Stilbenoids from the stem of Gnetum latifolium (Gnetaceae)

An acetone extract of the stem of Gnetum latifolium Blume afforded the stilbene trimer (latifolol) together with five known stilbenoids (gnetin E, gnetin D, gnetin C, (-)epsilon -viniferin and resveratrol). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence, in particular by using 2D NMR methods.     

Purification of resveratrol,arachidin‐1, and arachidin‐3 from hairy root cultures of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and determination of their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity

Antioxidant stilbenoids, such as resveratrol, arachidin‐1, and arachidin‐3, have demonstrated beneficial effects on human health. Although resveratrol is commercially available, arachidin‐1 and arachidin‐3 are not, resulting in an opportunity to explore purification methods and to confirm biological activity. Recently, Arachis hypogaea hairy root cultures (produced via Agrobacterium rhizogenes‐mediated transformation) were reported to secrete stilbenoids into liquid growth media upon elicitation in quantities sufficient for commercial production. The purpose of this study was to purify substantial quantities of resveratrol, arachidin‐1, and arachidin‐3 from A. hypogaea hairy root cultures using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), determine the antioxidant activity of these compounds using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, and determine the cytotoxicity of the compounds using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In a single run of CPC, resveratrol, arachidin‐1, and arachidin‐3 were separated to a purity of 97.1%, 97.0%, and 91.8%, respectively. Lipid oxidation was inhibited by a 27 and 7 μM dose for reference standards of resveratrol and arachidin‐1, respectively, while oxidation was not inhibited up to a 27 μM dose for reference standard of arachidin‐3. Oxidation was inhibited at a 14, 7, and 14 μM doses for CPC‐purified resveratrol, arachidin‐1, and arachidin‐3, respectively. Arachidin‐1 and arachidin‐3 demonstrated cytotoxicity at 27 and 55 μM in RAW 264.7 and HeLa cell lines, respectively; while resveratrol exhibited no cytotoxicity to either cell line. These results demonstrate the integration of a production and purification system for the manufacturing of A. hypogaea‐derived stilbenoids. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

Four new trimeric stilbene glucosides from Welwitschia mirabilis

Four new trimeric stilbene glucosides, mirabilosides C-F (1-4) were isolated from MeOH extract of stem and root of Welwitschia mirabilis (Welwitschiaceae) along with three known stilbenoids, resveratrol (5), gnemonoside B (6), and gnetin G (7). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

G2/M cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis by a stilbenoid, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-4'-bromo-cis-stilbene, in human lung cancer cells

Stilbenoids, including resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) which is a naturally occurring phytoalexin abundant in grapes and several plants, have been shown to be active in inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in human cancer cell lines. Using resveratrol as the prototype, we have synthesized various analogs and evaluated their growth inhibitory effects in cultured human cancer cells. In the present study, we show that one of the stilbenoids, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-4'-bromo-cis-stilbene (BCS), was more effective than its corresponding trans-isomer and resveratrol on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Prompted by the strong growth inhibitory activity of BCS (IC50; 0.03 microM) compared to its trans-isomer (IC50; 6.36 microM) and resveratrol (IC50; 33.0 microM) in cultured human lung cancer cells (A549), we investigated its mechanism of action. BCS induced arrest at the G2/M phase cell cycle in the early time and subsequently increased in the sub-G1 phase DNA contents in a time-dependent manner, indicating induction of apoptosis. Morphological observation with round-up shape and DNA fragmentation was also revealed the apoptotic phenomena. BCS treatment elevated the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic protein p53, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, and the release of cytochrome c in the cytosol. The down-regulation of checkpoint protein cyclin B1 by BCS was well correlated with the cell cycle arrest at G2/M. These data suggest the potential of BCS to serve as a cancer chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agent by virtue of arresting the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis of human lung cancer cells.     

Oligostilbenoids in stem bark of Vatica rassak

Three resveratrol oligomers, vaticanols. A, B and C, as well as three known stilbenoids, resveratrol, piceid and epsilon-viniferin were isolated from the stem bark of Vatica rassak (Dipterocarpaceae). Their structures were determined by the analysis of NMR spectral data including the application of 2D methods.     

Induced biosynthesis of resveratrol and the prenylated stilbenoids arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 in hairy root cultures of peanut: Effects of culture medium and growth stage

Previously, we have shown that hairy root cultures of peanut provide a controlled, sustainable and scalable production system that can be induced to produce stilbenoids. However to leverage peanut hairy roots to study the biosynthesis of this polyphenolic biosynthetic pathway, growing conditions and elicitation kinetics of these tissue cultures must be defined and understood. To this end, a new peanut cv. Hull hairy root (line 3) that produces resveratrol and its prenylated analogues arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 upon sodium acetate-mediated elicitation was established. Two culture media were compared for impact on root growth and stilbenoid biosynthesis/secretion. The levels of ammonium, nitrate, phosphate and residual sugars were monitored along growth and elicitation period. A modified MS (MSV) medium resulted in higher root biomass when compared to B5 medium. The stilbenoid profile after elicitation varied depending on the age of the culture (6, 9, 12, and 15-day old). After elicitation at day 9 (exponential growth in MSV medium), over 90% of the total resveratrol, arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 accumulated in the medium. Our studies demonstrate the benefits of the hairy root culture system to study the biosynthesis of stilbenoids including valuable prenylated polyphenolic compounds.     

Novel Lignan and Stilbenoid Mixture Shows Anticarcinogenic Efficacy in Preclinical PC-3M-luc2 Prostate Cancer Model

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer of men in the Western world, and novel approaches for prostate cancer risk reduction are needed. Plant-derived phenolic compounds attenuate prostate cancer growth in preclinical models by several mechanisms, which is in line with epidemiological findings suggesting that consumption of plant-based diets is associated with low risk of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a novel lignan-stilbenoid mixture in PC-3M-luc2 human prostate cancer cells in vitro and in orthotopic xenografts. Lignan and stilbenoid –rich extract was obtained from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) knots. Pine knot extract as well as stilbenoids (methyl pinosylvin and pinosylvin), and lignans (matairesinol and nortrachelogenin) present in pine knot extract showed antiproliferative and proapoptotic efficacy at ≥40 μM concentration in vitro. Furthermore, pine knot extract derived stilbenoids enhanced tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induced apoptosis already at ≥10 μM concentrations. In orthotopic PC-3M-luc2 xenograft bearing immunocompromized mice, three-week peroral exposure to pine knot extract (52 mg of lignans and stilbenoids per kg of body weight) was well tolerated and showed anti-tumorigenic efficacy, demonstrated by multivariate analysis combining essential markers of tumor growth (i.e. tumor volume, vascularization, and cell proliferation). Methyl pinosylvin, pinosylvin, matairesinol, nortrachelogenin, as well as resveratrol, a metabolite of pinosylvin, were detected in serum at total concentration of 7−73 μM, confirming the bioavailability of pine knot extract derived lignans and stilbenoids. In summary, our data indicates that pine knot extract is a novel and cost-effective source of resveratrol, methyl pinosylvin and other bioactive lignans and stilbenoids. Pine knot extract shows anticarcinogenic efficacy in preclinical prostate cancer model, and our in vitro data suggests that compounds derived from the extract may have potential as novel chemosensitizers to TRAIL. These findings promote further research on health-related applications of wood biochemicals.     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitors from the seeds of Syagrus romanzoffiana

Bioassay-guided fractionation against alpha-glucosidase resulted in isolation and characterization of eight active compounds from the EtOH extract of the seeds of Syagrus romanzoffiana. Of these, seven are stilbenoids, and two of them, 13-hydroxykompasinol A (1) and scirpusin C (4), possess potent inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase type IV from Bacillus stearothermophilus with the IC50 value of 6.5 and 4.9 microM, respectively. The in vivo assay on normal Wistar rats using oral sucrose challenge also demonstrated that kompasinol A (2) and 3,3',4,5,5'-pentahydroxy-trans-stilbene (5) possess significant effect in reducing the postprandial blood glucose level (10.2% and 12.1% at 10mg/kg, respectively). These results suggest that stilbenoids might be explored for their therapeutic potential as hypoglycemic agents.     

Synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble resveratrol and piceatannol via BGLation

Synthesis of four water-soluble resveratrol and piceatannol derivatives bearing symmetrically branched glyceryl trimer (BGL003) with a non-biocleavable linkage, and their biological evaluation as a mitochondrial fusion-inducing agent with cellular fat-reducing effect from cells, is described. The effect of Piceatannol-BGL003 conjugate was as high as that of original stilbenoids.     

Stilbenoids from the lianas of Gnetum pendulum

Two stilbenoids, gnetupendin A and B, were isolated from the lianas of Gnetum pendulum C. Y. Cheng, together with four known compounds, resveratrol, isorhapontigenin, shegansu B and beta-daucosterol. Their structures were determined on the basis of analysis of spectral evidence, especially 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques.     

A Stilbenoid-Specific Prenyltransferase Utilizes Dimethylallyl Pyrophosphate from the Plastidic Terpenoid Pathway

Prenylated stilbenoids synthesized in some legumes exhibit plant pathogen defense properties and pharmacological activities with potential benefits to human health. Despite their importance, the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds remain to be elucidated. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) hairy root cultures produce a diverse array of prenylated stilbenoids upon treatment with elicitors. Using metabolic inhibitors of the plastidic and cytosolic isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways, we demonstrated that the prenyl moiety on the prenylated stilbenoids derives from a plastidic pathway. We further characterized, to our knowledge for the first time, a membrane-bound stilbenoid-specific prenyltransferase activity from the microsomal fraction of peanut hairy roots. This microsomal fraction-derived resveratrol 4-dimethylallyl transferase utilizes 3,3-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate as a prenyl donor and prenylates resveratrol to form arachidin-2. It also prenylates pinosylvin to chiricanine A and piceatannol to arachidin-5, a prenylated stilbenoid identified, to our knowledge, for the first time in this study. This prenyltransferase exhibits strict substrate specificity for stilbenoids and does not prenylate flavanone, flavone, or isoflavone backbones, even though it shares several common features with flavonoid-specific prenyltransferases.A substantial part of nonhost defense responses in many plants is the pathogen-induced production of secondary metabolites, generally termed phytoalexins, that locally restrict disease progression due to bioactivities toxic to the pathogen (for review, see Ahuja et al., 2012). Peanut or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) tissues mount a defense against infection by the soil fungus Aspergillus flavus and other pathogens by overproducing stilbene derivatives around sites of wounding and elicitor perception (Sobolev, 2013). Resveratrol, one of the most studied phytoalexin stilbenoids, has attracted great attention because of its bioactive properties shown through in vitro and in vivo assays to benefit human health. These include antiinflammatory (Das and Das, 2007) and antioxidant properties as well as antitumor and favorable cardiovascular effects (Gambini et al., 2015). However, the limited oral bioavailability of resveratrol due to its rapid absorption and metabolism restricts the future of this potentially valuable drug in clinical trials (Tomé-Carneiro et al., 2013; Gambini et al., 2015).Prenylated stilbenoids naturally produced as phytoalexins in the peanut plant possess, for the most part, one isoprenyl moiety bound to the aromatic ring of the stilbene molecule (Fig. 1). When compared with resveratrol, these compounds exhibit similar or enhanced bioactivity in in vitro experiments. For instance, arachidin-1 and resveratrol showed similar antiinflammatory activity in lipid polysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and this correlated with the inhibition of PG E₂ production (Chang et al., 2006; Djoko et al., 2007). Arachidin-1, arachidin-2, and arachidin-3, also applied to macrophages, were more effective than resveratrol in inhibiting inducible nitric oxide production (Sobolev et al., 2011). In other antioxidant activity assays, arachidin-1 inhibited lipid oxidation more effectively than resveratrol (Abbott et al., 2010), and arachidin-2 and arachidin-3 showed greater potency over resveratrol in inhibiting the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (Sobolev et al., 2011). Arachidin-1 further showed higher cytotoxicity than resveratrol to leukemia HL-60 cells (Huang et al., 2010) and other cancer cells (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, and SK-OV-3; Sobolev et al., 2011). Interestingly, arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 were shown to bind to human cannabinoid receptors 2 (hCBR2s), while the affinity of their nonprenylated analogs, piceatannol and resveratrol, for hCBR2s was 5- to 10-fold lower. Molecular modeling studies with hCBR2s indicated that the prenyl moiety of the arachidins improved the binding affinity to the receptors (Brents et al., 2012).Open in a separate windowFigure 1.A, Structure of the stilbene backbone and main prenylation patterns found on peanut prenylated stilbenoids. B, Chemical structures of stilbenoids identified in elicited peanut hairy roots: resveratrol (a), piceatannol (b), arachidin-2 (c), arachidin-5 (d), arachidin-3 (e), and arachidin-1 (f). All compounds are shown in their trans-isomers.In addition to the above-mentioned stilbenoids (arachidin-1, arachidin-2, and arachidin-3), more than 20 other prenylated stilbenoids have been described in peanut tissues (Sobolev et al., 2006, 2016; Wu et al., 2011; Sobolev, 2013). The biosynthesis of stilbenoids derives from both the phenylpropanoid and acetate pathways. These merge to produce resveratrol by the action of resveratrol synthase, which catalyzes the cyclization of 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA (Schöppner and Kindl, 1984). The prenylation step, in which one of two prenyl patterns (3,3-dimethylallyl and 3-methyl-but-1-enyl) is introduced to various positions of the stilbene backbone (Fig. 1), along with the oxidation, methylation, and cyclization steps plays a major role in the diversification of peanut prenylated stilbenoids. Although the enzymes involved in resveratrol biosynthesis have been elucidated (Chong et al., 2009), the enzymes involved in the prenylation steps of resveratrol or any other stilbenoid have not been described.For other prenylated aromatic compounds, a prenyltransferase was found to be the critical activity for coupling the aromatic compound biosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis, the latter leading to the formation of the prenyl unit (Yazaki et al., 2009). Two pathways are known for the biosynthesis of prenylated compounds in plants, the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway in the cytosol and the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastid (Lohr et al., 2012). Many studies have shown that dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) derived from the MEP pathway is used as a prenyl donor to form prenylated flavonoids or prenylated isoflavonoids in the plastid (Yamamoto et al., 2000; Yazaki et al., 2009). To determine the biosynthetic origin of these terpenoids, distinct metabolic inhibitors were applied to inhibit the key rate-limiting enzymes involved in either the MVA or MEP pathway. For instance, mevastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase involved in the MVA pathway, was used in hairy root cultures of ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to study the biosynthesis of ginsenosides (Zhao et al., 2014), while clomazone, an herbicide that inhibits 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase during early steps of DMAPP biosynthesis in the plastid, was used to investigate the synthesis of monoterpenes in Catharanthus roseus (Han et al., 2013).In order to elucidate the biosynthesis of peanut prenylated stilbenoids, we established hairy root cultures of peanut (Condori et al., 2010) and recently demonstrated that a sustainable production of the prenylated stilbenoids arachidin-1 and arachidin-3 can be achieved upon cotreatment of these cultures with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and cyclodextrin (CD; Yang et al., 2015a). In this study, we took advantage of this bioproduction system and identified arachidin-2 and a new prenylated stilbenoid, named arachidin-5, as the prenylated products of the hairy root microsomal fraction using resveratrol and piceatannol as substrates, respectively. To determine the biosynthetic origin of the prenyl moiety of these prenylated stilbenoids, two metabolic inhibitors, mevastatin and clomazone were selected and applied to peanut hairy root cultures cotreated with MeJA and CD as elicitors. In the process, we identified and characterized a resveratrol 4-dimethylallyl transferase from the microsomal fraction of elicited peanut hairy roots. To our knowledge, this enzyme is the first stilbenoid-specific prenyltransferase that prenylates resveratrol and other specific stilbenoids at the 4-C position of the aromatic ring (Fig. 1).     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis and cell-growth inhibition activity of resveratrol analogues

The stilbenoid resveratrol (1) was subjected to regioselective acetylation catalysed by Candida antarctica lipase (CAL) to obtain 4'-acetylresveratrol (2). CAL biocatalysed regioselective alcoholysis of 3,5,4'-triacetylresveratrol (3), 3,5,4'-tributanoylresveratrol (6), and 3, 4, 5'-trioctanoylresveratrol (9) afforded derivatives 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Further resveratrol analogues (12-18) were obtained through methylation and hydrogenation reactions, whereas the 3,4,4'-trimethoxystilbene (19) was obtained by complete synthesis. Resveratrol and its lipophylic analogues were subjected to cell-growth inhibition bioassays towards DU-145 human prostate cancer cells. Compounds 2-19 showed cell-growth inhibition activity comparable to or higher than resveratrol (GI(50)=24.09 microM), displaying low or very low toxicity against non-tumorigenic human fibroblast cells. Comparison of the trimethoxy stilbenes 12 (GI(50)=2.92 microM) and 19 (GI(50)=25.39 microM) indicates that the position of the substituents is important for the activity. The marked activity of methyl ethers 12, 13, and 18 in comparison with that of the corresponding esters suggests that the different chemical reactivity, rather than steric factors, strongly influences the activity.     

酿酒葡萄皮渣中白藜芦醇的抗氧化活性研究

本文利用甲醇溶剂对酿酒葡萄皮渣进行浸提,得到白藜芦醇粗提物.粗提物通过硅胶柱层析进行纯化.然后,研究了白藜芦醇的氧自由基、超氧阴离子自由基、羟自由基、DPPH自由基的清除能力.结果显示:白藜芦醇具有很强的自由基清除能力和抗氧化能力,并且随着浓度的增加,抗氧化能力增强.     

A Survey of the flavonoids and simple phenols in leaves of Cavendishia (Ericaceae)

A survey of the leaves of 116 species of the neotropical genusCavendishia showed that the genus is characterized by the presence of flavoneC-glycosides. Other constituents include flavones (luteolin, chrysoeriol, tricin), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin), dihydroflavonols, proanthocyanidins, and ellagic and salicylic acids. The stilbene, resveratrol, has been identified in six species; this is only the second report of stilbenoids in the family. The identity of a natural hybridC. endresii xC. quereme has been confirmed by detecting in its leaves characteristic phenolics of both parental species.     

Ganodermasides A and B,two novel anti-aging ergosterols from spores of a medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum on yeast via UTH1 gene

Two novel ergosterol derivatives, ganodermasides A and B, hydroxylated at C-15 were isolated from the methanol extract of spores of a medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, showed to extend the replicative life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast of K6001 strain. The stereostructures of ganodermasides A and B were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis and comparison of spectroscopic data. These new sterols have a 4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraene-3-one unit with a unique hydroxylation at C-15. The anti-aging activity of these compounds on yeast is comparable to a well-known substance, resveratrol. Based on results of the investigation of the mechanism of biological activity, ganodermasides A and B regulated UTH1 expression in order to extend the replicative life span of yeast.     

Antioxidant and insect growth regulatory activities of stilbenes and extracts from Yucca periculosa

The methanol extract from the bark of Yucca periculosa F. Baker afforded 4,4'-dihydroxstilbene, resveratrol and 3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxystilbene and had growth regulatory activity against the Fall Army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) an insect pest of corn. The most active compound was 3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxystilbene which had significant effects at 3 microg/g in diets. In addition to the inhibitory activity on bleaching of crocin induced by alkoxyl radicals, these compounds also demonstrated scavenging properties toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl in TLC autographic and spectrophotometric assays. Our results indicate that these compounds could be involved in interference of sclerotization and moulting. These compounds appear to have selective effects on the pre-emergence metabolism of the insect. The results were fully comparable to known natural insect growth inhibitors such as gedunin and Cedrela extracts and have had a possible role as natural insecticidal agents.     

Pro-autophagic polyphenols reduce the acetylation of cytoplasmic proteins

Resveratrol is a polyphenol contained in red wine that has been amply investigated for its beneficial effects on organismal metabolism, in particular in the context of the so-called “French paradox,” i.e., the relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease exhibited by a population with a high dietary intake of cholesterol and saturated fats. At least part of the beneficial effect of resveratrol on human health stems from its capacity to promote autophagy by activating the NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1. However, the concentration of resveratrol found in red wine is excessively low to account alone for the French paradox. Here, we investigated the possibility that other mono- and polyphenols contained in red wine might induce autophagy while affecting the acetylation levels of cellular proteins. Phenolic compounds found in red wine, including anthocyanins (oenin), stilbenoids (piceatannol), monophenols (caffeic acid, gallic acid) glucosides (delphinidin, kuronamin, peonidin) and flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin), were all capable of stimulating autophagy, although with dissimilar potencies. Importantly, a robust negative correlation could be established between autophagy induction and the acetylation levels of cytoplasmic proteins, as determined by a novel immunofluorescence staining protocol that allows for the exclusion of nuclear components from the analysis. Inhibition of sirtuin 1 by both pharmacological and genetic means abolished protein deacetylation and autophagy as stimulated by resveratrol, but not by piceatannol, indicating that these compounds act through distinct molecular pathways. In support of this notion, resveratrol and piceatannol synergized in inducing autophagy as well as in promoting cytoplasmic protein deacetylation. Our results highlight a cause-effect relationship between the deacetylation of cytoplasmic proteins and autophagy induction by red wine components.     

Natural Stilbenoids Isolated from Grapevine Exhibiting Inhibitory Effects against HIV-1 Integrase and Eukaryote MOS1 Transposase In Vitro Activities

Polynucleotidyl transferases are enzymes involved in several DNA mobility mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Some of them such as retroviral integrases are crucial for pathogenous processes and are therefore good candidates for therapeutic approaches. To identify new therapeutic compounds and new tools for investigating the common functional features of these proteins, we addressed the inhibition properties of natural stilbenoids deriving from resveratrol on two models: the HIV-1 integrase and the eukaryote MOS-1 transposase. Two resveratrol dimers, leachianol F and G, were isolated for the first time in Vitis along with fourteen known stilbenoids: E-resveratrol, E-piceid, E-pterostilbene, E-piceatannol, (+)-E-ε-viniferin, E-ε-viniferinglucoside, E-scirpusin A, quadragularin A, ampelopsin A, pallidol, E-miyabenol C, E-vitisin B, hopeaphenol, and isohopeaphenol and were purified from stalks of Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae), and moracin M from stem bark of Milliciaexelsa (Moraceae). These compounds were tested in in vitro and in vivo assays reproducing the activity of both enzymes. Several molecules presented significant inhibition on both systems. Some of the molecules were found to be active against both proteins while others were specific for one of the two models. Comparison of the differential effects of the molecules suggested that the compounds could target specific intermediate nucleocomplexes of the reactions. Additionally E-pterostilbene was found active on the early lentiviral replication steps in lentiviruses transduced cells. Consequently, in addition to representing new original lead compounds for further modelling of new active agents against HIV-1 integrase, these molecules could be good tools for identifying such reaction intermediates in DNA mobility processes.     

Polyoxygenated cyclohexane derivatives and other constituents from Kaempferia rotunda L

Methanol extracts of Kaempferia rotunda L. rhizomes yielded seven compounds including six polyoxygenated cyclohexane derivatives identified as (-)-6-acetylzeylenol (1), four acylated derivatives of 1-benzoyloxymethyl-1,6-epoxycyclohexan-2,3,4,5-tetrol (3-6), a Diels-Alder adduct of 3-benzoyl-1-benzoyloxymethylcyclohexa-4,6-dien-2,3-diol (7), and a triacylated derivative of salicin (9). The cyclohexane diepoxide, crotepoxide (8), was also obtained. Spectroscopic methods were used for structure determination. The methanol extract of the rhizomes of K. rotunda and (-)-2-acetyl-4-benzoyl-1-benzoyloxymethyl-1,6-epoxycyclohexan-2,3,4,5-tetrol (2-acetylrotepoxide B; 6), had antifeedant activity against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. (-)-Zeylenol (2) also showed antifeedant activity, whereas (-)-6-acetylzeylenol (1) was inactive.