Further Amphoricarpolides from the Surface Extracts of Amphoricarpos Complex from Montenegro

Analysis of composition of sesquiterpene lactone fraction of leaf cuticular neutral lipids of Amphoricarpos complex from two different localities in north Montenegro, i.e., canyon of river Tara (A. autariatus ssp. autariatus) and mountain Zeletin (A. autariatus ssp. bertisceus) afforded sesquiterpene lactones with guaianolide skeletons (17 compounds), so called amphoricarpolides, typical for this genus. Nine of them, 9 – 17 , were new compounds, and their structures were elucidated by detailed analyses of IR, NMR, and MS data.     

New sesquiterpene lactones from Inula oculus-christi L.

Investigation of the aerial parts of Inula oculus-christi L. led to the identification of four new sesquiterpene lactones: an eudesmanolide (4α,15α-epoxypulchellin E) and three guaianolides (2α-acetoxy-4α,9β-dihydroxy-1β-guaia-11(13),10(14)-dien-12,8α-olide, 9β,10β-epoxygaillardin, 9α,10α-epoxy-2-epi-gaillardin), in addition to the known gaillardin, pulchellin E, pulchellin C and 3-O-palmitates of 16β-hydroxylupeol, 16β-hydroxy-β-amyrin, and faradiol. The structures of all compounds have been elucidated on the basis of their spectral data.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Achillea collina J. Becker ex Reichenb

The flower heads of Achillea collina afforded 31 individual sesquiterpene lactones, among which nine guaianolides (1, 16, 20, 21, 23, 27-30), a germacranolide (18) and a dimeric guaianolide (31) were found to be new natural products. The lactones 2-4, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19 and 25 were isolated for the first time from the investigated species. Their structures were established by spectral methods.     

Cadinenes and other metabolites from Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray

The phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Verbesina sphaerocephala A. Gray afforded six sesquiterpene lactones of cadinene type, five of them described for the first time, along with known phenyl propanoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Structures on new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including CD and X-ray analyses, and known compounds were identified by comparing their spectral data with those previously reported. Cadinene-like sesquiterpene lactones could be characteristic metabolites of V. sphaerocephala.     

Terpenoids from Achillea distans Waldst. & Kit. ex Willed

The flower heads of Achillea distans afforded nine new sesquiterpene lactones (one glaucolide, six guaianolides and two dimeric lactones) in addition to 18 known terpenoids. The structures and stereochemistry of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The stereochemistry of 11,13-dihydroezomontanin was revised.     

Koanolides B-D,new sesquiterpene lactones from Koanophyllon gibbosum

Three new germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones, koanolides B–D (1-3) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Koanophyllon gibbosum (Asteraceae), along with the previously reported sesquiterpene lactone koanolide A and the flavonoid eupatorin. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic and spectrometric data analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, and by comparison with known spectral data. The antiproliferative activities of the new compounds were evaluated in a panel of six representative human solid tumor cell lines and showed GI₅₀ values ranging from 1.3 to 16 μM for the new molecules.     

Cytotoxic constituents of Achillea clavennae from Montenegro

Examination of the aerial parts of Achillea clavennae afforded eight guaianolides (1-8), three bisabolenes (9-11), four flavonols (12-15), sesamin (lignan) and isofraxidin (coumarin). The structures of the new compounds (2, 4, 5, 7 and 10) were determined by spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative action of 2, 8, 9 and 12 were tested to HeLa, K562 and Fem-X human cancer cell lines. Guaianolides 2 (9alpha-acetoxyartecanin) and 8 (apressin) showed significant cytotoxic effects to all tested lines and inducumenone (9) exhibited a moderate activity. The most active was flavonol centaureidin (12), already known as cytotoxic compound.     

Sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents from Stevia jorullensis

A chemical study of the aerial parts of Stevia jorullensis was carried out as a contribution to the knowledge of the chemistry of the genus Stevia. In this investigation the sesquiterpene lactones 11β,13-dihydrocostunolide (1), 11,13-dihydroreynosin (4), and 1β-hydroxycolartin (5) were isolated for the first time in the genus. Additionally, chlorogenic acid (8), the steroidal compounds β-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), β-sitosteryl glucopyranoside (6), and stigmasteryl glucopyranoside (7) were also isolated. This is the third report of the presence of a 11,13-dihydrogermacranolide and the second of 11,13-dihydroeudesmanolides in the genus Stevia.     

Guaianolides and chromenes from Calea species

Chemical analysis of Calea berteriana yielded, besides the known flavonoid acacetin and the sesquiterpene lactone calbertolide C, three new guaianolides, desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A and 8-epi-8-tiglylrupicolins A and B. C. prunifolia provided acacetin, calbertolide C, desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A, and two new chromenes, prunichromenes A and B. From C. solidaginea acacetin, heliangine, calbertolide C, 8-epi-8-tiglylrupicolin A and desacyl-8-tiglylsubcordatolide A were isolated. The structures of the new compounds were established by chemical and spectral methods.     

NMR studies of isomeric dehydrocostuslactone derivatives and structure revision of dentatins A–C

Stereostructures of dentatins A, B and C have been revised to 8-epiisolippidiol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, 11β,13-dihydro-8-epideacylcynaropicrin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside and ixerin F, respectively, based on comparative NMR studies of isomeric dehydrocostuslactone derivatives isolated from Crepis species.     

Guaianolides and elemanolides from Vernonia anthelmintica

Two new guaianolides, (1R,4R,5S,6R,7R,8S)-8,15-dihydroxyguaia-10(14),11(13)-dien-12,6-olide (1) and (1R,4R,5S,6R,7R,8S,11S)-8,15-dihydroxyguaia-10(14)-en-6,12-olide (2), and two known elemanolides, (4S,5R,6R,7R,8S,10R,11S)-11,13-dihydrovernolepin (3) and (5R,6R,7R,8S,10R,11S)-melitensin (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of IR, UV, MS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR, and their absolute configurations were deduced using the CD exciton chirality method and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible biosynthetic relationships of compounds 1–4 are postulated. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60 and SMMC-7721 cell lines.     

Guaianolides from Centaurea kotschyi

The aerial parts of Centaurea kotschyi (var. kotschyi) afforded, besides three known sesquiterpene lactones, a new derivative of linichlorin B.     

Guaianolides from Tricholepis glaberrima

Cynaropicrin and 11,13-dihydrodesacylcynaropicrin were isolated from Tricholepis glaberrima.     

Guaianolides from Acroptilon repens

Two new guaianolides have been isolated from the aerial parts of Acroptilon repens.     

Differential secondary metabolite accumulation and performance of Chlosyne lacinia fed with Tithonia diversifolia or Vernonia polyanthes

The larvae of Chlosyne lacinia use Asteraceae species as host plants almost exclusively. The aims of this study were to investigate whether secondary metabolites of Vernonia polyanthes and Tithonia diversifolia are metabolized, excreted intact and/or sequestered during the larval stage of C. lacinia and if they affect feeding behavior or performance. The HPLC-DAD-MS analyses of plants and C. lacinia extracts led to the identification of 25 compounds. Larvae fed with T. diversifolia developed until the 4th instar completing metamorphosis into the adult phase, while larvae fed with V. polyanthes developed only until the 2nd instar. In addition, the larvae in the 3rd and 4th instars fed with T. diversifolia accumulated secondary metabolites taken from these leaves. On the other hand, larvae in the 2nd instar showed an accumulation of apigenin-7-O-glycuronyl and hydroxylated 3-O-E-caffeoylquinic acid when fed with V. polyanthes. The latter compound was probably produced after oxidation of the 3-O-E-caffeoylquinic acid by the phase I metabolism of larvae. Therefore, C. lacinia may have developed tolerance to deterrent compounds produced by T. diversifolia, while some compounds present in V. polyanthes may have been the cause for deficient development and the death of larvae.     

Guaianolides from Taeckholmia species

The investigation of four Taeckholmia species afforded in addition to known desacylcynaropicrin, two new guaianolides. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. The chemotaxonomy is discussed briefly.