Melovinone,an open chain analogue of melochinone from Melochia tomentosa

Melovinone, a new alkaloid isolated from the roots of Melochia tomentosa has been characterized as 3,7,8-trimethoxy-2-methyl-5(5′-phenylpentyl)-4-quinolinone.     

Levels of tropinone-reductase activities influence the spectrum of tropane esters found in transformed root cultures of Datura stramonium L.

The nortropane sulphur analogues 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1] octan-3-one, 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3a-ol and 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol have been found to have differential effects in vitro on the activities of tropinone reductase I and tropinone reductase II from Datura stramonium L. It has been demonstrated that only tropinone reductase I is able to metabolise 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one and that only this enzyme is inhibited by 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol and 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol. A K _m of 0.035 mM was determined for 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one and I₅₀ values of 0.081 mM and 0.021 mM for 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol and 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol, respectively. The influence that these differential interactions might have on metabolism was investigated in transformed root cultures of D. stramonium. It was found that when these cultures were grown in the presence of either 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one or 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol the spectrum of alkaloids that accumulated was altered from that found in control roots in the manner predicted from the observed effects of these inhibitors on the isolated reductases. The effect could be mimicked by feeding pseudotropine, the product of tropinone reductase II. It is concluded that the relative levels of activity of the two tropinone reductases might play an important role in regulating the balance of tropan-3-ols to tropan-3-ols seen in the spectrum of tropane-alkaloid-producing plants.Abbreviations GC/MS gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; - I₅₀ concentration of inhibitor required to reduce the rate of reaction to half the maximal value; - -TBOL 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol; - -TBOL 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol; - TBON 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one; - TR tropinone reductase We are most grateful to J. Eagles (I.F.R., Norwich) for GC/MS analysis, to colleagues at I.P.B.P. and I.F.R. for helpful discussions, to the technical staff (Chemistry, Glasgow) and to W. Millar (Chemistry, Glasgow) for assistance with the reduction of TBON. This work was, in part, supported by a grant to B Dräger from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Dr227/I-I). The research reported here was supported by an Academic Research Collaboration Cooperative Award (project No. 215) from the British Council and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst to R.J. Robins and B. Dräger.     

1-Hydroxycanthin-6-one,an alkaloid from Ailanthus giraldii

A new alkaloid has been isolated from the heartwood of Ailanthus giraldii and its structure determined as 1-hydroxycanthin-6-one.     

Two cage-type lupin alkaloids from Sophora franchetiana

Two new cage-type lupin alkaloids, (?)-tsukushinamine-B and tsukushinamine-C, have been isolated from the fresh epigeal parts of Sophora franchetiana, along with (?)-cytisine, (?)-N-formylcytisine, (?)-rhombifoline, (?)-anagyrine, (?)-baptifoline and (±)-ammodendrine, as well as (?)-tsukushinamine-A. The structures of these novel tsukushinamine-type lupin alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic data and partly by a chemical reaction. Variations of the alkaloid contents in the seeds, seedlings and various parts of S. franchetiana were also examined.     

Degradation of [α-14C]hordenine in Hordeum vulgare plants

Evidence is presented indicating that intact plants of Hordeum vulgare degrade [α- ¹⁴C]hordenine to ¹⁴CO ₂.     

Components of Stem Barks of Winchia calophylla A. DC. and Their Bronchodilator Activities

The Dai medicinal plant Winchia calophylla A. DC. (Apocynaceae) has efficacy as an anticough and anti-asthmatic medication. In order to investigate its relative bioactive components, we studied the chemical constituents of this plant. Using repeated column chromatography, 28 compounds, including loganin, six phenolic compounds, 17 indole alkaloids, three pyridine alkaloids, and a quinoline alkaloid,were isolated from the stem barks of W. calophylla. Loganin, paeonol, N (4)-methyl akuammicine, and cantleyine exhibited a moderate relaxation effect on isolated smooth muscles of guinea-pig tracheal spirals and lung strips and may be the bioactive components responsible for the bronchodilation produced by W. calophylla.     

1H NMR Spectroscopy of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

The ¹H NMR spectra of three pyrrolizidine alkaloids of the macrocyclic diester type, retrorsine, seneciphylline and senecionine, plus their three N-oxides have been assigned. Previous ¹H NMR studies of these pyrrolizidine alkaloids have stressed the difficulties of spectral intrepretation. The results reported here will provide a useful resource for analysis of tertiary structure in these and related compounds.     

丽江乌头根中的二萜生物碱成分研究

为了寻找丽江乌头中结构新颖的化合物,丰富丽江乌头的化学成分多样性,本文对丽江乌头(Aconitum forrestii Stapf)根部的化学成分进行研究,采用硅胶柱层析从其乙醇提取物中分离得到14个化合物。通过HR-ESI-MS、1D和2D NMR等波谱技术鉴定了它们的结构,其中化合物1是一个新的乌头碱型二萜生物碱,命名为8-O-methyl-14-O-anisoylchasmanine(1)。其余13个化合物均为已知化合物:14-acetoxy-8-O-methylsachaconitine(2)、14-acetyltalatizamine(3)、talatisamine(4)、chasmanine(5)、ezochasmanine(6)、crassicautine(7)、geniculatine C(8)、cammaconine(9)、vilmoraconitine(10)、aconitramine A(11)、vilmorrianine G(12)、hemsleyaconitine G(13)和heterophylloidine(14)。测试了所有化合物对阿霉素诱导的H9c2心肌细胞损伤的保护活性,结果显示化合物3、10、11和12表现出一定的保护作用。