Tetronic acid and diarylpropanes from Iryanthera elliptica

The trunk wood of Iryanthera elliptica Ducke (Myristicaceae) contains, besides 2-(ω-piperonyltridecyl) -4-methylidenetetronic acid (iryelliptin), three biogenetically related compounds: (±)-7,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavan, 1-(4′-hydroxy-2′-methoxyphenyl)- 3-(4″-hydroxy-3″-methoxyphenyl)-propane and spiro-[3-methoxy-2,5-cyclohexadien-1.1′-6′,7′- dihydroxy-5′-methoxy-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydronaphthalen]-4-one-(spiroelliptin). Spiroelliptin rearranges upon methylation to 2,2′-trimethylene-3,4,5,4′,5′-penta-methoxybiphenyl.     

A chalcone and an isoflavone from Millettia pachycarpa seeds

Chemical examination of the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa has yielded a new prenylated isoflavone and a new prenylated chalcone in addition to the previously reported isoflavones 5-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano (2″,3″:7,8)isoflavone, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone, 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,8-diprenyl-isoflavone and pomiferin.     

Thonningine-A and thonningine-B: two 3-phenylcoumarins from the seeds of Millettia thonningii

The seeds of Millettia thonningii have yielded four isoflavones and three 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcoumarins, of which two are novel. On the basis of spectral analyses the novel compounds have been identified as 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano (4″,5″:6,7)coumarin (thonningine-A) and 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(4′-methoxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano(4″, 5″: 6,7)coumarin (thonningine-B).     

Four new coumarins from the roots of Peucedanum arenarium

The roots of Peucedanum arenarium var. arenarium revealed the presence of 4 new natural coumarins. By spectral data their structures were elucidated as follows: peuarin, 3′-angeloyl-4′-methylisokhellactone; peuchlorin, 3′-angeloyl-4′-(2″-hydroxy-2″-methyl-3″-chloro)-butyroylisokhellactone; peuchlorinin, 3′-(2″-methylepoxy)-butyroyl-4′-(2″-hydroxy-2″-methyl-3″-chloro)-butyroylisokhellactone; peucloridin 3′,4′-di-(2″-hydroxy-2″-methyl-3″-chloro)-butyroylisokhellactone.     

Flavonoids from Merrillia caloxylon

Three chalcones and three flavones isolated from the fruit of Merrillia caloxylon (Rutaceae) have been characterised. Two of the flavones and two of the chalcones are related structurally, i.e. 3′,4′,5,7-tetramethoxyflavone with 2′- hydroxy-3,4,4′,6′-tetramethoxychalcone and 3′,4′,5,5′,7-pentamethoxyflavone with 2′,3-dihydroxy-4,4′,6′- trimethoxychalcone. A minor constituent was tentatively characterized as 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,5′,6,7-pentamethoxyflavone and this is accompanied by 2-hydroxy-3,4,4′,5,6′-pentamethoxychalcone and 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,6,7-tetramethoxyfiavone.     

Neolignans of Virola carinata bark

Four neolignans, dehydrodieugenol, its monomethylether, carinatone and carinatin have been isolated from the hexane fraction of the bark of Virola carinata. Three new neolignans were separated from the chloroform fraction and examined by spectroscopy and chemical reactions. Their structures were determined as (2S, 3S)-5-allyl- 7-methoxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, (2S)- 1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(3″-allyl-5″-methoxy-6″-hydroxyphenyl)propanone(1) ol(3), (1S,2S)-1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(3″-allyl-5″-methoxy-6″-hydroxyphenyl) propanol(1) and called dihydrocarinatinol, carinatonol and carinatol, respectively.     

New prenylated isoflavones and a prenylated dihydroflavonol from Millettia pachycarpa

Extraction of Millettia pachycarpa Benth. gave 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (1a), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,3′-diprenylisoflavone (2a), 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (3a) and (2R, 3R)-5,4′-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano[2″,3″: 7,6]-dihydroflavonol (4a) whose structures were established by chemical transformations and spectroscopic means. Pectolinarigenin and salvigenin were isolated from Buddleia macrostachya Benth.     

The neolignans (−)-carinatone and carinatin from Virola carinata

From the bark of Virola carinata two neolignans have been isolated: (?)-carcinatone, [(2S)-1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(3″-allyl-5″-methoxy-6″-hydroxyphenyl) propanone] and carinatin, [5-allyl-7-methoxy-3-methyl-2-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)benzofuran].     

鬼针草中一个新的查耳酮甙

从鬼针草BidenspilosaL .地上部分的丙酮提取物中 ,分离鉴定了 1 8个化合物 ,其中包括一个新的查耳酮甙类化合物 (α,3,2′,4′ tetrahydroxy 2′ O β D glucopyranosylchalcone,2 )。其它化合物分别鉴定为butein (1 ) ,okanin 4 methylether 3′ O β glucoside (3) ,sulfuretin (4) ,6 ,7,3′,4′ tetrahydroxyaurone (5) ,海生菊苷 (maritimein ,6) ,(Z ) 6 O (6″ acetyl β D glucopyr anosyl) 6 ,7,3′,4′ tetrahydroxy aurone (7) ,(Z ) 6 O (4″,6″ diacetyl β D glucopyranosyl) 6 ,7,3′,4′ tetrahydroxy aurone (8) ,(Z ) 6 O (3″,4″,6″ triacetyl β D glucopyranosyl) 6 ,7,3′,4′ tetrahydroxy aurone (9) ,木犀草素 (luteolin ,1 0 ) ,槲皮素 (quercetin,1 1 ) ,异槲皮苷 (iso quercitrin,1 2 ) ,芦丁 (rutin,1 3) ,黄芪苷 (astragalin,1 4 ) ,quercetin 3,4′ dimethylether 7 O rutinoside (1 5) ,反式丁烯二酸 (1 6) ,2 β D glucopyranosyloxy 1 hydroxy trideca 3 ,5,7,9,1 1 pentayne (1 7)和 3 β D glucopyranosyloxy 1 hydroxy 6 (E ) tetradecene 8,1 0 ,1 2 triyne (1 8)。     

Eusiderins and other neolignans from an Aniba species

A previous report disclosed the presence of benzodioxan and bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignans in the benzene extract of the trunk wood of an Amazonian Aniba (Lauraceae) species. The chloroform extract of the same material contains additionally two new benzodioxan neolignans [rel-(7S,8R)-Δ^8′-7-hydroxy-3,4,5,5′-tetramethoxy-7.0.3′,8.0.4′-neolignan; rel-(7R,8R)-Δ^7′-3,4,5,5′-tetramethoxy-9′-oxo-7.0.3′,8.0.4′-neolignan], two new bicyclo[3.2.1]-octanoid neolignans [(7R,8S,1′S,2′S,3′S,4′R)-Δ^8′-2′,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-1′,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-hexahydro-5′-oxo-7.3′,8.1′-neolignan; (7R,8S,1′R,2′S,3′S)-Δ^8′-2′-hydroxy-3,3′,5′-trimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydro-4′-oxo-7.3′,8.1′-neolignan] and a hydrobenzofuranoid neolignan [(7S,8R,1′S,5′S)-Δ^8′-3,3′,5′-tri-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-1′,4′,5′,6′-tetrahydro-4′-oxo-7.0.2′,8.1-neolignan].     

Diarylpropanoids from Iryanthera polyneura

The trunk wood of Iryanthera polyneura Ducke (Myristicaceae) contains pinocembrin, 1-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(3″,4″-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane, 1-(2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methylphenyl)-3-(2″-methoxy-4″, 5″-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane and 4,2′,4′-trihydroxy-3-methoxydihydrochalcone.     

Bicyclo[3,2,1]octanoid,neolignans from Aniba simulans

Six bicyclo[3,2,1]octanoid neolignans, isolated from the benzene extract of Aniba simulans Allen (Lauraceae) trunk wood, are shown to derive from two basic structures: 1-allyl-8-hydroxy-6-(3′-methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7-methyl-3-oxobicyclo[3,2,1]octane, substituted by 4-hydroxy, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy, 4-methoxy or 4,5-dimethoxy groups; and 1-allyl-8-hydroxy-6-(3′-methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7-methyl-4-oxobicyclo[3,2,1]oct-2-ene, substituted by 3-hydroxy or 3-hydroxy-5-methoxy groups. The structural proposals are based on spectral data, interconversions synthesis of a derivative from the known (2R,3S,3aS)-3a-allyl-5-methoxy-2-(3′-methoxy,4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-methyl-2,3,3a,6-tetrahydro-6-oxobenzofuran.     

Distribution of acetylenic thiophenes in the pectidinae

The distribution and quantitative significance of biosynthetically related di- and ter-thiophenes from 27 species representing seven genera of the Pectidinae (Heliantheae) was investigated by reverse-phase HPLC. Adenophyllum, Chrysactinia and Nicolletia, three previously unstudied genera, were found to contain thiophenes for the first time. Four derivatives, 5-(4-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (1), 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butenyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (2), 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (3) and 2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene (4) were common constituents in most species of Adenophyllum, Chrysactinia, Dyssodia, Hymenatherum, Nicolletia and Porophyllum. One additional compound, 5-methyl-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene (5), was also present in extracts of Adenophyllum, Dyssodia and Hymenatherum, but was not detected in any other genus. Acetylenic thiophenes were not found in any of the 18 species of Pectis examined.     

Dilignol glycosides from needles of Picea abies

(2R,3R)-2 3-Dihydro-2-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-5-benzofuranpropanol 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside [dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside], (2R,3R)-2 3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-benzofuranpropanol 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 4′-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-2- [2″-hydroxy-4″-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenoxy]-1, 3-propanediol 1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 4′-O-β-d-xylopyranoside, 2,3-bis[(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-methyl]-1,4-butanediol 1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside [(?)-seco-isolariciresinol glucoside] and (1R,2S,3S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxy-2 3-naphthalenedimethanol α²-O-β-d-xylopyranoside [(?)-isolariciresinol xyloside] have been isolated from needles of Picea abies and identified.     

Four isoflavanones from the stem bark of Platycelphium voënse

From the stem bark of Platycelphium voënse (Leguminosae) four new isoflavanones were isolated and characterized as (S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2′,4′-dimethoxy-3′-(3″-methylbut-2″-enyl)-isoflavanone (trivial name platyisoflavanone A), (±)-5,7,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-3′-(3″-methylbut-2″-enyl)-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone B), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-2″-(2?-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano-[4″,5″:3′,2′]-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone C) and 5,7,2′,3″-tetrahydroxy-2″,2″-dimethyldihydropyrano-[5″,6″:3′,4′]-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone D). In addition, the known isoflavanones, sophoraisoflavanone A and glyasperin F; the isoflavone, formononetin; two flavones, kumatakenin and isokaempferide; as well as two triterpenes, betulin and β-amyrin were identified. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Platyisoflavanone A showed antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the microplate alamar blue assay (MABA) with MIC = 23.7 μM, but also showed cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 21.1 μM) in the vero cell test.     

Peroxidase-like activity of Thermobifida fusca hemoglobin: The oxidation of dibenzylbutanolide

The thermostable truncated hemoglobin from the actinomyces Thermobifida fusca (Tf-trHb) displays a robust peroxidase activity, with optimum at acidic pH values, in experiments with the redox mediator ABTS. However, typical peroxidase substrates, such as phenolic or aromatic amine compounds, appear to be poor substrates for Tf-trHb. In turn, the protein is able to catalyze a unique dehydrogenation reaction of dibenzylbutanolides, suggested intermediates in the biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Dibenzylbutanolides with a free 4″-hydroxyl group were thus converted into the corresponding 2,7″-dehydroderivatives thus setting up the basis for an efficient biotransformation of this important precursor. In particular, Tf-trHb mediated oxidation of trans-2-(4″-hydroxy-3″,5″-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxy-7′β-hydroxybenzyl)butanolide 1 into the corresponding benzylidene-benzoyl-γ-butyrolactone 2 was obtained at high yield and with excellent selectivity.     

Xanthones from Tovomita pyrifolium

The wood of Tovomita pyrifolium (Guttiferae) contains the novel tovopyrifolins A [1,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-5-prenyl-6′,6′-dimethylpyrano (2′,3′:3,2)xanthone], B (1,5-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyxanthone) and C (1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone) and also the known tovophyllins A and B [structure revised to 1,6-dihydroxy-5-prenyl-6′, 6′-dimethylpyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,8)xanthone].     

Coumarins from unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata

Petrol extracts of unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata L. were found to contain 7-geranyloxycoumarin, bergapten, imperatorin, 6-methoxy-7-geranyloxycoumarin and two new coumarins which were shown by chemical and spectroscopic means to be 7-(3′-methyl-2′,3′-epoxybutyloxy)-8-(3″-methyl-2″,3″-epoxybutyl)coumarin and 7-(3′-methyl-2′,3′-epoxybutyloxy)-8-(3″-methyl-2″-oxobutyl)coumarin respectively.     

Lipophilic C-methylflavonoids with no B-ring oxygenation in Metrosideros species (Myrtaceae)

Five unusual C-methylflavonoids lacking B-ring oxygenation (2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethyl-6′-methoxychalcone, 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methyl-6′-methoxychalcone, 2′,6′-dihydroxy-3′-methyl-4′-methoxychalcone, 2′-hydroxy-3′-methyl-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone) were found for the first time in Metrosideros excelsa. The flavanone was the major constituent in leaves, whereas 2′,6′-dihydroxy-3′-methyl-4′-methoxychalcone dominated all other aerial plant parts studied. Other Metrosideros species were investigated for these five flavonoids. C₁₉–C₃₆ aldehydes and C₂₂–C₃₂ alcohols were also identified from the dried seed capsules of M. excelsa.     

Two new anti-HBV lignans from Herpetospermum caudigerum

Two new lignans, named (+)-(7′S, 7″S, 8′R, 8″R)-4, 4′, 4″-trihydroxy-3, 5′, 3″-trimethoxy-7-oxo-8-ene [8-3′, 7′-O-9″, 8′-8″, 9′-O-7″] lignoid (1) and (1S)-4-Hydroxy-3-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1-hydroxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (2), along with five known (3–7) ones, have been isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. The structures of the new compounds, including the absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic and CD analysis. Compounds 1, 2, and 7 displayed inhibitory activities on HBsAg secretion with IC₅₀ values of 20.5, 0.34, and 4.89 μM, while 1, 2, and 7 displayed inhibitory activities on HBeAg secretion with IC₅₀ values of 3.54, 4.83 × 10⁻⁴, and 8.02 μM, and cytotoxicity on HepG 2.2.15 cells with CC₅₀ values of 12.7, 2.96 × 10⁵, and 11.4 μM, respectively.