Hirsutinolide- and Cadinanolide-type Sesquiterpene Lactones from Lessingianthus rubricaulis (Vernonieae, Asteraceae).

Sesquiterpene lactones are an important class of secondary metabolites frequently isolated from Lessingianthus genus that present a variety of biological properties, such as antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal and anticancer. The limited phytochemical studies and the importance of this class of compounds isolated from Lessingianthus led us to study this genus. In this work, we focused on the phytochemical investigation and dereplication based on UHPLC-HRMS/MS and molecular networking of L. rubricaulis. Chemical investigation resulted in the isolation of several hirsutinolide-type sesquiterpene lactones including a new hirsutinolide derivative, 8,10α-hydroxy-1,13-bis-O-methylhirsutinolide, besides a cadinanolide and flavonoids. The dereplication study resulted in the identification of three known flavonoids, six known hirsutinolides and two known cadinanolides. Moreover, a fragmentation pathway for cadinanolide-type sesquiterpene lactones was proposed. These results contribute to chemotaxonomic studies and demonstrates the potential of Lessingianthus genus.

Chemical constituents and dereplication study of Lessingianthus brevifolius (Less.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae) by UHPLC-HRMS and molecular networking.

Chemical investigation of Lessingianthus brevifolius (Less.) H.Rob. aerial parts resulted in the isolation of the hirsutinolide-type sesquiterpene lactones piptocarphol, spicatolide D, piptocarphin D and 8α-acetoxy-10α-hydroxy-13-O-methylhirsutinolide, and also of a cadinanolide identified as 13-O-methylvernojalcanolide 8-O-acetate. Flavonoids, triterpenes and chlorogenic acids were also isolated. In addition, a dereplication study was carried out using UHPLC-HRMS and molecular networking, resulting in the identification of fifteen known compounds, being two sesquiterpene lactones and thirteen flavonoids. Some of the compounds are being described for the first time in L. brevifolius, and also in the Lessingianthus genus.

Phytoprostane and phenolic compounds from Chromolaena palmaris.

The chemical investigation of Chromolaena palmaris (Sch.Bip. ex Baker) R.M. King & H. Rob. expands the phytochemical composition knowledge of Chromolaena genus, since this is the first chemical investigation of this species. Twenty-five compounds were identified, including a phytoprostane, 17 flavonoids, 6 phenolic acids, and a caffeoyl-glucoside derivative obtained by classical chromatography and UHPLC-HRMS/MS analysis. Moreover, anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis and antiproliferative activities of C. palmaris were evaluated. Dichloromethane fraction showed cytotoxicity towards human cancer cell lines, presenting TGI values on glioma (U251) of 27.8 µg mL-1. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with MIC of 62.5 and 15.6 µg mL-1, respectively.

TOCSY, hydrogen decoupling and computational calculations to an unequivocal structural elucidation of a new sesquiterpene derivative and identification of other constituents from Praxelis sanctopaulensis.

INTRODUCTION: Praxelis genus comprises 24 species, however, only two species of this genus have been chemically investigated. Here we investigated Praxelis sanctopaulensis, a native plant from Brazil, that occurs mainly in Cerrado regions. OBJECTIVE: The goal was to identify the specialised metabolites from P. sanctopaulensis, and compare with those described from Praxelis and Chromolaena species. METHODS: The phytochemical study of P. sanctopaulensis was performed through different chromatography techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography flame ionisation detector (GC-FID), and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS). The structures of the compounds were established based on spectroscopic analysis, total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY), hydrogen decoupling and computational calculations was used to an unequivocal structural elucidation of a new sesquiterpene. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and antimicrobial assay was performed by the microdilution method. Comparison of the flavonoids described P. sanctopaulensis was carried out using principal component analysis. RESULTS: The phytochemical investigation of P. sanctopaulensis led to the isolation of a pair of diastereomers, praxilone A and praxilone B. Seven known compounds were isolated from this species, another 14 fatty acids were detected in hexane fraction, and 26 compounds were identified from ethyl acetate fraction. All these compounds are being described for the first time in this species, with the exception of viridifloric acid. The ethyl acetate fraction showed potent antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: Forty-seven compounds are described from P. sanctopaulensis. The combination of different techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and computational calculations allowed the unequivocal structure elucidation of a new cadinene. The clustering analysis showed similarities between the flavonoids identified in P. sanctopaulensis and in Chromolaena species.