Myricetin and quercetin methyl ethers from Haplopappus integerrimus var. Punctatus

Nine flavonoids including two new myricetin derivatives, myricetin 3′,4′-dimethyl ether and myricetin 3,3′, 4′-trimethyl ether, were obtained from Haplopappus integerrimus var. punctatus. The known compounds are quercetin 7,3′-dimethyl ether, querectin 3,3′-dimethyl ether, isorhamnetin, quercetin 3,7-dimethyl ether, quercetin 3-methyl ether, quercetin and quercetin 3-β-d-glucoside.     

Regioselective synthesis of flavonoid bisglycosides using Escherichia coli harboring two glycosyltransferases

Regioselective glycosylation of flavonoids cannot be easily achieved due to the presence of several hydroxyl groups in flavonoids. This hurdle could be overcome by employing uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs), which use nucleotide sugars as sugar donors and diverse compounds including flavonoids as sugar acceptors. Quercetin rhamnosides contain antiviral activity. Two quercetin diglycosides, quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside and quercetin 3,7-O-bisrhamnoside, were synthesized using Escherichia coli expressing two UGTs. For the synthesis of quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, AtUGT78D2, which transfers glucose from UDP-glucose to the 3-hydroxyl group of quercetin, and AtUGT89C1, which transfers rhamnose from UDP-rhamnose to the 7-hydroxyl group of quercetin 3-O-glucoside, were transformed into E. coli. Using this approach, 67 mg/L of quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside was synthesized. For the synthesis of quercetin 3,7-O-bisrhamnoside, AtUGT78D1, which transfers rhamnose to the 3-hydroxy group of quercetin, and AtUGT89C1 were used. The RHM2 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was coexpressed to supply the sugar donor, UDP-rhamnose. E. coli expressing AtUGT78D1, AtUGT89C1, and RHM2 was used to obtain 67.4 mg/L of quercetin 3,7-O-bisrhamnoside.     

α-Oligoglucosylation of a sugar moiety enhances the bioavailability of quercetin glucosides in humans

Dietary intake of quercetin is suggested to be potentially beneficial for the prevention of various diseases. We examined the effect of α-oligoglucosylation of the sugar moiety of quercetin monoglucoside on its bioavailability in humans. Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) was prepared by enzymatic deglycosylation and the subsequent of α-oligoglucosylation of quercetin 3-O-β-rutinode (rutin). The plasma level of quercetin metabolites was instantly increased by oral intake of EMIQ and its absorption efficiency was significantly higher than that of isoquercitrin (quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside; Q3G), and rutin. The profile of plasma quercetin metabolites after EMIQ consumption did not differ from that after Q3G consumption. The apparent log P of EMIQ indicated that EMIQ is more hydrophilic than Q3G but less than quercetin 3,4′-O-β-diglucoside. These data indicated that enzymatic α-oligoglucosylation to the sugar moiety is effective for enhancing the bioavailability of quercetin glucosides in humans.     

Quercetin 3-(6″-caffeoylgalactoside) from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides

In addition to quercetin, quercetin 3-galactoside and isorhamnetin, a new caffeoylgalactoside has been isolated from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides and identified by chemical and spectral data as quercetin 3-O-β-d-(6″-caffeoylgalactoside).     

Further studies of flavonols of Clibadium (compositae)

The flavonoids of an additional eight species of Clibadium have been determined. The compounds are derivatives of kaempferol, quercetin and quercetagetin. O-Methylated quercetagetin derivatives were found in several taxa with the possibility that 6-methoxykaempferol may also exist in one collection. Kaempferol and quercetin exist as 3-O-glucosides, galactosides, rhamnosides, rutinosides and diglucosides although not all glycosides occur in each taxon. Quercetagetin derivatives occur as 7-O-glucosides. Observations on these newly investigated species confirm previous work in the genus that three types of flavonoid profiles exist: (1) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides; (2) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides plus quercetagetin 7-glucoside; and (3) kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycosides plus quercetagetin 7-glucoside and O-methylated derivatives of quercetagetin.     

Flavonoid pigments in swallowtail butterflies

Flavonoid pigments have been identified in the swallowtail butterfly Eurytides marcellus and its larval foodplant Asimina triloba (Annonaceae). Although quercetin 3-glycoside, quercetin 3-rutinoside and quercetin 3-rutinoside-7-glucoside are present in the plant, only quercetin 3-glucoside is sequestered by the insect. Flavonoids have also been found in 10 out of 27 other papilionid species examined. These were mainly 3- and 7-glycosides of the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol. The sequestration of flavonoids by papilionid butterflies appears to be related both to the phylogeny of the Papilionidae and to the choice of larval foodplants by the various phylogenetic groups.     

Flavonoide aus salix alba. Die struktur des Terniflorins und eines weiteren acylflavonoides

Eight flavonoids were isolated from the leaves of Salix alba. One, apigenin 7-O-(4-p-coumarylglucoside), is a new natural compound; another, terniflorin, the 6-isomer, is an artefact. The others are quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside and quercetin 7,′3-dimethylether 3-O-glucoside.     

Flavonol glycosides of Carya pecan

The flavonol glycosides characterized from the branches of Carya pecan include three new compounds, azaleatin 3-glucoside azaleatin 3-diglycoside and caryatin 3′- (or 4′-) rhamnoglucoside. together with azaleatin 3-rhamnoside. In the leaf tissue, quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside and a small amount of kaempferol 3-monomethyl ether were identified.     

Biologically-active flavonoids from Gossypium arboreum

A new flavonol glycoside, gossypetin 8-O-rhamnoside, was isolated from flower petals of Gossypium arboreum along with quercetin 7-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and quercetin 3′-O-glucoside. These compounds showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas maltophilia and Enterobacter cloacae.     

Flavonoids from Zea mays pollen

The flavonol glycosides of quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol were isolated from Zea mays pollen. The most prominent flavonols were diglycosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin. Flavonol 3-O-glucosides of quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol, and triglucosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin, were minor components. The flavonoid pattern of maize pollen is characterized by the accumulation of quercetin and isorhamnetin diglycosides and by the absence of flavones, which are common in other maize tissues.     

Flavonoid glycosides of Artemisia monosperma and A. herba-alba

Ten flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified from Artemisia monosperma: vicenin-2, lucenin-2, acacetin 7-glucoside, acacetin 7-rutinoside, the 3-glucosides and 3-rutinosides of quercetin and patuletin, and the 5-glucosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin. From Artemisia herba-alba eight flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified: isovitexin, vicenin-2, schaftoside, isoschaftoside and the 3-glucosides and 3-rutinosides of quercetin and patuletin.     

Methylated flavonols from Wyethia bolanderi and Balsamorhiza macrophylla

A leaf wash of Wyethia bolanderi afforded eight known methylated flavonols: santin, ermanin, jaceidin, 3,6-dimethoxyapigenin, kaempferide, isokaempferide, axillarin and quercetin 3-methyl ether. A leaf wash of Balsamorhiza macrophylla afforded six known methylated flavonols: centaureidin, quercetin 3,4′-dimethyl ether, axillarin, spinacetin, tamarexetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether. The chemotaxonomy of the two genera is discussed briefly.     

Inhibition of Mammalian 15-Lipoxygenase-Dependent Lipid Peroxidation in Low-Density Lipoprotein by Quercetin and Quercetin Monoglucosides

Lipoxygenase is suggested to be involved in the early event of atherosclerosis by inducing plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the subendothelial space of the arterial wall. Since flavonoids such as quercetin are recognized as lipoxygenase inhibitors and they occur mainly in the glycoside form, we assessed the effect of quercetin and its glycosides (quercetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside, Q3G; quercetin 4′-O-β-glucopyranoside, Q4′G; quercetin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside, Q7G) on rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase (15-Lox)-induced human LDL lipid peroxidation and compared it with the inhibition obtained by ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, the main water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidants in blood plasma, respectively. Quercetin inhibited the formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides (CE-OOH) and endogenous α-tocopherol consumption effectively throughout the incubation period of 6 h. Ascorbic acid exhibited an effective inhibition only in the initial stage and LDL preloaded with fivefold α-tocopherol did not affect the formation of CE-OOH compared with the native LDL. CE-OOH formation was inhibited by both quercetin and quercetin monoglucosides in a concentration-dependent manner. Quercetin, Q3G, and Q7G exhibited a higher inhibitory effect than Q4′G (IC₅₀: 0.3–0.5 μM for quercetin, Q3G, and Q7G and 1.2 μM for Q4′G). While endogenous α-tocopherol was completely depleted after 2 h of LDL oxidation, quercetin, Q7G, and Q3G prevented the consumption of α-tocopherol. Quercetin and its monoglucosides were also exhausted during the LDL oxidation. These results indicate that quercetin glycosides as well as its aglycone are capable of inhibiting lipoxygenase-induced LDL oxidation more efficiently than ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol.     

Flavonoid glycosides of Kalanchoe spathulata

A new glycoside, patuletin 3,7-di-O-rhamnoside, together with patuletin, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol and kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside were identified from leaves and flowers of Kalanchoe spathulata.     

Production of 3-O-xylosyl quercetin in Escherichia coli

Quercetin, a flavonol aglycone, is one of the most abundant flavonoids with high medicinal value. The bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin are influenced by the type of sugars attached to the molecule. To efficiently diversify the therapeutic uses of quercetin, Escherichia coli was harnessed as a production factory by the installation of various plant and bacterial UDP-xylose sugar biosynthetic genes. The genes encoding for the UDP-xylose pathway enzymes phosphoglucomutase (nfa44530), glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (galU), UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (calS8), and UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (calS9) were overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) along with a glycosyltransferase (arGt-3) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, E. coli BL21(DE3)/?pgi, E. coli BL21(DE3)/?zwf, E. coli BL21(DE3)/?pgi?zwf, and E. coli BL21(DE3)/?pgi?zwf?ushA mutants carrying the aforementioned UDP-xylose sugar biosynthetic genes and glycosyltransferase and the galU-integrated E. coli BL21(DE3)/?pgi host harboring only calS8, calS9, and arGt-3 were constructed to enhance whole-cell bioconversion of exogeneously supplied quercetin into 3-O-xylosyl quercetin. Here, we report the highest production of 3-O-xylosyl quercetin with E. coli BL21 (DE3)/?pgi?zwf?ushA carrying UDP-xylose sugar biosynthetic genes and glycosyltransferase. The maximum concentration of 3-O-xylosyl quercetin achieved was 23.78 mg/L (54.75 μM), representing 54.75 % bioconversion, which was an ~4.8-fold higher bioconversion than that shown by E. coli BL21 (DE3) with the same set of genes when the reaction was carried out in 5-mL culture tubes with 100 μM quercetin under optimized conditions. Bioconversion was further improved by 98 % when the reaction was scaled up in a 3-L fermentor at 36 h.     

Die flavonolglykoside von Equisetum silvaticum

Ten glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, including the hitherto unknown kaempferol and quercetin 3-rutinoside-7-rhamnosides, have been isolated from Equisetum silvaticum L.     

Flavonol glycoside gallates from Tellima grandiflora

Quercetin 3-O-(6″-O-galloyl)-β-d-glucoside has been identified as a constituent of Tellima grandiflora (Saxifragaceae). In all, twelve gallates were encountered: two isomeric gallates of quercetin 3-O-glucoside and two of quercetin 3-O-galactoside, a similar set involving kaempferol, and a similar set involving myricetin.     

Flavonoids from the leaves and flowers of the Himalayan Cathcartia villosa (Papaveraceae)

Five flavonols, four flavones and one C-glycosylflavone were isolated from the leaves of Cathcartia villosa which is growing in the Himalayan Mountains. They were characterized as quercetin 3-O-vicianoside (1), quercetin 7,4′-di-O-glucoside (3), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (4), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (5), quercetin 3-O-arabinosylarabinosylglucoside (6) (flavonols), luteolin (7), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (8), apigenin (9), chrysoeriol (10) (flavones), and vicenin-2 (11) (C-glycosylflavone) by UV, LC-MS, acid hydrolysis, NMR and/or HPLC and TLC comparisons with authentic samples. On the other hand, two flavonols 1 and kaempferol 3-O-vicianoside (2) were isolated and identified from the flowers of the species. Flavonoids were reported from the genus Cathcartia in this survey for the first time. Their chemical characters were chemotaxonomically compared with those of related Papaveraceous genera, Meconopsis and Papaver.     

Glial metabolism of quercetin reduces its neurotoxic potential

The neuroprotective effects of flavonoids will ultimately depend on their interaction with both neuronal and glial cells. In this study, we show that the potential neurotoxic effects of quercetin are modified by glial cell interactions. Specifically, quercetin is rapidly conjugated to glutathione within glial cells to yield 2′-glutathionyl-quercetin, which is exported from cells but has significantly reduced neurotoxicity. In addition, quercetin underwent intracellular O-methylation to yield 3′-O-methyl-quercetin and 4′-O-methyl-quercetin, although these were not exported from glia at the same rate as the glutathionyl adduct. The neurotoxic potential of both quercetin and 2′-glutathionyl-quercetin paralleled their ability to modulate the pro-survival Akt/PKB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathways. These data were supported by co-culture investigation, where the neurotoxic effects of quercetin were significantly reduced when they were cultured alongside glial cells. We propose that glial cells act to protect neurons against the neurotoxic effects of quercetin and that 2′-glutathionyl-quercetin represents a novel quercetin metabolite.     

Flavonol tetraglycosides from the leaves of Prunus cerasus and P. Avium

Four new flavonol glycosides have been identified from fresh leaves and fruits of sweet and sour cherries (Prunus avium and P. cerasus) as minor flavonoids: quercetin 3-O-rutinosyl-7,3′-O-bisglucoside; two quercetin 3-O-rutinosyl-4′-di-O-glucosides; kaempferol 3-O-rutinosyl-4′-di-O-glucoside.