Ancistrotanzanine C and related 5,1'- and 7,3'-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from Ancistrocladus tanzaniensis

Three new naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, the 7,3'-coupled ancistrotanzanine C (6), the 5,1'-coupled O-methylancistrocladinine (7), and the likewise 5,1'-coupled O,N-dimethylancistrocladine (8, previously known only as a partial-synthetic compound), have been isolated from the highland liana Ancistrocladus tanzaniensis, along with the two known 7,3'-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids ancistrocladidine (4) and ancistrotectorine (5). All of the compounds are S-configured at C-3 and bear an oxygen at C-6, and thus belong to the so-called Ancistrocladaceae type, similar to 1-3 previously isolated from this newly discovered plant species. The structural elucidation was achieved by chemical, spectroscopic, and chiroptical methods. The biological activities of the alkaloids against the pathogens causing malaria tropica, leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease, and African sleeping sickness were evaluated.     

ent-Dioncophylleine A and related dehydrogenated naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, the first Asian dioncophyllaceae-type alkaloids, from the "new"plant species Ancistrocladus benomensis

Three new fully dehydrogenated naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, the 7,1'-coupled ent-dioncophylleine A (3a), the likewise 7,1'-coupled 5'-O-demethyl-ent-dioncophylleine A (4), and the 7,8'-linked dioncophylleine D (5), have been isolated from the leaves of the recently described Malaysian highland liana Ancistrocladusbenomensis. All of them lack an oxygen function at C-6; this so-called Dioncophyllaceae-type structural subclass had previously been found only in naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from West and Central African plants. Moreover, compounds 3a and 4 are the first fully dehydrogenated, i.e., only axially chiral, naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids of this type that are optically active; compound 5, by contrast, is fully racemic, due to its configurationally unstable biaryl axis. The structural elucidation was achieved by spectroscopic and chiroptical methods. Biological activities of these alkaloids against different protozoan parasites are described.     

Ancistrobenomine a, the first naphthylisoquinoline oxygenated at Me-3, and related 5,1'-coupled alkaloids, from the "new" plant species ancistrocladusbenomensis

Three new 5,1'-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, ancistrobenomine A (1), 6-O-demethylancistrobenomine A (2), and 5'-O-demethylancistrocline (3), have been isolated from the stem bark of a botanically as yet undescribed highland liana Ancistrocladus sp., proposed to be named "A. benomensis" according to the region in Peninsular Malaysia where it has been discovered on the mountain of Gunung Benom. Two of the compounds possess an unprecedented structure with a novel hydroxymethylene group at C-3 of the fully dehydrogenated isoquinoline moiety. The structural elucidation was achieved by chemical, spectroscopic, and chiroptical methods. As typical of the so-called Ancistrocladaceae type, all of the compounds isolated bear an oxygen at C-6. Biological activities of these alkaloids against different protozoic pathogens are described.     

Ancistroealaines A and B, two new bioactive naphthylisoquinolines, and related naphthoic acids from Ancistrocladus ealaensis

Two new 5,8'-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, ancistroealaines A (1) and B (2), eleutherolic acid (3), and two naphthoic acids, ancistronaphthoic acid A (4) and B (5), have been isolated from Ancistrocladus ealaensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic, chemical, and chiroptical methods. Ancistroealaine A (1) exhibited activity against Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro.     

Pibocin B, the first N-O-methylindole marine alkaloid, a metabolite from the Far-Eastern ascidian Eudistoma species.

Pibocin B (2), the first representative of marine alkaloids with a unique structural feature, an N-O-methylindole group, was isolated from the Far-Eastern ascidian Eudistoma sp. Its structure has been established as (8 beta)-2-bromo-N-O-methyl-6,8-dimethylergoline on the basis of NMR data, FAB and MALDI-TOF MS, and chemical correlations. Pibocin B showed moderate cytotoxic activity against mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells.     

Saponarioside C, the first alpha-D-galactose containing triterpenoid saponin, and five related compounds from Saponaria officinalis

Six novel triterpenoid saponins, named saponariosides C-H, were isolated from the whole plants of Saponaria officinalis. Their structures were established as saponarioside C (1), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-gypsogenic acid-28-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-- >6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; saponarioside D (2), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-gypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6) -[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; saponarioside E (3), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-gypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6) -[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; saponarioside F (4), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-16alpha-hydroxygypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6) -[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; saponarioside G (5), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-16alpha-hydroxygypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3 )]-beta-D-glucopyranoside; and saponarioside H (6), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-gypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, by a combination of extensive NMR (DEPT, COSY, HOHAHA, HETCOR, HMBC, and NOESY) studies and chemical degradation.     

Rubrisandrins A and B, lignans and related anti-HIV compounds from Schisandra rubriflora

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of an ethanolic extract of the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora led to the isolation and identification of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans including the new lignans rubrisandrins A (1a + 1b) and B (2) and the known lignans gomisin J (3), (+/-)-gomisin M1 (4), (+)-gomisin M2 (5), schisanhenol (6), deoxyschisandrin, schisantherin B, schisandrin, tigloylgomisin P, gomisin O, angeloylgomisin P, and epigomisin O. Their structure and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1 and 3-6 were active as anti-HIV agents. (+/-)-Gomisin M1 (4) exhibited the most potent anti-HIV activity, with EC50 and therapeutic index (TI) values of <0.65 microM and >68, respectively.     

Lakshminine,a new rare oxoisoaporphine alkaloid from Sciadotenia toxifera,and structural revisions of telazoline and teladiazoline,two related oxoaporphines from Telitoxicum peruvianum and T. glaziovii

Lakshminine (1), a novel oxoisoaporphine alkaloid possessing a C-6 amine substituent, was isolated from a basic fraction from the woody vines (collected from two bush-ropes) of Sciadotenia toxifera. This compound represents the first documented occurrence of an oxoisoaporphine from any Menispermaceae species other than Menispermum dauricum. The structures of two related aporphine alkaloids, telazoline (3) and teladiazoline (5), were revised on the basis of a comparison of their spectral data with that of lakshminine (1).     

Koniamborine, the first pyrano[3,2-b]indole alkaloid and other secondary metabolites from Boronella koniambiensis

Two new alkaloids, (-)-cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydromedicosmine (3) and koniamborine (4), have been isolated from Boronella koniambiensis aerial parts. Their structures have been established from NMR and mass data. Koniamborine is a novel type of alkaloid, which derives from the pyrano[3,2-b]indole basic skeleton, described for the first time from nature. 6-Methoxy-1-methylisatin, also present in the plant material, can be considered biogenetically as a degradation product of the fused pyrone ring of 4.     

Phrygiasterol, a cytotoxic cyclopropane-containing polyhydroxysteroid, and related compounds from the pacific starfish Hippasteria phrygiana

The new cyclopropane-containing steroid phrygiasterol (1) and steroid glycoside phrygioside B (2), along with previously known borealoside C (2a) and (20R,24S)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,6alpha,8,15alpha,24-pentaol (3), have been isolated from the Pacific starfish Hippasteria phrygiana. On the basis of spectroscopic analyses, using 1D and 2D NMR techniques and some chemical transformations, the structures of 1 and 2 have been established as (20R,24R,25R)-24,26-cyclo-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,6alpha,8,15alpha,16beta,27-hexaol (1) and the sodium salt of (20R,24S)-24-O-(3-O-methyl-4-O-sulfate-beta-d-xylopyranosyl)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,6alpha,8,15alpha,24-pentaol (2), respectively. Compound 1 inhibited the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma cells with an IC(50) of 50 microg/mL, whereas 2 induced apoptosis of the same cells (EC(50)=70 microg/mL) and inhibited Ca(2+) influx into mouse spleenocytes (EC(50)=20microg/mL).     

A new sesquiterpenoid quinone and other related compounds from the Okinawan marine sponge Dactylospongia elegans

The new sesquiterpenoid quinone, neodactyloquinone (1), and dactylolactones A-D (2-5) were isolated from the Okinawan sponge Dactylospongia elegans. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis.     

Mycalamides C and D, cytotoxic compounds from the marine sponge Stylinos n. species

The new cytotoxic compounds, mycalamides C (3) and D (4), have been isolated from the marine sponge Stylinos n. sp., along with the known theopederin E (1) and mycalamide A (2).     

Blepharocalyxins C--E, three new dimeric diarylheptanoids, and related compounds from the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx

Three novel diarylheptanoids, blepharocalyxins C--E (5--7), together with four new (1--4) and one known (8) diarylheptanoids bearing a tetrahydropyran ring were isolated from the residual fraction of an EtOH extract of the seeds of Alpinia blepharocalyx. The structures and the stereochemistry at the chiral centers of the new diarylheptanoids were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR spectroscopy. Blepharocalyxins C--E (5--7) have a novel carbon framework and are dimeric diarylheptanoids consisting of two diarylheptanoid units. Blepharocalyxin D (6) showed potent antiproliferative activity against murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells (ED(50), 3.61 microM), while against human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells, blepharocalyxin E (7) showed potent activity (ED(50), 9.02 microM).     

A cytotoxic and antifungal 1,4-naphthoquinone and related compounds from a New Zealand brown algae, Landsburgia quercifolia.

The bioactivity-directed isolation of deoxylapachol [I] from a New Zealand brown alga, Landsburgia quercifolia, is described. Compound I was active against P-388 leukemia cells (IC50 0.6 microgm/ml) and was also antifungal. 1,4-Dimethoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-naphthalene [3] was the major low polarity component of extracts of this seaweed, which also contained 2,3-dihydro-2,2-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthalenedione [6] and 2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2,3-epoxy- 1,4-naphthalenedione 4,4-dimethoxy ketal [7]. Compound 7 was converted to the 2,3-epoxide of I, which had biological activities similar to those of I.     

Picrasinoside H, a new quassinoid glucoside, and related compounds from the stem wood of Picrasma ailanthoides

A new quassinoid glucoside, picrasinoside H [1], and five known quassinoids have been isolated from the stem wood of Picrasma ailanthoides. The structures of these quassinoids were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence.     

Sculezonones A and B, two metabolites possessing a phenalenone skeleton from a marine-derived fungus Penicillium species

Two new metabolites possessing a phenalenone skeleton, sculezonones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium sp., which was separated from the Okinawan marine bivalve Mytilus coruscus, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data.     

Yanucamides A and B, two new depsipeptides from an assemblage of the marine cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula and Schizothrix species

Yanucamides A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the lipid extract of a Lyngbya majuscula and Schizothrixsp. assemblage collected at Yanuca Island, Fiji. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic methods. Both compounds contain a unique 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-7-octynoic acid, which has previously been described only as a component of kulolide-1 (3) and kulokainalide-1 (4), metabolites from the marine mollusk Philinopsis speciosa. Thus, the isolation of the yanucamides from this cyanobacterial assemblage supports the hypothesis that the kulolides and related metabolites are of cyanobacterial origin.     

Cyclorocaglamide,the first bridged cyclopentatetrahydrobenzofuran,and a related "open chain" rocaglamide derivative from Aglaia oligophylla

Two rocaglamide-related natural products, the previously known compound 6-demethoxy-10-hydroxy-11-methoxy-6,7-methylendioxyrocaglamide (3), and cyclorocaglamide (4), its 8b,10-anhydro analogue, have been isolated from the tropical plant Aglaia oligophylla. Compound 4 is the first bridged cyclopentatetrahydrobenzofuran natural product, and it exhibited a CD spectrum virtually opposite that of all the other rocaglamide natural products known so far, but it still has the same absolute configuration at all stereogenic centers of the basic molecular framework. This was shown unequivocally by quantum chemical CD calculations (here based on molecular dynamics-weighted force field structures) and was finally confirmed experimentally, by a "biomimetic-type" cyclization of 3 to give 4, with the expected "inversion" of the CD spectrum. The opposite chiroptical properties of 3 and 4, despite their homochiral character, underline the necessity of handling chiroptical data with the greatest care, e.g., by simulating them by quantum chemical CD calculations. Compound 3 exhibited an LC(50) of 2.5 ppm when evaluated against neonate larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, while 4 was inactive in this assay up to 100 ppm.     

Structures of steroidal alkaloid oligoglycosides, robeneosides A and B, and antidiabetogenic constituents from the Brazilian medicinal plant Solanum lycocarpum

In the course of our studies on antidiabetogenic compounds from natural medicines and medicinal foodstuffs, a methanolic extract of the fruits of Solanum lycocarpum showed an inhibitory effect on the increase of serum glucose levels in oral sucrose-loaded rats. Through bioassay-guided separation, three known steroidal alkaloid oligoglycosides, solamargine (1), solasonine (3), and 12-hydroxysolasonine (5), were isolated from the active fraction together with two new steroidal alkaloid oligoglycosides, robeneosides A (2) and B (4). The major constituents, solamargine (1) and solasonine (3), exhibited an inhibitory effect on the increase of serum glucose levels in oral sucrose-loaded rats. In addition, these compounds suppressed gastric emptying in mice. However, this methanolic extract from S. lycocarpum fruits did not have any effect on intestinal alpha-glucosidase (sucrase and maltase) in vitro. It was concluded that these steroidal alkaloid oligoglycosides, 1 and 3, inhibited the increase of rat serum glucose levels by suppressing the transfer of sucrose from the stomach to the small intestine.     

Hyrtiosenolides A and B, two new sesquiterpene gamma-methoxybutenolides and a new sterol from a Red Sea sponge Hyrtios species

Two new sesquiterpene gamma-methoxybutenolides, hyrtiosenolides A (1) and B (2), together with a new 4alpha-methyl polyoxygenated steroid, hyrtiosterol (3), were isolated from a Red Sea sponge, Hyrtios species. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HRFABMS. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.