Antibacterial activity of flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina caffra thunb.

The antibacterial activity of the stem bark of Erythrina caffra Thunb. was investigated against different bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity was determined by a micro broth dilution assay. Antibacterial compounds were isolated and identified using a Bruker Avance III LPO NMR spectrometer. Four known flavonoids, abyssione‐V 4′‐O‐methyl ether, 6,8‐diprenylgenistein, alpinumisoflavone and burttinone, were isolated. All the compounds were active against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained (MIC) ranged from 3.9 μg/mL to 125 μg/mL. This is the first report of antibacterial activity of burttinone and the isolation of these compounds from E. caffra. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids from stem bark of Zanthoxylum nitidum

Five novel alkaloids, zanthomuurolanine ( 1), epi-zanthomuurolanine ( 2), zanthocadinanines A ( 3) and B ( 4), and epi-zanthocadinanine B ( 5), composed of dihydrochelerythrine and a cadinane-type sesquiterpene linked by a methylene bridge, have been isolated from stem bark of Zanthoxylum nitidum. These structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, CD, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC analyses). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the relative configurations of 1 and 4 and provided additional support for the structures of 2, 3, and 5.     

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of indole alkaloids from the stem bark of Geissospermum vellosii

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The stem bark of Geissospermum vellosii has been traditionally used by the native population of northern South America to treat malaria. Indole alkaloids have been previously isolated from this plant, but the antiplasmodial constituents have not yet been described. As part of our ongoing investigations of new bioactive compounds with activity against malaria parasites, we tested the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of isolated fractions and purified alkaloids from Geissospermum vellosii.

Materials and methods

Indole alkaloids were isolated and identified from a methanolic crude extract of Geissospermum vellosii bark using a combination of high performance counter current chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance technologies. The methanolic extract, the crude alkaloid fractions and the purified compounds were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (D10).

Results

An indole alkaloid (4) along with four known indole alkaloids, geissolosimine (1), geissospermine (2), geissoschizoline (3), and vellosiminol (5) were isolated and structure elucidated. The antiplasmodial activity (IC₅₀) of the methanolic crude extract was 2.22 μg/mL, while for the isolated compounds it ranged from 0.96 μM to 13.96 μM except for (5) which showed a low activity (157 μM). Geissolosimine (1) showed the highest antiplasmodial activity (0.96 μM).

Conclusions

This study provides evidence to support the use of Geissospermum vellosii as an antimalarial agent, as used by the native populations. Geissolosimine (1) is a lead molecular structure for possible antimalarial drug development.     

Tropane alkaloids from the bark of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium

Eight new tropane alkaloids (1-8) were isolated from the bark of "catuaba", a Brazilian endemic plant Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius. Their structures were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy.     

Quantitative estimation of Holarrhena antidysenterica bark total alkaloids in crude drugs and in the body fluids of man and rat

A turbidimetric method was developed for the quantitative estimation of the total alkaloids of kutaj bark (Holarrhena antidysenterica) in crude medicinal preparations and in the body fluids of man and rat. The alkaloids were colloidally precipitated with Dragendorff's reagent as complex salts of potassium iodobismuthate in extremely dilute solutions. The finely subdivided orange-brown precipitate gave a coloured, clear homogeneous suspension in the presence of gum arabic. Optical density of such suspensions changed linearly with the change in alkaloid concentration, when prepared within the standardized experimental conditions that included control of ion concentration and temperature of the reaction mixture. Observations revealed the reversible nature of the alkaloid-reagent reaction. Crude medicinal preparations from three different pharmaceutical sources contained varying concentrations of the alkaloids. Complete recovery of the alkaloids was possible from plasma and urine, while significant amounts of the alkaloids were lost to blood cells and faecal contents in man and rat.     

Two new alkaloids from the bark of Sarcomelicope megistophylla

Two new alkaloids, megistophylline I (1) and megistophylline II (2), were isolated from the bark of Sarcomelicope megistophylla. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR data.     

New indole alkaloids from the bark of Alstonia scholaris

A new indole alkaloid, akuammiginone (1), and a new glycosidic indole alkaloid, echitamidine-N-oxide 19-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (2), together with the five known alkaloids, echitaminic acid (3), echitamidine N-oxide (4), N(b)-demethylalstogustine N-oxide (5), akuammicine N-oxide (6), and N(b)-demethylalstogustine (7), were isolated from the trunk bark of Alstonia scholaris collected in Timor, Indonesia. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. This is the first report of compounds 3-5and 7 in A. scholaris. Some NMR assignments of the known compounds were revised.     

Methylpyrrole tropane alkaloids from the bark of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium

Nine new tropane alkaloids substituted by a methylpyrrole moiety were isolated from the bark of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium, a Brazilian endemic plant used in traditional medicine and locally known as catuaba. All compounds were elucidated as tropanediol or -triol alkaloids esterified by at least one 1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid. One of the isolated compounds was identified as a tropane alkaloid N-oxide. Their structures were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy.     

New indole alkaloids from the bark of Nauclea orientalis

Four new alkaloids, nauclealines A (1) and B (2) and naucleosides A (3) and B (4), together with six known compounds, strictosamide (5), vincosamide (6), pumiloside (7), kelampayoside A, sitosterol, and sitosteryl beta-D-glucoside, were isolated from the bark of Nauclea orientalis. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectral methods, including COSY, DEPT, HMQC, (13)C-(1)H HMBC, and (15)N-(1)H HMBC.     

Tropane aromatic ester alkaloids from a large-scale re-collection of Erythroxylum pervillei stem bark obtained in Madagascar

Fractionation by pH zone-refining countercurrent chromatography of an extract of the stem bark of Erythroxylum pervillei, obtained on a kilogram scale in southern Madagascar, led to the isolation and characterization of four tropane aromatic ester alkaloids as minor constituents, namely, pervilleines G (5) and H (6) and cis-pervilleines B (7) and F (8). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data interpretation.     

Glycosides from the stem bark of Fraxinus sieboldiana

A norditerpene glucopyranoside with a novel carbon skeleton (1), eight new aromatic glycosides (2-9), and 25 known glycosides have been isolated from a H2O-soluble portion of an ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Fraxinus sieboldiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Based on analysis of the NMR data of threo- and erythro-arylglycerols in different solvents, an application of Delta delta C8-C7 values to distinguish threo-arylglycerol and erythro-arylglycerol isomers was proposed. In the in vitro assays, compound 5 displayed TNF-alpha secretion inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.6 microM, compound 6 showed antioxidative activity inhibiting Fe+2-cystine-induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with an IC50 value of 0.9 microM, and plantasioside (10) showed selective activity against the human colon cancer cell line (HCT-8) with an IC50 value of 3.4 microM.     

Furanocembranoids from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius

Four novel furanocembranoids (1-4) were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, mainly NMR and MS. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibited good cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines.     

Biologically active bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from the root bark of Epinetrum villosum

Methanol and water extracts of the root of Epinetrum villosum (Exell) Troupin (Menispermaceae) were found to exhibit antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities. Investigation of the active methanol fraction led to the isolation of four bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, i.e., cycleanine, cycleanine N-oxide, isochondodendrine and cocsoline. Structures were established by spectroscopic methods. Cocsoline displayed antibacterial and antifungal activities (MIC values of 1000-15.62 and 31.25 microg/ml, respectively). Isochondodendrine was found to have the most potent antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.10 microg/ml), whereas the IC50 on HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells was 17.5 microg/ml (selectivity index 175). Cycleanine acted against HIV-2 (EC50=1.83 microg/ml) but was at least 10-fold less active against HIV-1. Cycleanine N-oxide showed no activity towards all tested microorganisms.     

Erythrina alkaloids and a pterocarpan from the bark of Erythrina subumbrans

Three new erythrina alkaloids, (+)-10,11-dioxoerythratine (1), (+)-10,11-dioxoepierythratidine (2), and (+)-10,11-dioxoerythratidinone (3), and a new pterocarpan, 1-methoxyerythrabyssin II (4), were isolated from the bark of Erythrina subumbrans, together with seven known pterocarpans, erythrabyssin II, erybraedin A, erystagallin A, erycristagallin, erythrabissin-1, eryvarin A, and hydroxycristacarpone, three flavanones, 5-hydroxysophoranone, abyssinone V, and lespedezaflavanone B, three triterpenes, sophoradiol, soyasapogenol B, and lupeol, and one isoflavanone, vogelin C. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Some isolates were tested for antiplasmodial, antimycobacterial, and cytotoxic activities.     

Novel oligorhamnosides from the stem bark of Cleistopholis glauca

A reinvestigation of the stem bark of Cleistopholis glauca yielded 14 compounds, of which seven were either novel or had not been previously reported from this species. These were identified as the farnesane sesquiterpene methyl-(2E,6E)-10-oxo-3,7, 11-trimethyl-dodeca-2,6-dienoate (1); the azaanthracene alkaloid cleistopholine (4); two partially acetylated oligorhamnoside derivatives, 1-O-dodecanyl-2,3, 4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2, 4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-4-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopy ranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (6) and 1-O-dodecanyl-2, 4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-2, 4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-4-O-acetyl-alpha-rhamnopy ranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (8), for which the trivial names cleistetroside-7 and cleistetroside-6 were assigned, respectively; the dihydrobenzofuran neolignan rel-(2alpha, 3beta)-7-O-methylcedrusin (12); and the flavonoids dihydroquercetin (13) and quercetin (14). Structure assignments of all compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. The chemosystematic significance of the occurrence of the isolated components is mentioned. Compounds 1, 6, and 8 are novel natural products.     

Cytotoxic lignans from the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis

Three new lignans, 4'-methoxymagndialdehyde ( 1), 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde B ( 2), and 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde E ( 3), were isolated from hexane- and EtOAc-soluble fractions of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis, together with eight known compounds ( 4- 11). The structures of compounds 1- 3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and physicochemical data analysis. Compounds 1- 11 were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against the K562, HeLa, and A549 cancer cell lines. Among the compounds tested, compound 1 showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against these cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 3.9, 1.5, and 3.7 microg/mL, respectively.     

Bioactive oligostilbenoids from the stem bark of Hopea exalata

Hopeanolin (1), an unusual resveratral trimer with an ortho-quinone nucleus, was isolated and characterized from the stem bark of Hopea exalata. Also obtained were six known stibenoids, shoreaphenol (2), vaticanol G (3), alpha-viniferin (4), pauciflorol A (5), vaticanol A (6), and trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene 2-C-glucoside (7). The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation. Compounds 1-7 were tested for antifungal activity and inhibitory effects against jack bean urease. Hopeanolin (1) demonstrated antifungal activity in the MIC value range 0.1-22.5 microg/mL.     

Taxane diterpenoids from the stem bark of Taxus mairei

Three new 11(15-->1)-abeo-taxanes, taxumairols U-W (1-3), have been isolated from extracts of the stem bark of Formosan Taxus mairei. The structures of 1-3 were identified as 5alpha,7beta,9alpha,13alpha,20-pentaacetoxy-2alpha,10beta,15-trihydroxy-11(15-->1)-abeo-taxene, 5alpha,7beta,9alpha,20-tetraacetoxy-2alpha,10beta,13alpha,15-tetrahydroxy-11(15-->1)-abeo-taxene, and 2alpha,4alpha,7beta,10beta-tetraacetoxy-5beta,20-epoxy-9alpha,13alpha,15-trihydroxy-11(15-->1)-abeo-taxene, respectively, on the basis of 2D NMR techniques including COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments as well as chemical reactions of compounds 1-3 to give 4 (5alpha,7beta,9alpha,10beta,13alpha,20-hexaacetoxy-2alpha,15-dihydroxy-11(15-->1)-abeo-taxene) and 5 (4alpha,7beta,10beta-triacetoxy-9alpha,13alpha-dibenzoxy-5beta,20-epoxy-2alpha,15-dihydroxy-11(15-->1)-abeo-taxene), which are also novel taxane derivatives. Taxumairols U (1) and V (2) exhibited significant cytotoxicities against human hepatoma tumor cells, while taxumairol W (3) was inactive.     

Novel biflavonoids from the stem bark of Ochna integerrima

Two new biflavonoids, namely, 6'"-hydroxylophirone B (1) and 6'"-hydroxylophirone B 4"'-O-beta-glucoside (2), were isolated from the stem bark of Ochna integerrima, together with five known compounds. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectral data interpretation.     

Tigliane diterpenoids from the stem bark of Neoboutonia macrocalyx

Neoboutonia macrocalyx is a plant used by traditional healers among the Meru community in Kenya. Chromatographic fractionation of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of this plant yielded one known (1) and three new tigliane-type diterpenoids (2-4). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established through spectroscopic data interpretation.