Triterpene glycosides from Silene odontopetala.

Silene species are known for their use in traditional medicine in treating several diseases. To the authors' knowledge there is no report on the chemical composition of S. odontopetala. Therefore, the phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of S. odontopetala was carried out, leading to the isolation of six undescribed oleanane-type glycosides along with the known saponin azukisaponin IV. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments, along with mass spectrometry analysis. The cytotoxic activity of oleanane-type saponins was evaluated against a small panel of cancer cell lines, including PC-3 (prostate carcinoma cells), MCF-7 (breast cancer cells), A549 (alveolar basal carcinoma cells), and HeLa (cervical carcinoma cells). Furthermore, the activity of isolated compounds against a normal cell line HEK-293, used for assessing their cytotoxicity, was evaluated.

Phytochemical investigation of Scabiosa sicula guided by a preliminary HPLC-ESIMSn profiling.

The genus Scabiosa (Caprifoliaceae) is represented by 80 species, widely used as medicinal plants for their positive effects on human diseases. On the basis of the interesting biological activity shown by Scabiosa spp., the phytochemical investigation of Scabiosa sicula L., never investigated before, was carried out. An initial LC-MS profile of the MeOH extract of S. sicula whole plant guided the isolation of 34 compounds, of which the structures were unambiguously elucidated by NMR analysis as phenolic compounds and triterpene saponins, among which eight undescribed compounds. Moreover, the total phenolic content of S. sicula methanol extract has been evaluated. On the basis of the pharmacological activities reported for Scabiosa species the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract was tested by TEAC and DPPH assays. Finally, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the methanol extract was assayed, showing an IC50 value (49 µg/mL) comparable to that exerted by acarbose (90 µg/mL), used as positive control.

Triterpene glycosides from Astragalus angustifolius.

Six new cycloartane-type (1- 6) and four new oleanane-type (7- 10) triterpene glycosides were isolated from Astragalus angustifolius Lam., together with five known triterpene glycosides. Their structures were established by the extensive use of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments along with ESIMS and HRMS analysis. Compounds 1- 3 are glycosides of cycloastragenol, while compounds 4- 6 show the C-24 epimer of cycloastragenol as aglycone, encountered for the first time in nature. All compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity in Hela, H-446, HT-29, and U937 cell lines. Only compound 8 displayed a weak activity with IC (50) values of 36 and 50 µM against Hela and HT-29 cell lines, respectively.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory constituents of Linaria kurdica subsp. eriocalyx.

Three known iridoid glycosides, antirrhide (1), antirrhinoside (2), and 5-O-beta-allosylantirrhinoside (3), and two known flavone glycosides, linariin (4"'-O-acetylpectolinarin) (4) and linarin (acacetin-7-O-beta-D-rutinoside) (5) were isolated from Linaria kurdica Boiss & Hohen. subsp. eriocalyx. The structures of the isolated compounds were established from spectroscopic evidence. Compounds 1-3 showed high inhibitory potential against alpha-glucosidase.

Determination of some chemical parameters and antimicrobial activity of traditional food: mesir paste.

The antimicrobial activities and some chemical properties of the traditional Turkish food called mesir paste were studied. Results of chemical analysis for moisture and volatiles, water-insoluble components, refractive index, soluble solids content, raw fiber, invert sugar, total ash, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, acidity, and pH were calculated as 17.06%, 2.55%, 1.491, 80.2%, 0.70%, 40.54%, 0.13%, 44 mg/kg, 0.9% anhydrous citric acid, and 3.6, respectively. Mesir paste was extracted individually by six solvents with different polarity, and antimicrobial activities of each extracts were determined against 12 microbial strains, mostly food-borne, including pathogens, by the agar well diffusion method. All extracts obtained showed antimicrobial activity ranging from 8 mm to 40 mm, and the butanolic extract displayed stronger antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms; Gram-positive strains were found to be more sensitive than Gram-negative strains. Antimicrobial potency of n-butanol extracts of mesir paste was determined in term of minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration for the sensitive microorganisms. In addition, some commercial antibiotics such as ampicillin, gentamicin, and nystatin were used as positive controls to determine the sensitivity of the strains.