Isolation of Echimidine and Its C-7 Isomers from Echium plantagineum L. and Their Hepatotoxic Effect on Rat Hepatocytes.

Echimidine is the main pyrrolizidine alkaloid of Echium plantagineum L., a plant domesticated in many countries. Because of echimidine's toxicity, this alkaloid has become a target of the European Food Safety Authority regulations, especially in regard to honey contamination. In this study, we determined by NMR spectroscopy that the main HPLC peak purified from zinc reduced plant extract with an MS [M + H]+ signal at m/z 398 corresponding to echimidine (1), and in fact also represents an isomeric echihumiline (2). A third isomer present in the smallest amount and barely resolved by HPLC from co-eluting (1) and (2) was identified as hydroxymyoscorpine (3). Before the zinc reduction, alkaloids (1) and (2) were present mostly (90%) in the form of an N-oxide, which formed a single peak in HPLC. This is the first report of finding echihumiline and hydroxymyoscorpine in E. plantagineum. Retroanalysis of our samples of E. plantagineum collected in New Zealand, Argentina and the USA confirmed similar co-occurrence of the three isomeric alkaloids. In rat hepatocyte primary culture cells, the alkaloids at 3 to 300 µg/mL caused concentration-dependent inhibition of hepatocyte viability with mean IC50 values ranging from 9.26 to 14.14 µg/mL. Our discovery revealed that under standard HPLC acidic conditions, echimidine co-elutes with its isomers, echihumiline and to a lesser degree with hydroxymyoscorpine, obscuring real alkaloidal composition, which may have implications for human toxicity.

Spontaneous Stereoselective Oxidation of Crystalline Avermectin B1a to Its C-8a-(S)-Hydroperoxide.

Prolonged storage of technical abamectin as well as avermectin B1a samples yielded a previously unknown derivative, designated here as compound 1. Detailed NMR analysis and X-ray crystallography allowed us to determine the structure of this compound and revealed the presence of a hydroperoxide group (-OOH) attached stereoselectively with configuration S to the C-8a carbon. This surprising result involves the formation of the peroxide bond in solid crystalline avermectin B1a upon exposure to air with no involvement of light or recognized catalytic factors and is consistent with a topotactic mechanism for the oxidation reaction. Compound 1 is stable in the absence of reducing agents and has potential as a starting point in structural modification of the tetrahydrofuran ring of avermectin B1a. It could also serve as a marker in assessing the quality of stored technical abamectin.

Isolation of 1-(3',4'-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol from Grape Seed Extract and Evaluation of its Antioxidant and Antispasmodic Potential.

HPLC profiling of phenolics in grape seed extracts revealed a prominent peak of an unknown substance with concentrations up to 5.3%. Spectroscopic data allowed the identification of the compound 1 as 1-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol. 1 is known to be produced from catechin and epicatechin through anaerobic bacteria from human, as well as the rat, intestines. It was hypothesized that the marc remaining after expression of juice from grapes became infested during storage, resulting in the production of 1. Because compound 1 is infrequently found in nature and has never been found in grape seeds, its presence may be considered a marker of an unwanted anaerobic bacterial process occurring during production. The antioxidant potential of 1 was determined by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays and compared to the potential of the following compounds: phloroglucine, pyrogallol, gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin. Furthermore, it was established that 1 significantly reduced guinea pig ileum contraction induced by histamine.

Trimeric and Tetrameric A-Type Procyanidins from Peanut Skins.

Peanut skins are a rich source of oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins. The oligomeric fractions are dominated by dimers, trimers, and tetramers. A multistep chromatographic fractionation led to the isolation of four new A-type procyanidins of tri- and tetrameric structures. The structures of the new trimers were defined by NMR, electronic circular dichroism, and MS data as epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-catechin, peanut procyanidin B (3), and epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin-(4ß→6)-catechin, peanut procyanidin C (4). The new tetramers were defined as epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin-(4ß→6)-epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-catechin, peanut procyanidin E (1), and epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin-(4ß→6)-epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin, peanut procyanidin F (2). In addition, both A-type dimers A1, epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-catechin, and A2, epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-epicatechin, as well as two known peanut trimers, ent-epicatechin-(4ß→6)-epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-catechin, peanut procyanidin A (5), and epicatechin-(4ß→8)-epicatechin-(4ß→8,2ß→O→7)-catechin, peanut procyanidin D (6), were also isolated. Dimer A1, the four trimers, and two tetramers were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in an in vitro assay, in which LPS-stimulated macrophages were responding with secretion of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Tetramer F (2) was the most potent, suppressing TNF-α secretion to 82% at 8.7 µM (10 µg/mL), while tetramer E (1) at the same concentrations caused a 4% suppression. The results of the TNF-α secretion inhibition indicate that small structural differences, as in peanut procyanidin tetramers E and F, can be strongly differentiated in biological systems.

Conformational equilibria in selected A-type trimeric procyanidins.

A-type procyanidin trimers cinnamtannin B-1, cinnamtannin D-1, lindetannin, and aesculitannin B were studied in terms of their conformation and interaction with four solvents: methanol, acetone, DMSO and pyridine. The experiments demonstrated that for each trimer there are two principal conformers observable in the NMR. The ratio of the conformers (rotamers) depends on the structure of a given trimer as well as on the solvent used for NMR measurements. The DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)) proved the presence of two main conformers to be the result of a steric hindrance that prevents free rotation along the B-type interflavan bond. An analysis of the solvent-procyanidin interactions showed that the strong electron donating solvents, pyridine and DMSO, favor different conformers from methanol and acetone, which prefer the lowest-energy gas phase conformer. These findings are in line with predictions of DFT/M06-2X calculations with the inclusion of the thermal corrections. The variations in the rotamer ratios in the studied solvents correlate with the solvent's capacity to induce local changes in the electron density of the particular procyanidin trimer.

Determination of ursolic and oleanolic acid in Sambuci fructus.

Elderberries are used in the preparation of pie, jelly, punch, wine, or liqueur, as well as in many herbal remedies and food supplements. Elderberry products may provide diaphoretic, diuretic, antioxidant, and immunostimulant activities that offer protection against cold and flu. Herein, we report for the first time the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of two isomeric triterpenoids isolated from Sambuci fructus. The analysis revealed that ursolic acid and oleanolic acid are present in Sambuci fructus. The average concentration of ursolic acid was ca. three times higher than the concentration of oleanolic acid. The triterpenoids were detected and quantified using chromatographic methods such as TLC and HPLC. Spectroscopic techniques, including HR-MS and 2D-NMR, allowed unequivocal structure determination.

Conformational preferences of cocoa oligomeric proanthocyanidins and their influence on polarity.

Proanthocyanidins (OPACs) are the second largest class of plant metabolites after lignans. Although knowledge of their 3D conformations would add greatly to our understanding of their biological properties, very little has been published on the conformations of OPACs with a degree of polymerization (DP) above 4. We investigated the conformations of the linear epicatechin oligomers, prominent representatives of OPACs prevalent in apples and cocoa, where the epicatechin units are interconnected through the 4ß-8 bonds. For DP-2 to DP-10 oligomers, conformational preferences reflected in the arrangement of consecutive flavan-3-ol units, are characterized by the φ torsion. For dimers, there are two energy wells corresponding to two preferred φ torsions, designated as compact and extended form. This behaviour is preserved in OPACs with higher DPs, but the most energetically favoured conformations are a combination of both, with compact-only or extended-only conformations being very unlikely. Thus, oligomers with DP ≥ 7 tend to assume an overall conformation approximating a spherical shape. This shape has a significant influence on the polarity of the OPAC oligomers expressed as 3D polar surface area, calculated using Spartan software for geometry-optimized 3D models, and possibly on other physicochemical properties. The results of polarity calculations provide a molecular-level rationale for the polarity-based chromatographic separation of the cocoa B-type procyanidins with DP range 4 to 10. In our experiments, using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) (a solvent system consisting of EtOAc-EtOH-water (6:1:5) v/v/v with aqueous phase stationary and upper phase mobile) we found that an enriched mixture of proanthocyanidins eluted first DP-1 (epicatechin) followed by consecutive elution of the DP-2 to DP-10 in the linear 4ß-8 form. We demonstrated that such separation would not be possible if compact-only or extended-only conformations were present in solution. However, for the energy-favoured, spherically shaped conformations, the observed CPC elution order is fully justified.

Bioactive A-type proanthocyanidins from Cinnamomum cassia.

Two trimeric proanthocyanidins, cinnamtannin B-1 (1) and cinnamtannin D-1 (2), have been isolated from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia along with the known tetramer parameritannin A-1 (3) and a previously unreported tetramer, named cassiatannin A (4). The structures of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and CD analyses and compared to the reported data. Proanthocyanidins (1-4) possess significant in vitro inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at micromolar concentrations.

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry for the separation and analysis of procyanidins.

Procyanidins are polymeric flavan-3-ones occurring in many plants with antioxidant and other beneficial bioactivities. They are composed of catechin and epicatechin monomeric units connected by single carbon-carbon B-type linkages or A-type linkages containing both carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen-carbon bonds. Their polymeric structure makes analysis of procyanidin mixtures always difficult. Evaluation of procyanidins according to degree of polymerization (DP) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is time-consuming and at best has resolved polymeric families up to DP-17. To expedite studies of procyanidins, the utility of positive ion electrospray ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) was investigated for the rapid separation and characterization of procyanidins in mixtures. Applying IM-MS to analyse structurally defined standards containing up to five subunits, procyanidins could be resolved in less than 6 ms not only by degree of polymerization but also by linkage type. A-type procyanidins could be resolved from B-type and both could be at least partially resolved from mixed-type procyanidins of the same DP. IM-MS separated higher order procyanidins with DP of at least 24 from extracts of cranberry. As DP increased, the abundances of multiply-charged procyanidins also increased. During IM-MS of ions of similar m/z, the ion drift times decreased inversely with increasing charge state. Therefore, IM-MS was shown to separate mixtures of procyanidins containing at least 24 interconnected subunits in less than 16 ms, not only according to DP, but also according to linkage type between subunits and charge state.

Characterization of primary standards for use in the HPLC analysis of the procyanidin content of cocoa and chocolate containing products.

This report describes the characterization of a series of commercially available procyanidin standards ranging from dimers DP = 2 to decamers DP = 10 for the determination of procyanidins from cocoa and chocolate. Using a combination of HPLC with fluorescence detection and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, the purity of each standard was determined and these data were used to determine relative response factors. These response factors were compared with other response factors obtained from published methods. Data comparing the procyanidin analysis of a commercially available US dark chocolate calculated using each of the calibration methods indicates divergent results and demonstrate that previous methods may significantly underreport the procyanidins in cocoa-containing products. These results have far reaching implications because the previous calibration methods have been used to develop data for a variety of scientific reports, including food databases and clinical studies.

Rapid Determination of Procyanidins Using MALDI-ToF/ToF Mass Spectrometry.

Although procyanidins constitute a unique class of polymeric plant secondary metabolites with a variety of biological properties including potent antioxidant activity, structure determination has been challenging, and structures of many complex procyanidins remain uncertain. To expedite the characterization of procyanidins, negative ion matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization high-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF/ToF) mass spectra of 20 isolated procyanidins containing catechin and epicatechin subunits with degrees of polymerization up to five were obtained and evaluated. Structurally significant fragmentation pathways of singly charged, deprotonated molecules were identified representing quinone methide, heterocyclic ring fission, and retro-Diels-Alder fragmentation. The interpretation of the tandem mass spectra for sequencing A-type, B-type, mixed-type, linear, and branched procyanidins is explained using specific examples of each.

Influence of Degree-of-Polymerization and Linkage on the Quantification of Proanthocyanidins using 4-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) Assay.

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are naturally occurring flavonoids possessing health beneficial bioactivities. Their quantification often utilizes the 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) spectrophotometric assay with the assumption that molar absorption coefficients (MACs) are similar across the various PAC species. To assess the validity of this assumption, individual PAC monomers and oligomers were examined for their absorbance response with DMAC. Our results have shown that PAC dimers and trimers with interflavan linkage variations exhibited differential absorbance response. Absence of A-type linkage between the terminal and second units in PAC molecule not only impacts absorbance intensity at 640 nm but also elicits a prominent secondary 440 nm absorbance peak. Cranberry (A-type) and cocoa (B-type) oligomeric PACs exhibited differential absorbance (MACs) relationship with degree-of-polymerization. Thus, PAC structural variations have considerable impact on the resulting MAC. The use of DMAC assay in PAC quantification, especially in comparing across specific oligomers and compositions, should not assume MACs are similar.

Reactivation of latent HIV-1 by new semi-synthetic ingenol esters.

The ability of HIV to establish long-lived latent infection is mainly due to transcriptional silencing of viral genome in resting memory T lymphocytes. Here, we show that new semi-synthetic ingenol esters reactivate latent HIV reservoirs. Amongst the tested compounds, 3-caproyl-ingenol (ING B) was more potent in reactivating latent HIV than known activators such as SAHA, ingenol 3,20-dibenzoate, TNF-α, PMA and HMBA. ING B activated PKC isoforms followed by NF-κB nuclear translocation. As virus reactivation is dependent on intact NF-κB binding sites in the LTR promoter region ING B, we have shown that. ING B was able to reactivate virus transcription in primary HIV-infected resting cells up to 12 fold and up to 25 fold in combination with SAHA. Additionally, ING B promoted up-regulation of P-TEFb subunits CDK9/Cyclin T1. The role of ING B on promoting both transcription initiation and elongation makes this compound a strong candidate for an anti-HIV latency drug combined with suppressive HAART.

One new and six known triterpene xylosides from Cimicifuga racemosa: FT-IR, Raman and NMR studies and DFT calculations.

One new and six known triterpene xylosides were isolated from Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh, Actaea racemosa). The structure of a new compound, designated as isocimipodocarpaside (1), was established to be (24S)-3ß-hydroxy-24,25-oxiirane-16,23-dione-9,10-seco-9,19-cyclolanost-1(10),7(8),9(11)-trien 3-O-ß-d-xylopyranoside, by means of (1)H and (13)C NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopies and Mass Spectrometry. The six known compounds are: 23-epi-26-deoxycimicifugoside (2), 23-epi-26-deoxyactein (3), 25-anhydrocimigenol xyloside (4), 23-O-acetylshengmanol xyloside (5), 25-O-acetylcimigenol xyloside (6) and 3'-O-acetylcimicifugoside H-1 (7). On the basis of NMR data supported by DFT calculations of NMR shielding constants of (2), its structure, previously described as 26-deoxycimicifugoside was corrected and determined as 23-epi-26-deoxycimicifugoside. The (13)C CPMAS NMR spectra of the studied compounds (1)-(7) provided data on their solid-state interactions. The IR and Raman spectra in the CO, CC, and CH stretching vibration regions clearly discriminate different triterpenes found in C. racemosa.

Novel and unusual triterpene from Black Cohosh. Determination of structure of 9,10-seco-9,19-cyclolanostane xyloside (cimipodocarpaside) by NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

A new triterpene xyloside, designated cimipodocarpaside was isolated from a Black Cohosh (Actea racemosa L.) extract and its structure was elucidated by means of 1H, 13C NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopy supported by B3LYP/6-31G** calculations. The vibrational spectra were interpreted using the PED analysis of 273 fundamentals. Its structure comprises four condensed rings A-D which are 6, 7, 6, and 5-membered, respectively. An oxiirane ring is located in the side chain and a xylose moiety is attached to the A-ring. Comparison of the experimental 13C NMR data with the theoretical chemical shifts of 24S- and 24R-cimipodocarpaside isomers revealed that the isolated compound has the 24S-configuration. Combined spectroscopic and computational studies enabled the determination of the structure of cimipodocarpaside as (24S)-3ß-hydroxy-24,25-oxiirane-16,23-dione-9,10-seco-9,19-cyclolanost-7(8),9(11),10(19)-trien-3-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside. Triterpenes with 7-membered ring were thus far isolated from only Actea podocarpa DC. plants. This is the first report on the isolation of such a compound from Black Cohosh.

Survey of the trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid content of cocoa-containing and chocolate products.

Dietary resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) has been implicated in the health benefits associated with grapes and red wine, more specifically with potential benefits for metabolic syndrome, energy use, and increased endurance. Levels of trans-resveratrol and its glucoside, trans-piceid, were determined in 19 top selling commercially available cocoa-containing and chocolate products from the U.S. market. Amounts of trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid were closely correlated with the amount of nonfat cocoa solids (NFCS) in the cocoa-containing products. Among these products, trans-resveratrol levels were highest in cocoa powders (1.85 +/- 0.43 microg/g), followed by unsweetened baking chocolates (1.24 +/- 0.22), semisweet chocolate baking chips (0.52 +/- 0.14), dark chocolates (0.35 +/- 0.08), milk chocolates (0.10 +/- 0.05), and chocolate syrups (0.09 +/- 0.02). These cocoa-containing and chocolate products have about 3-5 times more trans-piceid than trans-resveratrol. Levels of trans-piceid were highest in the cocoa powders (7.14 +/- 0.80 microg/g), followed by unsweetened baking chocolates (4.04 +/- 0.14), semisweet chocolate baking chips (2.01 +/- 0.18), dark chocolates (1.82 +/- 0.36), milk chocolates (0.44 +/- 0.06), and chocolate syrups (0.35 +/- 0.06). On an equal weight basis, cocoa powder had about half as much trans-resveratrol as the average California red wine. On a per serving basis, cocoa-containing and chocolate products had less trans-resveratrol than red wine and grape juice but more than roasted peanuts. Overall, these cocoa-containing and chocolate products rank second after red wines and grape juice in foods with the highest levels of total trans-resveratrol in the diet.

(13)C, (15)N CPMAS NMR and GIAO DFT calculations of stereoisomeric oxindole alkaloids from Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa).

Oxindole alkaloids, isolated from the bark of Uncaria tomentosa [Willd. ex Schult.] Rubiaceae, are considered to be responsible for the biological activity of this herb. Five pentacyclic and two tetracyclic alkaloids were studied by solid-state NMR and theoretical GIAO DFT methods. The (13)C and (15)N CPMAS NMR spectra were recorded for mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, pteropodine (uncarine C), isopteropodine (uncarine E), speciophylline (uncarine D), rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline. Theoretical GIAO DFT calculations of shielding constants provide arguments for identification of asymmetric centers and proper assignment of NMR spectra. These alkaloids are 7R/7S and 20R/20S stereoisomeric pairs. Based on the (13)C CP MAS chemical shifts the 7S alkaloids (delta C3 70-71ppm) can be easily and conveniently distinguished from 7R (deltaC3 74.5-74.9ppm), also 20R (deltaC20 41.3-41.7ppm) from the 20S (deltaC20 36.3-38.3ppm). The epiallo-type isomer (3R, 20S) of speciophylline is characterized by a larger (15)N MAS chemical shift of N4 (64.6ppm) than the allo-type (3S, 20S) of isopteropodine (deltaN4 53.3ppm). (15)N MAS chemical shifts of N1-H in pentacyclic alkaloids are within 131.9-140.4ppm.

Alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica and their capacity to inhibit binding of [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin to 5-HT1A receptors in Vitro.

A 70% ethanol extract of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) was able to bind to 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) receptors at 100 mug/mL. The subsequent isolation procedure yielded the known alkaloids californidine (1), escholtzine (2), N-methyllaurotetanine (3), caryachine (4), and O-methylcaryachine (5), along with a new pavine alkaloid, 6S,12S-neocaryachine-7-O-methyl ether N-metho salt (7). The structure of 7 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation, while the absolute stereochemistry was determined by means of circular dichroism. From the results obtained from the radioligand-binding assay of the pure compounds, including the commercially available protopine (6), it was evident that the activity on the 5-HT(1A) receptor was at least partly due to the presence of the aporphine alkaloid 3, which showed the highest inhibition of [(3)H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin ([(3)H]8-OH-DPAT) binding with an EC(50) value of 155 nM and a K(i) of 85 nM.

Induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by pachymic acid from Poria cocos.

Pachymic acid (PA) is a natural triterpenoid known to inhibit the phospholipase A2 (PLA(2)) family of arachidonic acid (AA)-producing enzymes. PLA(2) is elevated in prostatic adenocarcinoma and conversion of AA to prostaglandins leads to AKT pro-survival activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of PA on the growth of human prostate cancer cells. PA significantly reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, with androgen-insensitive DU145 prostate cancer cells showing greater growth inhibition relative to androgen-responsive LNCaP. Despite elevated protein expression of the cell cycle inhibitor, p21, apoptosis occurred in the absence of cell cycle arrest. PA-treatment decreased Bad phosphorylation, increased Bcl-2 phosphorylation, and activated caspases-9 and -3, suggesting that PA initiated apoptosis through mitochondria dysfunction. PA-treatment also decreased the expression and activation of proteins within the AKT signal pathway. We speculate that PA influenced apoptosis by reducing prostaglandin synthesis and AKT activity.