Chromatographic and spectral characterization of 3′-glycosylation in anthocyanidins

The caffeyl ester of cyanidin 3,7,3′-triglucoside was isolated from red petals of garden cineraria, Senecio cruentus. Chromatographic and spectral characteristics of the anthocyanin as well as the products of deacylation and partial hydrolysis are described. The results with this pigment and a similar one based on delphinidin show that anthocyanins having a sugar residue at the 3′(or 5′)-position are characterized by the position of the visible max and by the high values for E₄₄₀/E_{vis max} and E_{UV max}/E_{vis max} when compared with other glycosides.     

Two distinctive anthocyanin patterns in the commelinaceae

A survey of lead and flower anthocyanins in a representative sample (28 spp./10 genera) of the Commelinaceae has shown that the dominant anthocyanin is cyanidin 3,7,3′-triglucoside, acylated with caffeic acid. Acylation with other hydroxycinnamic acids also occurs. As a flower pigment, this anthocyanin is stabilized at the pH of the cell sap by the presence of the three acyl substituents attached through glucose. In Gibasis, the related delphinidin triglucoside is also present. By contrast, the genus Commelina is distinguished by uniformly containing p-coumaroyl-delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside, which is stabilized in flowers as a copigment complex with glycoflavone. There are thus two distinctive sources of blue flower colour in the family. Furthermore, the presence of these rare acylated glucosides clearly separates the Commelinaceae from all other monocotyledonous groups.     

Floral anthocyanins in the genus Puya

A survey of floral anthocyanins among ten species of Puya shows the predominant pigment to be delphinidin 3,7,3′-triglucoside. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of this pigment in a non-acylated form. The occurrence of this unusual glucosylation pattern in Puya supports a close alliance between the Bromeliaceae and Commelinaceae.     

Myricetin methyl ethers from Solanum pubescens

3,7,3′,5′-Tetramethoxy-5,4′-dihydroxyflavone and a novel flavonol 3,7,3′-trimethoxy-5,4′,5′-trihydroxyflavone were isolated from the leaves of Solanum pubescens and characterized by both physical and chemical methods.     

Isolation and structural determination of 13 flavonoid glycosides in Hibiscus esculentus (okra)

Eleven flavonol glycosides and two anthocyanins, only one of which was previously identified, were isolated from the flower petals of okra, Hibiscus esculentus L. On the basis of chromatographic, spectral, and degradative evidence, the following structural assignments were made: quercetin 4′-glucoside, quercetin 7-glucoside, quercetin 5-glucoside, quercetin 3-diglucoside, quercetin 4′-diglucoside, quercetin 3-triglucoside, quercetin 5-rhamnoglucoside, gossypetin 8-glucoside, gossypetin 8-rhamnoglucoside, gossypetin 3-glucosido-8-rhamnoglucoside, cyanidin 4′-glucoside, and cyanidin 3-glucosido-4′ glucoside. Some evidence was obtained of a pentahy-droxy, monomethoxy-flavone glycoside. The total flavonoid content in the red portion of the petal was 0.48% of fresh weight; that in the white portion was 2.51%. The two anthocyanins comprised 28.5% of the flavonoid content of the red flower but only a trace of the content of the white.     

Two flavonols from Euodia glabra

Two flavonols in Euodia glabra have been characterized as 3,7,3′-trimethylquercetin (I) and 7-isopentenyl-3,3′-dimethylquercetin (II).     

Flavonoids in the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia panduta

5-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dimethoxyfiavone, 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone have been isolated from the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata.     

Acylated anthocyanins and flavonols from purple flowers of Dendrobium cv. ‘Pompadour’

Two rare anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-(6-malonylglucoside)-7,3′-di(6-sinapylglucoside) and the demalonyl derivative, were characterised as the purple floral pigments of Dendrobium cv. ‘Pompadour’. Nine known flavonol glycosides were also identified, including the 3-rutinoside-7-glucosides of kaempferol and quercetin. One new glycoside was detected: the ferulyl ester of quercetin 7-rutinoside-7-glucoside. These flavonoid patterns are typical for plants in the family Orchidaceae.     

Flavonoids of Chrysosplenium tetrandrum

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum, from northern British Columbia, accumulates a variety of flavonoid glycosides. Several kaempferol and quercetin mono- and diglycosides were identified. The major flavonoid fraction consisted of O-methylated compounds having an hydroxyl or methoxyl substituent at position-6. Aglycones identified were 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, 5,6,7,3′,4′-pentahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone, 5,6,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5,6,4′-trihydroxy-3,7,3′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,3′,4′-trihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, and 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,7,3′-tetramethoxyflavone. All occurred as glucosides. The occurrence of 6-substitution and the preponderance of O-methylated flavonoids supports removal of Chrysosplenium from Engler's Saxifraginae.     

Quercetin 3,7,3′-trisulphate from Flaveria bidentis

From leaves of Flaveria bidentis a new quercetin trisulphate was isolated and characterized as quercetin 3,7,3′-trisulphate by means of spectroscopic (UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR) and chemical methods.     

Flavonoid analogues from Pterocarpus species

Two novel pterocarpans, 8-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxy- and 3,8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan and a new santal analogue were isolated from the heartwood of P. soyauxii. These are accompanied by several known pterocarpans, isoflavans, isoflavones and trans-pterostilbene. From the heartwood of P. marsupium were obtained 8-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3,7,4′-trihydroxy- and -3,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone, representative of the first 5-deoxy C-C-coupled flavonol glucosides, and the rare 3′-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α-hydroxydihydrochalcone, their structures being determined by means of high resolution NMR techniques.     

Localization of partially methylated flavonol glucosides in Chrysosplenium americanum. I. Preparation and some properties of a trimethyl flavonol glucoside antibody

5,2′,5′-Trihydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone-2′-O-glucoside, a major flavonoid constituent of Chrysosplenium americanum Schwein. ex Hooker was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by the diazo reaction in good yield and with a molar ratio of 11.5:1. Antibody raised against the latter conjugate had a titer value of 1:1600 and was found to be specific for the 2′-O-glucosides of tri- and tetramethoxyflavones. Some cross reactivity (about 55%) was observed against the pentamethoxyflavone-5′-O-glucoside; but almost none with the parent hydroxyflavone, quercetin, or any of its partially methylated (3,7,4′-tri- or 3,7,3′,4′-tetramethyl-) derivatives. The specificity of antibodies raised against the 2′-O-glucosides of Chrysosplenium makes them useful for the intracellular localization of these natural constituents.     

Conversion of hydroxylated and methylated dihydroflavonols into anthocyanins in a white flowering mutant of Petunia hybrida

A 3′, 4′-dihydroxy or a 3′, 4′, 5′-trihydroxy substitution pattern of dihydroflavonols is required for their conversion into the corresponding anthocyanins in a white flower of Petunia hybrida. The presence of a 5-hydroxyl group is not required. B-ring methylated dihydroflavonols were not converted into the corresponding anthocyanins. In case of a 4′-methoxy substituted dihydroflavonol a 4′-hydroxyanthocyanin is obtained, suggesting demethylation of this compound. The conversion of synthetic (±)-trans-2,3-dihydroflavonols into anthocyanins proceeded almost as well as with natural compounds. The results demonstrate that the cinnamic acid starter hypothesis for the origin of B-ring substituents is not correct for B-ring methylation.     

Der substitutionsspezifische einfluss von chalkonen auf die anthocyanbiosynthese bei Petunia hybrida

The effect of two chalcones, 3,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxy- and the 4, 2 ′,4′,6′ -tetrahydroxy- 3-methoxy-chalcone- 4′-glucoside, on the synthesis of different flower anthocyanins in isolated petals of Petunia hybrida has been investigated. The results show that the synthesis of those anthocyanins, which have the same substitution pattern as the chalcone used was increased. This suggests that the chalcones are incorporated into the anthocyanins concerned. When the chalcones were fed together with acetic acid-[1-¹⁴C], this specific substitution effect was detectable only for the 3,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxy-chalcone-4′-glucoside.     

Flavonoids of four species of Parthenium (compositae)

Kaempferol and quercetin 3-O-glycosides were found in the closely related species, Parthenium hysterophorus, P. bipinnatifidum and P. glomeratum; the major aglycone flavonols in P. hypterophorus are quercetagetin 3,7-dimethyl ether and a new flavonoid, 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,7-dimethyl ether. The North-South American species-pair P. glomeratum (Argentina) and P. bipinnatifidum (Mexico) yielded quercetagetin 3,7,3′-trimethyl ether as the major aglycone. The desert species P. rollinsianum yielded five methylated flavonols: quercetin 3,3′-dimethyl ether, penduletin, quercetagetin 3,6,7-trimethyl ether, polycladin and artemetin.     

Deep blue anthocyanins from blue Dianella berries.

Three anthocyanins, all acylated delphinidin 3,7,3',5'-tetraglucosides, and a naphthalene glycoside, 2-acetyl-1,5-dihydroxy-3 methyl-8-O(xylosyl-(1-->6)-glucosyl) naphthalene, have been isolated from the berries of two Dianella species, D. nigra and D. tasmanica. The anthocyanins show exceptional blueness at in vivo pH values due to effective intramolecular copigmentation involving p-coumaroyl-glucose units (GC) at the 7, 3' and 5' of the delphinidin anthocyanidin. Evidence is presented to show that the effectiveness of the copigmentation can be ranked; 3',5' GC>7 GC>3 GC.     

Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in the flowers of Aconitum (Ranunculaceae)

The presence of anthocyanidins and anthocyanins were analyzed in flowers of 30 taxa of Aconitum. Delphinidin was detected as a major anthocyanidin from the hydrolysate of 29 taxa with violet and violet-blue flowers. Pelargonidin was identified as a major anthocyanidin in one taxon with white flowers (partially pale reddish purple; White group N155C by R.H.S. Colour Chart). This is the first reported detection of pelargonidin as a major anthocyanidin from Aconitum flowers. Pelargonidin was also found in ten taxa as a minor anthocyanidin, whereas cyanidin was detected from the flowers of all 30 taxa as a minor anthocyanidin.Two anthocyanins polyacylated by p-hydroxybenzoic acids, violdelphin and monodeacylcampanin were identified from 29 taxa with violet and violet-blue flowers as major anthocyanins. This is the first reported isolation of monodeacylcampanin from Aconitum flowers. The structures of these two anthocyanins were elucidated on the basis of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).     

Kenyan purple tea anthocyanins and coenzyme-Q10 ameliorate post treatment reactive encephalopathy associated with cerebral human African trypanosomiasis in murine model

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a tropical disease caused by two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei, the East African variant T. b. rhodesiense and the West African variant T. b. gambiense. Melarsoprol, an organic arsenical, is the only drug used to treat late stage T. b. rhodesiense infection. Unfortunately, this drug induces an extremely severe post treatment reactive encephalopathy (PTRE) in up to 10% of treated patients, half of whom die from this complication. A highly reproducible mouse model was adapted to assess the use of Kenyan purple tea anthocyanins and/or coenzyme-Q₁₀ in blocking the occurrence of PTRE. Female Swiss white mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with approximately 10⁴ trypanosome isolate T. b. rhodesiense KETRI 2537 and treated sub-curatively 21 days post infection with 5 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (DA) daily for 3 days to induce severe late CNS infection that closely mirrors PTRE in human subjects. Thereafter mice were monitored for relapse of parasitemia after which they were treated with melarsoprol at a dosage of 3.6 mg/kg body weight for 4 days and sacrificed 24 h post the last dosage to obtain brain samples. Brain sections from mice with PTRE that did not receive any antioxidant treatment showed a more marked presence of inflammatory cells, microglial activation and disruption of the brain parenchyma when compared to PTRE mice supplemented with either coenzyme-Q₁₀, purple tea anthocyanins or a combination of the two. The mice group that was treated with coenzyme-Q₁₀ or purple tea anthocyanins had higher levels of GSH and aconitase-1 in the brain compared to untreated groups, implying a boost in brain antioxidant capacity. Overall, coenzyme-Q₁₀ treatment produced more beneficial effects compared to anthocyanin treatment. These findings demonstrate that therapeutic intervention with coenzyme-Q₁₀ and/or purple tea anthocyanins can be used in an experimental mouse model to ameliorate PTRE associated with cerebral HAT.     

Flavonoid glycosides and sulphates from the dilleniaceae

In a leaf survey of sixty species from eight genera of the Dilleniaceae, the following flavonoids were characterized: myricetin 3,7,3′,4′-tetramethyl ether, mearnsetin 3-rhamnoside, ombuin 3,3′-disulphate, isorhamnetin 3,7,4′-trisulphate, kaempferol 3,7,4′-trisulphate and apigenin 7-galactosidesulphate.