New azafluorenones with cytotoxic and carbonic anhydrase inhibitory properties: 2-Aryl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridin-5-ones

New azafluorenones, 2-aryl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridin-5-ones, were prepared to evaluate their cytotoxic/anticancer properties, also their inhibitory effects on hCA I and II isoenzymes. Aryl part was changed as [phenyl (H1), 4-methylphenyl (H2), 4-methoxyphenyl (H3), 4-fluorophenyl (H4), 4-bromophenyl (H5), 4-chlorophenyl (H6), 3-hydroxyphenyl (H7), and 4-hydroxyphenyl (H8)]. The structure of the synthesized compounds was characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS spectra.Cytotoxicity results of the series pointed out that the compounds H6 (PSE: 28.0) and H5 (PSE: 27.3), with the highest potency selectivity expression (PSE) value, can be considered as leader compounds of the study in designing novel anticancer agents. Additionally, all azafluorenones synthesized showed a good inhibition profile towards hCA I and II isoenzymes in the range of 54.14–73.72 nM and 67.28–76.15 nM, respectively.The compounds H5 and H6 can be considered for further designs with their cytotoxic and CA inhibitory profiles.     

New unsaturated fatty acid and other chemical constituents from the roots of Cola rostrata K. Schum. (Malvaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Cola rostrata K. Schum. led to the isolation of a new unsaturated fatty acid, named rostratanic acid (1), together with fourteen known compounds, lignoceric acid, friedelan (7), friedelanone (8), bauerenol (3), lupeol (4), herranone (9), acotatarone A (11), betulinic acid (6), betulin (5), nonanedioc acid (2), arjunolic acid (10) stigmasterol, β−sitosterol, and β−sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The structure of the new compound as well as those of the known compounds were established by means of spectroscopic methods: NMR analysis (¹H and ¹³C NMR, ¹H–¹H–COSY, HSQC and HMBC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), and by comparison with previously reported data. Two of those known compounds were modified chemically to afford three new derivatives. All those compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against the human cervix carcinoma KB-3-1 cells and their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Although the crude extract gave weak antibacterial activity, none of the isolated compounds showed antibacterial activity, and, only the prenylated derivative showed weak cytotoxicity. In addition, the chemotaxonomic significance of the species Cola rostrata is discussed.     

Five new iridoïd dimers from the fruits of Canthium subcordatum DC (syn. Psydrax subcordata DC)

Five new iridoid dimers, canthiumosides 1–5 (1–4 and 5a), together with nine known compounds, shanzhigenin methyl ester (6), 1-epishanzhigenin methyl ester (6′), linearin (7), 1-epilinearin (7′), mussaenoside (8), shanzhiside methyl ester (9), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone (10), betulinic acid (11), and oleanolic acid (12) were isolated from the fruits of Canthium subcordatum DC (Syn. Psydrax subcordata (DC) Bridson). The structures of these compounds were established by interpretation of their spectral data, mainly HR-TOFESIMS, 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C and DEPT) and 2D NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and by comparison with the literature.     

Three new compounds isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk and their anti-inflammatory activity

Three new compounds, 17β-cevanin-6-oxo-5α,20β-diol yibeinine (1), 2-(tetrahydro-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-pyran-3-yl) phenol (2), 1,3-O-diferuloyl-2-methoxypropane diol (3), as well as four known compounds (4–7), have been isolated from the ethanol extract of dried bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk. All structures were determined based on their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR (including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, HMBC, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, and NOESY experiments), and MS). Biological evaluation showed that compounds 1–4 inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 18.0, 38.7, 29.5, and 47.1 μM, respectively. These results indicated that compound 1 has potential anti-inflammatory activity.     

Staphylopeptide A,a new cyclic tetrapeptide from culture broth of Staphylococcus sp.

Re-investigation of the culture broth of the marine bacterium Staphylococcus sp. (no. P-100826-4-6) afforded a new cyclic tetrapeptide namely staphylopeptide A (1), along with five known compounds, cyclo (l-prolyl-l-valine) (2), cyclo (l-prolyl-l-tyrosine), (3), cyclo (l-prolyl-l-alanine) (4), l-phenylalanine (5), and l-tryptophan (6). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive IR, 1D (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D (¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) NMR and HRFABMS spectral measurements. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds (1–6) was evaluated.     

New purine alkaloids from the Red Sea marine tunicate Symplegma rubra

Investigation of the Red Sea marine tunicate Symplegma rubra Monniot, 1972 gave three new purine alkaloids namely 6-methoxy-7,9-dimethyl-8-oxoguanine (1), 6-methoxy-9-methyl-8-oxoguanine (2), and 2-methoxy-7-methyl-8-oxoadenine (4) together with seven known compounds: 6-methoxy-7-methyl-8-oxoguanine (3), 9-methyl-8-oxoadenine (5), 7-methyl-8-oxoadenine (6), 8-oxoadenine (7), 3-methylxanthine (8), inosine (9), and homarine (pyridinium-2-carboxylic acid-1-methyl) (10). Compound 6 was reported here for the first time from a natural source. The structure determination of the compounds was accomplished by extensive interpretation of their spectroscopic data including 1D (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D (¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR and high-resolution mass spectral data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their protein kinase inhibitory activity against different kinases (CDK5, CK1, DyrK1A, and GSK3) at 10 μg/mL. The compounds showed moderate activity against these kinases.     

Phenolic acid glycosides from Parmentiera cereifera Seem. (Candle tree)

Two new phenolic acid glycosides, parmentins A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves and stems of candle tree (Parmentiera cereifera Seem). These compounds were accompanied by a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol (3), β-sitosterol glucoside (4), isovanillic acid (5), vanillic acid (6), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (7). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of physical and spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HSQC and HMBC) and mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS).     

Three new monoterpene glucosides and one new sorbitol ester identified from Sibiraea angustata with hypolipidemic activities in HepG2 cells

Three new monoterpene glycosides, sibiraglycoside L (1), M (2), N (3) and one new sorbitol ester, resibirate (4), together with four known compounds including caffeic acid glucitol ester (5), sibiscolacton C (6), geraniol-1-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-1-β-d-glucopyranoside] (7), and sibiraglycoside K (8), respectively, were isolated from an aqueous extract of the aerial portion of Sibiraea angustata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis (including ¹³CNMR,¹HNMR, HSQC, HMBC,¹H-¹H COSY, ROESY, HRESIMS, MS and CD experiments) and comparison to previously reported data. In addition, a preliminary evaluation of the hypolipidemic activities of these compounds is presented, some compounds showed moderate hypolipidemic activities in HepG2 cells.     

Chemical constituents from Ficus natalensis hochst (Moraceae) and their chemophenetic significance

Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Ficus natalensis afforded eleven compounds including one ceramide (1), two anthraquinones (2, 3), four triterpenes (4–7), two polyols (8, 9) and two steroids (10, 11). The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses including IR, UV, MS, 1D- and 2D- NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY), as well as by comparison with literature data. The antibacterial activity and the cytotoxicity of the extract, fractions and some isolated compounds (3, 5, 8 and 9) were evaluated. Some fractions and sub-fractions from various column chromatography displayed moderate antibacterial activity with diameter zone of inhibition (DZI) ranging from 7 to 10 mm. None of the compounds tested had activity. In the present study, all the compounds are isolated for the first time from the species F. natalensis. Compounds 2, 4–7, 10 and 11 were previously reported from the genus Ficus. The chemophenetic significance of the isolated compounds is discussed.     

New constituents from the dried fruit of Piper nigrum Linn., and their larvicidal potential against the Dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti

Six bioactive compounds were isolated from the seeds extract of Piper nigrum Linn. following a larvicidal activity guided isolation against 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L., a Dengue vector mosquito and a carrier of yellow fever. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods including HR-EI-MS, FAB-MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR (Broad Bond Decoupled, & DEPT), and 2D-NMR techniques (¹H–¹H COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC, & 2D-J-resolved). These include three new constituents namely pipilyasine (1), pipzubedine (2) and pipyaqubine (3), and three known constituents pellitorine (4), pipericine (5) and piperine (6). The larvicidal activity was determined by WHO method.     

Isoprenylated flavonoids from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis

Two new isoprenylated flavanones, tonkinochromanes J (1) and K (2), and a new isoprenylated dihydrochalcone, tonkinochromane L (3), were isolated from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis along with four known compounds (4-7). Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic analyses, including HRMS, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and 2D experiments (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), and comparison with known related compounds.     

Cytotoxic biotransformed products from andrographolide by Rhizopus stolonifer ATCC 12939

Biotransformation of andrographolide (1) by Rhizopus stolonifer ATCC 12939 was investigated. Ten bioconversion products were isolated and identified. Their structures were elucidated by high resolution mass spectroscopy (HR-MS), extensive NMR techniques, including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, ¹H–¹H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), two dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect correlation spectroscopy (NOESY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (HMBC). Their structures were identified to be 12(R),13(R)-12-hydroxyandrographolide (2), 12(S),13(S)-12-hydroxyandrographolide (3), isoandrographolide (4), 3-dehydro-isoandrographolide (5), 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (6), 3-oxo-14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (7), 3-dehydroandrographolide (8), 14-deoxyandrographolide (9), 3-dehydro-14-deoxyandrographolide (10) and 3-dehydro-14-deoxyandrographolide-19-oic acid (11). Among them, compounds 5 and 11 are novel compounds. The biosynthetic pathways of andrographolide by R. stolonifer were proposed. Most of the products showed potential antiproliferative activities against human breast cancer (MCF-7), human colon cancer (HCT-116) and human leukemia (HL-60) cell lines, and their structure–activity relationships (SAR) were discussed in detail.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study of Pulsatilla cernua (Thunb.) Bercht. ex J. Presl

Twenty-two compounds were isolated from the 70% EtOH–H₂O extract of Pulsatilla cernua (Thunb.) Bercht. ex J. Presl roots, and their structures were determined based on ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS spectroscopic data, including (+)-pinoresinol (1), matairesinol (2), 4-ethoxycinnamic acid (3), p-hydroxy ethyl cinnamate (4), 3-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2(E)-propenoic acid (5), methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate (6), radicol (7), cryptomeridiol (8), fraxinellone (9), diolmycin B2 (10), hederagonic acid (11), hederagenin (12), oleanolic acid (13), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-oleanolic acid (14), hederagenin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (15), 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl] oleanolic acid (16), hederasaponin B (17), kizutasaponin K₁₂ (18), patrinia saponin H3 (19), hederacholichiside F (20), cernuoside A (21) and cernuoside B (22). Eight compounds (3–10) were isolated and identified from the genus Pulsatilla for the first time.     

Two new antimicrobial steroids and other constituents from the whole plant of Ludwigia abyssinica

The genus Ludwigia belongs to the Onagraceae family and it encompasses seventy-five species of aquatic plants. The chemistry of this genus is scarcely investigated, although some studies have demonstrated the potential of Ludwigia leptocarpa to produce important bioactive compounds. Herein, we describe the phytochemical investigation of Ludwigia abyssinica A. Rich. Two new steroids named 3β-formyloxy-5α,6α-dihydroxysitostane (Ludwigiaformyl A, 1) and 3β,6α-diformyloxy-5α-hydroxysitostane (Ludwigiaformyl B, 2), along with six known compounds, 3β-formyloxysitost-5-en (3), 5α,6β-dihydroxysitosterol (4), maslinic acid (5), oleanolic acid (6) and a mixture of two iridoids: linearin (7) and 1-epilinearin (8) were obtained from whole plant of L. abyssinica. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic and spectrometric data, which included HR-TOF-ESIMS, ¹D NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and ²D NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY) and by comparison with data reported in the literature. The antimicrobial activities of extracts, fractions, and new compounds (1) and (2) were evaluated using broth microdilution method against fungi and bacteria strains. The MeOH extract and the ethyl acetate fraction displayed different degrees of antibacterial and antifungal activities (MIC = 32 – 512 µg/mL; MMC = 64 – 512 µg/mL) whereas compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate antimicrobial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri and Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC = 8 – 32 µg/mL; MMC = 8 – 64 µg/mL).     

Phenolic constituents of leaves from Persea caerulea Ruiz & Pav; Mez (Lauraceae)

The chemical investigation of the ethanolic extract from the leaves of Persea caerulea led to the isolation of flavonoids, coumarins and three steroidal type compounds. Based on ESI-MS, UV, IR, GC-MS and ¹H and ¹³C NMR data analysis, the structures of ten isolated compounds were identified as: quercetin (1), kaempferide-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside (5), scopoletin (6), isofraxidin (7) campesterol (8), stigmasterol (9) and β-sitosterol (10). In the current research, the isolated compounds 1–9 are reported for the first time in the species Persea caerulea.     

Anthraquinones and other constituents from the roots of Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod

The chemical investigation of the roots of Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod (Acanthaceae). led to the isolation of thirteen compounds including five anthraquinones 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (1), 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylanthraquinone (2), emodin (3), aloe emodin (4) and 8-O-D-glucopyranosideemodin (5); one phenylethanoid glucoside acteoside (6); one benzophenone 2,6-dimethoxybenzophenone (7); two pentacyclic triterpenoids lupeol (8) and betulinic acid (9); three phytosterols stigmasterol (10), β-sitosterol (11), and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12) and one fatty acid hexadecanoid acid (13). All these compounds are firstly reported from the roots of E. speciosa. Emodin and acteoside were modified chemically through allylation reaction to afford 3-O-allylated emodin (3a) and a new perallylated acteoside derivative (6a), respectively. The structure of the isolated compounds as well as those of the allylated derivatives were established by means of spectroscopic methods: NMR analysis (¹H and ¹³C NMR, ¹H–¹H–COSY, HSQC and HMBC), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and by comparison with previously reported data. All those compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against the human cervix carcinoma KB-3-1 cells and their antioxidant activity, the allylated acteoside derivative and 2,6-dimethoxybenzophenone showed weak cytotoxicity while acteoside showed a good antioxidant activity. In addition, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compound is discussed.     

Platachromone A–D: Cytotoxic 2-styrylchromones from the bark of Platanus × acerifolia (Aiton) Willd.

Four novel 2-styrylchromones, 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-6-isopentene-2-styrylchromone (1), 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-8-isopentene-2-styrylchromone (2), 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-6-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-2-styrylchromone (3) and 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-8-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-2-styrylchromone (4), were isolated from shed bark of Platanus × acerifolia (Aiton) Willd., as well as four known compounds, 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-2-styrylchromone (5), scutellarein (6), 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-6-prenylflavone (7), and 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-8-prenylflavone (8). The structures of compounds 1–4 were established by direct interpretation of their spectral data, mainly high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), 1D and 2D NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC and HMBC). The cytotoxicity of the compounds 1–8 was evaluated in four human carcinoma cell lines, including HepG2, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, and KB. Compounds 1–4 exhibited significantly cytotoxic activity toward HepG2 and KB cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.0 to 9.7 μM.     

Isopimarane diterpenes and flavan derivatives from the twigs of Caesalpinia furfuracea

The first phytochemical investigation of Caesalpinia furfuracea twigs led to the isolation and identification of four new compounds including two isopimarane diterpenes, caesalfurfuric acids A (1) and B (2), and two flavans, (2R)-caesalflavans A (5) and B (6), together with four known compounds, 4-epi-isopimaric acid (3), methyl (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylate (4), (E)-resveratrol (7) and oxyresveratrol (8). Their structures were elucidated by intensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 was found to exhibit antibacterial activity against MRSA SK1 with an MIC value of 16 μg/mL.     

Chemical constituents from Phlomis bovei Noë and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical investigation of the leaves and roots of Phlomis bovei Noë (Lamiaceae) led to the isolation of sixteen compounds, including iridoids (1, 2, 3), megastigmanes (4, 5), phenylpropanoids (6, 7, 8, 9, 10), lignans (11, 12, 13, 14), a nortriterpene (15), and a phenyl glucoside (16). Compounds (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10) were obtained from the leaves and compounds (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) were isolated from the roots. Compounds 1 and 2 were found both in the leaves and in roots.The compounds were identified by analysis of 1D- (¹H, ¹³C), 2D-NMR (¹H–¹H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC) spectroscopic data, mass spectrometry (ESI- and HR-ESI-MS), and by comparison with previously reported spectral data.Compounds 5, 9, 10, 13 and 14 were isolated from the genus Phlomis for the first time. All these specialized metabolites were described here for the first time in the Algerian Phlomis bovei Noë species. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have appeared on the constituents of the roots of P.bovei Noë. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarized.     

Neo-clerodane diterpenes from Ajuga turkestanica

The ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts of Ajuga turkestanica afforded 6 neo-clerodane diterpenes, including two novel compounds, 14,15-dihydroajugachin B (1) and 14-hydro-15-methoxyajugachin B (2), in addition to the known diterpenoids chamaepitin (3), ajugachin B (4), ajugapitin (5) and lupulin A (6). Structures were established through exhaustive NMR spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformation in the case of 1. The full ¹H and ¹³C NMR assignment of the C-15 R and S configurations of 14-hydro-15-methoxyajugachin B and chamaepitin were elucidated.