedilanthus tithymaloides as inhibitors of conidial germination in Magnaporthe oryzae

In a screening for inhibitors of infection-related morphogenesis in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, a series of 10 coumarin derivatives were isolated from Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Euphorbiaceae). Seven of these compounds turned out to be known while three represent previously unreported natural products. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallography. Nine out of 10 coumarin derivatives were found to inhibit conidial germination in the phytopathogenic fungus at low concentrations.