A new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Argemone mexicana.

A new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, argemexirine, together with two known protoberberine alkaloids, dl-tetrahydrocoptisine and dihydrocoptisine, have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Argemone mexicana L. The compounds were identified by spectral and chemical evidence. This is the first report of these alkaloids in this plant species.

Antifungal activity of the alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica.

The isoquinoline alkaloids hunnemanine and norsanguinarine have been isolated from methanolic extract of the whole plant of Eschscholzia californica. These two alkaloids were checked for their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria melongenae, A. brassicola, A. brassicae, Curvularia lunata, C. maculans, Helminthosporium pennisetti, H. oryzae, H. turcicum, Fusarium undum and F. lini. Hunnemanine exhibited 100 % inhibition of spore germination of A. brassicae, H. pennisetti and F. lini at 1000 ppm whereas norsanguinarine exhibited 100 % inhibition of A. brassicicola and C. maculans at this concentration.

A new chalcone glycoside from Rhamnus nipalensis.

A new chalcone glycoside, chalcone-2',4-dihydroxy-4'-O-beta-D-glucoside has been isolated from Rhamnus nipalensis together with sitosterol, lupeol, di-O-methyldaidzein, kaempferol-4'-methylether, quercetin, physcion, sitosterol glucoside, emodin and their structures established by spectroscopic data. Isolation of these compounds are the first report from this plant.

Fuyuziphine, a new alkaloid from Fumaria indica.

A new alkaloid, fuyuziphine together with (+/-)-alpha-hydrastine has been isolated from the whole plant of Fumaria indica. The structures of these alkaloids have been established by spectral and chemical evidences.

Antifungal Activity of Nor-securinine Against Some Phytopathogenic Fungi.

Crude extracts and active principles from medicinal plants have shown potential role in controlling plant diseases in glasshouses as well as in fields as one of the safest and ecofriendly methods. The effect of nor-securinine (an alkaloid) isolated from Phyllanthus amarus has been seen against spore germination of some fungi (Alternaria brassicae, A. solani, Curvularia pennisetti, Curvularia sp., Erysiphe pisi, Helminthosporium frumentacei) as well as pea powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) under glasshouse conditions. The sensitivity of fungi to nor-securinine varied considerably. Nor-securinine was effective against most of the fungi. H. frumentacei was more sensitive even at the lowest concentration (1,000 µg/ml). Likewise conidia of E. pisi were also inhibited in partially or completely appressorium formation. Pre-inoculation treatment showed greater efficacy than post-inoculation in inhibiting powdery mildew development on pea plants in a glasshouse. Maximum inhibition occurred at 2000 µg/ml.

Two plant alkaloids isolated from Corydalis longipes as potential antifungal agents.

The alkaloids N-methylhydrasteine hydroxylactam and 1-methoxyberberine chloride were isolated from Corydalis longipes. Both alkaloids showed high efficacy individually (in concentration of 50-150 ppm) and also in a 1:1 mixture against spore germination of some fungi, viz. Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, Curvularia maculans, Curvularia sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum sp., Helminthosporium speciferum, H. pennisetti, Helminthosporium sp., and Ustilago cynodontis. The antifungal effect of single compounds was dose-dependent. If the mutual ratio of the two components in the mixture was changed from 1:1 to a major content of any of the two compounds, the inhibitory effect on spore germination decreased.

Efficacy of alkaloid (-)-corypalmine against spore germination of some fungi.

Inhibition activity of the alkaloid (-)-corypalmine on spore germination of plant pathogenic and saprophytic fungi (Alternaria solani, A brassicicola, A. brassicae, A. melongenae, Curvularia pallescens, C. lunata, C. maculans, Curvularisa sp., Colletotrichum sp., Helminthosporium speciferum, H. frumentacei, H. pennisetti, Heterosporium sp., Penicillum sp., Ustilago cynodontis) was determined. Spore germination of all the tested fungi was inhibited, Heterosporium sp. and Ustilago cynodontis being the most sensitive (complete inhibition of spore germination was observed at the very low concentration of 200 ppm). Curvularia palliscens, C. maculans and Curvularia sp. were less sensitive; complete inhibition of spore germination occurred at 400 ppm.

Plumieride from Allamanda cathartica as an antidermatophytic agent.

Plumieride has been isolated as an active principle of the leaves of Allamanda cathartica. It showed strong fungitoxicity against some dermatophytes causing dermatomycosis to animals and human beings. It exhibited a noncytotoxic nature against a P(388) mouse leukaemia cell line.

Effect of berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline isolated from Corydalis chaerophylla on spore germination of some fungi.

Berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline were isolated from roots and leaves, respectively, of Corydalis chaerophylla. Both were effective in vitro against spore germination of some plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria brassicicola, A. brassicae, A. cheiranthi, A. melongenae, A. solani, Colletotrichum musae, C. falcatum, Curvularia penniseti, C. lunata, C. maculans, C. pallescens, Curvularia sp., Erysiphe pisi, E. cichoracearum, Erysiphe sp., Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium spiciferum, H. penniseti, H. frumentacei, Heterosporium sp., Oidium erysiphoides and Ustilago cynodontis). Berberine and (+/-)-bicuculline significantly inhibited spore germination of all the fungi at concentrations of 100-1000 ppm. Berberine was effective against all the fungi at all concentrations; most of the fungi did not germinate at 1000 ppm. H. penniseti conidia did not germinate at any concentration of (+/-)-bicuculline. U. cynodontis was the least sensitive fungus at lower concentrations but 800 ppm dose was highly effective.

An evaluation of toxicity of Taxus baccata Linn. (Talispatra) in experimental animals.

A toxicological study was performed in albino mice and rat with methanolic extract and isolated alkaloid of Taxus baccata Linn. (family: Taxaceae). LD(50) study showed the higher toxic activity in stem (TXA-1,2,3) as compared with leaf (TXB-1,2,3) extract. As the extract were further fractionated into crude alkaloids and purified by chromatography the toxicity of these fractions were found to be in increasing order as follows: methanolic extract (1) < crude alkaloidal fraction (2) < purified alkaloidal fraction (3). The effects of leaf and stem extract of T. baccata were studied on certain biochemical and haematological parameters of mice and rat after 10, 20 and 30 days of exposure. Among the parameters examined, the exposed animal exhibited significant decrease in total leukocyte count (TLC), lymphocytes and cholesterol level (mg/dl), whereas increase was observed in serum transminases (SGOT, SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) of TXA-1 and TXB-1 treated groups indicating toxic conditions associated due to liver involvement.

Triterpene glycoside from Terminalia arjuna.

A new triterpene glycoside, arjunetoside, together with oleanolic and arjunic acids has been isolated from the root bark of Terminalia arjuna. The structure of arjunetoside has been established as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2alpha,3beta, 19alpha-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by chemical and spectral data.

Eclalbatin, a triterpene saponin from Eclipta alba.

From the whole plant of Eclipta alba, a new triterpene saponin, named eclalbatin, together with alpha-amyrin, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were isolated. The structure of eclalbatin has been established as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3-beta-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, 28-O-beta-D-arabinopyranoside (1) on the basis of chemical and spectral data.

Cyclopeptide alkaloids from Zizyphus jujuba.

A new cyclopeptide alkaloid, jubanine-C (1), together with known alkaloids scutianine-C (4) and zizyphine-A (5), have been isolated from the stem bark of Zizyphus jujuba and identified by spectral analysis.

Anti-inflammatory effect of (+)-pinitol.

In the carrageenin-induced paw oedema in rats, (+)-pinitol (2.5-10 mg/kg, i.p.), isolated from Abies pindrow leaves, showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect, the highest dose being comparable to phenylbutazone (100 mg/kg, i.p.).

Flavanone glycosides from Alhagi pseudalhagi.

Two new flavanone glycosides, alhagitin and alhagidin, have been isolated from the whole plant of Alhagi pseudalhagi and their structures established respectively as naringenin 5-methyl ether 4'-glucoside and hesperitin 7-galactosyl(1-->2)[rhamnosyl(1-->6)]glucoside by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

A new triterpene glycoside from Terminalia arjuna.

A new triterpene diglucoside terminolitin (23-deoxyarjunolitin) has been isolated from the fruits of Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae) and was identified by IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy.

An N-formyl cyclopeptide alkaloid from Zizyphus nummularia bark.

A 13-membered N-formylcyclopeptide alkaloid, nummularine-T, has been isolated from the bark of Zizyphus nummularia and its structure established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. It provides the fourth example of a naturally occurring N-formyl cyclopeptide alkaloid.

A chalcone glycoside from Clerodendron phlomidis.

A new chalcone glycoside, together with pectolinarigenin, 7-hydroxyflavone and 7-hydroxyflavanone 7-O-glucoside have been isolated from the flowers and leaves of Clerodendron phlomidis. The structure of the chalcone glycoside has been established as 4,2',4'-trihydroxy-6'-methoxychalcone 4,4'-D-diglucoside by spectroscopic and degradative methods.