Intestinal Bacterium Eubacterium cellulosolvens Deglycosylates Flavonoid C- and O-Glucosides

Eubacterium cellulosolvens cleaved the flavone C-glucosides homoorientin and isovitexin to their aglycones luteolin and apigenin, respectively. The corresponding isomers, orientin and vitexin, or other polyphenolic C-glucosides were not deglycosylated. E. cellulosolvens also cleaved several O-coupled glucosides of flavones and isoflavones to their corresponding aglycones.     

C-glycosylflavones from parkinsonia aculeata

The only C-glycosylflavones isolated from Parkinsonia aculeata leaves were identified as orientin (instead of epiorientin), isoorientin (instead of parkinsonin-A), vitexin and isovitexin (instead of parkinsonin-B). Orientin was definitely present in the laevorotatory form.     

Flavonoid variation in the genus briza

During a survey of 6 Eurasian and 10 South American Briza species for leaf flavonoids, 27 components were found. Twelve of these were identified: tricin 5-glucoside, tricin 7-glucoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, kaempferol 3-glucoside, vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, iso-orientin, and the 4′-O-glucoside of all 4 glycoflavones, 3 of which are reported for the first time. The Eurasian species, with the exception of Briza maxima, are remarkably uniform in their flavonoid pattern, accumulating mainly vitexin and isovitexin; whereas the South American species are characterized by the presence of orientin, iso-orientin and 9 unidentified flavonoids. In Briza media and the South American species, ploidy level is shown to play a large part in flavonoid variation. Examination of 12 diploid and 8 autotetraploid plants of B. media revealed that diploids accumulate vitexin and isovitexin, whereas tetraploids accumulate orientin and iso-orientin, autotetraploidy having apparently upset regulatory genes in the formation of the flavone C-glycosides. Mild alkaline treatment of both isovitexin and iso-orientin was found to give 100% conversion to the corresponding 8-C-glucoside.     

Glycosylflavonoids from Cecropia pachystachya Trécul are quorum sensing inhibitors

The Cecropia genus is widely distributed in Latin America including at least 60 species, and some of them are commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. We used Cecropia pachystachya Trécul to search for quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors compounds and found that the aqueous extract of C. pachystachya leaves is a promising source of substances with this activity. Using as biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31532 and Escherichia coli pSB403, the compounds chlorogenic acid (2), isoorientin (3), orientin (4), isovitexin (6), vitexin (7), and rutin (9) were identified as QS inhibitors. None of these compounds inhibited the growth of neither the used biosensors nor the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 23591, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used here as growth inhibition controls. Along with the rutin, here we presented for the first time the QS-inhibition potential of the C-glycosyl flavonoids. The prospective of this evidence lead to the use of these compounds as antipathogenic drugs or antifoulants.     

Two new neoflavonoids and C-glycosylflavones from Passiflora serratodigitata

The aerial parts of Passiflora serratodigitata yielded 5,7-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin, its 7-β-glucoside and the known C-glycosylflavones 2″-xylosylvitexin, 2″-xylosylisovitexin, vitexin, isovitexin, a vicenin, and orientin. The known flavone chrysin was also isolated. This is the first report of neoflavonoids in the family Passifloraceae.     

Microbial Oxidation of sec-Alcohols to Ketones

The major anthocyanin compound in buckwheat sprouts was determined to be cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (C3R), based on HPLC data and MS/MS spectra. Investigation of the content of phenolic compounds in commercial buckwheat sprouts indicated that hypocotyls are abundant in C3R and rutin, whereas all of the detected flavonoids are abundant in cotyledons. The superoxide anion radical-scavenging activities (SOD-like activities) of phenolic compounds in buckwheat sprouts and their contents indicated that rutin, isoorientin, and orientin contributed mainly to the SOD-like activity of the extract from buckwheat sprouts. In contrast, the contribution of C3R was substantially lower than that of flavonoids.     

Flavonoids and xanthones from the leaves of Amorphophallus titanum (Araceae)

The flavonoids and xanthones in the leaves of Amorphophallus titanum, which has the largest inflorescence among all Araceous species, were surveyed. Eight C-glycosylflavones, five flavonols, one flavone O-glycoside and two xanthones were isolated and characterized as vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin-2 and lucenin-2 (C-glycosylflavones), kaempferol 3-O-robinobioside, 3-O-rutinoside and 3-O-rhamnosylarabinoside, and quercetin 3-O-robinobioside and 3-O-rutinoside (flavonols), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (flavone), and mangiferin and isomangiferin (xanthones). Although the inflorescence of this species has been surveyed for flavonoids, those of the leaves were reported for the first time.     

Flavonoid pigments of butterflies in the genus Melanargia

Flavonoid pigments (18) were identified in the wings and body of Melanargia galathea: tricin, tricin 7-glucoside, tricin 7-diglucoside, tricin 4′-glucoside, luteolin, luteolin 7-glucoside, luteolin 7-diglucoside, luteolin 7-triglucoside, apigenin, apigenin 7-glucoside, orientin, orientin 7-glucoside, iso-orientin, iso-orientin 7-glucoside, vitexin 7-glucoside, vitexin 7-glucoside, isovitexin, isovitexin 7-glucoside and a novel but incompletely identified tricin 4′-conjugate. Examination of the wings and bodies of individual M. galathea, M. galathea var. procida, M. lachesis, M. russiae, M. larissa, M. occitanica and M. ines butterflies from a number of different populations in Europe by 2D PC revealed that variation in their flavonoid patterns was so minor that the flavonoid pattern of these Melanargia spp. may be considered constant. The concentration of flavonoids in the wings of each butterfly was greater than that in the body, as is the covering of scales. Not all flavonoids are located in the scales; some are also located in the reproductive tissues of the female. With the exception of the tricin 4′-conjugate which was absent from the egg and first instar larvae before feeding commences, these flavonoids were present in all the life stages of M. galathea. The presence of tricin 4′-conjugate in Melanargia but its absence from the larval food plants suggests that this compound is synthesized by the insect and that flavonoids are not merely sequestered from the diet but are also partly metabolized.     

C-Glycosylflavones from Avena sativa

Avena sativa leaves, stems and inflorescences contain a range of new C-glycosylflavone 2″-O-glycosides, including vitexin and isoswertisin 2″-rhamnosides, isovitexin and isoorientin 2″-arabinosides. The structure of ‘vitexin 4′-rhamnoside’ from Crataegus oxyacantha is revised in vitexin 2″-rhamnoside.     

The 2″-O-glucosylation of vitexin and isovitexin in petals of Silene alba is catalysed by two different enzymes

Two separate genes, Fg and Vg, which govern the presence of isovitexin 2″-O-glucoside and vitexin 2″-O-glucoside respectively in the petals of Silene alba control different glucosyltransferases. In Vg/Vg,fg/fg plants no isovitexin 2″-O-glucosyltransferase was present and in vg/vg,Fg/Fg plants no vitexin 2″-O-glucosyltransferase activity could be detected. The Fg-controlled UDP-glucose: isovitexin 2″-O-glucosyltransferase has a pH optimum of8.5, while the Vg-controlled vitexin 2″- O-glucosyltransferase has a pH optimum of7.5. Both glucosyltransferases are stimulated by the divalent cations Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Mg²⁺. For isovitexin 2″-O-glucosylation, however, much higher concentrations are needed than for vitexin 2″-O-glucosylation.For UDP-glucose a ‘true K_m’ value of0.3 mM with the Fg-controlled and of 0.2 mM with the Vg-controlled enzyme was found. For isovitexin and vitexin these values are respectively 0.09 and 0.01 mM.     

O-glycosylated C-glycosylflavones from Passiflora platyloba

Five C-glycosylflavonoids including two new compounds, isovitexin 7-rhamnosylglucoside and isomollupentin 7-rhamnosylglucoside, were obtained from the leaves of Passiflora platyloba. The known flavonoids were isovitexin, vitexin and isomollupentin (6-C-arabinosylapigenin). In addition, the coumarin esculetin was isolated.     

Polyphenols of mature plant,seedling and tissue cultures of Theobroma cacao

The major flavone in mature cocoa leaves is isovitexin, with smaller amounts of vitexin and 7-O-glucosides of apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol. F     

Tissue-distribution of secondary phenolic biosynthesis in developing primary leaves of Avena sativa L.

Primary leaves of oats (Avena sativa L.) have been used to study the integration of secondary phenolic metabolism into organ differentiation and development. In particular, the tissue-specific distribution of products and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis has been investigated. C-Glucosylflavones along with minor amounts of hydroxycinnamic-acid esters constitute the soluble phenolic compounds in these leaves. In addition, considerable amounts of insoluble products such as lignin and wall-bound ferulic-acid esters are formed. The tissue-specific activities of seven enzymes were determined in different stages of leaf growth. The rate-limiting enzyme of flavonoid biosynthesis in this system, chalcone synthase, together with chalcone isomerase (EC 5.5.1.6) and the terminal enzymes of the vitexin and isovitexin branches of the pathway (a flavonoid O-methyltransferase and an isovitexin arabinosyltransferase) are located in the leaf mesophyll. Since the flavonoids accumulate predominantly (up to 70%) in both epidermal layers, an intercellular transport of products is postulated. In contrast to the flavonoid enzymes, L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5), 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.12), and S-adenosyl-L-methionine: caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.-), all involved in general phenylpropanoid metabolism, showed highest activities in the basal leaf region as well as in the epidermis and the vascular bundles. We suggest that these latter enzymes participate mainly in the biosynthesis of non-flavonoid phenolic products, such as lignin in the xylem tissue and wall-bound hydroxycinnamic acid-esters in epidermal, phloem, and sclerenchyma tissues.Abbreviations CHI chalcone isomerase - CHS chalcone synthase - 4CL 4-coumarate: CoA ligase - CMT S-adenosyl-L-methionine:caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase - FMT S-adenosyl-L-methionine:vitexin 2-O-rhamnoside 7-O-methyltransferase - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - IAT uridine 5-diphosphate L-arabinose:isovitexin 2-O-arabinosyltransferase - PAL L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase     

Acylflavonoid C-glycosides from Eleusine coracana

Chromatographic fractionation of the methanolic extract of the shoots of Eleusine coracana led to the identification of three novel acylflavonoid glycosides, 6″-O-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroylorientin (1), 6″-O-malonylvitexin (2), and 4″-O-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroylvitexin (3) as well as five known flavonoid glycosides, orientin (4), isoorientin (5), vitexin (6), isovitexin (7), and 6″-O-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroylvitexin (8). The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of NMR and mass spectral data.     

Naphthalene glucoside and other phenolics from the shoot and callus cultures of Drosophyllum lusitanicum

The callus and, for the first time established, shoot cultures of Drosophyllum lusitanicum Link. (Droseraceae) yielded new naphthalene glucoside-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid 5-O-beta-glucoside (drosophylloside) and 5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid methyl ester besides other phenolics like naphthalenes-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (ancistronaphthoic acid B), hydroplumbagin 4-O-glucoside, naphthoquinones-plumbagin and 3-chloroplumbagin, C-glycosylflavones- vitexin, isovitexin, orientin and isoorientin. The pattern of phenolics found supports affinity of Drosophyllum to the families-Droseraceae, Ancistrocladaceae and Dioncophyllaceae.     

A CHEMOSYSTEMATIC STUDY OF SELECTED TAXA OF CAPSICUM

Six taxa of Capsicum were chosen for a comparative chemosystematic study. A “key” individual from each taxon was selected for intensive chemical investigation. Thirteen flavonoids were isolated from leaf material and characterized by paper chromatography and absorption spectroscopy. The C-glycosylflavones vitexin and isovitexin, and orientin and iso-orientin, as well as O-glycosides of the flavones apigenin, luteolin, and chrysoeriol, were isolated from the key individuals. Chromatographic analysis of collections from various regions of South America, Central America, and Mexico showed in general that flavonoid variability is more common in cultivated taxa than in wild. Three groups of Capsicum were recognized and the main systematic conclusions were: (1) The white-flowered taxa in Group I, C. baccatum var. baccatum and C. baccatum var. pendulum, have identical flavonoids, corroborating previous conclusions that they are one species. The absence of chrysoeriol in this group separates it from Groups II and III. (2) The purple-to-white-flowered C. eximium var. eximium and C. eximium var. lomenlosum, Group II, have a complex flavonoid chemistry which appears to link Groups I and III. (3) Two purple-flowered species, C. cardenasii and C. pubescens, Group III, are chemically distinct from the other taxa examined.     

2″-p-coumaroylvitexin 7-glucoside from Mollugo oppositifolia

Besides vitexin, two compounds have been isolated from Mollugo oppositifolia and identified as vitexin 7-glucoside and 2″-p-coumaroylvitexin 7-glucoside. The latter is a new natural compound. Some features common to the electron-impact mass spectra of permethyl vitexin 7-glucoside and permethyl isovitexin 7-glucoside are discussed.     

An anthocyanin compound in buckwheat sprouts and its contribution to antioxidant capacity

The major anthocyanin compound in buckwheat sprouts was determined to be cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (C3R), based on HPLC data and MS/MS spectra. Investigation of the content of phenolic compounds in commercial buckwheat sprouts indicated that hypocotyls are abundant in C3R and rutin, whereas all of the detected flavonoids are abundant in cotyledons. The superoxide anion radical-scavenging activities (SOD-like activities) of phenolic compounds in buckwheat sprouts and their contents indicated that rutin, isoorientin, and orientin contributed mainly to the SOD-like activity of the extract from buckwheat sprouts. In contrast, the contribution of C3R was substantially lower than that of flavonoids.     

Degraded limonoids from Melia azedarach and biogenetic implications

The unique series of C-2'-acylated C-glycosylflavones is extended by the discovery of the C-8-glucosyl derivatives 2'-O-galloylvitexin and 2'-O-galloylorientin and their C-6 analogues 2'-O-galloylisovitexin and 2'-O-galloylisoorientin, representing the first described O-galloyl-C-glycosylflavones. They are accompanied in the aerial parts of Pelargonium reniforme by the known non-galloylated parent analogues vitexin, orientin, isovitexin and isoorientin, as well as several known flavonoid-O-glycosides. The structures of these compounds were established from spectroscopic studies. Differentiation between C-glycosylation at C-6 and C-8 is discussed on the basis of the effects of dynamic rotational isomerism.     

The pH dependent substrate specificity of udp-glucose: isovitexin 2″-O-glucosyltransferase in Silene alba

In Silene alba plants the dominant allele of gene Fg controls an enzyme which catalyses the formation of isovitexin 2″-O-glucoside both in petals and green parts. Both isovitexin and isoorientin can act as substrate. K_mvalues for the isovitexin glucosylation are 0.09 mM for isovitexin and 0.3 mM for UDP-glucose, V_max 0.17 nmol min^?1 mg protein^?1. For the isoorientin glucosylation K_m values of 0.45 mM for isoorientin, of 0.75 mM for UDP-glucose and V_max of 0.27 nmol min^?1 mg protein^?1 are found. The pH optima for both substrates differ markedly. For the substrate with one hydroxyl in the B-ring, isovitexin, the pH optimum is pH 8.5. For isoorientin, which has two hydroxyls in the B-ring, a pH optimum of 7.5 is found. These results suggest that the B-ring hydroxylation pattern influences the pH at which the substrate has optimal affinity for the enzyme. The location of the carbon-carbon bound glucose on a the flavonoid skeleton is of importance for enzyme activity as well. Vitexin, which has glucose at the 8-position, was not a substrate. The glucosylation of vitexin could, however, be demonstrated in enzyme extracts of petals of plants, grown from seed collected in Armenia; in these petals apart from isovitexin glycosides, vitexin glycosides are found as well.