Metabolites of the marine fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Humicola fuscoatra</Emphasis> KMM 4629

A new sesquiterpene of the caryophyllene series, fuscoatrol A (1), and known compounds, 11-epiterpestacin (2) and -nitropropionic acid (3), were isolated from the marine fungus Humicola fuscoatra (Traaen) KMM 4629 associated with the Kuril colonial ascidium. The structure of 1 was established on the basis of X-ray diffraction data and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–3 were studied.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2534–2537, November, 2004.     

Natural anti-HIV agents. Part 3: Litseaverticillols A-H, novel sesquiterpenes from Litsea verticillata

Bioassay directed-fractionation led to the identification of litseaverticillols A-H (1-8) from the leaves and twigs of Litsea verticillata Hance. These new sesquiterpenes possess a unique skeleton that was recently designated as ‘litseane’. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic means including 1D and 2D NMR data. Structural configurations were determined by ROESY experiments. Mosher ester reactions and optical rotation measurements established the sesquiterpenes 1-8 as racemates. Isolates 1-8 inhibited HIV-1 replication in HOG.R5 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2 to 15 μg/ml (8-58 μM) while affecting the growth of HOG.R5 at concentrations 2-3-fold higher. Based on this data, structure-activity relationships can be discerned, suggesting compounds of this class are good candidates for analog production.     

A formal total synthesis of (±)-9-isocyanoneopupukeanane

A formal total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene (±)-9-isocyanoneopupukeanane starting from the readily available monoterpene carvone has been accomplished employing a combination of intermolecular Michael addition-intramolecular Michael addition reaction and an intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C-H insertion reaction as key steps, and identifying the isopropenyl group as a masked hydroxy group.     

内分子DIELS-ALDER反应合成DRIMANE类倍半萜化合物DRIMENIN, POLYGODIAL及CINNAMOLIDE的全合成

近年来有不少报道从事于生理活性Drimane类倍半萜的合成,较多采用了分子间Diels-Alder反应来建立Drimane的骨架。本文首次采用内分子Diels-Alder反应作为关键反应合成了Drimane类化合物。同时还在引入了手性诱导基团后,首次完成了从无手性的原料化合物β-紫罗兰酮至光学活性(-)-drimenin1的不对称合成。     

Changes in the composition of volatile monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes of Pinus armandi, P. tabulaeformis, and P. bungeana in Northwest China

The volatile mono-and sesquiterpenes obtained from the needles and resin of Pinus armandi, P. tabulaeformis, and P. bungeana growing in the Qinling, Taibai, and Huanglong Mountain forest ecosystem were analyzed by means of GC-MS. Forty-eight constituents were identified, and α-pinene, β-pinene, 1R-α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, cadindiene, α-caryophyllene, D-limonene, and 1S-β-pinene were the major components of the mono-and sesquiterpenes in the needles and resin. The components of the volatile mono-and sesquiterpenes from the needles and resin at Qinling, Taibai, and Huanglong Mountains had remarkable differences in three pine species, whereas the monopertene content such as α-pinene, β-pinene, D-limonene, and camphene were mostly changed in the growing stage. The intraspecies variation in the different ecosystems can be attributed to the species’ geography and genetic variation, and even the adaptation of the pine species to different ecological environments. Moreover, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes can be induced by the attack of bark beetles, of which the α-pinene, β-pinene, 1R-α-pinene, 1S-α-pinene, b-myrecene, and β-caryophyllene contents had positive relations with the attacking Dendroctonus armandi and D. valens. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 430–433, September–October, 2006.     

Terpenoids from the Roots of Ligularia muliensis

Three new eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenes, (6β,8α)‐6‐(acetyloxy)‐8‐hydroxyeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8‐olide ( 1 ), (6α,8α)‐6‐hydroxyeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8‐olide ( 2 ), and (6α,8α)‐6‐(acetyloxy)eremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8‐olide ( 3 ) ((8α)‐eremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8‐olide = (4aR,5S,8aR,9aS)‐4a,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a‐octahydro‐3,4a,5‐trimethylnaphtho[2,3‐b]furan‐2(4H)‐one), besides the recently elucidated eremoligularin ( 4 ) and bieremoligularolide ( 5 ), as well as a new highly oxygenated monoterpene, rel‐(1R,2R,3R,4S,5S)‐p‐menthane‐1,2,3,5‐tetrol ( 12 ), together with six known constituents, i.e., the sesquiterpenes 6 and 7 , the norsesquiterpenes 8 – 10 , and the monoterpene 13 , were isolated from the roots of Ligularia muliensis. In addition, an attempt to dimerize 1 to a bieremophilenolide (Scheme) resulted in the generation of the new derivative (6β,8β)‐6‐(acetyloxy)‐8‐chloroeremophil‐7(11)‐en‐12,8‐olide ( 11 ). The new structures were established by means of detailed spectroscopic analysis (IR, FAB‐, EI‐, or HR‐ESI‐MS as well as 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments). Compounds 4 and 5 were evaluated for their antitumor effects in vitro (Table 3).     

Identification and Biological Activity of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Plants and Insects. IV. Composition of Vapor Isolated from Certain Species of Artemisia Plants

The components of fragrance from four wormwood species of theArtemisiaL. genus were analyzed by GC-MS. The major and minor components of volatile essential oils typical of the studied plant species were determined.     

Seasonal Variability of a Caryophyllane Chemotype Essential Oil of Eugenia patrisii Vahl Occurring in the Brazilian Amazon

Eugenia patrisii Vahl is a native and non-endemic myrtaceous species of the Brazilian Amazon. Due to few botanical and phytochemical reports of this species, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the seasonal variability of their leaf essential oils, performed by GC and GC-MS and chemometric analysis. The results indicated that the variation in oil yields (0.7 ± 0.1%) could be correlated with climatic conditions and rainy (R) and dry seasons (D). (E)-caryophyllene (R = 17.1% ± 16.0, D = 20.2% ± 17.7) and caryophyllene oxide (R = 30.1% ± 18.4, D = 14.1% ± 19.3) are the major constituents and did not display significant differences between the two seasons. However, statistically, a potential correlation between the main constituents of E. patrisii essential oil and the climatic parameters is possible. It was observed that the higher temperature and insolation rates and the lower humidity rate, which are characteristics of the dry season, lead to an increase in the (E)-caryophyllene contents, while lower temperature and insolation and higher humidity, which occur in the rainy season, lead to an increase in the caryophyllene oxide content. The knowledge of variations in the E. patrisii essential oil composition could help choose the best plant chemical profile for medicinal purposes.     

Secretory Products in Petals of Centaurea cyanus L. Flowers: A Histochemistry,Ultrastructure, and Phytochemical Study of Volatile Compounds

(1) Background: Centaurea cyanus L. is a medicinal plant whose flowers are widely used in herbal medicine. The aim of the study was to localise flower tissues that are responsible for the production of secretory products in petals and to analyse the volatile compounds. The volatile compounds of the flowers of this species have not been investigated to date. (2) Methods: Light, fluorescence, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used in the study. Lipophilic compounds were localised in the tissues using histochemical assays. Volatile compounds were determined with the use of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). (3) Results: The study showed production of secretion in the petal parenchyma, whose ultrastructure has features of a secretory tissue. The lipophilic secretion was localised in the cells and intercellular spaces of the parenchyma and in the walls and surface of epidermal cells, where it accumulated after release through cuticle microchannels. Sesquiterpenes were found to constitute the main group of volatile compounds, with the highest content of β-caryophyllene (26.17%) and α-humulene (9.77%). (4) Conclusions: Given the presence of some volatile components that are often found in resins (caryophyllene, delta-cadinene) and the abundant secretion residues on the epidermal surface, we suppose that the C. cyanus secretion released by the flowers is a resinaceous mixture (oleoresin), which is frequently found in plants, as shown by literature data. This secretion may play an important role in the therapeutic effects of C. cyanus flowers.     

New Sesquiterpenes from the Flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.

Two new guaianolides (=guaianolactones), chrysanthguaianolactone A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and one new eudesmane sesquiterpene, chrysanthemdiol A ( 6 ), together with seven known sesquiterpenes were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.