Triterpenoid glycosides from Ladenbergia hexandra Klotzsch.

From the bark of Ladenbergia hexandra Klotzsch, ten triterpenoid glycosides were isolated along with five known compounds, and their structures were determined based on extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic, GC and HPLC analyses. Some triterpenoid glycosides contained 6-deoxy-D-allose or D-allose as a sugar moiety. The absolute stereochemical assignment of the sugars was determined by comparison with synthetic samples, as well as by GC and HPLC analysis.

New humulenes from Hyptis incana (Labiatae).

Two new humulene-type sesquiterpenes, named hyptishumulene I (1) and II (2), have been isolated, together with eight known compounds, a humulene-type sesquiterpene (3), a monoterpene (4) and six abietane-type diterpenoids (5-10) from the aerial parts of Hyptis incana (Labiatae). The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds against mouse leukemia cells (L1210) was examined. The abietane-type diterpenoids (5-10) showed rather potent growth inhibitory activity (IC50<15 microM), while the new humulene-type compounds (1 and 2) exhibited moderate activity (IC50>50 microM).

Phenolic diterpenes derived from Hyptis incana induce apoptosis and G(2)/M arrest of neuroblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma is one of the most commonly encountered solid tumors in the pediatric age group, and the prognosis of patients with advanced neuroblastoma is very poor. In this study, the antitumor effects of five phenolic diterpenes derived from Hyptis incana (Lamiaceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant, were examined on neuroblastoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptotic nuclear shrinkage was monitored by Hoechst 33342 staining. The cell-cycle status was evaluated by flow cytometry and protein alterations were monitored by western blotting. Differentiated cells were photographed and counted in a randomized fashion. RESULTS: All of the examined compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity towards the neuroblastoma cells. In particular, 7-ethoxyrosmanol had a high degree of efficacy. Nuclear condensation and degradation of procaspase-3 and -9 were observed after treatment of the cells with these compounds. Moreover, phenolic diterpenes induced cell-cycle arrest in the G(2)/M phase. Rosmanol and epirosmanol tended to induce differentiation. CONCLUSION: Phenolic diterpenes isolated from H. incana have multiple antitumor effects on neuroblastoma cells.

Monoterpene glucosides from Ziziphora clinopodioides (Labiatae).

Three new monoterpene glucosides, ziziphoroside A (1), B (2), and C (3), together with fifteen known compounds were isolated from the whole herb of Z. clinopodioides. The structures of new compounds were determined primarily from 1D-, 2D-NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-γ activated macrophages, RAW 264.7. Shizonepetoside A (8) and flavones (11, 12, 13) showed potent inhibitory activity against NO production.

Separation, synthesis and estrogenic activity of 4-nonylphenols: two sets of new diastereomeric isomers in a commercial mixture.

Two sets of new diastereomeric 4-nonylphenol (NP) isomers [4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-4-yl)phenol (344NP, NP-J, L) and 4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-3-yl)phenol (343NP, NP-K, P)] were separated from a commercial NP mixture. The mixture of these diastereomers was synthesized at the same time by a single Friedel-Crafts reaction of 3,4-dimethyl-4-heptanol and phenol, and the mixture was separated into individual NPs by HPLC equipped with Hypercarb column. For the first time, in this study the stereostructure-estrogenic activity relationship of NP diastereomers was investigated. The NP isomers (NP-L and NP-P) having the beta-methyl group over the benzene ring were found to be 2-4 times more estrogenic than their diastereomers (NP-J and NP-K). In the case of the other set of diastereomer [4-(3,5-dimethylheptan-3-yl)phenol, (353NP, NP-E, G)] containing gamma-methyl group in the molecule, the gamma-methyl proton signal (delta 0.49) in the more estrogenic isomer (NP-G) also appeared in a higher field than the corresponding methyl signal (delta 0.76) of the less estrogenic isomer (NP-E).

Syntheses and estrogenic activity of 4-nonylphenol isomers.

Eight branched 4-nonylphenol (NP) isomers, which were identified from commercially available NP reagent, 4-(1-ethyl-1,4-dimethylpentyl)phenol (NP-C), 4-(1,1-dimethyl-3-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-D), 4-(1,3-dimethyl-1-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-E(G)), diastereomeric mixture), 4-(1,1,4-trimethylhexyl)phenol (NP-F), 4-(1-methyl-1-n-propylpentyl)phenol (NP-H), 4-(1,1-dimethyl-2-ethylpentyl)phenol (NP-I), 4-(1,1,2-trimethylhexyl)phenol (NP-M), and 4-(1-ethyl-1-methylhexyl)phenol (NP-N), were synthesized by two different synthetic methods starting from 4-benzyloxyacetophenone or phenol. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by MS and NMR spectroscopy. The estrogenic activities of these synthetic NP isomers were tested and exhibited different activities on the recombinant yeast screen system. NP-I was found to exhibit three times greater estrogenic activity than the commercial NP mixture.

Lupane triterpenes with a carbonyl group at C-20 induce cancer cell apoptosis.

We evaluated the effects of various lupane triterpenes on B16 2F2 mouse melanoma cell differentiation and proliferation. All of the compounds tested (numbered 1-6) induced melanogenesis of B16 2F2 cells, a marker of melanoma cell differentiation. Compounds 4-6, which have a carbonyl group at C-20, markedly inhibited the growth of B16 2F2 cells by the induction of apoptosis. Cytotoxic profiles of these lupane triterpenes against human cancer cells demonstrated that compounds 4-6 showed inhibitory effects on the proliferations of leukemia and lung cancer cells, to a greater extent than other cancer and normal fibroblast cells. These results suggest that the carbonyl group at C-20 of lupane triterpenes played important roles in their apoptosis-inducing activity against cancer cells.

Estrogen equivalent concentration of 13 branched para-nonylphenols in three technical mixtures by isomer-specific determination using their synthetic standards in SIM mode with GC-MS and two new diasteromeric isomers.

Thirteen isomers of branched para-nonylphenols (para-NP) in three technical mixtures were isomer-specifically determined using their synthesized standards by SIM of structurally specific ions, m/z 135, 149 or 163 with GC-MS. Of the 13 isomers, four isomers, 4-(2,4-dimethylheptan-4-yl)phenol, 4-(4-methyloctan-4-yl)phenol, 4-(3-ethyl-2-methylhexan-2-yl)phenol (3E22NP) and 4-(2,3-dimethylheptan-2-yl)phenol synthesized for their determinations were first used as standard substances. The 13 isomers in the technical mixtures individually occurred at mass percent portion of more than 2%. The total mass percent portions in the mixtures from Tokyo Chemical Industry (TCI), Aldrich, and Fluka covered with 89+/-2%, 75+/-4% and 77+/-2%, respectively. The abundance of 4-(3,6-dimethylheptan-3-yl)phenol in the three mixtures was the largest with 11.1+/-2% to 9.9+/-0.3%, while that of 4-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenol was the smallest with 2.9+/-0.3% to 3.0+/-0.2%. Additionally, structures of four new isomers of more than 1% portion present in a technical mixture were elucidated as two pairs of diastereomeric isomers: two types of 4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-4-yl)phenol (344NP) and those of 4-(3,4-dimethylheptan-3-yl)phenol (343NP). By estrogenic assay of 13 isomers with yeast estrogen screen system, the activity of 3E22NP was the highest, while that of 4-(3-methyloctan-3-yl)phenol was the least. Their relative activities to that of 3E22NP were individually calculated. Estrogenic equivalent concentrations of the three technical mixtures were predictively evaluated. The ratio of the EEC to the conventional concentration, total mass percent portions of the 13 isomers in technical mixtures were 0.208 for TCI, 0.206 for Aldrich and 0.205 for Fluka. The predicted estrogenic activity of measured concentration of para-NP in technical mixtures was approximately 5-fold greater than the measured estrogen agonist activity.

Studies on the constituents of the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae) and their cytotoxic activity.

A new sesquiterpene, named baccharisketone (1), and a new monoterpene, p-methoxythymol acetate (2), were isolated from the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia along with seventeen known compounds (3-19). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The growth inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds against leukemia cells (L 1210) was tested and three terpene phenols (4, 6, 17) and five sesquiterpene alcohols (8, 10, 11, 13, 16) were found to exhibit strong cytotoxic activity.

Estrogen equivalent concentration of individual isomer-specific 4-nonylphenol in Ariake sea water, Japan.

Concentrations of 4-nonylphenol (NP) were determined by isomer-specific quantification of individual NP isomers based on relative response factor (RRF) quantification with GC-MS in combination with steam distillation extraction. Concentrations of NP in the Ariake Sea decreased with distance from the river mouth (St.A; 49 ng NP/l) to offshore areas (St.C; 11 ng NP/l). Even the least concentration in water from St.C in Ariake Sea was sufficient to have adverse effects on barnacles. The isomers, NP1-NP14 were separated by GC-PFC and identified structurally with NMR. The isomers varied in estrogenic activity with NP7 exhibiting the greatest estrogenic activity with a potency that was approximately 1.9 x 10(-3) that of 17beta-estradiol (E2) in recombinant yeast screen system. The coefficient of variation (CV) of NP isomer's concentrations among three samples at St.A, B and C were 4-75%. This suggests that NP isomers might be independently degraded in aquatic environmental samples. The predicted estrogenic activity of measured concentrations of NP in Ariake Sea was 2.7-3.0-fold greater than the measured estrogen agonist activity.

Tirucallane-type triterpenes from Juliania adstringens.

Five tirucallane-type triterpenes were isolated along with nine known triterpenes from the bark of Juliania adstringens. The structures of the five triterpenes were determined by analysis of their 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectral data, and each compound exhibited growth inhibitory activity against leukemia cells (L-1210).

Variation in estrogenic activity among fractions of a commercial nonylphenol by high performance liquid chromatography.

Estrogenic activity by recombinant yeast screen assay of the commercial NP was considerably higher when compared with that of n-nonylphenol (n-NP). Fractionation of the commercial NP by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) afforded seven isomers: 4-(1,3-dimethyl-1-propyl-butyl)-phenol, 4-(1,1,3-trimethyl-hexyl)-phenol, 4-(1,1-dimethyl-3-ethyl-pentyl)-phenol, 4-(1,1,4-trimethyl-hexyl)-phenol, 4-(1-methyl-1-propyl-pentyl)-phenol, 4-(1,1,2-trimethyl-hexyl)-phenol and 4-(1-ethyl-1-methyl-hexyl)-phenol. The structures of these isomers were determined by GC-MS and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). All of these isomers possessed tertiary alpha-carbon in their chemical structures. Another tertiary NP, 4-(1,1-dimethyl-heptyl)-phenol was synthesized in the present study and this synthetic NP also exhibited the estrogenic activity. One fractionated compound was identified as one of decylphenol, 4-(1-ethyl-1,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl)-phenol. The isomer, 4-(1,1,4-trimethyl-hexyl)-phenol exhibited the highest estrogenic activity corresponding to 1/10000 that of 17beta-estradiol (E2). The activity of n-NP was the least. This suggests that it may be possible to develop a technical NP mixture with relatively low estrogenic activity.

seco-Adianane-type triterpenoids from Dorstenia brasiliensis (Moraceae).

Two seco-adianane-type triterpenoids, dorstenic acid A and B, were isolated, along with a known isopimarane-type diterpenoid and six coumarins, from the roots of Dorstenia brasiliensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. The two triterpenoids showed moderate cytotoxicity against leukemia cells (L-1210 and HL-60).