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Background: In Kenya, several species of the genus Maytenus are used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases including malaria. In this study, phytochemical constituents and extracts of Maytenus undata, M. putterlickioides, M. senegalensis and M. heterophylla were evaluated to determine compound/s responsible for antimalarial activity.
Objective: To isolate antiplasmodial compounds from these plant species which could be used as marker compounds in the standardization of their extracts as a phytomedicine for malaria.
Methods: Constituents were isolated through activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH/CHCl3 (1:1) extracts and in vitro inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using Vero cells and the compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopy.
Results: Fractionation of the extracts resulted in the isolation of ten known compounds. Compound 1 showed promising antiplasmodial activity with IC50, 3.63 and 3.95 ng/ml against chloroquine sensitive (D6) and resistant (W2) P. falciparum, respectively and moderate cytotoxicity (CC50, 37.5 ng/ml) against Vero E6 cells. The other compounds showed weak antiplasmodial (IC50 > 1.93 mu g/ml) and cytotoxic (CC50 > 39.52 mu g/ml) activities against P. falciparum and Vero E6 cells, respectively.
Conclusion: (20 alpha)-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-24-nor-friedela-1(10),3,5,7-tetraen-carboxylic acid-(29)-methyl-ester (pristimerin) (1) was the most active marker and lead compound that warrants further investigation as a template for the development of new antimalarial drugs. Pristimerin is reported for the first time in M. putterlickioides. 3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (oleanolic acid) (5), stigmast-5-en-3-ol (beta-sitosterol) (6), 3-oxo-28-friedelanoic acid (7), olean-12-en-3-ol (beta-amyrin) (8), lup-20(29)-en-3-ol (lupeol) (9) and lup-20(29)-en-3-one (lupenone) (10) are reported for the first time in M. undata.
Background: Malaria is an old life-threatening parasitic disease that is still affecting many people, mainly children living in sub-Saharan Africa. Availability of effective antimalarial drugs played a significant role in the treatment and control of malaria. However, recent information on the emergence of P. falciparum parasites resistant to one of the artemisinin-based combination therapies suggests the need for discovery of new drug molecules. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of extracts, fractions and isolated compound from medicinal plants traditionally used in the treatment of malaria in Tanzania. Methods: Dry powdered plant materials were extracted by cold macerations using different solvents. Norcaesalpin D was isolated by column chromatography from dichloromethane root extract of Caesalpinia bonducella and its structure was assigned based on the spectral data. Crude extracts, fractions and isolated compound were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum (3D7), chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum (Dd2, K1) and artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum (IPC 5202 Battambang, IPC 4912 Mondolkiri) strains using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay. Results: The results indicated that extracts of Erythrina schliebenii, Holarrhena pubescens, Dissotis melleri and C. bonducella exhibited antiplasmodial activity against Dd2 parasites. Ethanolic root extract of E. schliebenii had an IC50 of 1.87 mu g/mL while methanolic and ethanolic root extracts of H. pubescens exhibited an IC50 = 2.05 mu g/mL and IC50 = 2.43 mu g/mL, respectively. Fractions from H. pubescens and C. bonducella roots were found to be highly active against K1, Dd2 and artemisinin-resistant parasites. Norcaesalpin D from C. bonducella root extract was active with IC50 of 0.98, 1.85 and 2.13 mu g/mL against 3D7, Dd2 and IPC 4912-Mondolkiri parasites, respectively. Conclusions: Antiplasmodial activity of norcaesalpin D and extracts of E. schliebenii, H. pubescens, D. melleri and C. bonducella reported in this study requires further attention for the discovery of antimalarial lead compounds for future drug development.
A new isoflavone, 8-prenylmilldrone (1), and four new rotenoids, oblarotenoids A-D (2-5), along with nine known compounds (6-14), were isolated from the CH2Cl2/CH3OH (1:1) extract of the leaves of Millettia oblata ssp. teitensis by chromatographic separation. The purified compounds were identified by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses, whereas the absolute configurations of the rotenoids were established on the basis of chiroptical data and in some cases by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Maximaisoflavone J (11) and oblarotenoid C (4) showed weak activity against the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values of 33.3 and 93.8 mu M, respectively.
The CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of the aerial parts of Tephrosia subtriflora afforded a new flavanonol, named subtriflavanonol (1), along with the known flavanone spinoflavanone B, and the known flavanonols MS-II (2) and mundulinol. The structures were elucidated by the use of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the flavanonols was determined based on quantum chemical ECD calculations. In the antiplasmodial assay, compound 2 showed the highest activity against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodiumfalciparum reference clones (D6 and 3D7), artemisinin-sensitive isolate (F32-TEM) as well as field isolate (KSM 009) with IC50 values 1.4-4.6M without significant cytotoxicity against Vero and HEp2 cell lines (IC50>100M). The new compound (1) showed weak antiplasmodial activity, IC50 12.5-24.2M, but also showed selective anticancer activity against HEp2 cell line (CC50 16.9M). [GRAPHICS] .
Phytochemical investigation of the CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of the roots of Lannea rivae (Chiov) Sacleux (Anacardiaceae) led to the isolation of a new alkenyl cyclohexenone derivative: (4R,6S)-4,6-dihydroxy-6-((Z)-nonadec-14′-en-1-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (1), and a new alkenyl cyclohexanol derivative: (2S*,4R*,5S*)-2,4,5-trihydroxy-2-((Z)-nonadec-14′-en-1-yl)cyclohexanone (2) along with four known compounds, namely epicatechin gallate, taraxerol, taraxerone and β-sitosterol; while the stem bark afforded two known compounds, daucosterol and lupeol. Similar investigation of the roots of Lannea schweinfurthii (Engl.) Engl. led to the isolation of four known compounds: 3-((E)-nonadec-16′-enyl)phenol, 1-((E)-heptadec-14′-enyl)cyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol, catechin, and 1-((E)-pentadec-12′-enyl)cyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was established by quantum chemical ECD calculations. In an antibacterial activity assay using the microbroth kinetic method, compound 1 showed moderate activity against Escherichia coli while compound 2 exhibited moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 1 also showed moderate activity against E. coli using the disc diffusion method. The roots extract of L. rivae was notably cytotoxic against both the DU-145 prostate cancer cell line and the Vero mammalian cell line (CC50 = 5.24 and 5.20 μg/mL, respectively). Compound 1 was also strongly cytotoxic against the DU-145 cell line (CC50 = 0.55 μg/mL) but showed no observable cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 μg/mL) against the Vero cell line. The roots extract of L. rivae and L. schweinfurthii, epicatechin gallate as well as compound 1 exhibited inhibition of carageenan-induced inflammation.
The drimane sesquiterpenoids drimenin, cinnamolide, dendocarbin A, and polygodial were purified from the Canelo tree (Drimys winteri) and chemically characterized by spectroscopic methods. The pharmacological activity of these natural compounds were determined on hα4β2, hα3β4, and hα7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) by Ca2+ influx measurements. The results established that drimane sesquiterpenoids inhibit AChRs with the following selectivity: hα4β2 > hα3β4 > hα7. In the case of hα4β2 AChRs, the following potency rank order was determined (IC50’s in μM): drimenin (0.97 ± 0.35) > cinnamolide (1.57 ± 0.36) > polygodial (62.5 ± 19.9) ≫ dendocarbin A (no activity). To determine putative structural features underlying the differences in inhibitory potency at hα4β2 AChRs, additional structure–activity relationship and molecular docking experiments were performed. The Ca2+ influx and structural results supported a noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition, where drimenin interacted with luminal and nonluminal (TMD-β2 intrasubunit) sites. The structure–activity relationship results, i.e., the lower the ligand polarity, the higher the inhibitory potency, supported the nonluminal interaction. Ligand binding to both sites might inhibit the hα4β2 AChR by a cooperative mechanism, as shown experimentally (nH > 1). Drimenin could be used as a molecular scaffold for the development of more potent inhibitors with higher selectivity for the hα4β2 AChR.
As part of a project studying the secondary metabolites extracted from the Chilean flora, we report herein three new beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes, namely (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S)-6-acetoxy-4,9-dihydroxy-2,2,5a,9-tetramethyloctahydro-2H-3,9a-methanobenzo[b] oxepine-5,10-diylbis(furan-3-carboxylate), C27H32O11, (II), (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)-6-acetoxy-9-hydroxy-2,2,5a, 9-tetramethyloctahydro-2H-3,9a-methanobenzo[ b] oxepine-5,10-diyl bis(furan-3-carboxylate), C27H32O10, (III), and (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)-6-acetoxy-10-(benzoyloxy)-9-hydroxy-2,2,5a,9-tetramethyloctahydro-2H-3,9a-methanobenzo[b]oxepin-5-yl furan-3-carboxylate, C29H34O9, (IV), obtained from the seeds of Maytenus boaria and closely associated with a recently published relative [Paz et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C73, 451-457]. In the (isomorphic) structures of (II) and (III), the central decalin system is esterified with an acetate group at site 1 and furoate groups at sites 6 and 9, and differ at site 8, with an OH group in (II) and no substituent in (III). This position is also unsubstituted in (IV), with site 6 being occupied by a benzoate group. The chirality of the skeletons is described as 1S, 4S, 5S, 6R, 7R, 8R, 9R, 10S in (II) and 1S, 4S, 5S, 6R, 7R, 9S, 10S in (III) and (IV), matching the chirality suggested by NMR studies. This difference in the chirality sequence among the title structures (in spite of the fact that the three skeletons are absolutely isostructural) is due to the differences in the environment of site 8, i.e. OH in (II) and H in (III) and (IV). This diversity in substitution, in turn, is responsible for the differences in the hydrogen-bonding schemes, which is discussed.
Chromatographic separation of the extract of the roots of Dorstenia kameruniana (family Moraceae) led to the isolation of three new benzylbenzofuran derivatives, 2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)benzofuran-6-ol (1), 2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-7-methoxybenzofuran-6-ol (2) and 2-(p-hydroxy)-3-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)benzyl)benzofuran-6-ol (3) (named dorsmerunin A, B and C, respectively), along with the known furanocoumarin, bergapten (4). The twigs of Dorstenia kameruniana also produced compounds 1-4 as well as the known chalcone licoagrochalcone A (5). The structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds displayed cytotoxicity against the sensitive CCRF-CEM and multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells, where compounds 4 and 5 had the highest activities (IC50 values of 7.17 mu M and 5.16 mu M, respectively) against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. Compound 5 also showed cytotoxicity against 7 sensitive or drug-resistant solid tumor cell lines (breast carcinoma, colon carcinoma, glioblastoma), with IC50 below 50 mu M, whilst 4 showed selective activity.
Bioassay-guided screening of Hypoestes verticillaris whole plant CH2Cl2: MeOH (1:1) extract for anti-plasmodial activity yielded four new compounds: two lignans 2, 6-dimethoxysavinin (1), 2,6-dimethoxy-(7E)-7,8-dehydroheliobuphthalmin (2); and two fusicoccane diterpenoids: 11(12)-epoxyhypoestenone (3) and 3(11)-epoxyhypoestenone (4). The chemical structures were determined using various spectroscopic techniques: UV-vis, IR, CD, 1D, 2D and MS. Two fractions (RAO-43B and RAO-43D) and the isolated compounds were tested for activity against CQ susceptible (D6) and resistant (W2) Plasmodium falciparum parasite strains, in vitro and the IC50 values determined. While the whole extract and some resultant fractions displayed moderate activity, the isolated compounds exhibited mild anti-plasmodial activity against the both strains ranging from IC50 value of 328 mu M in 1 to 93 mu M in 3 against W2 strain.
Background: While incidences of cancer are continuously increasing, drug resistance of malignant cells is observed towards almost all pharmaceuticals. Several isoflavonoids and flavonoids are known for their cytotoxicity towards various cancer cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity of compounds was determined based on the resazurin reduction assay. Caspases activation was evaluated using the caspase-Glo assay. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle (propodium iodide (PI) staining), apoptosis (annexin V/PI staining), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (JC-1) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (H2DCFH-DA). CCRF-CEM leukemia cells were used as model cells for mechanistic studies. Results: Compounds 1, 2 and 4 displayed IC50 values below 20 mu M towards CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells, and were further tested towards a panel of 7 carcinoma cells. The IC50 values of the compounds against carcinoma cells varied from 16.90 mu M (in resistant U87MG.Delta EGFR glioblastoma cells) to 48.67 mu M (against HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells) for 1, from 7.85 mu M (in U87MG.Delta EGFR cells) to 14.44 mu M (in resistant MDA-MB231/BCRP breast adenocarcinoma cells) for 2, from 4.96 mu M (towards U87MG.Delta EGFRcells) to 7.76 mu M (against MDA-MB231/BCRP cells) for 4, and from 0.07 mu M (against MDA-MB231 cells) to 2.15 mu M (against HepG2 cells) for doxorubicin. Compounds 2 and 4 induced apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells mediated by MMP alteration and increased ROS production. Conclusion: The present report indicates that isoflavones and biflavonoids from Ormocarpum kirkii are cytotoxic compounds with the potential of being exploited in cancer chemotherapy. Compounds 2 and 4 deserve further studies to develop new anticancer drugs to fight sensitive and resistant cancer cell lines.
To synthesize functionalized Mannich bases that can serve two different types of ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) intermediates, 2-naphthol and 6-hydroxyquinoline were reacted with salicylic aldehyde in the presence of morpholine. The Mannich bases that can form o-QM and aza-o-QM were also synthesized by mixing 2-naphthol, 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, and morpholine followed by reduction of the nitro group. The highly functionalized aminonaphthol derivatives were then tested in [4+2] cycloaddition with different cyclic imines. The reaction proved to be both regio- and diastereoselective. In all cases, only one reaction product was obtained. Detailed structural analyses of the new polyheterocycles as well as conformational studies including DFT modelling were performed. The relative stability of o-QMs/aza-o-QM were also calculated, and the regioselectivity of the reactions could be explained only when the cycloaddition started from aminodiol 4. It was summarized that starting from diaminonaphthol 25, the regioselectivity of the reaction is driven by the higher nucleophilicity of the amino group compared with the hydroxy group. 12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (11), formed via o-QM formation, was isolated as a side product. The proton NMR spectrum of 11 proved to be very unique from NMR point of view. The reason for the extreme low-field position of proton H-1 could be accounted for by theoretical calculation of structure and spatial magnetic properties of the compound in combination of ring current effects of the aromatic moieties and steric compression within the heavily hindered H(1)-C(1)-C(12b)-C(12a)-C(12)=O structural fragment.
A new isoflavone, 4′-prenyloxyvigvexin A (1) and a new pterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-3,8-dimethoxybitucarpin B (2) were isolated from the leaves of Lonchocarpus bussei and the stem bark of Lonchocarpus eriocalyx, respectively. The extract of L. bussei also gave four known isoflavones, maximaisoflavone H, 7,2′-dimethoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyisoflavone, 6,7,3′-trimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavone, durmillone; a chalcone, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin; a geranylated phenylpropanol, colenemol; and two known pterocarpans, (6aR,11aR)-maackiain and (6aR,11aR)-edunol. (6aR,11aR)-Edunol was also isolated from the stem bark of L. eriocalyx. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested by resazurin assay using drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines. Significant antiproliferative effects with IC50 values below 10 μM were observed for the isoflavones 6,7,3′-trimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavone and durmillone against leukemia CCRF-CEM cells; for the chalcone, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin and durmillone against its resistant counterpart CEM/ADR5000 cells; as well as for durmillone against the resistant breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB231/BCRP cells and resistant gliobastoma U87MG.ΔEGFR cells.
1-Methylthio-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 1, the first silacyclohexane with the sulfur atom at silicon, was synthesized and its molecular structure and conformational preferences studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and low temperature C-13 and Si-29 NMR spectroscopy (LT NMR). Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out both for the isolated species and solvate complexes in gas and in polar medium. The predominance of the 1-MeSaxPheq conformer in gas phase (1-Ph-eq :1-Ph-ax = 55:45, Delta G degrees = 0.13 kcal/mol) determined from GED is consistent with that measured in the freon solution by LT NMR (1-Ph-eq:1-Ph-ax = 65:35, Delta G degrees = 0.12 kcal/mol), the experimentally measured ratios being close to that estimated by quantum chemical calculations at both the DFT and MP2 levels of theory. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Glucan, water dikinase (GWD) and phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD) are required for normal starch metabolism. We analysed starch phosphorylation in Arabidopsis wildtype plants and mutants lacking either GWD or PWD using P-31 NMR. Phosphorylation at both C6- and C3-positions of glucose moieties in starch was drastically decreased in GWD-deficient mutants. In starch from PWD-deficient plants C3-bound phosphate was reduced to levels close to the detection limit. The latter result contrasts with previous reports according to which GWD phosphorylates both C6- and C3-positions. In these studies, phosphorylation had been analysed by HPLC of acid-hydrolysed glucans. We now show that maltose-6-phosphate, a product of incomplete starch hydrolysis, co-eluted with glucose-3-phosphate under the chromatographic conditions applied. Re-examination of the specificity of the dikinases using an improved method demonstrates that C6- and C3-phosphorylation is selectively catalysed by GWD and PWD, respectively.
Several series of presumed dual thermo-responsive diblock copolymers consisting of one non-ionic and one zwitterionic block were synthesized via consecutive reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. For all copolymers, poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) was chosen as non-ionic block that shows a coil-to-globule collapse transition of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type. In contrast, the chemical structure of zwitterionic blocks, which all belonged to the class of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)s, was varied broadly, in order to tune their coil-to-globule collapse transition of the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type. All polymers were labeled with a solvatochromic fluorescent end-group. The dual thermo-responsive behavior and the resulting multifarious temperature-dependent self-assembly in aqueous solution were mapped by temperature resolved turbidimetry, H-1 NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. Depending on the relative positions between the UCST-type and LCST-type transition temperatures, as well as on the width of the window in-between, all the four possible modes of stimulus induced micellization can be realized. This includes classical induced micellization due to a transition from a double hydrophilic, or respectively, from a double hydrophobic to an amphiphilic state, as well as "schizophrenic" behavior, where the core- and shell-forming blocks are inverted. The exchange of the roles of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic block in the amphiphilic states is possible through a homogeneous intermediate state or a heterogeneous one. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The conformational equilibrium of the axial/equatorial conformers of 4-methylene-cyclohexyl pivalate is studied by dynamic NMR spectroscopy in a methylene chloride/freon mixture. At 153K, the ring interconversion gets slow on the nuclear magnetic resonance timescale, the conformational equilibrium (-G degrees) can be examined, and the barrier to ring interconversion (G(#)) can be determined. The structural influence of sp(2) hybridization on both G degrees and G(#) of the cyclohexyl moiety can be quantified.
The fruit of Aristotelia chilensis is considered a "super fruit" due to its high concentration of polyphenols displaying exceptional antioxidant capacities ORAC. From maqui berries have been reported several anthocyanins and glycosylated flavonoids, those benefits increase the attention to restudy the plant. From the leaves of A. chilensis several indole alkaloids have been reported, we in addition to aristoteline, aristone, aristoquinoline and 3-fromylindole report the spectroscopic elucidation of 8-oxo-9-dehydromakomakine (1), hobartine (2) and a new alkaloid named 8-oxohobartine (3). Compound 1 to 3 did not show bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus till 200 mu g.
Pleurotus ostreatus has been widely used as food because of its nutritional and medicinal properties. These have been attributed to the presence of macronutrients, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, among other secondary metabolites. There are, however, few reports on the antimicrobial activities of different classes of purified compounds from P. ostreatus. This led to the current study, the objective of which was to chemically characterize the antibiotic activities of P. ()streams against selected human pathogenic bacteria and endophytic fungi. Chemical structures were determined using spectroscopic methods and by comparison with values of related structures reported in the literature. Pure compounds from P. ostreatus were tested in vitro against pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and endophytic fungi (Pencillium digitatum and Fusarium prolferatum). A new compound, (E)-5,7-dimethoxy-6-(3-methylbuta-1,3-dienyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (5-methoxy-(E)-suberodiene) (compound 2), along with ergosterol (compound I.) and 5,7-dimethoxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (toddaculin; compound 3), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus. The growth of S. aureus,E proliferatum, and P. digitatum colonies was inhibited in media containing compound 2, with minimum inhibitory concentrations closely comparable to those of conventional antibiotics.
Through the reactions of 1- or 2-naphthol and 4,5-dihydro-3H-benz[c]azepine or 6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine, new aminonaphthol derivatives were prepared. The syntheses were extended by using N-containing naphthol analogues such as 5-hydroxyisoquinoline and 6-hydroxyquinoline. The ring closures of the novel bifunctional compounds were also achieved, resulting in new naphth[2,1-e][1,3]oxazines, naphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazines, isoquinolino[5,6-e][1,3]oxazines and quinolino[5,6-e][1,3]oxazines. H-1 NMR spectra of the target heterocycles 16, 20 and 21 were sufficiently resolved to indentify the present stereochemistry; therefore, beside computed structures, spatial experimental (dipolar coupling-NOE) and computed (ring current effect of the naphthyl moiety-TSNMRS) NMR studies were employed. The studied heterocycles exist exclusively as S(14b),R(N), R(14b),S(N), and S(16b)S(N) isomers, respectively. The flexible moieties of the studied compounds prefer. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.