The reactivity of uronic and aldonic acid derivatives towards trifluoroacetolysis. A new method for specific elimination of reducing 4-O-substituted hexose residues

Trifluoroacetolysis of d-glucuronic acid and methyl α-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid resulted in an initial phase of degradation followed by stabilisation of the compounds as their 6,3-lactones. The methyl ester of methyl 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid was largely stable towards trifluoroacetolysis. Aldonic acids substituted at O-3 or O-6 were stable towards trifluoroacetolysis because of the formation of γ-lactones. Aldonic acids substituted at O-4, and incapable of forming γ-lactones, were converted into the trifluoroacetylated enol of 3-deoxy-2-hexulosonic acid. Treatment of the 3-deoxy-2-hexulosonic acid with mild base eliminated the substituent at O-4.     

Combined inhibiting action of new salicylic acid derivatives and α-tocopherol on oxidation of methyl oleate

The inhibitory effects of compositions of α-tocopherol (α-TP) and salicylic acid derivatives on the process of initiated oxidation of methyl oleate have been investigated. α-TP and the salicylic acid derivatives exhibited the synergistic effect, which was demonstrated by the methods of UV-spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Kinetics of α-TP utilization during methyl oleate oxidation was investigated under conditions of its independent use as well as using its binary mixture with the synthetic antioxidants.     

Kinetic cooperativity of tyrosinase. A general mechanism

Tyrosinase shows kinetic cooperativity in its action on o-diphenols, but not when it acts on monophenols, confirming that the slow step is the hydroxylation of monophenols to o-diphenols. This model can be generalised to a wide range of substrates; for example, type S(A) substrates, which give rise to a stable product as the o-quinone evolves by means of a first or pseudo first order reaction (α-methyl dopa, dopa methyl ester, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, α-methyl-tyrosine, tyrosine methyl ester, tyramine, 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), type S(B) substrates, which include those whose o-quinone evolves with no clear stoichiometry (catechol, 4-methylcatechol, phenol and p-cresol) and, lastly, type S(C) substrates, which give rise to stable o-quinones (4-tert-butylcatechol/4-tert-butylphenol).     

Hibiscus Acid as an Inhibitor of Starch Digestion in the Caco-2 Cell Model System

Hibiscus acid, an α-amylase inhibitor isolated from roselle tea, and its derivatives were compared in an inhibition test for starch digestion. An α-amylase-added Caco-2 system was established as a useful model to evaluate the effects of α-glucosidase inhibitors on starch digestion. Hibiscus acid showed weak inhibition in this model system, and the methyl ester derivatives showed even weaker or no activity.     

NMR Spectra of α- and γ-l-Glutamyl-αaminoisobutyric Acid and Some Related Compounds

Two methyl groups of α-l-glutamyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid which were equivalent in the acidic solution became unequivalent in the aqueous and basic solutions. Such an unequivalence of two methyl groups was not manifested in the cases of γ-l-glutamyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid, α- and γ-l-glutamylisopropylamide, N-glutaryl-α-aminoisobutyric acid and N-glutarylisopropylamine.     

Electron spin resonance study of the role of vitamin E and vitamin C in the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in a model membrane

The neutral α-tocopheroxyl radicals, generated in monolayers on silica gel containing α-tocopherol and partly autoxidised methyl linoleate at 90°C, were detected and identified by ESR spectroscopy. Addition of ascorbic acid to the monolayer resulted in the complete quenching of the α-tocopheroxyl radical spectrum. This lends support to the view that ascorbate transfers hydrogen to α-tocopheroxyl radicals thus regenerating α-tocopherol.     

Constituents with tyrosinase inhibitory activities from branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King

Phytochemical investigation of the branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King resulted in the isolation of eight constituents: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2), vanillic acid (3), methyl vanillate (4), syringic acid (5), β-sitosterol (6), α-amyrin acetate (7), and ethyl linoleate (8). Their chemical structures were identified via spectroscopic means as well as by comparing their data with literature values. Studies on tyrosinase inhibition activities were conducted for the isolated compounds. Among them, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2) were identified as active tyrosinase inhibitors with IC(50) values of 0.98?±?0.042 and 0.66?±?0.025?mM, respectively, showing comparable activities to that of arbutin (IC(50)?=?0.32?±?0.015?mM), a standard control. Inhibition kinetics, as analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plots, indicated that compounds 1 and 2 were competitive inhibitors of diphenolase of mushroom tyrosinase. Notably, isolated compounds 1-8 were reported for the first time as constituents of F. erecta.     

13C-n.m.r. spectra of xylo-oligosaccharides and their application to the elucidation of xylan structures

¹³C-N.m.r. spectra of thirteen xylo-oligosaccharides [a complete series of α- and β-d-xylopyranosyl derivatives of methyl α-d-xylopyranoside, β-d-xylopyranosyl derivatives of methyl 4-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-d-xylopyranoside, methyl O-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-xylopyranoside, and a branched methyl β-xylotetraoside] have been interpreted. The data obtained have been used for the carbon signal assignment in the spectra of a number of red-algal xylans. ¹³C-N.m.r. spectroscopy is shown to be a rapid and convenient method for the structural analysis of xylose-rich polysaccharides.     

First partial synthesis of α-boswellic acid from oleanolic acid

While β-boswellic acid is very readily available by extraction from frankincense resin, the accessibility of α-boswellic from the resin involved great effort and tedious purification procedures. Alternatively, a partial synthesis from readily available oleanolic acid was developed, the key steps of which are a reduction of the carboxyl group C-28 furnishing a methyl group, followed by palladium-assisted oxidation of the methyl group C-24, and configurational inversion at C-3.     

Utilization of 1,3-Dioxolanes in the Synthesis of α-branched Alkyl and Aryl 9-[2-(Phosphonomethoxy)Ethyl]Purines and Study of the Influence of α-branched Substitution for Potential Biological Activity

Syntheses of α-branched alkyl and aryl substituted 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purines from substituted 1,3-dioxolanes have been developed. Key synthetic precursors, α-substituted dialkyl [(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]phosphonates were prepared via Lewis acid mediated cleavage of 1,3-dioxolanes followed by reaction with dialkyl or trialkyl phosphites. The best preparative yields were achieved under conditions utilizing tin tetrachloride as Lewis acid and triisopropyl phosphite. Attachment of purine bases to dialkyl [(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]phosphonates was performed by Mitsunobu reaction. Final α-branched 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purines were tested for antiviral, cytostatic and antiparasitic activity, the latter one determined as inhibitory activity towards Plasmodium falciparum enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransfesase. In most cases biological activity was only marginal.     

Fatty acids,part 12. The synthesis of furanoid, α,β-unsaturated oxocyclopentenyl and oxocyclohexenyl esters from methyl octadecadiynoates

Hydration of methyl 7,11-octadecadiynoate gives the 1,4-dioxo(methyl 8,11-dioxostearate) and 1,5-dioxo(methyl 7,11- and 8,12-dioxostearate) derivatives, while methyl 8,13-octadecadiynoate furnishes only the corresponding 1,5- and 1,6-dioxo derivatives when the diacetylenic esters are treated with mercuric acetate aqueous tetrahydrofuran. Acid catalysed condensation reactions of 1,4-, 1,5- and 1,6-dioxo derivatives of methyl stearate give furanoid, α,β-unsaturated oxocyclohexenyl and pentenyl derivatives respectively, while reaction of the dioxo esters with alcoholic KOH provides α,β-unsaturated oxocyclohexenyl and pentenyl derivatives of methyl stearate.     

Oxidation of methyl α-d-galactopyranoside by galactose oxidase: products formed and optimization of reaction conditions for production of aldehyde

The reaction conditions of galactose oxidase-catalyzed, targeted C-6 oxidation of galactose derivatives were optimized for aldehyde production and to minimize the formation of secondary products. Galactose oxidase, produced in transgenic Pichia pastoris carrying the galactose oxidase gene from Fusarium spp., was used as catalyst, methyl α-d-galactopyranoside as substrate, and reaction medium, temperature, concentration, and combinations of galactose oxidase, catalase, and horseradish peroxidase were used as variables. The reactions were followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the main products isolated, characterized, and identified. An optimal combination of all the three enzymes gave aldehyde (methyl α-d-galacto-hexodialdo-1,5-pyranoside) in approximately 90% yield with a substrate concentration of 70 mM in water at 4 °C using air as oxygen source. Oxygen flushing of the reaction mixture was not necessary. The aldehyde existed as a hydrate in water. The main secondary products, a uronic acid (methyl α-d-galactopyranosiduronic acid) and an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (methyl 4-deoxy-α-d-threo-hex-4-enodialdo-1,5-pyranoside), were observed for the first time to form in parallel. Formation of uronic acid seemed to be the result of impurities in the galactose oxidase preparation. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of the products are reported for the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde for the first time, and chemical shifts in DMSO-d₆ for all the products for the first time. Oxidation of d-raffinose (α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-d-fructofuranoside) in the same optimum conditions also proceeded well, resulting in approximately 90% yield of the corresponding aldehyde.     

New Amylase Inhibitor (S-AI) from Streptomyces diastaticus var. amylostaticus No. 2476

A one-step synthesis of dimethyl 3-substituted pyrrole-2, 4-dicarboxylates by the reaction of methyl isocyanoacetate with various aldehydes in the presence of DBU was carried out. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism was investigated; it was found that the methyl α-isocyanoacrylate compound is a key intermediate of the pyrrole compound.     

Analysis of some partly and fully esterified oligogalactopyranuronic acids by p.m.r. spectrometry at 220 MHz

The p.m.r. spectra of mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and penta-galactopyranuronic acids (1–5), the corresponding fully esterified methyl esters (6–10), the partly esterified di- (11) and tri-galactopyranuronic acids (12, 13), and the unsaturated di-, tri-, and tetra-galactopyranuronic acids (14–16) were measured on solutions in D₂O at 220 MHz at a pH of 1 and 6. Observation of doublets (J 4 Hz) in the range δ 4.90–5.05 p.p.m. indicates the site of esterification in the non-reducing or reducing sugar residue. Esterification of the sugar residue at the non-reducing end can be deduced from both the presence of a methyl resonance peak at δ 3.80 and the indifference of the signal at δ 4.35 (H-4) to the change in pH. The δ values and coupling constants confirm that all the d-galacturonic acid residues have the CI conformation and are α-(1→4)-linked. In the unsaturated oligogalactopyranuronic acids, the double bond is located between C-4 and C-5 of the sugar unit at the non-reducing end. The 4-deoxyhex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid residue occurs in the ²H₁(d) conformation. Compound 11 was identified as O-(α-d-galactopyranosyluronic acid)-(1→4)-(methyl α,β-d-galactopyranuronate). Compounds 12 and 13 each consisted of a mixture of the three possible isomers; preference for the site of esterification decreases in the order reducing sugar unit, non-reducing sugar unit, sugar unit at the non-reducing end.     

Jessic acid and related acid triterpenoids from combretum elaeagnoides

A novel triterpenoid acid, jessic acid, was extracted from the leaves of Combretum elaeagnoides, where it was found together with its methyl ester and its α-L-arabinopyranoside, all three compounds occurring in significantly large amounts. Jessic acid is 1α,3β-dihydroxy-23-oxo-24-methylenecycloartan-30-oic acid.     

Methylation of methyl α-d-hexopyranosides with diazo-methane in the presence of a small amount of water

The long-time reduction of methyl α-d-gluco-, α-d-manno-, and α-d-galactopyranosides with excess diazomethane-diethyl ether at 25° in the presence of water gave all partially methylated methyl α-d-hexopyranosides which differ in number and position of methyl substitution. The presence of electrolytes, such as potassium or sodium phosphate, in the reaction medium enhanced the degree of methylation, resulting in preferential formation of tri-O-methyl derivatives of methyl α-d-hexopyranosides.     

Binding of the chymotrypsin substrate,tryptophan methyl ester,by rat α-fetoprotein

We studied how tryptophan methyl ester and related compounds inhibit binding of estrone to rat α-fetoprotein and find that: (a) like chymotrypsin, α-fetoprotein binds tryptophan esters with higher affinity than tryptophan or its amides; (b) the affinity of α-fetoprotein for tryptophan methyl ester is 3.7 · 10^?4 M, which is close to the affinity of chymotrypsin (10^?4 M); (c) α-fetoprotein binding of tryptophan methyl ester is stereoselective and pH dependent. All of these observations suggest that there is a specific interaction between α-fetoprotein and the chymotrypsin substrate, tryptophan methyl ester, and that rat α-fetoprotein contains a site with some structural similarities to the catalytic site in chymotrypsin. Since we also find that tryptophan methyl ester is a competitive inhibitor of estrone binding to α-fetoprotein, it is possible that the protease substrate binding site on α-fetoprotein is spatially close to the estrone binding site.     

Studies on Abscisic Acid

Methyl α-cyclocitrylideneacetate was successively oxidized with selenium dioxide and chromium trioxide-pyridine complex to give methyl 1′-hydroxy-α-cyclocitrylideneacetate and a mixture of methyl 3′-keto-β-cyclocitrylideneacetate and methyl 4′-keto-α-cyclocitrylideneacetate. Further, oxidation of methyl α-cyclocitrylideneacetate with tert-butyl chromate afforded methyl 4′-keto-α-cyclocitrylideneacetate and methyl 1′-hydroxy-4′-keto-α-cyclocitry-lineacetate. Similarly, methyl α-cyclogeranate was oxidized to methyl 3-keto-β-cyclogeranate and methyl 4-keto-α-cyclogeranate. Methyl l′-hydroxy-4′-keto-α-cyclocitrylideneacetate, methyl l-hydroxy-4-keto-α-cyclogeranate and their related compounds did not show growth inhibitory activities on rice seedlings.     

Growth hormone and liver mitochondria. Effects on cytochromes and some enzymes.

A reliable and reproducible assay was developed for measuring mitochondrial α-keto acid decarboxylase activity using ferricyanide as the electron acceptor. This method permitted the functional isolation and investigation of the decarboxylase step of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenases in rat liver mitochondria. Pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate decarboxylases are known to be separate and distinct enzymes from the branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylases and were studied as controls. The relative specific activities of rat liver mitochondrial decarboxylases as measured by the ferricyanide assay showed that pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate were decarboxylated twice as rapidly as α-ketoisovalerate and four to ten times as fast as α-keto-β-methylvalerate and α-ketoisocaproate. The three branched-chain α-keto acids individually inhibit pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate decarboxylases. Inactivation of mitochondrial branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase activity by freezing and thawing and by prolonged storage resulted in a proportional decrease in decarboxylase activity toward each of the three branched-chain α-keto acids. However, hypophysectomy was found to increase decarboxylase activity with α-keto-β-methylvalerate to four times normal and with α-ketoisovalerate to three times normal, but the activity with α-ketoisocaproate was not changed. Hypophysectomy did not alter mitochondrial decarboxylase activity with pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, or α-ketovalerate. The finding that hypophysectomy differentially alters the mitochondrial decarboxylase activity with the three branched-chain α-keto acids suggests either that there is more than one substrate-specific enzyme with branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase activity or that there is a modification of one enzyme such that the catalytic activity is selectively altered toward the three substrates.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Substituted Pyrazole-Fused Oleanolic Acid Derivatives as Novel Selective α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

A series of novel substituted pyrazole-fused oleanolic acid derivative were synthesized and evaluated as selective α-glucosidase inhibitors. Among these analogs, compounds 4a – 4f exhibited more potent inhibitory activities compared with their methyl ester derivatives, and standard drugs acarbose and miglitol as well. Besides, all these analogs exhibited good selectivity towards α-glucosidase over α-amylase. Analog 4d showed potent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (IC₅₀=2.64±0.13 μM), and greater selectivity towards α-glucosidase than α-amylase by ∼33-fold. Inhibition kinetics showed that compound 4d was a non-competitive α-glucosidase inhibitor, which was consistent with the result of its simulation molecular docking. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity of compounds 4a – 4f towards hepatic LO2 and HepG2 cells was tested.