The biotransformation of ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid by Rhizopus stolonifer.

Microbial transformation of ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid was carried out with R. stolonifer. After seven days of incubation, two metabolites, ent-7 alpha-hydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid and ent-12 beta-hydroxy-kaur-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid, were isolated as a result of hydroxylation and hydroxylation/dehydrogenation, respectively. Incubation for 15 days also afforded ent-16 beta,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid. The metabolites were identified by spectroscopic methods.     

Plant growth regulation activity of steviol and derivatives

This work describes the preparation of tetracyclic diterpenoids and determination of their plant growth regulator properties. Stevioside (2) was used as starting material and the derivatives 13-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (steviol, 3), ent-7alpha,13-dihydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (4), 13-hydroxy, ent-kaur-16,17-epoxi-19-oic acid (steviol epoxide, 5), 17-hydroxy-16-ketobayeran-19-oic acid (17-hydroxyisosteviol, 6), 17-hydroxy-16-hydroxyiminobayeran-19-oic acid (7), 16-ketobayeran-19-oic acid (isosteviol, 9), 16,17-dihydroxybeyeran-19-oic acid (8), and 16-hydroxyiminobayeran-19-oic acid (isosteviol oxime, 10) were obtained by simple chemical procedures. Another derivative, ent-7alpha,13-dihydroxycaur-15-en-19-oic acid (4), was obtained by biotransformation of steviol (3) by Penicillium citrinum. In order to determine the plant growth regulator activity the compounds were submitted to the lettuce hypocotyl and barley aleurone bioassays. All compounds showed significant activities in both bioassays. Steviol (3) and isosteviol (9) were also tested in field-grown grapes resulting in an increase in berry weight and size.     

Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effect of ent-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, a derivative of grandiflorolic acid from Espeletia schultzii

ent-Kaurenic acid and many natural derivatives of this diterpene are known to have interesting biological properties. ent-15-Oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid can be easily obtained from grandiflorolic acid which was first isolated from Espeletia grandiflora. The present work describes the proapoptotic effect of ent-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid on the human prostate carcinoma epithelial cell line PC-3 as evidenced by the changes in the expression level of proteins associated with the execution and regulation of apoptosis. Cell viability was affected upon exposure to the compound, the IC(50) were determined as 3.7 microg/ml, which is 4 times lower than that corresponding to a primary cell culture of fibroblasts (14.8 microg/mL). Through Western blot analysis, active forms of caspace-3 associated with the specific proteolysis of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detected. Reduced levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, as well as the appearance of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, were also demonstrated. Thus, ent-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid may be a promising lead compound for new chemopreventive strategies, alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapy agents to overcome drug resistance in tumoral cells.     

Clerodane and labdane diterpenoids from Nuxia sphaerocephala

Seven diterpenoids including four clerodane and three labdane derivatives, (13S)-ent-7beta-hydroxy-3-cleroden-15-oic acid (1), ent-7beta-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-cleroden-15-oic acid (2), ent-2,7-dioxo-3-clero-den-15-oic acid (3), ent-18-(E)-caffeoyloxy-7beta-hydroxy-3-cleroden-15-oic acid (4) (13S)-ent-18-(E)-coumaroyloxy-8(17)-labden-15-oic acid (5), ent-18-(E)-caffeoyloxy-8(17)-labden-15-oic acid (6), ent-15-(E)-caffeoyloxy-8(17)-labden-18-oic acid (7), have been isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Nuxia sphaerocephala, together with 17 known compounds. 3-Oxolup-20(29)-en-30-al (3-oxolupenal) (8) and 3beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-30-al (3beta-hydroxy-lupenal) (9) showed the best inhibitory activity against Plasmodium falciparum with the IC(50) values between 1.55 and 4.67 microg/ml in vitro, respectively. The structure and the relative stereochemistry of the compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic properties. The absolute configuration at C-13 of 1 and 5 was determined by the PGME amide procedure.     

Microbial metabolism of steviol and steviol-16alpha,17-epoxide

Steviol (2) possesses a blood glucose-lowering property. In order to produce potentially more- or less-active, toxic, or inactive metabolites compared to steviol (2), its microbial metabolism was investigated. Incubation of 2 with the microorganisms Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14581, Mucor recurvatus MR 36, and Aspergillus niger BCRC 32720 yielded one new metabolite, ent-7alpha,11beta,13-trihydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid (7), together with four known related biotransformation products, ent-7alpha,13-dihydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid (3), ent-13-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-alpha-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4), ent-13,16beta,17-trihydroxykauran-19-oic acid (5), and ent-13-hydroxy-7-ketokaur-16-en-19-oic acid (6). The preliminary testing of antihyperglycemic effects showed that 5 was more potent than the parent compound (2). Thus, the microbial metabolism of steviol-16alpha,17-epoxide (8) with M. recurvatus MR 36 was continued to produce higher amounts of 5 for future study of its action mechanism. Preparative-scale fermentation of 8 yielded 5, ent-11alpha,13,16alpha,17-tetrahydroxykauran-19-oic acid (10), ent-1beta,17-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (11), and ent-7alpha,17-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid (13), together with three new metabolites: ent-13,16beta-dihydroxykauran-17-acetoxy-19-oic acid (9), ent-11beta,13-dihydroxy-16beta,17-epoxykauran-19-oic acid (12), and ent-11beta,13,16beta,17-tetrahydroxykauran-19-oic acid (14). The structures of the compounds were fully elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, as well as HRFABMS. In addition, a GRE (glucocorticoid responsive element)-mediated luciferase reporter assay was used to initially screen the compounds 3-5, and 7 as glucocorticoid agonists. Compounds 4, 5 and 7 showed significant effects.     

ent-Kaurenoic acids from Mikania hirsutissima (Compositae)

Four ent-kaurenoic acid derivatives, 2beta,16alpha,17-trihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (1), 3beta,16alpha,17-trihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (2), 11alpha,15beta-dihydroxy-7-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (3) and 1alpha,15beta-dihydroxy-7-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (4), were isolated together with five known compounds, 1,5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid (5), 2-O-glucosyloxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid (6), phenethyl alcohol glucoside (7), phenethyl-1-O-beta-d-apiofuranosyl (1-->2) beta-d-glucopyranoside (sayaendoside) (8) and 3,6-dihydroxy-beta-ion-9-ol (9) from the 50% aqueous acetone extract of the aerial parts of Mikania hirsutissima DC. (Compositae). Compounds 1-9 were tested for their proliferative activity toward peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC); compounds 1 and 2 showed significant activity (43.8% and 36.7%, at 100 microM, respectively) on the lymphocyte.     

Ceriopsins F and G,diterpenoids from Ceriops decandra

Chemical examination of the ethyl acetate solubles of the CH(3)OH:CH(2)Cl(2) (1:1) extract of the roots of Ceriops decandra collected from Kauvery estuary resulted in the isolation of two more diterpenoids, ceriopsins F and G (1-2) and five known compounds, ent-13-hydroxy-16-kauren-19-oic acid (steviol, 3), methyl ent-16beta,17-dihydroxy-9(11)-kauren-19-oate (4), ent-16beta,17-dihydroxy-9(11)-kauren-19-oic acid (5), ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-oic acid (isosteviol, 6), 8,15R-epoxypimaran-16-ol (7). The structures of the new diterpenoids were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectral data as methyl ent-13,17-epoxy-16-hydroxykauran-19-oate (1) and ent-16-oxobeyeran-19-al (2).     

Ent-kaurane derivatives from the root cortex of yacon and other three Smallanthus species (Heliantheae,Asteraceae)

The metabolites produced by the secretory canals of the root cortex from four Smallanthus species belonging to the yacon group were identified as ent-kaurane-type diterpenes. The dichloromethane root cortex extracts of the four species were treated with diazomethane and analyzed comparatively by GC–MS using a simple and rapid procedure which is very sensitive and reproducible permitting detection of minor components. In all cases, ent-16-kauren-19-oic acid (kaurenoic acid) methyl ester was the main component, differences being observed only in the minor components. The minor components identified were grandiflorenic acid methyl ester, ent-16-kauren-19-al, 16α,17-epoxy-15α-angeloyloxy-kauran-19-oic acid methyl ester and several O-acyl derivatives at C-15 or C-18 of kaurenoic acid. One of the minor components, 18-isobutyroyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid is a new kaurenoic acid derivative. Grandiflorenic acid and 15-α-angeloyloxy-16,17-α-epoxy-ent-16-kauren-19-oic acid were present only in Smallanthus sonchifolius and Smallanthus siegesbeckius which showed very similar GC traces. The different GC profile of RC diterpenes from Smallanthus connatus and Smallanthus macroscyphus supports the view that they are different taxa. Some chemotaxonomic aspects of the genus Smallanthus and the subtribe Milleriinae are briefly discussed.     

Diterpenoids and triterpenoids from Euphorbia guyoniana

Two new compounds with tigliane and cycloartane skeletons: 4,12-dideoxy(4alpha)phorbol-13-hexadecanoate (1) and 24-methylenecycloartane-3,28-diol (2), respectively, in addition of four known diterpenoids and 13 triterpenoids: 3-benzoyloxy-5,15-diacetoxy-9,14-dioxojatropha-6(17),11-diene (4), ent-abieta-8(14),13(15)-dien-16,12-olide (5), ent-8alpha,14alpha-epoxyabieta-11,13(15)-dien-16,12-olide (6), ent-3-hydroxyatis-16(17)-ene-2,14-dione (7), 3beta-hydroxytaraxer-14-en-28-oic acid (8), beta-sitosteryl-3beta-glucopyranoside-6'-O-palmitate (9), multiflorenyl acetate (10), multiflorenyl palmitate (11), peplusol (12), 24-methylenecycloartanol (3), lanosterol (13), euferol (14), butyrospermol (15), cycloartenol (16), obtusifoliol (17), cycloeucalenol (18) and beta-sitosterol (19), were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia guyoniana. Their structures were established on the basis of physical and spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D homo- and heteronuclear NMR experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and by comparison with the literature data.     

Diterpenoids from the pericarp of Platycladus orientalis

Eight labdane-type diterpenes, 7beta,13S-dihydroxylabda-8(17),14-dien-19-oic acid (1), 12R,15-dihydroxylabda-8(17),13E-dien-19-oic acid (3c), 12R,15-dihydroxylabda-8(17),13Z-dien-19-oic acid (3d), 12R,13R,14S-trihydroxylabda-12,15-epoxy-8(17)-en-19-oic acid (4a), 12S,13S,14R-trihydroxylabda-12,15-epoxy-8(17)-en-19-oic acid (4b), 15-hydroxy-12-oxolabda-8(17),13E-dien-19-oic acid (5), 14R,15-dihydroxylabda-8(17),12Z-dien-19-oic acid (7a) and 14S,15-dihydroxylabda-8(17),12Z-dien-19-oic acid (7b), along with 20 known diterpenoids, were isolated from the pericarp of Platycladus orientalis. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated by NMR spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, as well as via chemical correlation conversion. NMR spectroscopic data of known isomers 8c and 8d were reported as a supplement to existing data.     

ent-Kauranoid derivatives from Sideritis moorei

Seven new ent-kauranoid derivatives ent-7alpha,18-dihydroxykaur-16-en-3-one, ent-18-acetoxy-3beta,7alpha-dihydroxykaur-15-en-17-al, ent-3beta-acetoxy-7alpha,18-dihydroxykaur-15-en-17-al, ent-18-acetoxy-3beta,7alpha,17-trihydroxykaur-15-ene, ent-3beta-acetoxy-7alpha,17,18-trihydroxykaur-15-ene, ent-18-acetoxy-3beta,7alpha,17-trihydroxy-15beta,16beta-epoxykaurane and ent-3beta-acetoxy-7alpha,17,18-trihydroxy-15beta,16beta-epoxykaurane have been isolated from Sideritis moorei. The structures of these compounds have been established by spectroscopic means and chemical correlations.     

Polyhydroxyserratane triterpenoids from Diphasiastrum complanatum

Serratane triterpenoids were identified from Diphasiastrum complanatum (L.) Holub, including serratane-3alpha,14alpha,15alpha,20beta,21beta,24,29-heptol (1), 3alpha,20beta,21beta-trihydroxyserrat-14-en-24-oic acid (2), 3beta,20beta,21beta-trihydroxyserrat-14-en-24-oic acid (3), 3alpha,20beta,21beta-trihydroxy-16-oxoserrat-14-en-24-oic acid (4), and 16-oxolyclanitin-29-yl E-4'-hydroxyl-3'-methoxycinnamate (5) on the basis of their spectroscopic data as well as nine known analogs.     

Lanostanes and friedolanostanes from the bark of Garcinia speciosa

The CHCl(3) extract of the bark of Garcinia speciosa contained four 17,14-friedolanostanes and five lanostanes as well as friedelin and common plant constituents. The friedolanostanes were the previously known methyl ester of (24E)-3 alpha,23 alpha-dihydroxy-17,14-friedolanostan-8,14,24-trien-26-oic acid and the methyl esters of three hitherto unknown acids, 3 alpha-hydroxy-16 alpha,23 alpha-epoxy-17,14-friedolanostan-8,14,24-trien-26-oic acid, 3 alpha,23 alpha-dihydroxy-8 alpha,9 alpha-epoxy-17,14-friedolanostan-15-oxo-24-en-26-oic acid and 3 alpha,23 alpha-dihydroxy-17,14-friedolanostan-15-oxo-8(14),24-dien-26-oic acid. New lanostanes were 3 beta,9 alpha-dihydroxylanost-24-en-26-al and the methyl ester of 3 beta-hydroxy-23-oxo-9,16-lanostadien-26-oic acid. Structures were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. In the case of the lanostanes the previously unassigned C-25 stereochemistry was shown to be 25R by X-ray analysis of 3 beta-hydroxy-23-oxo-9,16-lanostadien-26-oic acid. In the case of the friedolanostanes the configuration at C-23 was established as 23R, identical with the absolute configuration at C-23 of mariesiic acids A and B.     

Biotransformation of betulinic and betulonic acids by fungi

Betulinic acid (1), a triterpenoid found in many plant species, has attracted attention due to its important pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer and anti-HIV activities. The closely related, betulonic acid (2) also has similar properties. In order to obtain derivatives potentially useful for detailed pharmacological studies, both compounds were submitted to incubations with selected microorganisms. In this work, both were individually metabolized by the fungi Arthrobotrys, Chaetophoma and Dematium, isolated from the bark of Platanus orientalis as well as with Colletotrichum, obtained from corn leaves; such fungal transformations are quite rare in the scientific literature. Biotransformations with Arthrobotrys converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-7beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4) and 3-oxo-7beta,30-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (5); Colletotrichum converted betulinic acid (1) into 3-oxo-15alpha-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic (6) acid whereas betulonic acid (2) was converted into the same product and 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4); Chaetophoma converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-25-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (7) and both Chaetophoma and Dematium converted betulinic acid (1) into betulonic acid (2). Those fungi, therefore, are useful for mild, selective oxidations of lupane substrates at positions C-3, C-7, C-15, C-25 and C-30.     

Isopimarane diterpene glycosides, apoptosis inducers, obtained from fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha

The methanol extract of fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha afforded three isopimarane diterpene glycosides, namely, 16-α-d-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (1), 15-hydroxy-16-α-d-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (2), and 16-α-d-glucopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. They showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines and exhibited IC₅₀ values ranging from 71 to 607 μM. Further studies on the cytotoxicity of these compounds against HL60 cells demonstrated that they induced apoptosis along with typical DNA fragmentation. It was observed that 2 was less active than 1 and 3.     

Ent-kauren-19-oic acid derivatives from the stem bark of Croton pseudopulchellus Pax

Two new ent-kauren-19-oic acid derivatives, ent-14S*-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid and ent-14S*,17-dihydroxykaur-15-en-19-oic acid together with eleven known compounds ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, ent-kaur-16-en-19-al, ent-12β-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid, ent-12β-acetoxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid, 8R,13R-epoxylabd-14-ene, eudesm-4(15)-ene-1β,6α-diol, (?)-7-epivaleran-4-one, germacra-4(15), 5E,10(14)-trien-9β-ol, acetyl aleuritolic acid, β-amyrin, and stigmasterol were isolated from the stem bark of Croton pseudopulchellus (Euphorbiaceae). Structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques. Ent-14S*-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, ent-12β-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid, ent-12β-acetoxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid and 8R,13R-epoxylabd-14-ene were tested for their effects on Semliki Forest virus replication and for cytotoxicity against human liver tumour cells (Huh-7 strain) but were found to be inactive. Ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, the major constituent, showed weak activity against the Plasmodium falciparum (CQS) D10 strain.     

锐尖山香圆叶中三萜类成分的研究

从锐尖山香圆(Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem.)叶中分离得到了11个三萜类化合物。通过光谱分析,分别鉴定其结构为熊果酸(1), 3β,6β,23-trihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (2), 3β,6β,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (3), 3β,6β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (4), 1 α, 3β,23-trihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (5), arjunglucoside II (6), rosamultin (7), 3β-O-β-D-glucopyranoylcincholic acid (8), cinchonaglycoside C (9), mussaendoside S (10) 和3β-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl quinovic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (11)。除化合物1和6,其它化合物均为首次从山香圆叶中分离得到。     

Diterpenoids and a sesquiterpene lactone from viguiera ladibractate

Eight known diterpene acids, ent-12-oxokaur-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-12β-hydroxykaur-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-isokaur-15(16)-en-17,19-dioic acid, ent-15α,16-epoxy-17-hydroxykaura-19-oic acid, ent-kaura-17,19-dioic acid, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, grandifloric acid, angeloyloxygrandifloric acid, as well as a new sesquiterpene lactone, ladibranolide, were isolated from Viguiera ladibractate. The stereochemistry of the sesquiterpene lactone was established by NOE experiments.     

Biotransformation of the diperpenoid, isosteviol, by Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus arrhizus.

The biotransformation of isosteviol (ent-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid) by three fungi is described. Aspergillus niger produced the 7 beta-OH derivative, ent-7 alpha-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic, and the 1 alpha, 7 beta-diOH derivative, ent-1 beta, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid. The 17-OH compound, ent-17-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid, was obtained with Penicillium chrysogenum. Rhizopus arrhizus produced the 7 beta-OH derivative, ent-7 alpha-hydroxy-16-ketobeyeran-19-oic acid. The isolated metabolites were characterised by IR, NMR and MS.     

Chemical constituents of leaves and stem bark of Plumeria obtusa

The continued studies on the constituents of the fresh leaves and stem bark of Plumeria obtusa Linn. have led to the isolation and characterization of four new triterpenoids, dammara-12,20(22)Z-dien-3-one (1), dammara-12,20(22)Z-dien-3beta-ol (2), olean-12-en-3beta,27-diol (3), and 27-hydroxyolean-12-en-3-one (4) and 12 known compounds, which included eight triterpenoids; dammara-3beta,20(S),25-triol (5), urs-12-en-3beta-hydroxy-27-Z-feruloyloxy-28-oic acid (6), 3beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (7), 3beta,27-dihydroxylupan-29-ene (8), 3beta-hydroxylupan-29-en-28-oic acid (9), 3beta-hydroxyursan-12-en-28-oic acid (11), 3beta-hydroxy-27-p-coumaroyloxy-olea-12-en-28-oic acid (12) and urs-12-en-3-one (15); an iridoid 1alpha-plumieride (10); a cardenolide 3alpha,14beta-dihydroxy-17beta-card-20(22)-enolide (13); a fatty acid ester methyl n-octadecanoate (14) and a steroid 3beta-hydroxy-delta5-stigmastane (16). The new constituents were characterized through spectroscopic studies including 1D (1H and 31C NMR) and 2D (COSY-45, NOESY, J-resolved, HMQC and HMBC) NMR and chemical transformations. This is the first report on the isolation of dammarane triterpenoids from P. obtusa. Compounds 5 and 6 are hitherto unreported from P. obtusa. The known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature.