Three new and two rare furanoeremophilanes from Senecio asirensis

Three new furanoeremophilanes have been obtained from the aerial parts of Senecio asirensis (N. O. Asteraceae), and characterized as 6-hydroxylmethyl-9-methoxyl-4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan, designated asirensane-a (1), 6-hydroxyl-1,2-dimethoxyl-4,6,11-trimethyl-6-hydronaphtho[2,3-a]furan-7-one, named asirensane-b (2), and (6,12-dihydroxyl-9-methoxyl-4-methyl-11-acetyl-3,4-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-3-yl)methyl (2'Z)-2'-methylbut-2'-enoate, designated asirensane-c (3). In addition, two rare furanoeremophilanes have also been isolated and characterized from this source, namely 9-methoxyl-4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan, named 14-nordehydrocalohastine (4), and 4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-6,9-dione, designated as maturinone (5). Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. The alcoholic extract was also tested for anti-inflammatory activity, which decreased edema by 22% at a dose of 500 mg kg^-1 after 3 h with respect to the control group treated only with carrageenan, while the standard drug phenylbutazone showed a 50% decrease at a dose of 100 mg kg^-1, indicating that the extract has moderate anti-inflammatory activity.     

Three new and two rare furanoeremophilanes from senecio asirensis

Three new furanoeremophilanes have been obtained from the aerial parts of Senecio asirensis (N. O. Asteraceae), and characterized as 6-hydroxylmethyl-9-methoxyl-4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan, designated asirensane-a (1), 6-hydroxyl-1,2-dimethoxyl-4,6,11-trimethyl-6-hydronaphtho[2,3-a]furan-7-one, named asirensane-b (2), and (6,12-dihydroxyl-9-methoxyl-4-methyl-11-acetyl-3,4-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-3-yl)methyl (2′Z)-2′-methylbut-2′-enoate, designated asirensane-c (3). In addition, two rare furanoeremophilanes have also been isolated and characterized from this source, namely 9-methoxyl-4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan, named 14-nordehydrocalohastine (4), and 4,11-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-6,9-dione, designated as maturinone (5). Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. The alcoholic extract was also tested for anti-inflammatory activity, which decreased edema by 22% at a dose of 500?mg?kg^-1 after 3?h with respect to the control group treated only with carrageenan, while the standard drug phenylbutazone showed a 50% decrease at a dose of 100?mg?kg^-1, indicating that the extract has moderate anti-inflammatory activity.     

Alkaloids of Thalictrum angustifolium

Fractionation and chromatography of the ethanolic extract of the roots of Thalictrum angustifolium L. (Ranunculaceae) afforded five alkaloids: noroxyhydrastinine (1), O-methylthalicberine (2), berberine iodide (3), jatrorrhizine iodide (4), magnoflorine iodide (5). In addition, one simple aromatic compound, methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (6), was also isolated. These compounds were identified via comparison of their spectral data with authentic compounds or spectra available within our laboratory. This is the first reported isolation of these compounds from this species.     

Scropolioside-D2 and harpagoside-B: two new iridoid glycosides from Scrophularia deserti and their antidiabetic and antiinflammatory activity

Five iridoid glycosides, including the two new compounds scropolioside-D(2) (1) and harpagoside-B (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Scrophularia deserti DEL (Scrophulariaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data to be 6-O-[2",4"-di-O-acetyl-3"-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-8 alpha-hydroxymethyl-1 alpha,5 beta,6 alpha,7 alpha,9 beta-pentahydro-7(8)-epoxy-2-oxaind-3-ene-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-6'-O-acetate (1) and 5-O-beta-hydroxy-8-O-beta-trans-cinnamoyl-8 alpha-methyl-1,6,7,9-tetrahydro-2-oxaind-3-ene-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), respectively. In addition, three more iridoid glycosides, scropolioside-D (3), koelzioside (4), and 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (5), were also isolated and characterized from this source. The biological activity and the structure activity relationship of the compounds were also studied, and scropolioside-D (3) and harpagoside-B (2) were found to possess significant antidiabetic and antiinflammatory activity, respectively.     

Concurrent analysis of bioactive triterpenes oleanolic acid and β-amyrin in antioxidant active fractions of Hibiscus calyphyllus,Hibiscus deflersii and Hibiscus micranthus grown in Saudi Arabia by applying validated HPTLC method

In this study, we developed a validated HPTLC method for concurrent analysis of two natural antioxidant triterpenes, oleanolic acid (OA) and β-amyrin (BA) in the biologically active fractions (petroleum ether, toluene, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) of aerial parts of three Hibiscus species (H. calyphyllus, H. deflersii and H. micranthus). The chromatography was conducted on normal HPTLC (ready to use glass-plate coated with silica gel 60 F254) plate with chloroform and methanol (97:3, V/V) used as mobile phase. The derivatization of the developed plate was done with p-anisaldehyde and scanned at λ_max?=?575?nm. Well resolved and intense peaks of OA and BA were obtained at Rf?=?0.36 and 0.57, respectively. The linear regression equation/correlation coefficient (r²) for OA and BA were Y?=?6.65x?+?553.35/0.994 and Y?=?9.177x?+?637.23/0.998, respectively in the linearity range of 100–1200?ng/spot indicated good linear relationship. The low values of %RSD for intra-day/inter-day precision of OA (1.45–1.61/1.38–1.59) and BA (1.52–1.57/1.50–1.53) suggested that the method was precise. The recovery/RSD (%) values for OA and BA were found to be 99.21–99.62/1.39–1.95 and 98.75–99.70/1.56–1.80, respectively assures the reasonably good accuracy of the proposed method. Fifteen samples were analyzed to check the content of OA and BA by using the developed HPTLC methods. The content of OA in different samples were found to be 3.87 (HmP)?>?1.212 (HcP)?>?0.673 (HdC)?>?0.493 (HdP)?>?0.168 (HdE)?>?0.059 (HcC)?>?0.015 (HcE)?>?0.008 (HmT) µg/mg of the dried weight of extract. However the content of BA was found as: 2.293 (HmP)?>?1.852 (HdT)?>?0.345 (HdC)?>?0.172 (HmT)?>?0.041 (HdE)?>?0.008 (HcC) µg/mg of the dried weight of extract. Some Hibiscus species fractions exhibited good antioxidant potential like: HcE (IC50?=?17.6?±?1.8)?>?HdB (IC50?=?32.16?±?0.9)?>?HmP (IC50?=?80.4?±?4.5)?>?HmT (IC50?=?99.7?±?8.2) when compared with ascorbic acid (IC50?=?14.2?±?0.5), while other fractions exhibited only mild antioxidant capability. The developed HPTLC method can be further exploited for analysis of these markers in the quality assessment of raw material as well as herbal formulations available in the market.     

Anticancer activity and concurrent analysis of ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol in three different Hibiscus species (aerial parts) by validated HPTLC method

The genus Hibiscus contains about 275 species of flowering plants widely grown in the tropics and sub-tropics. The available literature revealed that several Hibiscus species exhibited excellent anticancer activity against several cancer cells like lung, breast, and liver. This motivated the authors to explore the anticancer property of other Hibiscus species (Hibiscus calyphyllus, H. deflersii and H. micranthus) along with development of a validated HPTLC method for the concurrent analysis of three anticancer biomarkers (ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol) in different Hibiscus species. The anticancer activity of various fractions (petroleum ether, toluene, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) of all the Hibiscus species (aerial parts) were evaluated in vitro against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines using MTT assay. The HPTLC analysis was carried out using chloroform and methanol as mobile phase (97:3; v/v) on 20?×?10 cm glass-backed silica gel 60F254 plates and analyzed different phytoconstituents present in all fractions at λ?=?575?nm wavelength. Of the tested fractions of H. calyphyllus, H. deflersii and H. micranthus, HdP (H. deflersii petroleum ether fraction) exhibited the most potent cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and MCF-7 (IC50: 14.4 and 11.1?μg/mL, respectively) cell lines. Using the developed HPTLC method a compact and intense peak of ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol were obtained at R_f?=?0.22, 0.39 and 0.51, respectively. The LOD/LOQ (ng) for ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol were found as 42.30/128.20, 13.20/40.01 and 31.57/95.68, respectively in the linearity range 100–1200?ng/spot. The obtained result showed maximum presence of ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol (5.50, 11.85 and 7.47?μg/mg, respectively) in HdP which also supported its strong anticancer effect. Our data suggest that H. deflersii petroleum ether fraction (HdP) can be further subjected to the isolation of active cytotoxic phytoconstituents and establishment of their mechanism of action. The maiden developed HPTLC method for concurrent analysis of anticancer biomarkers may be further employed in the in process quality control of herbal formulation containing the said biomarkers.     

Rocket ＂Eruca sativa＂： A salad herb with potential gastric anti-ulcer activity

AIM： To validate gastric anti-ulcer properties of Rocket ＂Eruca sativa＂ on experimentally-induced gastric secretion and ulceration in albino rats. METHODS： Gastric acid secretion studies were undertaken using pylorus-ligated rats. Gastric lesions in the rats were induced by noxious chemicals including ethanol, strong alkalis, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The levels of gastric wall mucus （GWM）, nonprotein sulfhydryls （NP-SH） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were also measured in the glandular stomach of rats following ethanol administration. The gastric tissue was also examined histologically. The extract was used in two doses （250 and 500 mg/kg body weight） in all experiments. RESULTS： In pylorus-ligated Shay rats, the ethanolic extract of Rocket ＂Eruca sativa L.＂ （EER） significantly and dose-dependently reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, titratable acidity and ruminal ulceration. Rocket extract significantly attenuated gastric ulceration induced by necrotizing agents （80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, 25% NaCl）, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically. On the other hand, the extract significantly replenished GWM and NP-SH levels, as well as the MDA level significantly reduced by extract pretreatment. CONCLUSION： Rocket extract possesses antisecretory, cytoprotective, and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect is possibly through prostaglandinmediated activity and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidant properties.     

Effect of Commiphora opobalsamum (L.) Engl. (Balessan) on experimental gastric ulcers and secretion in rats

The ulcer protective potential of an ethanol extract of Commiphora opobalsamum (L.) Engl. (Burseraceae) 'Balessan' was assessed against different acute gastric ulcer models in rats induced by necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2M NaOH and 25% NaCl), hypothermic restraint stress, pyloric ligation (Shay) and indomethacin. Balessan, 250 and 500 mg/kg administered orally (intraperitoneally in Shay rat model) showed a dose-dependent ulcer protective effects in all the above ulcer models. Besides, the extract offered protection against ethanol-induced depletion of stomach wall mucus and reduction in nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) concentration. Ethanol treatment also caused histopathological lesions of the stomach wall. Pretreatment with Balessan extract provided a complete protection of gastric mucosa through supporting both the offensive and defensive factors. Balessan extract was also showed a large margin of safety without any apparent adverse effects in rats.