Antiinflammatory and lipoxygenase inhibitory compounds from Vitex agnus-castus.

Several secondary metabolites, artemetin (1), casticin (2), 3,3'-dihydroxy-5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxy flavon (3), penduletin (4), methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (5), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (7), 5-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzoic acid (8), vanillic acid (9) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10) were isolated from a folkloric medicinal plant, Vitex agnus-castus. The structures of compounds 1-10 were identified with the help of spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 3-10 were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds were screened for their antiinflammatory and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities. Compounds 6, 7 and 10 were found to have significant antiinflammatory activity in a cell-based contemporary assay, whereas compounds 1 and 2 exhibited a potent lipoxygenase inhibition.

A pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Haloxylon recurvum.

Haloxylon recurvum Bunge ex Boiss (Chenopodiaceae) is distributed chiefly from the Mediterranean region to Central and South Asia and traditionally applied externally for a variety of disorders. We investigated the in vivo toxic potential of crude methanolic extract of the whole plant and its n-hexane, chloroform, butanol, ethylacetate and aqueous soluble fractions by determining their acute toxicity and acute neurotoxicity in mice using Lorke's method and inverted screen test. In vitro studies were also conducted in order to investigate its antilipoxygenase, antibacterial and antifungal activities. All the fractions showed a narrow margin of safety in mice, except the aqueous fraction, which did not produce any mortality even at the highest tested dose (5000 mg kg(-1)). At non-lethal doses, only the aqueous fraction (TD(50) 1264 mg kg(-1)) was found to produce neurotoxicity in mice. In in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition assay, the ethylacetate fraction showed the most significant inhibitory activity. Crude methanolic extract and its butanol soluble fraction showed the most potent antifungal and antibacterial activity for all the materials tested. Thus, this report verifies the traditionally reported toxicity of this plant, as the majority of its components have exhibited a narrow margin of safety, however, they have been found active in in vitro studies, therefore, further studies are required in order to isolate the most active toxic compounds and differentiate them from these fractions.

Lipoxygenase inhibitory constituents from Indigofera oblongifolia.

Indigin, alkylated xanthene (1) and indigoferic acid (2) have been isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of Indigofera oblongifolia, along with beta-sitosterol (3) and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), which are reported for the first time from this species. Their structures were determined through spectroscopic techniques. Both the new compounds 1 and 2 showed significant activity against enzyme lipoxygenase, while 2 further showed moderate inhibition against BChE.

Haloxylines A and B, antifungal and cholinesterase inhibiting piperidine alkaloids from Haloxylon salicornicum.

Haloxylines A (1) and B (2), new piperidine alkaloids, have been isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of Haloxylon salicornicum and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including 2D-NMR. Both the compounds displayed antifungal and cholinesterase enzymes inhibitory potentials.

Three new cholinesterase-inhibiting cis-clerodane diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata.

Three new tricyclic cis-clerodane type diterpenoids trivially named as limbatolide A (1), limbatolide B (2) and limbatolide C (3) have been isolated from the roots of Otostegia limbata along with two known compounds; oleanic acid and beta-sitosterol. The structure elucidation of the new compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques. Compounds 1-3 displayed inhibitory potential in a concentration-dependent manner against acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) enzymes, respectively.

Cholinesterase inhibitory pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana.

The bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation on Sarcococca hookeriana have resulted in the isolation of four new pregnane-type steriodal alkaloids: hookerianamide-D [(2'E,20S)-20-(N,N-formyl(methyl)amino)-3beta-(3',4'-dimethyl-2'-pentenamido)-5alpha-pregnane] (1), hookerianamide-E [(2'E,20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(senecioylamino)-5alpha-pregn-14-en-2beta-O-acetate] (2), hookerianamide-F [(2'E,20S)-20-(N-methylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-5alpha-pregn-2,14-dien-4-one] (3), and hookerianamide-G [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(N-methylbenzamido)-5alpha-pregn-4beta-O-acetate] (4), along with five known alkaloids 5-9. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. These steroidal alkaloids and chemically derived derivatives of compound 5 have displayed varying degree of inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes in a concentration-dependent fashion, with the IC(50) values ranging from 1.5 to 148.2 and 0.6 to 100.2 microM, respectively.

Lipoxygenase inhibiting constituents from Indigofera hetrantha.

A lignan and two acylphloroglucinols have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the whole plant of Indigofera hetrantha. Their structures have been assigned on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1-3 displayed promising inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase in concentration-dependent manner.

Enzyme inhibiting lignans from Vitex negundo.

Two new lignans trivially named negundins A (1) and B (2), were isolated along with (+)-diasyringaresinol (3), (+)-lyoniresinol (4), vitrofolal E (5) and vitrofolal F (6), reported for the first time from this species. The structures of the new compounds were established through spectral studies. Compound 2 showed potent inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase enzyme, while 5 showed moderate activity against butyryl-cholinesterase.

Cholinesterase inhibiting withanolides from Withania somnifera.

A total of two new (1, 2) and four known (3-6) withanolides were isolated from the whole plant of Withania somnifera. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and were characterized as 6alpha,7alpha-epoxy-3beta,5alpha,20beta-trihydroxy-1-oxowitha-24-enolide (1), 5beta,6beta-epoxy-4beta,17alpha,27-trihydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,24-dienolide (2), withaferin-A (3), 2,3-dihydrowithaferin-A (4), 6alpha,7alpha-epoxy-5alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,24-dienolide (5), and 5beta,6beta-epoxy-4beta-hydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,14,24-trienolide (6), respectively. Compounds 2, 3, 5, and 6 displayed inhibitory potential against butyrylcholinesterase, but only compounds 3, 4, and 6 were found to be active against acetylcholinesterase.

Lipoxygenase inhibitory constituents from Periploca aphylla.

Bisflavan-3-ols 1 and 2 and norterpenoid 3 have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Periploca aphylla. Their structures have been assigned on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. In addition, o-phthalic acid bis(2-ethylnonyl) ester (4), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2,5-dimethoxyxanthone (5), and (+)-lyoniresinol (6) have been reported for the first time from this species. Compounds 1-3 displayed evident inhibitory potential against the enzyme lipoxygenase in a concentration-dependent fashion with IC(50) values 19.7, 13.5, and 150.1 microM, respectively.

New cholinesterase inhibiting bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Cocculus pendulus.

Phytochemical investigation on Cocculus pendulus (J. R. & G. FORST.) resulted in the isolation of two new and three known bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The structures of the new alkaloids, kurramine-2'-beta-N-oxide (1) and kurramine-2'-alpha-N-oxide (2), were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic techniques. The cholinesterase inhibitory activities of these bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids are reported here for the first time.

Lipoxygenase inhibiting and antioxidant oligostilbene and monoterpene galactoside from Paeonia emodi.

Paeoninol and paeonin C, oligostilbene and monoterpene galactoside, have been isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Paeonia emodi. Their structures have been assigned on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. In addition, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid 3, gallic acid 4 and methyl gallate 5 have also been reported for the first time from this species. Compounds 1 and 2 have displayed potent inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase in a concentration-dependent fashion with the IC(50) values 0.77 and 99.5 microM, along with ABTS(.+) radical quenching activity with IC(50) values of 147.5 and 498.2 microM, respectively.

Cholinesterase-inhibiting withanolides from Ajuga bracteosa.

Three new withanolides, bracteosin A (= (22R)-5beta,6beta : 22,26-diepoxy-4beta,28-dihydroxy-3beta-methoxyergost-24-ene-1,26-dione; 1), bracteosin B (= (22R)-5beta,6beta : 22,26-diepoxy-4beta,28-dihydroxy-3beta-methoxy-1,26-dioxoergost-24-en-19-oic acid; 2), and bracteosin C (= (22R)-22,26-epoxy-4beta,6beta,27-trihydroxy-3beta-methoxyergost-24-ene-1,26-dione; 3), have been isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga bracteosa. Their structures were deduced by spectral analysis, including 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. In addition, dihydroclerodin-1, clerodinin A, lupulin A, and dihydroajugapitin have also been isolated for the first time from this species. Compounds 1-3 exhibited evident inhibitory potential against cholinesterase enzymes in a concentration-dependent fashion.

New pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids from Sarcocca saligna and their cholinesterase inhibitory activity.

Five new steroidal alkaloids, 5,14-dehydro-N(a)-demethylsaracodine [3beta-N(a)-methyl-20S-N(b)-acetyl-N(b)-methylamino-pregn-5,14-diene] (1), 14-dehydro-N(a)-demethylsaracodine [3beta-N(a)-methyl-20S-N(b)-acetyl-N(b)-methylamino-5alpha-pregn-14-ene] (2), 16-dehydrosarcorine [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(N(a)-acetylamido)-5alpha-pregn-16-ene] (3), 2,3-dehydrosarsalignone [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-pregn-2,5-diene-4-one] (4), and 14,15-dehydrosarcovagine-D [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-5alpha-pregn-2,14-diene-4-one] (5), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of Sarcococca saligna, along with two known bases, sarcovagenine-C (6) and salignarine-C (7). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. All seven compounds were found to possess cholinesterase inhibitory potential in a concentration-dependent manner with the IC50 values ranging from 12.5 to 200 microM against acetylcholinesterase and from 1.25 to 32.2 microM against butyrylcholinesterase.

Cholinesterase inhibitory constituents from Onosma hispida.

Hispidone, a new flavanone, has been isolated from Onosma hispida and assigned the structure (2S)-5,2'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyflavanone (1) by spectroscopic methods. In addition, (2S)-5,2'-dihydroxy-7,5'-dimethoxyflavanone (2), benzoic acid (3), and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4) are also reported for the first time from this species.