Triterpenoids of Salvia horminum,constitution of a new diol

Lupeol, lup-(20)29-ene-2α,3β-diol and a new triterpenic alcohol olean-(13)18-ene-2β,3β-diol were isolated from the petrol extract of air dried Salvia horminum and their structures were determined.     

Four new labdane diterpene oxides from Sideritis gomerae

Four new labdane diterpene oxides gomeraidehyde, 13-epigomeraldehyde, gomeric acid and 13-epigomeric acid as well as eperu-13-ene-8β,15-diol were isolated from the aerial part of Sideritis gomerae.     

Metabolism of 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3β-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one by Digitalis suspension cultures

Digitalis purpurea normal callus suspension culture is capable of metabolizing 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione (1) to 3β-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (2), 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (3), 3β-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one glucoside (7) and 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one glucoside (8). Digitalis purpurea habituated callus suspension culture is also capable of metabolizing 1 to 2, 3, 5β-pregnane-3β,20β-diol (5), (7), (8), 5β-pregnane-3β,20α-diol monoglucoside (9) and 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol monoglucoside (11). Furthermore, it was observed that 3β-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (2) is converted to 7, 9 and 11 by both suspension cultures. At the same time, 1, 3, 5 and 8 were detected in normal callus, while 5β-pregnane-3β,20α-diol (4) and 5β-pregnane-3β,20β-diol monoglucoside (10) were present in the habituated callus culture.     

Helifoline,a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Heliotropium ovalifolium

The alkaloidal fraction of Heliotropium ovalifolium yielded retronecine and the new pyrrolizidine alkaloid helifoline. Helifoline was formulated as 1α-angelyloxymethyl-8α-pyrrolizidine-2β,7β-diol on the basis of spectroscopic measurements and hydrolysis to the necine base which appears to be identical with croalbinecine.     

23,24,25,26,27-Pentanorlanost-8-en-3β,22-diol from Verticillium lecanii

23,24,25,26,27-Pentanorlanost-8-en-3β,22-diol has been isolated from the mycelium of the fungus Verticillium lecanii. Addition of lanosterol to the culture medium did not significantly increase the yields either of the pentanorlanostane metabolites or of ergosterol.     

3β-Acetoxyhopan-1β,22-diol,a triterpene from the lichen Pseudoparmelia texana

From the lichen Pseudoparmelia texana the triterpene 3β-acetoxyhopan-1β,22-diol has been isolated and its structure elucidated.     

Labdane diterpenes from Cistus symphytifolius

The investigation of the aerial part of Cistus symphytifolius afforded, in addition to sitosterol, trimethoxykaempferol, cativic acid, labdenic acid, labdanolic acid and labdan-8α,15-diol, three new bicyclic diterpenes: cistadienic acid, cistenolic acid and labd-13(E)- ene-8α,15-diol. The structures of these were determined by spectral studies and correlations. CD spectral studies showed that cistenolic acid and salvic acid are enantiomeric compounds, so the stereochemistry of salvic acid (7α-hydroxy-labd-8(17)-ene-15-oic acid) should be changed to 7β-hydroxy-eperu-8(17)-ene-15-oic acid (7β-hydroxy-ent-labd-8(17)-ene-15-oic acid).     

Stereospecific reduction of progesterone by Pisum sativum

[4 -¹⁴C]-Progesterone was applied to the leaves of growing pea plants, Pisum sativum. After 3 weeks, about 50% of the administered steroid was reduced, about 20% being reduced to 5α-pregnane-3α,20β-diol as the major metabolite. The radioactivities of 5α-pregnane-3α,20α-diol and 5α-pregnane-3α,20β-diol after 3 weeks were more than twice those after one week. The following radioactive metabolises were also isolated: 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione; 20α-hydroxy-4- pregnen-3-one; 20β-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one; 3β-hydroxy- 5α-pregnan-20-one; 20β-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-3-one; 5α-pregnane-3β,20β-diol; and 5β-pregnane-3α,20β-diol. The radioactivities of the 5α-pregnane derivatives were considerably higher than those of the corresponding 5β-pregnane derivatives.     

Triterpenoids from Salvia phlomoides, three new lupane derivatives

Three new triterpenoids have been isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia phlomoides. Their structures have been established by chemical and spectroscopic means and by correlation with known products as lupane-3β,11α,20-triol, 3β-acetoxy-lupane-11α,20-diol and 3-keto-lupane-11α,20-diol.     

Biotransformation of testosterone and other androgens by suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum “Bright yellow”

It has been shown that the cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum “Bright Yellow” are capable of transforming testosterone to Δ⁴-androstene-3, 17-dione, 5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol, its dipalmitate and 3- and 17-monoglucosides, epiandrosterone, its palmitate and glucoside, testosterone glucoside. 5α-Androstane-3β, 17β-diol dipalmitate and 3- and 17-monoglucosides, epiandrosterone palmitate and glucoside, and testosterone glucoside have been found for the first time as metabolites of testosterone in plant systems. Δ⁴-Androstene-3,17-dione was converted to testosterone. 5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one, which has been recognized as an active form of testosterone in mammals, was also detected. It has also been demonstrated that [4-¹⁴C]testosterone is actively incorporated in these transformations.     

Conversion of 4-androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone by Pisum sativum

4-Androstene-3,17-dione-[4-¹⁴C] was applied to the leaves of growing pea plants, Pisum sativum. Within a week, 28% of the administered steroid was specifically reduced to testosterone. Part of the testosterone was present in esterified form, and 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol was also identified as a metabolite, but neither epitestosterone nor estrogens were detected.     

Two unsymmetric tetracyclic triterpenoids from cissus quadrangularis

Two new unsymmetric tetracyclic triterpenoids onocer-7-ene-3α,21β-diol and onocer-7-ene-3β,21α-diol together with sitosterol, δ-amyrin and δ-amyrone have been isolated from Cissus quadrangularis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of ¹H NMR, mass spectral and chemical evidence.     

Three bridged 14β,26-epoxy-C-homo-pentacyclic triterpenes from Primula rosea

Three new bridged 14β,26-epoxy-C-homo-pentacyclic triterpenes isolated from Primula rosea have been shown to be 14β,26-epoxy-serratane-3,21-dione, 21α-hydroxy-14β,26-epoxy-serratane-3-one and 21β-hydroxy-14β,26-epoxy-serratane-3-one, respectively, on the basis of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectral and chemical evidence.     

Simultaneous radioimmunoassay of testosterone,dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol and 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol in the plasma of adult male rats

A single thin layer chromatography and three antibodies were used for the specific radioimmunoassay of four androgens in pooled rat plasma (Sprague-Dawley adult males). The following values were found (pg/ml ± SD). Testosterone : 3, 138 ± 173; dihydrotestosterone : 374 ± 20; 5α-androstane-3α 17β-diol : 284 ± 24; 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol : 223 ± 11.     

A new sesquiterpene alcohol from Pterocarpus marsupium

The petrol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium afforded a new sesquiterpene alcohol of the eudesmane type, selin-4(15)-en-1β,11-diol, besides β-eudesmol, erythrodiol-3-monoacetate and pterostilbene.     

Androgens with activity at estrogen receptor beta have anxiolytic and cognitive-enhancing effects in male rats and mice

Testosterone (T) and its metabolites may underlie some beneficial effects for anxiety and cognition, but the mechanisms for these effects are unclear. T is reduced to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can be converted to 5α-androstane,3α,17β-diol (3α-diol) and/or 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3β-diol). Additionally, T can be converted to androstenedione, and then to androsterone. These metabolites bind with varying affinity to androgen receptors (ARs; T and DHT), estrogen receptors (ERβ; 3α-diol, 3β-diol), or GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptors (GBRs; 3α-diol, androsterone). Three experiments were performed to investigate the hypothesis that reduced anxiety-like and enhanced cognitive performance may be due in part to actions of T metabolites at ERβ. Experiment 1: Gonadectomized (GDX) wildtype and ERβ knockout mice (βERKO) were subcutaneously (SC) administered 3α-diol, 3β-diol, androsterone, or oil vehicle at weekly intervals, and tested in anxiety tasks (open field, elevated plus maze, light–dark transition) or for cognitive performance in the object recognition task. Experiment 2: GDX rats were administered SC 3α-diol, 3β-diol, androsterone, or oil vehicle, and tested in the same tasks. Experiment 3: GDX rats were androsterone- or vehicle-primed and administered an antagonist of ARs (flutamide), ERs (tamoxifen), or GBRs (flumazenil), or vehicle and then tested in the elevated plus maze. Both rats and wildtype mice, but not βERKO mice, consistently had reduced anxiety and improved performance in the object recognition task. Androsterone was only effective at reducing anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and this effect was modestly reduced by flumazenil administration. Thus, actions at ERβ may be required for T's anxiety-reducing and cognitive-enhancing effects.     

Biotransformation of progesterone by suspension cultures of Digitalis purpurea cultured cells

It has been shown that the cultured cells of Digitalis purpruea are capable of transforming progesterone (I) to 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione (II), 5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one (III), its glucoside (IV), 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol (V), its glucoside (VI), 5α-pregnane-3β,20β-diol (VII), its glucoside (VIII), Δ⁴-pregnen-20α-ol-3-one (IX), its glucoside (X), Δ-pregnen-20β-ol-3-one (XI) and its glucoside (XII). 5α-Pregnan-3β-ol-20-one glucoside (IV), 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol glucoside (VI), 5α-pregnane-3β,20β-diol glucoside (VIII), Δ⁴-pregnen-20α-ol-3-one glucoside (X) and Δ⁴-pregnen-20β-ol-3-one glucoside (XII) have been found for the first time as new metabolises by plant tissue cultures. A scheme for the biotransformation of progesterone (I) has been proposed, and the reduction and glucosidation activities distinctly have been observed in these cultured cells.     

Diterpenoids from Acacia leucophloea

From the root bark of Acacia leucophloea (Mimosaceae) two new pimar-8(14)-ene diterpenoids have been isolated. Their structures have been established by chemical and spectroscopic means as 1β,15R,16-trihydroxypimar8(14)-ene(leucophleol) and 15R,16-epoxy-1β,11α-dihydroxypimar-8(14)-ene(leucophleoxol).     

Taxol biosynthesis: Identification and characterization of two acetyl CoA:taxoid-O-acetyl transferases that divert pathway flux away from Taxol production

Two cDNAs encoding taxoid-O-acetyl transferases (TAX 9 and TAX 14) were obtained from a previously isolated family of Taxus acyl/aroyl transferase cDNA clones. The recombinant enzymes catalyze the acetylation of taxadien-5α,13α-diacetoxy-9α,10β-diol to generate taxadien-5α,10β,13α-tri-acetoxy-9α-ol and taxadien-5α,9α,13α-triacetoxy-10β-ol, respectively, both of which then serve as substrates for a final acetylation step to yield taxusin, a prominent side-route metabolite of Taxus. Neither enzyme acetylate the 5α- or the 13α-hydroxyls of taxoid polyols, indicating that prior acylations is required for efficient peracetylation to taxusin. Both enzymes were kinetically characterized, and the regioselectivity of acetylation was shown to vary with pH. Sequence comparison with other taxoid acyl transferases confirmed that primary structure of this enzyme type reveals little about function in taxoid metabolism. Unlike previously identified acetyl transferases involved in Taxol production, these two enzymes appear to act exclusively on partially acetylated taxoid polyols to divert the Taxol pathway to side-route metabolites.     

D:b-friedoolean-5-ene-3β,29-diol,an angular methyl oxygenated d: b-friedooleanene from elaeodendron balae

A new dioxygenated D: B-friedooleanene from Elaeodendron balae root bark was shown to be D:B–friedoolean-5-ene-3β,29-diol by relating it to 29-oxygenated D:A-friedooleanane. This is the first report of angular methyl oxygenation in the D: B-friedooleananes.