Unusual compounds from Galium mollugo and their inhibitory activities against ROS generation in human fibroblasts.

Three unusual dioxatricyclodecenone compounds, mollugoside A, E-mollugoside B and Z-mollugoside B and, together with known flavonoids, were isolated from the aerial parts of Galium mollugo collected in north-eastern Algeria. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR. Flavonoids and mollugoside A significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human fibroblasts.

Polyphenols from the stems of Morus alba and their inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia.

Neuroinflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders. Microglial cells, the main immune cells of the central nervous system, represent a target of interest to search for naturally occurring anti-inflammatory products. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols obtained from the stems of Morus alba. This edible species, known as white mulberry, is frequently studied because of its traditional use in Asian medicine and its richness in different types of polyphenols, some of which are known to be phytoalexins. One new coumarin glycoside, isoscopoletin 6-(6-O-ß-apiofuranosyl-ß-glucopyranoside) (1) was mainly isolated by CPC (centrifugal partition chromatography) from this plant, together with seven known polyphenols (2-8). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including extensive 2D NMR studies. The eight isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells. The absence of cell toxicity is checked by a MTT assay.

Bioactive stilbenes from Vitis vinifera grapevine shoots extracts.

BACKGROUND: Viticultural residues from commercial viticultural activities represent a potentially important source of bioactive stilbenes such as resveratrol. The main aim of the present study was therefore to isolate, identify and perform biological assays against amyloid-ß peptide aggregation of original stilbenes from Vitis vinifera shoots. RESULTS: A new resveratrol oligomer, (Z)-cis-miyabenol C (3), was isolated from Vitis vinifera grapevine shoots together with two newly reported oligostilbenes from Vitis vinifera shoots, vitisinol C (1) and (E)-cis-miyabenol C (2), and six known compounds: piceatannol, resveratrol, (E)-ε-viniferin (trans-ε-viniferin), ω-viniferin, vitisinol C and (E)-miyabenol C. The structures of these resveratrol derivatives were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis including nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. All the newly reported compounds were tested for their anti-aggregative activity against amyloid-ß fibril formation. Vitisinol C was found to exert a significant activity against amyloid-ß aggregation. CONCLUSION: Vitis vinifera grapevine shoots are potentially interesting as a source of new bioactive stilbenes, such as vitisinol C.

Identification and quantification of furanocoumarins in stem bark and wood of eight Algerian varieties of Ficus carica by RP-HPLC-DAD and RP-HPLC-DAD-MS.

Furanocoumarins are the major phytoalexins of Ficus carica and are effective natural drug candidates for treatment of several types of cancer and skin disease. The objectives of this study were to analyze and quantify linear furanocoumarins, mainly psoralen and bergapten, in wood and bark of stems from eight Algerian varieties of fig and to establish the differences in the content of these metabolites in the eight local samples. Psoralen and bergapten contents in the stem bark and wood (in microg/g DW) varied respectively from 146.6 to 1110.3 and from 395.7 to 1671.8 for psoralen, and from 114.3 to 524.0 and from 144.2 to 718.6 for bergapten. This study fills a gap in our knowledge of furanocoumarin distribution in different parts of the fig tree. Psoralen and bergapten concentrations were higher in the wood than in the stem bark. Most of the dark fruited fig trees produce these two coumarins more than the green ones.

Two new benzylbenzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides.

An extract from in vitro cultures of Curculigo orchioides grown as bulbils in shake flasks, afforded two new glucosides of substituted benzylbenzoate - curculigoside C (3) and curculigoside D (4) - together with two known compounds - curculigoside A (1) and curculigoside B (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence, in particular by using 2D NMR methods. Their vasoactive properties were assessed in isolated rat aortic rings.

New stilbenoid glucosides isolated from Vitis vinifera cell suspension cultures (cv. Cabernet Sauvignon).

Three new monomeric stilbenoid glucosides, (Z)- and (E)-resveratrol 3,5- O-beta-diglucosides (1 and 2, respectively) and (Z)-resveratrol 3,5,4'- O-beta-triglucoside (3), were isolated from an extract of Vitis vinifera cell cultures (Cabernet Sauvignon) together with the known (E)- and (Z)-piceids and (E)- and (Z)-resveratrol 3,4'- O-beta-diglucosides that have already been identified in a Gamay cell culture extract. The structure determinations were based on spectroscopic data analysis.