Prenylated flavonol glycosides from Epimedium grandiflorum: Cytotoxicity and evaluation against inflammation and metabolic disorder

Two new prenylated flavonol glycosides, epimedigrandiosides A and B (1 and 2), and 28 previously known compounds including prenylated flavonol derivatives, flavonol glycoside, megastigmanes, phenyl alkanoids, sesquiterpenoid glycoside, lignan, and hexene glucoside were isolated from the methanol extract of Epimedium grandiflorum. Structure elucidation was achieved by means of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration of sugars was determined by chemical methods Structure elucidation of 3‴-carbonyl-2″-β-l-quinovosyl icariin (19) was not previously described, so its ¹H and ¹³C NMR data were reported for the first time. The methanol extract and the isolated compounds were evaluated for their activity towards several targets related to inflammation and metabolic disorder including NF-κB, iNOS, PPARα and PPARγ. Moreover, their cytotoxic activity against four cancer cell lines (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, SK-OV-3) and two noncancerous kidney cell lines (LLC-PK1 and Vero) were also evaluated.     

Iridoid glycosides and cucurbitacin glycoside from Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora

Three iridoid glycosides, picrorosides A (1), B (2) and C (3), and a cucurbitacin glycoside, scrophoside A (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Scrophulariaceae), along with two known iridoid glycosides, picrosides I (5) and II (6), and three known cucurbitacin glycosides (7-9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of both chemical and spectroscopic data.     

Profiling changes in metabolism of isoflavonoids and their conjugates in Lupinus albus treated with biotic elicitor

Liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection was applied to monitor changes in profiles of isoflavonoid glycosides and free isoflavonoid aglycones in Lupinus albus L. Four isoflavonoid aglycones, fourteen isoflavonoid glycosides, four flavonol glycosides and flavone glycoside were identified in lupin tissue after LC/ESI/MS analyses. An elicitor preparation from purified yeast cell wall was used to inject the shoots of 3-week old seedlings or to infiltrate the cut lupin leaves. Qualitative and quantitative changes of isoflavonoids were measured at different time points after elicitation. In elicited lupin seedlings increased amounts of prenylated isoflavone aglycones were identified. The concentrations of glycosidic conjugates of isoflavones present in plant tissue were less affected.     

Flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora hairy root cultures

Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora hairy roots were induced from axenic young plants by direct infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The chemical constituents were then investigated after mass culture. The isoflavone, licoagroisoflavone and the coumestan, licoagroside C, were isolated along with seven known flavonoids. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Isoflavone glycosides from Derris scandens

Five isoflavone glycosides, named derriscandenosides A–E (1–5), were isolated from the stems of Derris scandens, together with ten known compounds comprising one isoflavone, two benzoic acid derivatives, three glucosyl isoflavones and four rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones. The structures of the glycosides were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially of the acetate derivatives. Three known rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones isolated from a crude fraction were retested for hypotensive activity with varying results.     

小叶臭黄皮的黄酮苷甙成分

从云南西双版纳的小叶臭黄皮（Clausena excavata Burm.f.）中分离到一个新黄酮甙,5,7,5′－三羟基－3′,4′－二甲氧基黄酮3－0－α－L－吡喃鼠李糖甙（1）和4个已知黄酮甙,分别为5,7,3′,5′－四羟基－4′－甲氧基黄酮3－O－α－L－吡喃鼠李糖甙（2）,5,7,3′－三羟基－4′－甲氧基黄酮3－O－α－L－吡喃鼠李糖甙（3）,5,7,4′－三羟基－3′,5′－二甲氧基黄酮3－O－α－L－吡喃鼠李糖甙（4）,5,7,4′－三羟基黄桐3－O－α－L－吡喃鼠李糖甙（5）。根据HMQC、HMBC实验修正了化合物2－5C6和C8的位碳化学位移的归属。     

Isoflavone glycosides from Derris scandens

Five isoflavone glycosides, named derriscandenosides A–E (1–5), were isolated from the stems of Derris scandens, together with ten known compounds comprising one isoflavone, two benzoic acid derivatives, three glucosyl isoflavones and four rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones. The structures of the glycosides were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially of the acetate derivatives. Three known rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones isolated from a crude fraction were retested for hypotensive activity with varying results.     

山茶属古茶组和金花茶组的分类学问题

本文重点讨论金花茶组Sect．Chrysantha H．T．Chang的分类学位置。通过对金花茶C．chrysantha（Hu）Tuyama、亮叶离蕊茶C．nitidissima Chi和分布于越南北部的多瓣山茶C．petelotii（Merr．）Sealy的模式标本和原始材料的研究考订,确认金花茶的拉丁名称应进一步更正为C．petelolii（Merr．）Sealy．对古茶组Sect．Archecamellia Sealy和金花茶组的特征性状的比较分析表明,J．R．Sealy[1] 以C．petelotii（Merr．）Sealy为模式建立的古茶组是一个自然类群,金花茶组和J．R．Sealy的古茶组之间分类学特征相同,两组的模式同为一种-C．petelotii, 从而认为金花茶组不能成立,被首次归并到古茶组中。同时认为《山茶属植物的系统研究》一书改变了古茶组的分类学概念和转移了组的模式是不妥的。通过研究,确认古茶组共有16种和3变种,除原古茶组的7种外,包括连蕊茶组Sect．Theopsis中的C．indochinensis和金花茶组中6种和3变种被转移到本组之中,以及本文提出的两个新种。原金花茶组其余16种（包括未正式发表的4种）、2变种和3个变型均作为相应种或变种的同物异名归并。此外,还讨论了各种错误鉴定和有关分化与分布的问题。     

Glycosides from Dicliptera riparia

The dimeric monoterpenoid glycoside, dicliripariside A, and two flavonoid glycosides, dicliriparisides B and C, together with six known compounds, beta-sitosterol, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, vanillic acid, daucosterol, lugrandoside and poliumonside, were isolated from the aqueous ethanol extract of the whole plants of Dicliptera riparia Nees. Their structures were determined based on analyses of spectroscopic data.     

Ionone,iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from Ajuga salicifolia

From the aerial parts of Ajuga salicifolia (L.) Schreber, a new ionone glycoside (3beta-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-4-oxo-beta-ionol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) was isolated, along with the known compounds, corchoionoside C, 8-O-acetylmioporoside, ajugol, harpagide, 8-O-acetylharpagide, lavandulifolioside and leonosides A and B. This is the first report of the occurrence of ionone glycosides and 8-O-acetylmioporoside in Ajuga species. Ajugol, lavandulifolioside, leonoside A and B were isolated for the first time from Ajuga salicifolia. The structures were elucidated by means of 1D-, 2D-NMR spectroscopy, and HR-MALDI mass spectrometry.     

Lanosterol and tetranorlanosterol glycosides from the bulbs of Muscari paradoxum

Three tetranorlanostane glycosides, named lucilianosides C-E, and three lanostane glycosides, named scillasaponins E-G, together with a known lanostane glycoside, were isolated from the MeOH extract of Muscari paradoxum (Liliaceae) bulbs, as confirmed by detailed analysis of their 1H, 13C, and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic data, and by the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.     

Sesquiterpenoids and iridoid glycosides from Valeriana fauriei.

A new guaiane sesquiterpenoid glycoside together with known sesquiterpenoids and iridoid glycosides have been isolated from the rhizomes and roots of Valeriana fauriei. The 13C NMR assignments of the isolated compounds are presented.     

Phenolic glycoside composition of leaves and callus cultures of Digitalis purpurea

Five phenolic glycosides were isolated from the leaves of Digitalis purpurea. Four of the glycosides were identified as desrhamnosyl acteoside, forsythiaside, purpureaside A and purpureaside B respectively and the structure of other one was elucidated as 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylalcohol-6-O-caffeoyl- β-D-glucoside. Four phenolic glycoside were isolated from the callus tissue of D. purpurea and identified as purpureaside A, purpureaside B, acteoside and purpureaside C respectively.     

Iridoid and megastigmane glycosides from Phlomis aurea

From the leaves of Phlomis aurea, two new iridoids of unique structures named 3-epiphlomurin (1) and phlomurin (2), a new megastigmane glucoside phlomuroside (3) and a new benzyl alcohol glycoside having the structure benzyl alcohol-O-beta-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside (4) have been isolated together with four known iridoids auroside, lamiide, 8-epiloganin and ipolamiide, two known phenolic glycosides acteoside (verbascoside) and syringin, one known phenylethanoid glycoside 2-phenylethyl-O-beta-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside, one known lignan liriodendrin and three known flavonoids chrysoeriol-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside, acacetin-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside and luteolin-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were verified by means of mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses.     

Endogenous beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities from selected probiotic micro-organisms and their role in isoflavone biotransformation in soymilk

AIM: To compare endogenous beta-glucosidases and beta-galactosidases for hydrolysis of the predominant isoflavone glycosides into isoflavone aglycones in order to improve biological activity of soymilk. METHODS AND RESULTS: beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities of probiotic organisms including Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4461, Lactobacillus casei 2607 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb12 in soymilk were evaluated and correlated with the increase in concentration of isoflavone aglycones during fermentation. The concentrations of isoflavone compounds in soymilk were monitored using a Varian model high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an amperometric electrochemical detector. In all micro-organisms, beta-glucosidase activity was found greater than that of beta-galactosidase. There was an increase in the aglycone concentration with incubation time because of the apparent hydrolytic action on isoflavone glycosides. Aglycone concentration in the soymilk with L. acidophilus 4461, L. casei 2607 and B. animalis ssp. lactis Bb12, increased by 5.37-, 5.52- and 6.10-fold, respectively, after 15 h of fermentation at 37 degrees C. The maximum hydrolytic potential was also observed at 15 h of fermentation for the three micro-organims coinciding with peak activities of the two enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: beta-glucosidase activity was more than 15 times higher than beta-galactosidase activity in soymilk for each of the micro-organisms during fermentation. beta-glucosidase played a greater role in isoflavone glycoside hydrolysis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Screening for beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities among probiotics in soymilk is important for the improvement of biological activity of soymilk and in the selection of micro-organisms for use in the growing industry of functional foods and beverages.     

Twelve pregnane glycosides from Cynanchum atratum

Eleven new 14,15-seco-pregnane-type steroidal glycosides, cynanosides P₁-P₅, Q₁-Q₃, R₁-R₃, and a novel 12,13-seco-14,18-nor-pregnane-type steroidal glycoside, cynanoside S, were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum atratum, together with four known compounds, atratoside C, sublanceoside E₃, chekiangensoside C and cynatroside B. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence.     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of an aldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli K-12 that utilizes 3-Hydroxypropionaldehyde as a substrate

For efficient production of isoflavone aglycones from soybean isoflavones, we isolated three novel types of β-glucosidase (BGL1, BGL3, and BGL5) from the filamentous fungi Aspergillus oryzae. Three enzymes were independently displayed on the cell surface of a yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a fusion protein with α-agglutinin. Three β-glucosidase-displaying yeast strains hydrolyzed isoflavone glycosides efficiently but exhibited different substrate specificities. Among these β-glucosidases, BGL1 exhibited the highest activity and also broad substrate specificity to isoflavone glycosides. Although glucose released from isoflavone glycosides are generally known to inhibit β-glucosidase, the residual ratio of isoflavone glycosides in the reaction mixture with BGL1-displaying yeast strain (Sc-BGL1) reached approximately 6.2%, and the glucose concentration in the reaction mixture was maintained at lower level. This result indicated that Sc-BGL1 assimilated the glucose before they inhibited the hydrolysis reaction, and efficient production of isoflavone aglycones was achieved by engineered yeast cells displaying β-glucosidase.     

Cyanohydrin glycosides of Passiflora: distribution pattern, a saturated cyclopentane derivative from P. guatemalensis, and formation of pseudocyanogenic alpha-hydroxyamides as isolation artefacts

Nineteen species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) were examined for the presence of cyanogenic glycosides. Passibiflorin, a bisglycoside containing the 6-deoxy-beta-D-gulopyranosyl residue, was isolated from P. apetala, P. biflora, P. cuneata, P. indecora, P. murucuja and P. perfoliata. In some cases this glycoside co-occurs with simple beta-D-glucopyranosides: tetraphyllin A, deidaclin, tetraphyllin B, volkenin, epivolkenin and taraktophyllin. P. citrina contains passicapsin, a rare glycoside with the 2,6-dideoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl moiety, while P. herbertiana contains tetraphyllin A, deidaclin, epivolkenin and taraktophyllin, P. discophora tetraphyllin B and volkenin, and P. x violacea tetraphyllin B sulfate. The remaining species were noncyanogenic. The glycosides were identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy following isolation by reversed-phase preparative HPLC. From P. guatemalensis, a new glucoside named passiguatemalin was isolated and identified as a 1-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2,3-dihydroxycyclopentane-1-carbonitrile. An isomeric glycoside was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of gynocardin. alpha-Hydroxyamides corresponding to the cyanogenic glycosides were isolated from several Passiflora species. These alpha-hydroxyamides, presumably formed during processing of the plant material, behave as cyanogenic compounds when treated with commercial Helix pomatia crude enzyme preparation. Thus, the enzyme preparation appears to contain an amide dehydratase, which converts alpha-hydroxyamides to cyanohydrins that liberate cyanide; this finding is of interest in connection with analysis of plant tissues and extracts using Helix pomatia enzymes.     

New Labdane Diterpenes and Their Glycoside Derivatives from the Roots of Isodon adenantha

Two new labdane‐type diterpenes (adenanthic acids A and B; 1 and 2 , resp.) and three new labdane diterpene glycosides (adenanthosides A–C; 3 – 5 , resp.) were isolated from the roots of Isodon adenantha, together with 23 known constituents including seven diterpenoids ( 6 – 12 ), eight triterpenoids ( 13 – 20 ), one lignan glycoside ( 21 ), six steroids ( 22 – 27 ), and one ceramide ( 28 ). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 2D‐NMR techniques. Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities of the samples were measured by the MTT method and the filter paper disc agar diffusion method. But none of them showed significant activities.     

Phenylethanoid and lignan glycosides from Verbascum thapsus.

Verbascum thapsus afforded, in addition to three known phenylethanoid glycosides and four lignan ones, five new phenylethanoid glycosides and one new lignan glycoside. Structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence.