Furanoeremophilanes from Petasites niveus: High solvolytic reactivity at the C-6β position bearing an α,β-unsaturated ester group

Rhizomes and roots of Petasites niveus gave some new cis-fused, unstable furanoeremophilanes bearing the senecioyloxy group either at C-2β or at C-3β and C-6β, besides the known, unstable 2β-pangeloyloxy-10β-H-furanoeremophilane (furanojaponin) and 3β,6β-diangeloyloxy-10β-H-furanoeremophilane. The senecioyloxy or angeloyloxy group at C-6 was easily replaced in alcohols, by the alkoxyl group, leading in medium yields to the ethers with retention of configuration at C-6. Most of the above terpenes prefer the ‘non-steroid-like’ conformation.     

Three sesquiterpene lactones from Helianthus niveus subsp. canescens and H. argophyllus

Further investigation of the minor terpenoids in Helianthus niveus subsp. canescens and H. argophyllus afforded two known 12,8-fused sesquiterpene lactones, 3-acetylchamissonin and simsiolide as well as one new germacranolide, argophyllin C. Identification and structure elucidation of these lactones by ¹H NMR and chemical transformations are described.     

Diterpenoids from Salvia oxyodon and Salvia lavandulifolia

Three new diterpenoids have been detected in Salvia oxyodon and identified as 3β-hydroxy-dehydroabietic acid, 3β-acetoxy-abieta-8(14)-en-18-oic acid 9α,13α-endoperoxide and 3β-hydroxy-abieta-8(14)-en-18-oic acid 9α,13α-endoperoxide. Salvia lavandulifolia yielded two known compounds ursolic acid and galdosol.     

Stereochemistry of strictic acid and related furano-diterpenes from conyza japonica and grangea maderaspatana

Extraction of Conyza japonica gave strictic acid, ent-2β-hydroxy-15,16-epoxy-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien-18-oic acid and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,8,4′-trimethoxyflavone. Extraction of Grangea maderaspatana gave (-)-hardwickiic acid, ent-15,16-epoxy-1,3,13(16),14-clerodatetraen-18-oic acid and 3-hydroxy-8-acetoxypentadeca-1,9,14-trien-4,6-diyne. The structure of ent-2β-hydroxy-15,16-epoxy-3,13(16),14-cleroclatrien-18-oic acid was deduced by spectroscopic methods and by partial synthesis from (-)-hardwickiic acid and the stereochemistries of strictic acid and (ent-15,16-epoxy-1,3,13(16),14-clerodatraen-18-oic acid were established by correlation with ent-2β-hydroxy-15,16-epoxy-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien-18-oic acid.     

Diterpenoids from Acacia leucophloea

From the root bark of Acacia leucophloea (Mimosaceae) two new pimar-8(14)-ene diterpenoids have been isolated. Their structures have been established by chemical and spectroscopic means as 1β,15R,16-trihydroxypimar8(14)-ene(leucophleol) and 15R,16-epoxy-1β,11α-dihydroxypimar-8(14)-ene(leucophleoxol).     

Neo-clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium pyrenaicum

From the aerial part of Teucrium pyrenaicum three new neo-clerodane diterpenoids have been isolated. Their structures, 3β-acetoxy-4α,18:12S,2OS: 15,16:19, 2OS-tetraepoxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-6-one (teupyrenone), 3β,6α,19-triacetoxy- 4α,18:15,16-diepoxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,12S-olide (teupyreinin), and 3β, 6α,19,2OS-tetra-acetoxy-4α,18:12S,2OS: 15,16-triepoxy-neo-cleroda-13(16), 14-diene (teupyreinidin), were established mainly by spectroscopic means.     

3-epi-periplogenin: ein neues cardenolid aus Adonis vernalis

The structure of 3-epi-periplogenin, a new cardenolide from the leaves of Adonis vernalis was elucidated, by UV, IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, MS and comparison with known cardenolides, as 17β-(2′,5′-dihydro-5′-oxo-3′-furyl)-5β-14β-androstane-3α,5β,14β-triol.     

A neo-clerodane glucoside and neo-clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium flavum subsp. Glaucum

From the aerial part of Teucrium flavum subsp. glaucum a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid, teuflavin, and a new 19-nor-neo-clerodane glucoside, teuflavoside, have been isolated, besides the previously known diterpene teuflin. The structures of teuflavin (19-acetoxy-4α,18:15,16-diepoxy-6β-hydroxy-3-keto-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-diene-20,ξ,12S-hemiacetal) and teuflavoside (18-acetoxy-15,16-epoxy-19-nor-neo-cleroda-4,13(16),14-trien-20,12S-olid-6β-yl-2′-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) were established by chemical and spectroscopic means and by correlation with known compounds. In addition, the previously known flavone salvigenin has also been obtained from the same source.     

In vitro and in vivo biosynthesis of xanthophylls by the cyanobacterium Aphanocapsa

Of the six carotenoids identified in the cyanobacterium Aphanocapsa, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, echinenone and myxoxanthophyll are the major pigments, whilst β-cryptoxanthin and 3-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene are present only in trace amounts. With the exception of zeaxanthin, the other xanthophylls could be formed in vitro from [¹⁴C]phytoene in high yields, especially β-cryptoxanthin and 3-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene. In a time course experiment of xanthopyll biosynthesis the flow of radioactivity from [¹⁴C]phytoene was followed through the pools of phytofluene, lycopene, and β-carotene. The reaction sequence from phytoene to xanthophylls is sensitive in vitro to both difunone, an inhibitor of carotene desaturation, and CPTA, an inhibitor of cyclization.     

Steroidal constituents of Solanum xanthocarpum

From the extract of the fruits of Solanum xanthocarpum (Solanaceae), five new steroidal compounds were isolated and characterized: 4α-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3β,22ξ-diol (1), 3β,22ξ-dihydroxy-4α-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-6-one (2), 3β-benzoxy-14β,22ξ-dihydroxy-4α-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-6-one (3), 3β-benzoxy-14α,22ξ-dihydroxy-4α-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-6-one (4) and 3β-(p-hydroxy)-benzoxy-22ξ-hydroxy-4α-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-6-one (5).     

Minimal Zn Binding Site of Amyloid-β

Zinc-induced aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is a hallmark molecular feature of Alzheimer's disease. Here we provide direct thermodynamic evidence that elucidates the role of the Aβ region 6-14 as the minimal Zn²⁺ binding site wherein the ion is coordinated by His⁶, Glu¹¹, His¹³, and His¹⁴. With the help of isothermal titration calorimetry and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations, the region 11-14 was determined as the primary zinc recognition site and considered an important drug-target candidate to prevent Zn²⁺-induced aggregation of Aβ.     

Teugin,a neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium fragile

From the aerial part of Teucrium fragile a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid, teugin, has been isolated. Its structure, 15,16-epoxy- 2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-3,13(16),14-triene-18,19:20,12S-diolide, was established mainly by spectroscopic means.     

N-methyltyramine: Formation in Opuntia clavata and metabolism in Coryphantha macromeris var. Runyonii

-Administration of tyramine-[1-¹⁴C] to Opuntia clavata resulted in the formation of labeled N-methyltyramine. This procedure established the biosynthetic origin of the major alkaloid in this cactus as well as providing a radiolabeled chemical that was not commercially available. The N-methyltyramine-[1-¹⁴C] was in turn administered to Coryphantha macromeris var. runyonii to determine its metabolic role in the biosynthesis of the psychoactive cactus alkaloid normacromerine (N-methyl-3,4-dimethoxy-β-hydroxyphenethylamine). This feeding experiment established N-methyltyramine as a precursor to normacromerine.     

Tenasogenin,a pregnane ester from Marsdenia tenacissima

A new polyhydroxy pregnane ester named tenasogenin was isolated from the seeds of Marsdenia tenacissima. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence and identification of its hydrolysis products, its structure has been established as 11α-O-β,β-dimethylacryloyl-3β,12β,14β,20R-tetrahydroxypregn-5-ene.     

Flavescin: A new 1-ketopolyhydroxypregnene from Marsdenia flavescens

A new polyhydroxy-1-ketosteroid, flavescin, was isolated from Marsdenia flavescens A. Cunn. Its structure was elucidated as 12-O-acetyl-3β,8β,12β,14β-20-pentahydroxy-Δ⁵- pregnene-1-one.     

Diterpenoids from galeopsis angustifolia

The structures of two new diterpenoids, galeopsin and pregaleopsin, isolated from aerial parts of Galeopsis angustifolia (Labiatae) have been shown to be 8β-acetoxy-15,16-epoxy-9α-hydroxylabda-13(16),14-dien-7-one and 8β-acetoxy-9α,13R; 15,16-diepoxylabd-14-en-7-one, respectively, by chemical and spectroscopic studies. The previously known diterpenoid hispanolone (15,16-epoxy-9α-hydroxy-8α-labda-13(16),14-dien-7-one) has been also obtained from the same source. A thermal retroaldol reaction in the absence of solvent experienced by these 9-hydroxy-7-keto-labdanes is also described.     

Eudesmane alcohols from jasonia glutinosa

Three new sesquiterpene alcohols have been isolated from Jasonia glutinosa. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical correlations as (?)-[11R]-4α,14-epoxyeudesm-11,12-diol, (?)-[11R]-eudesm-4(14)-en-5β,11,12-triol and (+)-[11R]-eudesm-4(14)-en-5α,11,12-triol and they are called α-epoxy kudtdiol, 5-epi-kudtriol and kudtriol respectively.     

Bufadienolides and phytoecdystones from the rhizomes of Helleborus thibetanus (Ranunculaceae)

Two new bufadienolide glycosides with an A/B trans ring structure, 14β,16β-dihydroxy-3β-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5α-bufa-20,22-dienolide (1), and 14β,16β-dihydroxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)]-5α-bufa-20,22-dienolide (2), two known ecdysteroids (polypodine B and 20-hydroxyecdysone) (3-4), and six known bufadienolide and its glycosides with 5β-OH (hellebrigenin, 16β-hydroxyhellebrigenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnoside, hellebrigenin 3-O-β-d-glucoside, hellebrin, 16β-hydroxyhellebrigenin-3-O-β-d-glucoside, and deglucohellebrin) (5-10) were isolated from the rhizomes of Helleborus thibetanus. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated using various spectroscopic methods. All compounds were reported for the first time from the title plant and their chemotaxonomic significance for the genus Helleborus was discussed.     

Epoxysalviacoccina,neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Salvia plebeia

A new neo-clerodane derivative, epoxysalviacoccin, has been isolated from the aerial part of Salvia plebeia, together with the previously known diterpenoid salviacoccin. The structure of epoxysalviacoccin, 2β,3β; 15,16-diepoxy-10β-hydroxy-neo-cleroda-7,13(16),14-triene-17,12R; 18,19-diolide, has been established by spectroscopic means and by partial synthesis from salviacoccin.     

Cissogenin,a pregnane genin from Marsdenia tenacissima

A new polyhydroxy pregnane designated as cissogenin has been isolated from the seeds of Marsdenia tenacissima. Its structure has been established as 3β,11α,12β,14β,20 S-pentahydroxy-pregn-5-ene.