Insect Antifeedants,Pterocarpans and Pterocarpol,in Heartwood of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz.

The insect antifeedant activities of pterocarpans and a sesquiterpene alcohol from the dichloromethane extract of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz. (Leguminosae) were evaluated against the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura F. (Noctuidae), and the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe)(Rhinotermitidae). Three pterocarpans, (?)-homopterocarpin (1), (?)-pterocarpin (2), and (?)-hydroxyhomopterocarpin (3) and the sesquiterpene alcohol, (+)-pterocarpol (5), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the heartwood of P. macrocarpus under guidance by a biological assay. Among these natural products, the most active insect antifeedant against both S. litura and R. speratus was 1. On the other hand, sesquiterpene alcohol 5 showed less insect antifeedant activity than the other pterocarpans against both insect species. While its methylated derivative, (?)-methoxyhomopterocarpin (4), showed high biological activity, 3 showed less insect antifeedant activity in this study. Interestingly, racemic 1 did not show insect antifeedant activity against S. litura. However, all of the test pterocarpans and isoflavones showed antifeedant activity against the test termites. Additionally, since these compounds were major constituents of P. macrocarpus, these antifeedant phenolics may act as chemical defense factors in this tree. In Thailand, lumber made from this tree is used to make furniture and in building construction due to its resistance to termite attack.     

Structures of Novel Sesquiterpene Alcohols from Chloranthus japonicus (Chloranthaceae)

Three novel sesquiterpene alcohols, shizuka-acoradienol (2), shizukafuranol (3) and shizukol-idol (4), were isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. (Japanese name: Hitori-shizuka, Chloranthaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their physicochemical properties and some chemical reactions. Furanodienone (5), scopoletin (6a) and isoscopoletin (6b) were also isolated from this plant.     

Effect of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on sesquiterpene lactone accumulation in hairy roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cichorium intybus</Emphasis>

The effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ) or salicylic acid (SA) on the sesquiterpene lactone content and biomass accumulation were investigated in a hairy root culture of Cichorium intybus. The guaianolides crepidiaside B (1), 8-deoxylactucin (2), and the germacranolide sonchuside A (3) were quantified by RP-HPLC. Neither MJ nor SA affected the growth of examined hairy root culture. Jasmonate up-regulated biosynthesis of the analysed sesqiterpene lactones in the culture (maximum after 72 h). SA caused a transient increase in sonchuside A accumulation in the roots (up to twofold increase compared with the control) and decrease of guaianolide content.     

Repraesentins D,E and F,New Plant Growth Promoters from Lactarius repraesentaneus

Three new plant growth regulatory sesquiterpenes were isolated from the Lactarius repraesentaneus fungus. Their structures were elucidated to be lactarane sesquiterpenes, namely repraesentins D (1) and E (2), and a protoilludane-related sesquiterpene, namely repraesentin F (3). Repraesentin E (2) showed the strongest promotion activity, 164% at 3.6 μM, of the three compounds toward the radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings.     

A Novel Lepidopteran Sex Pheromone Produced by Females of a Lithosiinae Species,Lyclene dharma dharma,in the Family of Arctiidae

Female moths of Lyclene dharma dharma (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae) produced three pheromone components (I–III), which strongly stimulated male antennae. Using GC–MS analysis and chemical derivatizations, the following structures were estimated: 6-methyl-2-octadecanone (I), 14-methyl-2-octadecanone (II), and 6,14-dimethyl-2-octadecanone (III). While the stereochemistry of the chiral centers could not be determined because it was difficult to collect a sufficient amount of the natural pheromone, the plain structures of I and II were confirmed by synthesis of the racemic mixtures starting from diols. These methyl-branched ketones have not been identified as a natural product, indicating that they constitute a new chemical group of lepidopteran female sex pheromones.     

Protective Group-Free Syntheses of (±)-Frontalin, (±)-endo-Brevicomin, (±)-exo-Brevicomin,and (±)-3,4-Dehydro-exo-brevicomin: Racemic Pheromones with a 6,8-Dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane Ring

Protective group-free syntheses of four racemic pheromones with a 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring were achieved in five or six steps from commercially available (±)-3-butyn-2-ol (6) and 2-alkenyl halides or 2-alken-1-ol by employing Lewis acid-catalyzed acetalization of δ, ε-epoxy ketones as the key reaction. (±)-Frontalin (1) was prepared in a 25% overall yield in five steps from methallyl chloride (5a), (±)-endo-brevicomin (2) was prepared in a 23% overall yield in five steps from (E)-2-pentenyl bromide (5b), and (±)-exo-brevicomin (3) and (±)-3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (4) were both prepared in a 4% overall yield in six steps based on (Z)-2-penten-1-ol (12).     

Antioxidant and α-Amylase Inhibitory Compounds from Aerial Parts of Varthemia iphionoides Boiss

Various extracts of aerial parts of Varthemia (Varthemia iphionoides Boiss) were investigated for radical-scavenging activity, antioxidative activity, and porcine pancreas α-amylase inhibitory activity. The ethanol and water extracts showed a pronounced 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, with inhibition of about 90% at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, and α-amylase inhibitory activity of about 70% at a concentration of 200 μg/ml by the 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl α-maltotrioside (CNP-G₃) degradation method. The ethanol extract was purified by column chromatography to give seven 3-methoxyflavones (1–7) and eudesmane sesquiterpene, selina-4,11(13)-dien-3-on-12-oic acid (8). The structures of these compounds were established by NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopy. Of 3-methoxyflavones, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone (1), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxyflavone (2), and 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,7,3′-trimethoxyflavone (3,7,3′-tri-O-methyl-quercetin) (7) exhibited pronounced radical-scavenging activity. The antioxidative activity in the linoleic acid system was considerable in compounds 1, 2, and 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone (4). Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5 (5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone), and 6 (5,4′-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone) showed markedly high inhibitory activity against porcine pancreas α-amylase. Eudesmane sesquiterpene did not show any activity.     

Cytotoxic activity of 4′-hydroxychalcone derivatives against Jurkat cells and their effects on mammalian DNA topoisomerase I

Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are α, β-unsaturated ketones with cytotoxic and anticancer properties. Several reports have shown that compounds with cytotoxic properties may also interfere with DNA topoisomerase functions. Five derivatives of 4′-hydroxychalcones were examined for cytotoxicity against transformed human T (Jurkat) cells as well as plasmid supercoil relaxation experiments using mammalian DNA topoisomerase I. The compounds were 3-phenyl-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (I), 3-(p-methylphenyl)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (II), 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (III), 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (IV), and 3-(2- thienyl)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (V). The order of the cytotoxicity of the compounds was; IV > III > II > I > V. Compound IV, had the highest Hammett and log P values (0.23 and 4.21, respectively) and exerted both highest cytotoxicity and strongest DNA topoisomerase I inhibition. Compounds I and II gave moderate interference with the DNA topoisomerase I while III & V did not interfere with the enzyme.     

The chemical constituents of Piper kadsura and their cytotoxic and anti-neuroinflammtaory activities

The n-hexane and CHCl₃ soluble fractions of the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Piper kadsura were found to potently inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated BV-2 cells, a microglial cell line. From the active fractions, a new stereoisomer of guaiane sesquiterpene, 1α,5β-guai-4(15)-ene-6β,10β-diol, kadsuguain A (1) and a new cyclohexadienone, kadsuketanone A (2), together with twelve known compounds (3–14) were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR spectral studies. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Compounds 2, 6, and 11–14 significantly inhibited both nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in the LPS-activated microglia cells. In addition, compounds 4, 6, and 11–14 exhibited cytotoxicity against the A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 human tumour cells.     

苦槛蓝叶中的黄酮类化合物

为了解苦槛蓝(Myoporum bontioides A.Gray)的化学成分,采用色谱分离技术从苦槛蓝叶片中分离得到11个黄酮类化合物。通过波谱分析,他们的结构分别鉴定为:桔皮素(1)、甜橙素(2)、5,4′-二羟基-6,7,8,3′-四甲氧基黄酮(3)、4′,5,7,8-四甲氧基黄酮(4)、去甲基川陈皮素(5)、5-羟基-6,7,3′,4′-四甲氧基黄酮(6)、3′,4′,5,6,7,8-六甲氧基黄酮(7)、二氢山柰酚(8)、木犀草素(9)、3′,4′,5,7-四羟基-3-甲氧基黄酮(10)和芹黄素(11)。除化合物9之外,其他化合物均为首次从苦槛蓝叶片中分离得到。孢子萌发法测定结果表明,化合物1,2,8和9对香蕉炭疽菌(Colletotrichum musae)具有较好的抑菌活性。这为苦槛蓝叶片中有效成分的利用提供了理论依据。     

Tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the compounds isolated from Neolitsea aciculata (Blume) Koidz.

This study was designed to investigate the mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity for the constituents isolated from Neolitsea aciculata. The stems of N. aciculata was extracted with aqueous ethanol and subjected to chromatographic separation, which led to the isolation of 11 compounds: methyl linoleate (1), catechin (2), epicatechin (3), afzelin-7-O-glucopyranoside (4), 2′,3′-di-(p-coumaroyl)afzelin (5), 2′-p-coumaroylafzelin (6), feruloyl tyramine (7), β-sitosterol (8), daucosterol (9), oleic acid (10), and trilaurin (11). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies as well as by comparison with the data available in the literature. Among these isolates, compounds 5 and 6 were identified as potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 0.067 and 0.080 mM, respectively. The inhibition kinetics, analysed by Lineweaver–Burk plots, indicated that compounds 5 and 6 are competitive tyrosinase inhibitors when using l-tyrosine as a substrate. Notably, compounds 1–11 were isolated for the first time from this plant. These results provide evidence that this plant might be a potential source of anti-melanogenesis agents.     

铁皮石斛内生真菌次生代谢产物研究

为了解铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale)内生真菌Phyllosticta aristolochiicola的次生代谢产物,从该真菌中分离得到15个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为N-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (1)、环-(甘氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(2)、环-(D-丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(3)、环-(L-缬氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(4)、环-(L-亮氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(5)、cyclo-(L-Leu-D-4-hydroxyprolinyl)(6)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(7)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-4-羟基脯氨酸)(8)、环-(L-酪氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(9)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-亮氨酸)(10)、啤酒甾醇(11)、对羟基苯乙醇(12)、对羟基苯乙酸(13)、(2S,3R)-1-(4-羟基苯基)丁烷-2,3-二醇(14)和(2R,3S)-1-苯基丁烷-2,3-二醇(15)。采用MTS法检测抗肿瘤活性表明,化合物2、10和14对HL-60、A-549、SMMC-7721、MCF-7和SW-480细胞株具有一定的抑制活性。     

Reaction of Astaxanthin with Peroxynitrite

The in vitro reactivities of astaxanthin toward peroxynitrite were investigated and the reaction products after scavenging with peroxynitrite were analyzed in order to determine the complete mechanism of this reaction. A series of carotenoids, 13-apo-astaxanthinone (1), 12′-apo-15′-nitroastaxanthinal (2), 12′-apo-astaxanthinal (3), 10′-apo-astaxanthinal (4), 9-cis-14′-s-cis-15′-nitroastaxanthin (5), 14′-s-cis-15′-nitroastaxanthin (6), 13-cis-14′-s-cis-15′-nitroastaxanthin (7), 10′-s-cis-11′-cis-11′-nitroastaxanthin (8), 13,15,13′-tri-cis-15′-nitroastaxanthin (9), 9-cis-astaxanthin (10), and 13-cis-astaxanthin (11), were isolated from the reaction products of carotenoids with peroxynitrite. Our previous studies achieved for the first time the isolation of nitro derivatives from the reaction of astaxanthin with peroxynitrite. Here we identify the major remaining reaction products of this reaction and investigate the stabilities of the nitro astaxanthins.     

领春木枝叶化学成分的研究

为了研究领春木(Euptelea pleiospermum Hook.f.et Thoms)的化学成分,利用各种柱色谱及高压液相色谱等方法进行分离和纯化,根据理化性质和光谱数据分析鉴定了9个化合物。他们分别为:白桦脂酸(1);齐墩果酸(2);N-反式对羟基肉桂酰基-对羟基苯乙胺(3);N-反式阿魏酰酪胺(4);N-顺式阿魏酰酪胺(5);丁香脂素(6);N-顺式阿魏酰-3-甲氧基酪胺(7);N-反式阿魏酰-3-甲氧基酪胺(8);3-羟基-30-去甲基-20-酮基-28-羽扇豆酸(9)。所有化合物均为首次从领春木中分离得到。     

黄皮果皮中的抗菌活性成分研究

为了解黄皮[Clausena lansium(Lour.)Skeels]果皮中的抗菌活性成分,采用硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱色谱等方法,从黄皮果皮的乙醇提取物中分离得到10个化合物,经波谱学分析鉴定为:lansine(1)、3-甲酰基咔唑(2)、3-甲酰基-6-甲氧基咔唑(3)、6-甲氧基咔唑-3-羧酸甲酯(4)、(6R,7E,9S)-9-羟基-4,7-巨豆二烯-3-酮(5)、7-羟基香豆素(6)、8-羟基呋喃香豆素(7)、辛黄皮酰胺(8)、对羟基肉桂酸甲酯(9)和胡萝卜苷(10)。其中化合物5和9为首次从黄皮属植物中分离得到,化合物8的碳谱数据是首次报道。用滤纸片琼脂扩散法测定化合物的抗菌活性,结果表明,化合物1、2、3、6、7和9对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)有抑制作用。这有利于更好地开发利用黄皮这一药食两用的水果资源。     

Calpain inhibitory flavonoids isolated from Orostachys japonicus

The n-butanol (n-BuOH) fraction of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (Crassulaceae) significantly inhibited calpain activity. Through the activity-guided isolation from the n-BuOH fraction, herbacetin 8-O-α-D-ribopyranoside (1), kaempferol (2), quercetin (3), afzelin (4), astragalin (5), isoquercetin (6) and quercitrin (7) were obtained. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques. Among them, compound 3 and 5 had significant calpain inhibitory activities.     

Hydroxylation of (+)-menthol by Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract

Biotransformation of (+)-menthol with Macrophomina phaseolina led to hydroxylations at C-1, C-2, C-6, C-7, C-8 and C-9, with the C-8 position being preferentially oxidized. The resulting metabolites were identified as 8-hydroxymenthol (2), 6R-hydroxymenthol (3), 1R-hydroxymenthol (4), 9-hydroxymenthol (5), 2R,8-dihydroxymenthol (6), 8S,9-dihydroxymenthol (7), 6R,8-dihydroxymenthol (8), 1R,8-dihydroxymenthol (9) and 7,8-dihydroxymenthol (10). Metabolites 6–10 are described here for the first time. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic analysis.     

Enantioselective reduction of aryl and hetero aryl methyl ketones using plant cell suspension cultures of Vigna radiata

Vigna radiata was investigated as whole cell catalyst for the bioreduction of aryl and heteroaryl prochiral ketones into optically active alcohols. The study indicates selective bioreduction of different substituted aryl and heteroaryl ketones (1a–12a) to their respective (S) – chiral alcohols (1b–12b) in good to high enantioselectivity (77.7–97.5%) with very good yields (73–82%). The results obtained confirm that the keto reductase has broad substrate specificity and selectivity in catalyzing both six and five-membered heteroaryl methyl ketones. The current methodology substantiates a promising and alternative green approach for the synthesis of secondary chiral alcohols of biological importance in a mild, cheap and environmentally benign process.     

薏苡糠壳的化学成分及其种子萌发活性研究

为了解薏苡(Coix lachryma-jobi)糠壳的化学成分,利用多种柱色谱技术对其乙醇提取物乙酸乙酯萃取部位进行分离,经波谱数据分析鉴定了15个化合物,分别为香豆酸(1)、香豆酸甲酯(2)、2-羟乙基-香豆酸酯(3)、咖啡酸甲酯(4)、阿魏酸甲酯(5)、(E)-3-(4-甲氧基苯基)丙烯酸(6)、2,3-二羟基-...