New prenylated isoflavones and a prenylated dihydroflavonol from Millettia pachycarpa

Extraction of Millettia pachycarpa Benth. gave 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (1a), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,3′-diprenylisoflavone (2a), 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (3a) and (2R, 3R)-5,4′-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano[2″,3″: 7,6]-dihydroflavonol (4a) whose structures were established by chemical transformations and spectroscopic means. Pectolinarigenin and salvigenin were isolated from Buddleia macrostachya Benth.     

Minor xanthones from Rheedia gardneriana

8-Deoxygartanin and two new xanthones, 1,5-dihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2″,3″:6,7)xanthone and 1,5,6-trihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-7-(3-methylprop-2-enyl)xanthone, have been isolated from the roots of Rheedia gardneriana. The latter of the two new xanthones has been assigned the trivial name 7-prenyljacareubin while the former has the structure erroneously assigned to pyranojacareubin reported from Garcinia densivenia. The correct identity of the G. densivenia xanthone has been shown to be rheediaxanthone-A.     

Flavonoids from Iryanthera laevis

Trunk wood of Iryanthera laevis Markgr. (Myristicaceae) contains 2′,4′-dihydroxy- 4,6′dimethoxydihydrochalcone, three 2′-hydroxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyflavans with differently substituted A-rings (7-OH-6,8-diMe; 7-OH-5,8-diMe; 5-OH-7-OMe-6,8-diMe) and 1-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-5′-methylphenyl)-3(2″-hydroxy-4″,5″-methylenedioxphenyl)- propane, as well as three additional known diarylpropanes.     

Four isoflavanones from the stem bark of Platycelphium voënse

From the stem bark of Platycelphium voënse (Leguminosae) four new isoflavanones were isolated and characterized as (S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2′,4′-dimethoxy-3′-(3″-methylbut-2″-enyl)-isoflavanone (trivial name platyisoflavanone A), (±)-5,7,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-3′-(3″-methylbut-2″-enyl)-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone B), 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-2″-(2?-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano-[4″,5″:3′,2′]-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone C) and 5,7,2′,3″-tetrahydroxy-2″,2″-dimethyldihydropyrano-[5″,6″:3′,4′]-isoflavanone (platyisoflavanone D). In addition, the known isoflavanones, sophoraisoflavanone A and glyasperin F; the isoflavone, formononetin; two flavones, kumatakenin and isokaempferide; as well as two triterpenes, betulin and β-amyrin were identified. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Platyisoflavanone A showed antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the microplate alamar blue assay (MABA) with MIC = 23.7 μM, but also showed cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 21.1 μM) in the vero cell test.     

New isoflavonoids related to kievitone from Phaseolus vulgaris

The new isoflavonoids 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)isoflavone (2,3-dehydrokievitone) and 7,2′,4′-trihydroxy-8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)isoflavanone (5-deoxykievitone) have been isolated from fungus-inoculated Phaseolus vulgaris pod tissue and from the inoculation droplets. A third isoflavonoid was tentatively identified as 1″,2″-dehydrocyclokievitone and appears to be a metabolite of the phytoalexin kievitone.     

An alkaloid from Haplophyllum tuberculatum

A new alkaloid (+)-tuberine was isolated from Haplophyllum tuberculatum. Physicochemical and spectral evidence established its structure and stereochemistry as N- benzoyl-4′-[(2″S,3″S,6″S)-(+)-7″-acetoxy-2″-hydroxy-3″,7″-dimethyl-3″,6″-epoxyoctyloxy]phenethylamine.     

Two isoflavones from Piscidia erythrina

Two new prenylated isoflavones were isolated from the root bark of Piscidia erythrina. The first compound was identified as 2′-deoxypiscerythrone. The second compound, the most abundant component of the extract, was identified as 3′-6′-di-Δ²-isopentenyl-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-5′-methoxyisoflavone.     

Fungitoxic dihydrofuranoisoflavones and related compounds in white lupin,Lupinus albus

Chromatographic investigation of a methanolic extract of white lupin roots has revealed the presence of six new dihydrofuranoisoflavones (lupinisoflavones A-F). Three monoprenylated (3,3-dimethylallyl-substituted) isoflavones (wighteone, luteone and licoisoflavone A), two diprenylated isoflavones [6,3′-di(3,3-dimethylallyl)genistein (lupalbigenin) and 6,3′-di(3,3-dimethylallyl)-2′-hydroxygenistein (2′-hydroxylupalbigenin)] and two pyranoisoflavones (parvisoflavone B and licoisoflavone B) have also been isolated from the same source. In addition to genistein, leaf extracts of L. italbus contain 3′-O-methylorobol which is presumed to be the precursor of lupisoflavone [5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′-methoxy-6-(3,3-dimethylallyl)isoflavone]. Probable biogenetic relationships between the prenylated, and dihydrofurano-and pyrano-substituted isoflavones in roots and leaves of L. albus are briefly discussed.     

Glabrachalcone,a chromenochalcone from Pongamia glabra seeds

Glabrachalcone, a new chromenochalcone has been isolated along with a known chromenochalcone from an ethanolic extract of the seed oil of Pongamia glabra. The structure of glabrachalcone has been established as 2′-hydroxy-2,4,5-trimethoxy-6″,6″-dimethylchromeno(4′,3′:2″,3″)chalcone on the basis of spectral evidence and was confirmed by synthesis.     

Transformation of isoxanthohumol by fungi

Isoxanthohumol is the most abundant and an important prenylated flavonoid present in hopped beers. In order to select microorganisms capable of transforming isoxanthohumol screening tests on 44 fungi cultures were performed. This kind of activity has not been previously examined. Beauveria bassiana AM278 and Absidia glauca AM177 converted isoxanthohumol into glucoside derivatives, whereas Fusarium equiseti AM15 transformed it into (2R)-2″-(2″′-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano[2″,3″:7,8]-4′-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavanone with high efficiency. Isoxanthohumol 7-O-β-d-4″′-methoxyglucopyranoside is a new compound.     

Structural confirmation of dihydrocinnamic acids from Adiscanthus fusciflorus by 13C NMR

In the wood of Adiscanthus fusciflorus six known alkaloids 4-methoxy-2-quinolone, 1-methyl-4-methoxy-2-quinolone, dictamine, skimmianine, γ-fagarine and N-methylflindersine and two new dihydrocinnamic acids 3-[2′,6′-dimethoxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:4′, 3′)phenyl]-propionic acid and its methyl ester were identified. The structures of the dihydrocinnamic acid derivatives were confirmed by ¹³C NMR.     

Diarylpropanoids from Iryanthera polyneura

The trunk wood of Iryanthera polyneura Ducke (Myristicaceae) contains pinocembrin, 1-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(3″,4″-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane, 1-(2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methylphenyl)-3-(2″-methoxy-4″, 5″-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane and 4,2′,4′-trihydroxy-3-methoxydihydrochalcone.     

Flavonoids from Wyethia glabra

Ten flavonoid compounds, including three new natural products, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of Wyethia glabra. The known compounds are: orobol 7-methyl ether, orobol 3′-methyl ether, naringenin 7-methyl ether, eriodictyol, 8-C-prenyleriodictyol, 6-C-prenyleriodictyol and 8-C-prenylnaringenin. Eriodictyol 7-methyl ether, 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxy-4-methoxychalcone and 6-C-prenylnaringenin are new natural products. An additional prenylated flavanone was isolated and partially characterized.     

Biflavones from the leaves of Araucaria excelsa

Eight biflavones have been isolated from the leaf extracts of Araucaria excelsa. 7″-O-Methylamento-flavone, 7,7″-di-O-methylamentoflavone, 4′ or 4″', 7-di-O-methylcupressuflavone, 7,7″,4″'-tri-O-methyl agathisflavone and 7,4′,7″-tri-O-methylamentoflavone are new compounds and are being reported for the first time. The others are 7,7″-di-O-methylagathisflavone,7,4′,7″,4″'-tetra-O-methylamentoflavone and 7,4′,7″,4″'-tetra-O-methyl-cupressuflavone. Mass and NMR spectral studies are used for structural elucidation. In addition, the presence of several other biflavones has been indicated by TLC examination of methylated products.     

Les Flavonols d'Asclepias Syriaca

Eight flavonoids are present in the leaves of Asclepias syriaca. Three have been identified as quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin; a structure of a fourth, 3,5,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-7,8-(2″,2″-dimethyl-4″-methyl-5″,6″) pyranoflavone(I), has been established by study of its spectral properties (UV, IR, MS, NMR) and those of its acetate.     

Thonningine-A and thonningine-B: two 3-phenylcoumarins from the seeds of Millettia thonningii

The seeds of Millettia thonningii have yielded four isoflavones and three 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcoumarins, of which two are novel. On the basis of spectral analyses the novel compounds have been identified as 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano (4″,5″:6,7)coumarin (thonningine-A) and 4-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxy-3-(4′-methoxy)phenyl-2″-isopropenylfurano(4″, 5″: 6,7)coumarin (thonningine-B).     

Coumarins from unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata

Petrol extracts of unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata L. were found to contain 7-geranyloxycoumarin, bergapten, imperatorin, 6-methoxy-7-geranyloxycoumarin and two new coumarins which were shown by chemical and spectroscopic means to be 7-(3′-methyl-2′,3′-epoxybutyloxy)-8-(3″-methyl-2″,3″-epoxybutyl)coumarin and 7-(3′-methyl-2′,3′-epoxybutyloxy)-8-(3″-methyl-2″-oxobutyl)coumarin respectively.     

Xanthones from Tovomita pyrifolium

The wood of Tovomita pyrifolium (Guttiferae) contains the novel tovopyrifolins A [1,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-5-prenyl-6′,6′-dimethylpyrano (2′,3′:3,2)xanthone], B (1,5-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyxanthone) and C (1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone) and also the known tovophyllins A and B [structure revised to 1,6-dihydroxy-5-prenyl-6′, 6′-dimethylpyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano(2″,3″:7,8)xanthone].     

Xanthones and biflavonoids from Garcinia densivenia stem bark

The stem bark of a species of Garcinia (Guttiferae), provisionally identified as G. densivenia, has yielded a xanthone and two biflavonoids. The xanthone has been characterized as a novel 1,3,5,6-tetraoxygenated compound and has been assigned the trivial name pyranojacareubin (1,5-dihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethylpyrano (2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano (2″,3″:6,7)-xanthone). The biflavonoids were identified as morelloflavone and its methyl ether derivative, O-methyl fukugetin.     

Toddasin,a new dimeric coumarin from Toddalia asiatica

A new dimeric coumarin, named toddasin and possessing a cyclohexene ring with a vinylic side-chain interposed between the two coumarin moieties has been isolated from the roots of Toddalia asiatica. It has been characterized as (E)-8,8′-[1″,4″-dimethyl-3″ -cyclohexen-1″,2″-ylene vinylene]-bis-[5,7-dimethoxycoumarin] (1). The proposed structure is supported by the mass fragmentation of its dihydro derivative (2).