Intestinal release and uptake of phenolic antioxidant diferulic acids.

Diferulic acids are potent antioxidants and are abundant structural components of plant cell walls, especially in cereal brans. As such, they are part of many human and animal diets and may contribute to the beneficial effect of cereal brans on health. However, these phenolics are ester-linked to cell wall polysaccharides and cannot be absorbed in this form. This study provides the first evidence that diferulic acids can be absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract. The 5-5-, 8-O-4-, and 8-5-diferulic acids were identified in the plasma of rats after oral dosing with a mixture of the three acids in oil. Our study also reveals that human and rat colonic microflora contain esterase activity able to release 5-5-, 8-O-4-, and 8-5-diferulic acids from model compounds and dietary cereal brans, hence providing a mechanism for release of dietary diferulates prior to absorption of the free acids. In addition, cell-free extracts from human and rat small intestine mucosa exhibited esterase activity towards diferulate esters. Hence, we have shown that esterified diferulates can be released from cereal brans by intestinal enzymes, and that free diferulic acids can be absorbed and enter the circulatory system. Our results suggest that the phenolic antioxidant diferulic acids are bioavailable.     

虎尾草化学成分研究

从虎尾草Lysimachia barystachys地上部分中分得8个已知黄酮苷类化合物,通过波谱解析其结构分别鉴定为槲皮素(1),山奈酚(2),金丝桃苷(3)、芦丁(4)、3,5,7,3',4'-五羟基黄酮-3-O-(2,6-二-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖)-β-D-吡喃半乳糖苷(5),3,5,7,3',4'-五羟基黄酮-7-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖-3-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖(1-2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(6),3,5,7,4'-四羟基黄酮-3-O-(2,6-二-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖)-β-D-吡喃半乳糖苷(7),3,5,7,4'-四羟基黄酮-7-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖-3-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖(1-2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(8).这些化合物除3,4外均为首次从该植物中分离得到.     

Flavonoids and phenylpropanoid derivatives from Campanula barbata

Four new phenylpropanoid derivatives, barbatosides A-D, and a new catechin, barbatoflavan, were isolated from the whole plant of Campanula barbata L. (Campanulaceae) and identified as wahlenbergioside-3'-O-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(2'-(p-methoxycinnamoyl))-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(4'-(trans-p-coumaroyl))-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(4"'-(cis-p-coumaroyl))-glucoside and 3-acetyl-5-methoxy-7,3',4'-trihydroxy-8-O-glucoside-flavan-3-ol, respectively, by spectroscopic methods. In addition, four flavonols were isolated and identified as kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside. Barbatoflavan demonstrated scavenging properties towards the DPPH radical.     

A cinnamoyl esterase from Aspergillus niger can break plant cell wall cross-links without release of free diferulic acids.

A cinnamoyl esterase, ferulic acid esterase A, from Aspergillus niger releases ferulic acid and 5-5- and 8-O-4-dehydrodiferulic acids from plant cell walls. The breakage of one or both ester bonds from dehydrodimer cross-links between plant cell wall polymers is essential for optimal action of carbohydrases on these substrates, but it is not known if cinnamoyl esterases can break these cross-links by cleaving one of the ester linkages which would not release the free dimer. It is difficult to determine the mechanism of the reaction on complex substrates, and so we have examined the catalytic properties of ferulic acid esterase A from Aspergillus niger using a range of synthetic ethyl esterified dehydrodimers (5-5-, 8-5-benzofuran and 8-O-4-) and two 5-5-diferulate oligosaccharides. Our results show that the esterase is able to cleave the three major dehydrodiferulate cross-links present in plant cell walls. The enzyme is highly specific at hydrolysing the 5-5- and the 8-5-benzofuran diferulates but the 8-O-4-is a poorer substrate. The hydrolysis of dehydrodiferulates to free acids occurs in two discrete steps, one involving dissociation of a monoesterified intermediate which is negatively charged at the pH of the reaction. Although ferulic acid esterase A was able to release monoesters as products of reactions with all three forms of diesters, only the 5-5- and the 8-O-4-monoesters were substrates for the enzyme, forming the corresponding free diferulic acids. The esterase cannot hydrolyse the second ester bond from the 8-5-benzofuran monoester and therefore, ferulic acid esterase A does not form 8-5-benzofuran diferulic acid. Therefore, ferulic acid esterase A from Aspergillus niger contributes to total plant cell wall degradation by cleaving at least one ester bond from the diferulate cross-links that exist between wall polymers but does not always release the free acid product.     

Acylated flavonoid glycosides from Bassia muricata.

From the arial parts of Bassia muricata, two acylated flavonoid glycosides quercetin-3-O-(6"-caffeoyl)-sophoroside and quercetin-3-O-(6"-feruloyl)-sophoroside have been isolated together with two known flavonoid glycosides quercetin-3-O-sophoroside and quercetin-3,7-O-beta-diglucopyranoside, as well as four known triterpenoidal saponins, oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, chikusetsusaponin IVa, chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester and oleanolic acid-3,28-beta-diglucopyranoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were verified by means of MS and NMR spectral analyses.     

The Chemical Constituents of Elsholtzia densa Benth.

Ten compounds were isolated from Elsholtzia densa Benth. and their structures were identified by spectral and chemical methods as following: n-nonacosane (1), succinic acid (2), 5- ( 3 ”, 3 ”-dimethylallyl ) -8-methoxyfurocoumarin (3), 5- ( 3 ”-methylbutyl) -8- methoxyfurocoumarin (4), 5- (3”-hydroxy-3”-methylbutyl) -8-methoxyfurocoumarin (5), 3, 4-dihydroxycinnamic acid ( 6 ), 5-hydroxy-3’-methoxyflavanone-7-O-rutinoside ( 7 ), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside ( 8 ), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucoside ( 9 ), 5-hydroxy-4’- methoxyflavone-7-O-rutinoside (10). Among them, compounds 4 and 5 are new naturally occurring furocoumarins.     

藏药翁布的黄酮类化学成分研究

从藏药翁布(Myricaria germanica)的60%丙酮提取物中分离得到了11个黄酮类化合物,利用光谱、波谱分析法鉴定其结构分别为:35,,4’-三羟基-73,’-二甲氧基黄酮(1),3,5,4’-三羟基-7-甲氧基黄酮(2),3,5,3’,4’-四羟基-7-甲氧基黄酮(3),35,7,-三羟基-4’-甲氧基黄酮(4),柽柳素(5),山柰酚(6),槲皮素-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(7)5,,7,4’-三羟基-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖醛酸(8),5,7,3’4,’-四羟基-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖醛酸(9),槲皮苷(10)和阿福豆苷(11)。上述化合物均为首次从该植物中分离得到,其中化合物4、5、7～11为首次从水柏枝属植物中分离得到。     

锥序蜜心果中酚性成分的研究

从锥序蜜心果的乙酸乙酯部分中分离到5个化合物,通过波谱数据或与已知化合物对照,它们分别鉴定为(E)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid carboxymethyl ester(1),3,4-二羟基苯甲酸(2),槲皮素-3-O-β-葡萄糖甙(3),山萘酚-3-O-α-鼠李糖甙(4)和槲皮素-3-O-α-鼠李糖甙(5),以上化合物均为首次从该属植物中分离到.     

金花茶花化学成分的研究

采用反复硅胶柱色谱法、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱法、ODS柱色谱法、反复重结晶等方法对金花茶花的化学成分进行分离纯化,并通过理化常数测定和波谱分析等方法进行结构鉴定.从金花茶花的乙醇提取物中分离得到13个化合物,分别鉴定为:槲皮素(1)、槲皮素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(2)、槲皮素-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(...     

A new tropane alkaloid and other constituents of Erythroxylum rimosum (Erythroxylaceae)

A new tropane alkaloid, named the 7β-acetoxy-3β,6β-dibenzoyloxytropane (1), was isolated from a methanol extract of Erythroxylum rimosum O.E. Schulz leaves. Other known compounds were detected, including quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranoside, (+)-catechin, epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinofuranoside, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-β-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3-β-glucopyranoside, kaempferol, quercetin-3-O-β-galactopyranoside, β-sitosterol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, and the ester derivatives of these two amyrins. Compound 1 exhibited weak inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Structural identification was performed using IR, ESIHRMS and one- and two-dimensional NMR data analyses and confirmed by comparison with literature data.     

Flavonoids as superoxide scavengers and antioxidants

The superoxide anions scavenging activity and antioxidation of seven flavonoids--quercetin, rutin, morin, acacetin, hispidulin, hesperidin, and naringin--were studied. The superoxide anions were generated in a phenazin methosulphate-NADH system and were assayed by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. The scavenging activity ranked: rutin was the strongest, and quercetin and naringin the second, while morin and hispidulin were very weak. The concentration values yielding 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenate were in order of 10(-6) M for quercetin, rutin, and morin; and of 10(-5) M for acacetin and hispidulin, while naringin and hesperidin had no antioxidative action. In comparison with the antioxidative and scavenging activities of flavonoids, there are no correlations.     

The influence of heavy metal stress on the level of some flavonols in the primary leaves of Phaseolus coccineus

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of flavonols was carried out in young and older primary leaves of runner bean plants (Phaseolus coccineus L.) treated with Cd²⁺ (25 μM) and Cu²⁺ excess (25 and 300 μM) for 12 days. The presence of quercetin-3-O-D-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-D-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-D-glucuronide and kaempferol-3-O-D-glucuronide was found in the plant. Quercetin-3-O-D-rhamnoside predominated in the control and heavy metal-stressed plants. The content of individual flavonols increased under heavy metal treatment, particularly in young plants. The flavonol level depended on the metal and its concentration. A protective role of flavonols in plants under heavy metal stress is discussed.     

Effect of quercetin conjugates on vascular permeability and expression of adhesion molecules

Quercetin and its glucosides exist in plant foods and are recovered in human plasma as glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Quercetin and its conjugates show antioxidant activity in model experiments. It remains obscure, however, whether these conjugates retain these biological functions in vivo. We investigated the interaction of quercetin conjugates with lipid bilayers using liposome systems. Less quercetin conjugate was incorporated into liposomes than quercetin aglycone. We also studied the vascular permeability of quercetin-3-glucuronide using cell culture inserts. Incubation of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) with IL-1alpha resulted in increased permeability of quercetin-3-glucuronide. Furthermore, quercetin-3-glucuronide showed no suppressive effect on TNF-alpha-induced cell expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on HAECs. These observations suggest that circulating conjugates of quercetin pass through the endothelium to reach vascular smooth muscle cells and exert their biological effects in the blood vessels during inflammation followed by deconjugation of the conjugates.     

扁桃叶的化学成分研究

从芒果属植物扁桃(Mangifera persiciformis C.Y.Wu et T.L.Ming)叶乙醇提取物乙酸乙酯萃取部位中分离得到7个化合物,经波谱鉴定为没食子酸甲酯(1),没食子酸(2),3,4-二羟基苯甲酸(3),槲皮素(4),山奈酚-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(5),槲皮素-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(6)和芒果苷(7).其中化合物1、3、5、6为首次从该植物中分离得到.     

中华山蓼化学成分研究

bk中华山蓼(Dxyria sinensis Hemsl.)全草中首次分离得到十四个化合物,通过波谱学方法分别鉴定为(-)-表没食子儿茶素(1)、(-)-儿茶素没食子酸酯(2)、(-)-表儿茶素(3)、(-)-表儿茶素-3-没食子酸酯(4)、槲皮素-3-O-α-L-鼠李糖苷(5)、tiliroside(6)、山萘酚-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(7)、桷皮素(8)、2,4-二羟基-6-甲氧基-乙酰基苯-4-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(9)、反-N-(4-羟基苯乙基)阿魏酸酰胺(10)、顺-N-(4-羟基苯乙基)阿魏酸酰胺(11)、icariol A2(12)、(+)-松脂素(13)、Helonioside B(14).     

Diferulic and ferulic acid in the cell wall of Avena coleoptiles—Their relationships to mechanical properties of the cell wall

Alkaline hydrolysis liberated ferulic and diferulic acid from polysaccharides of the Avena coleoptile ( Avena sativa L. cv. Victory I) cell walls. The amount of the two phenolic acids bound to cell walls increased substantially at day 4–5 after sowing, when the growth rate of the coleoptile started to decrease. The level of these acids was almost constant from the tip to base in 3-day-old coleoptiles, but increased toward the basal zone in 4- and 5-day-old ones. The ratio of diferulic acid to ferulic acid was almost constant irrespective of coleoptile age and zone. An increase in the amount of ferulic and diferulic acids bound to cell wall polysaccharides correlated with a decrease in extensibility and with an increase in minimum stress-relaxation time and relaxation rate of the cell wall. The level of lignin in the cellulose fraction increased as coleoptiles aged, but this increase did not correlate with changes in mechanical properties of the cell walls. These results suggest that ferulic acid, ester-linked to cell wall polysaccharides, is oxidized to give diferulic acid, which makes the cell wall mechanically rigid by cross-linking matrix polysaccharides and results in limited cell extension growth. In addition, it is probable that the step of feruloylation of cell wall polysaccharides is rate-limiting in the formation of in-termolecular bridges by diferulic acid in Avena coleoptile cell walls.     

Changes in Dehydrodiferulic Acids and Peroxidase Activity against Ferulic Acid Associated with Cell Walls during Growth of Pinus pinaster Hypocotyl

Hydroxycinnamic acids associated with hypocotyl cell walls of dark-grown seedlings of Pinus pinaster Aiton were extracted with 1 N NaOH and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main hydroxycinnamic acid found was ferulic acid. Diferulic acid dehydrodimers were also found, with the 8,8-coupled isomer (compound 11) being the dehydrodiferulate present in the highest amount. However, the 5,5-coupled isomer, commonly referred to referred to as diferulic acid, was not detected. Two truxillic acids, 4-4[prime]-dihydroxy-3-3[prime]-dimethoxy-[alpha]-truxillic acids I and II, were tentatively identified. The 8,8-coupled dehydrodiferulic acid (compound 11) was the phenolic acid that showed the most conspicuous changes with hypocotyl age as well as along the hypocotyl axis. Peroxidase activity against ferulic acid was found in the apoplastic fluid as well as being ionically and covalently bound to the cell walls. The peroxidase activity increased with hypocotyl age as well as from the subapical toward the basal region of the hypocotyls. A key role in the cell-wall stiffening of 8,8 but not 5,5 dimerization of ferulic acid catalyzed by cell-wall peroxidases is proposed.     

圆果雪胆中的皂甙成分

从圆果雪胆（Ｈｅｍｓｌｅｙａ ａｍａｂｉｌｉｓ）的块茎中分离到１０个化合物,其中３个雪胆皂甙是首次从该种植物中得到,它们的结构通过光谱和化学的方法鉴定为齐墩果酸－３－Ｏ－α－吡喃阿拉伯糖（１→３）－β－葡萄糖醛酸甙,２８－Ｏ－β－Ｄ－吡喃葡萄糖齐墩果酸３－Ｏ－α－吡喃阿拉伯糖（１→３）－β－Ｄ－葡萄糖醛酸,２８－Ｏ－β－Ｄ－吡喃葡萄糖齐墩果酸３－Ｏ－「β－Ｄ－吡喃葡萄糖（１→２）」－「α－吡喃阿     

Properties of quercetin conjugates: modulation of LDL oxidation and binding to human serum albumin

Quercetin is an important dietary flavonoid with in vitro antioxidant activity. However, it is found in human plasma as conjugates with glucuronic acid, sulfate or methyl groups, with no significant amounts of free quercetin present. The antioxidant properties of the conjugates found in vivo and their binding to serum albumin are unknown, but essential for understanding possible actions of quercetin in vivo. We, therefore, tested the most abundant human plasma quercetin conjugates, quercetin-3-glucuronide, quercetin-3'-sulfate and isorhamnetin-3-glucuronide, for their ability to inhibit Cu(II)-induced oxidation of human low density lipoprotein and to bind to human albumin, in comparison to free flavonoids and other quercetin conjugates. LDL oxidation lag time was increased by up to four times by low (<2 microM) concentrations of quercetin-3-glucuronide, but was unaffected by equivalent concentrations of quercetin-3'-sulfate and isorhamnetin-3-glucuronide. In general, the compounds under study prolonged the lag time of copper-induced LDL oxidation in the order: quercetin-7-glucuronide > quercetin > quercetin-3-glucuronide = quercetin-3-glucoside > catechin > quercetin-4'-glucuronide > isorhamnetin-3-glucuronide > quercetin-3'-sulfate. Thus the proposed products of small intestine metabolism (quercetin-7-glucuronide, quercetin-3-glucuronide) are more efficient antioxidants than subsequent liver metabolites (isorhamnetin-3-glucuronide, quercetin-3'-sulfate). Albumin-bound conjugates retained their property of protecting LDL from oxidation, although the order of efficacy was altered (quercetin-3'-sulfate > quercetin-7-glucuronide > quercetin-3-glucuronide > quercetin-4'-glucuronide = isorahmnetin-3-glucuronide). Kq values (concentration required to achieve 50% quenching) for albumin binding, as assessed by fluorescence quenching of Trp214, were as follows: quercetin-3'-sulfate (approximately 4 microM)= quercetin > or = quercetin-7-glucuronide > quercetin-3-glucuronide = quercetin-3-glucoside > isorhamnetin-3-glucuronide > quercetin-4'-glucuronide (approximately 20 microM). The data show that flavonoid intestinal and hepatic metabolism have profound effects on ability to inhibit LDL oxidation and a lesser but significant effect on binding to serum albumin.