Synthesis of a B-Antigen Hexasaccharide, a B-Lewis b Heptasaccharide and Glycoconjugates Thereof to Investigate Binding Properties of Helicobacter pylori.

Infecting the stomach of almost 50 % of people, Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of gastritis, peptic ulcers and stomach cancers. Interactions between bacterial membrane-bound lectin, Blood group Antigen Binding Adhesin (BabA), and human blood group antigens are key in the initiation of infection. Herein, the synthesis of a B-antigen hexasaccharide (B6) and a B-Lewis b heptasaccharide (BLeb7) and Bovine Serum Albumin glycoconjugates thereof is reported to assess the binding properties and preferences of BabA from different strains. From a previously reported trisaccharide acceptor a versatile key Lacto-N-tetraose tetrasaccharide intermediate was synthesized, which allowed us to explore various routes to the final targets, either via initial introduction of fucosyl residues followed by introduction of the B-determinant or vice versa. The first approach proved unsuccessful, whereas the second afforded the target structures in good yields. Protein conjugation using isothiocyanate methodology allowed us to reach high glycan loadings (up to 23 per protein) to mimic multivalent displays encountered in Nature. Protein glycoconjugate inhibition binding studies were performed with H. pylori strains displaying high or low affinity for Lewis b hexasaccharide structures showing that the binding to the high affinity strain was reduced due to the presence of the B-determinant in the Bleb7-conjugates and further reduced by the absence of the Lewis fucose residue in the B6-conjugate.

Synthesis of type 1 Lewis b hexasaccharide antigen structures featuring flexible incorporation of l-[U-13C6]-fucose for NMR binding studies.

While 13C-labelled proteins are common tools in NMR studies, lack of access to 13C-labelled carbohydrate structures has restricted their use. l-Fucose is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes in mammalian organisms. Here, l-[U-13C6]-Fuc labelled type I Lewis b (Leb) structures have been synthesised for use in NMR binding studies with the Blood-group Antigen Binding Adhesin (BabA), a membrane-bound protein from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. As part of this work, an efficient synthesis of a benzylated l-[U-13C6]-Fuc thioglycoside donor from l-[U-13C6]-Gal has been developed. The design and synthesis of an orthogonally protected tetrasaccharide precursor enabled controlled introduction of one or two 13C-labelled or non-labelled fucosyl residues prior to global deprotection. NMR analysis showed that it is straightforward to assign the anomeric centres as well as the H-5 positions to the individual fucosyl residues which are relevant for NMR binding studies.

Multivalent glycoconjugates as anti-pathogenic agents.

Multivalency plays a major role in biological processes and particularly in the relationship between pathogenic microorganisms and their host that involves protein-glycan recognition. These interactions occur during the first steps of infection, for specific recognition between host and bacteria, but also at different stages of the immune response. The search for high-affinity ligands for studying such interactions involves the combination of carbohydrate head groups with different scaffolds and linkers generating multivalent glycocompounds with controlled spatial and topology parameters. By interfering with pathogen adhesion, such glycocompounds including glycopolymers, glycoclusters, glycodendrimers and glyconanoparticles have the potential to improve or replace antibiotic treatments that are now subverted by resistance. Multivalent glycoconjugates have also been used for stimulating the innate and adaptive immune systems, for example with carbohydrate-based vaccines. Bacteria present on their surfaces natural multivalent glycoconjugates such as lipopolysaccharides and S-layers that can also be exploited or targeted in anti-infectious strategies.

Modified Hederagenin Derivatives Demonstrate Ex Vivo Anthelmintic Activity against Fasciola hepatica.

Infection with Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) causes fasciolosis (or fascioliasis) and poses a considerable economic as well as welfare burden to both the agricultural and animal health sectors. Here, we explore the ex vivo anthelmintic potential of synthetic derivatives of hederagenin, isolated in bulk from Hedera helix. Thirty-six compounds were initially screened against F. hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJs) of the Italian strain. Eleven of these compounds were active against NEJs and were selected for further study, using adult F. hepatica derived from a local abattoir (provenance unknown). From these eleven compounds, six demonstrated activity and were further assessed against immature liver flukes of the Italian strain. Subsequently, the most active compounds (n = 5) were further evaluated in ex vivo dose response experiments against adult Italian strain liver flukes. Overall, MC042 was identified as the most active molecule and the EC50 obtained from immature and adult liver fluke assays (at 24 h post co-culture) are estimated as 1.07 µM and 13.02 µM, respectively. When compared to the in vitro cytotoxicity of MDBK bovine cell line, MC042 demonstrated the highest anthelmintic selectivity (44.37 for immature and 3.64 for adult flukes). These data indicate that modified hederagenins display properties suitable for further investigations as candidate flukicides.

The tyrosine gate as a potential entropic lever in the receptor-binding site of the bacterial adhesin FimH.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the major causative agents of urinary tract infections. During infection, UPEC adhere to mannosylated glycoreceptors on the urothelium via the FimH adhesin located at the tip of type 1 pili. Synthetic FimH antiadhesives such as alkyl and phenyl α-D-mannopyranosides are thus ideal candidates for the chemical interception of this crucial step in pathogenesis. The crystal structures of the FimH lectin domain in its ligand-free form and in complexes with eight medium- and high-affinity mannopyranoside inhibitors are presented. The thermodynamic profiles of the FimH-inhibitor interactions indicate that the binding of FimH to α-D-mannopyranose is enthalpy-driven and has a negative entropic change. Addition of a hydrophobic aglycon influences the binding enthalpy and can induce a favorable entropic change. The alleviation of the entropic cost is at least in part explained by increased dynamics in the tyrosine gate (Tyr48 and Tyr137) of the FimH receptor-binding site upon binding of the ligand. Ligands with a phenyl group directly linked to the anomeric oxygen of α-D-mannose introduce the largest dynamics into the Tyr48 side chain, because conjugation with the anomeric oxygen of α-D-mannose forces the aromatic aglycon into a conformation that comes into close contact (≈2.65 Å) with Tyr48. A propargyl group in this position predetermines the orientation of the aglycon and significantly decreases affinity. FimH has the highest affinity for α-D-mannopyranosides substituted with hydrophobic aglycons that are compatible in shape and electrostatic properties to the tyrosine gate, such as heptyl α-D-mannose.

Flukicidal effects of abietane diterpenoid derived analogues against the food borne pathogen Fasciola hepatica.

Control of liver fluke infections remains a significant challenge in the livestock sector due to widespread distribution of drug resistant parasite populations. In particular, increasing prevalence and economic losses due to infection with Fasciola hepatica is a direct result of drug resistance to the gold standard flukicide, triclabendazole. Sustainable control of this significant zoonotic pathogen, therefore, urgently requires the identification of new anthelmintics. Plants represent a source of molecules with potential flukicidal effects and, amongst their secondary metabolites, the diterpenoid abietic acids can be isolated in large quantities. In this study, nineteen (19) chemically modified abietic acid analogues (MC_X) were first evaluated for their anthelmintic activities against F. hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJs, from the laboratory-derived Italian strain); from this, 6 analogues were secondly evaluated for their anthelmintic activities against adult wild strain flukes. One analogue, MC010, was progressed further against 8-week immature- and 12-week mature Italian strain flukes. Here, MC010 demonstrated moderate activity against both of these intra-mammalian fluke stages (with an adult fluke EC50 = 12.97 µM at 72 h post culture). Overt mammalian cell toxicity of MC010 was inferred from the Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line (CC50 = 17.52 µM at 24 h post culture) and demonstrated that medicinal chemistry improvements are necessary before abietic acid analogues could be considered as potential anthelmintics against liver fluke pathogens.

Glycocluster design for improved avidity and selectivity in blocking human lectin/plant toxin binding to glycoproteins and cells.

Blocking lectin/toxin binding to human cells by suitable inhibitors can therapeutically protect them from harmful effects. Clustered design of ligand presentation holds the promise of affinity increase relative to the free sugar and inherent selectivity among lectin targets. Using first a solid-phase assay with a glycoprotein presenting N-glycans as lectin-reactive probe, we assessed the inhibitory potency of bi- to tetravalent clusters on a plant toxin and three human adhesion/growth-regulatory lectins. Enhanced avidity relative to the free sugar was detected together with lectin-type selectivity. These effects were confirmed on the level of cells in vitro, also for two leguminous lectins. The lack of toxicity in cell proliferation assays excluded concerns to further work on these compounds. The given cluster design and the strategic combination of the two assay systems of increasing biorelevance will thus be helpful to take the next steps in drug development, e.g. tailoring the sugar headgroup.

Synthesis of 6-PEtN-α-D-GalpNAc-(1->6)-ß-D-Galp-(1->4)-ß-D-GlcpNAc-(1->3)-ß-D-Galp-(1->4)-ß-D-Glcp, a Haemophilus influenzae lipopolysacharide structure, and biotin and protein conjugates thereof.

BACKGROUND: In bacteria with truncated lipopolysaccharide structures, i.e., lacking the O-antigen polysaccharide part, core structures are exposed to the immune system upon infection and thus their use as carbohydrate surface antigens in glycoconjugate vaccines can be considered and investigated. One such suggested structure from Haemophilus influenzae LPS is the phosphorylated pentasaccharide 6-PEtN-α-D-GalpNAc-(1→6)-ß-D-Galp-(1→4)-ß-D-GlcpNAc-(1→3)-ß-D-Galp-(1→4)-ß-D-Glcp. RESULTS: Starting from a spacer-containing lactose derivative a suitably protected lacto-N-neotetraose tetrasaccharide structure was constructed through subsequential couplings with two thioglycoside donors, a glucosamine residue followed by a galactose derivative, using NIS/AgOTf as promoter. Removal of a silyl protecting group at the primary position of the non-reducing end residue afforded an acceptor to which the terminal α-galactosamine moiety was introduced using a 2-azido bromo sugar and halide assisted coupling conditions. Global deprotection afforded the non-phosphorylated target pentasaccharide, whereas removal of a silyl group from the primary position of the non-reducing end residue produced a free hydroxy group which was phosphorylated using H-phosphonate chemistry to yield the phosphoethanolamine-containing protected pentasaccharide. Partial deprotection afforded the phosphorylated target pentasaccharide with a free spacer amino group but with a protected phosphoethanolamino group. Conjugation of the spacer amino group to biotin or dimethyl squarate followed by deprotection of the phosphoethanolamino group and, in the case of the squarate derivative, further reaction with a protein then afforded the title conjugates. CONCLUSION: An effective synthesis of a biologically interesting pentasaccharide structure has been accomplished. The target pentasaccharide, an α-GalNAc substituted lacto-N-neotetraose structure, comprises a phosphoethanolamine motif and a spacer aglycon. Through the spacer, biotin and protein conjugates of the title compound have been constructed to allow further use in biological experiments.

An investigation of the antileishmanial properties of semi-synthetic saponins.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by insect-vector borne protozoan parasites of the, Leishmania species. Whilst infection threatens and affects millions of the global poor, vaccines are absent and drug therapy limited. Extensive efforts have recently been made to discover new leads from small molecule synthetic compound libraries held by industry; however, the number of new chemical entities identified and entering development as anti-leishmanials has been very low. This has led to increased interest in the possibility of discovering naturally derived compounds with potent antileishmanial activity which may be developed towards clinical applications. Plant-derived triterpenoid and steroidal saponins have long been considered as anti-microbials and here we describe an investigation of a library of 137 natural (9) and semi-synthetic saponins (128) for activity against Leishmania mexicana, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The triterpenoid sapogenin, hederagenin, readily obtained in large quantities from Hedera helix (common ivy), was converted into a range of 128 derivatives. These semi-synthetic compounds, as well as saponins isolated from ivy, were examined with a phenotypic screening approach to identify potent and selective anti-leishmanial hits. This led to the identification of 12 compounds, including the natural saponin gypsogenin, demonstrating high potency (ED50 < 10.5 µM) against axenic L. mexicana amastigotes, the mammalian pathogenic form. One of these, hederagenin disuccinate, was sufficiently non-toxic to the macrophage host cell to facilitate further analyses, selectivity index (SI) > 10. Whilst this was not active in an infected cell model, the anti-leishmanial properties of hederagenin-derivatives have been demonstrated, and the possibility of improving the selectivity of natural hederagenin through chemical modification has been established.

Architectures of multivalent glycomimetics for probing carbohydrate-lectin interactions.

Well-defined multivalent glycoconjugates are valued tools in glycoscience and they are particularly valuable for the investigation of carbohydrate-lectin interactions. In addition to the relatively globularly shaped glycodendrimers many other designs have been realized. This chapter gives an overview on the common different architectures and their chemical synthesis by focussing on the achievements made since 2001.

Architecture and Evolution of Blade Assembly in ß-propeller Lectins.

Lectins with a ß-propeller fold bind glycans on the cell surface through multivalent binding sites and appropriate directionality. These proteins are formed by repeats of short domains, raising questions about evolutionary duplication. However, these repeats are difficult to detect in translated genomes and seldom correctly annotated in sequence databases. To address these issues, we defined the blade signature of the five types of ß-propellers using 3D-structural data. With these templates, we predicted 3,887 ß-propeller lectins in 1,889 species and organized this information in a searchable online database. The data reveal a widespread distribution of ß-propeller lectins across species. Prediction also emphasizes multiple architectures and led to the discovery of a ß-propeller assembly scenario. This was confirmed by producing and characterizing a predicted protein coded in the genome of Kordia zhangzhouensis. The crystal structure uncovers an intermediate in the evolution of ß-propeller assembly and demonstrates the power of our tools.

Identification of the smallest structure capable of evoking opsonophagocytic antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14.

Synthetic overlapping oligosaccharide fragments of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 capsular polysaccharide (Pn14PS), [6)-[beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-]beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->](n), were conjugated to CRM(197) protein and injected into mice to determine the smallest immunogenic structure. The resulting antibodies were then tested for Pn14PS specificity and for their capacity to promote the phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae type 14 bacteria. Earlier studies have reported that the oligosaccharide corresponding to one structural repeating unit of Pn14PS, i.e., Gal-Glc-(Gal-)GlcNAc, induces a specific antibody response to Pn14PS. The broader study described here, which evaluated 16 oligosaccharides, showed that the branched trisaccharide element Glc-(Gal-)GlcNAc is essential in inducing Pn14PS-specific antibodies and that the neighboring galactose unit at the nonreducing end contributes clearly to the immunogenicity of the epitope. Only the oligosaccharide conjugates that produce antibodies recognizing Pn14PS were capable of promoting the phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae type 14. In conclusion, the branched tetrasaccharide Gal-Glc-(Gal-)GlcNAc may be a serious candidate for a synthetic oligosaccharide conjugate vaccine against infections caused by S. pneumoniae type 14.

Investigations of glycosylation reactions with 2-N-acetyl-2N,3O-oxazolidinone-protected glucosamine donors.

NIS/AgOTf-promoted glycosylations with ethyl 2,3-N,O-carbonyl-2-deoxy-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside donors can be performed with either alpha- or beta-selectivity by tuning the reaction conditions. Small amounts of AgOTf (0.1 equiv) and short reaction times give beta-selectivity, whereas 0.4 equiv of AgOTf and prolonged reaction times afford alpha-linked products. NMR-monitored glycosylation and anomerization experiments show initial formation of exclusively the beta-linkage, which anomerizes, through an intramolecular mechanism involving an endocyclic C-O bond cleavage, to the alpha-linkage.

Beta-propeller crystal structure of Psathyrella velutina lectin: an integrin-like fungal protein interacting with monosaccharides and calcium.

The lectin from the mushroom Psathyrella velutina recognises specifically N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid containing glycans. The crystal structure of the 401 amino acid residue lectin shows that it adopts a very regular seven-bladed beta-propeller fold with the N-terminal region tucked into the central cavity around the pseudo 7-fold axis. In the complex with N-acetylglucosamine, six monosaccharides are bound in pockets located between two consecutive propeller blades. Due to the repeats shown by the sequence the binding sites are very similar. Five hydrogen bonds between the protein and the sugar hydroxyl and N-acetyl groups stabilize the complex, together with the hydrophobic interactions with a conserved tyrosine and histidine. The complex with N-acetylneuraminic acid shows molecular mimicry with the same hydrogen bond network, but with different orientations of the carbohydrate ring in the binding site. The beta-hairpin loops connecting the two inner beta-strands of each blade are metal binding sites and two to three calcium ions were located in the structure. The multispecificity and high multivalency of this mushroom lectin, combined with its similarity to the extracellular domain of an important class of cell adhesion molecules, integrins, are another example of the outstanding success of beta-propeller structures as molecular binding machines in nature.

Synthesis of urine drug metabolites: glucuronic acid glycosides of phenol intermediates.

The investigation of drug metabolism requires substantial amount of metabolites. Isolation from urine is tedious, therefore, the material obtained by synthesis is preferred. Substantial amounts of three tentative drug metabolites, phenolic glucuronides, have been prepared using easily available glycosyl donors. The final products [3(2-N-methyl-N-isopropylaminoethoxy)phenyl] beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid, 4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid and [2(S)-propanoyl-6-O-naphthyl] beta-D-glucopyranuronic acid are useful as, for example, reference material in metabolite investigations.

Preparation and immunogenicity of gold glyco-nanoparticles as antipneumococcal vaccine model.

AIM: Nanotechnology-based fully synthetic carbohydrate vaccines are promising alternatives to classic polysaccharide/protein conjugate vaccines. We have prepared gold glyco-nanoparticles (GNP) bearing two synthetic carbohydrate antigens related to serotypes 19F and 14 of Streptococcus pneumoniae and evaluated their immunogenicity in vivo. RESULTS: A tetrasaccharide fragment of serotype 14 (Tetra-14), a trisaccharide fragment of serotype 19F (Tri-19F), a T-helper peptide and d -glucose were loaded onto GNP in different ratios. Mice immunization showed that the concomitant presence of Tri-19F and Tetra-14 on the same nanoparticle critically enhanced the titers of specific IgG antibodies toward type 14 polysaccharide compared with GNP exclusively displaying Tetra-14, while no IgG antibodies against type 19F polysaccharide were elicited. CONCLUSION: This work is a step forward toward synthetic nanosystems combining carbohydrate antigens and immunogenic peptides as potential carbohydrate-based vaccines.

Improving the antiprotozoal effect of saponins in the rumen by combination with glycosidase inhibiting iminosugars or by modification of their chemical structure.

The antiprotozoal effect of saponins is transitory, as when saponins are deglycosylated to sapogenins by rumen microorganisms they become inactive. We hypothesised that the combination of saponins with glycosidase-inhibiting iminosugars might potentially increase the effectiveness of saponins over time by preventing their deglycosylation in the rumen. Alternatively, modifying the structure of the saponins by substituting the sugar moiety with other small polar residues might maintain their activity as the sugar substitute would not be enzymatically cleaved. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the acute antiprotozoal effect and the stability of this effect over a 24 h incubation period using ivy saponins, a stevia extract rich in iminosugars, ivy saponins with stevia extract, and a chemically modified ivy saponin, hederagenin bis-succinate (HBS). The effects on fermentation parameters and rumen bacterial communities were also studied. Ivy saponins with stevia and HBS had a greater antiprotozoal effect than ivy saponins, and this effect was maintained after 24 h of incubation (P<0.001). The combination of ivy and stevia extracts was more effective in shifting the fermentation pattern towards higher propionate (+39%) and lower butyrate (-32%) and lower ammonia concentration (-64%) than the extracts incubated separately. HBS caused a decrease in butyrate (-45%) and an increase in propionate (+43%) molar proportions. However, the decrease in ammonia concentration (-42%) observed in the presence of HBS was less than that caused by ivy saponins, either alone or with stevia. Whereas HBS and stevia impacted on bacterial population in terms of community structure, only HBS had an effect in terms of biodiversity (P<0.05). It was concluded that ivy saponins with stevia and the modified saponin HBS had a strong antiprotozoal effect, although they differed in their effects on fermentation parameters and bacteria communities. Ivy saponins combined with an iminosugar-rich stevia extract and/or HBS should be evaluated to determine their antiprotozoal effect in vivo.

Antiprotozoal Effect of Saponins in the Rumen Can Be Enhanced by Chemical Modifications in Their Structure.

The antiprotozoal effect of saponins is transitory, as when saponins are deglycosylated to the sapogenin by rumen microorganisms they become inactive. We postulated that the substitution of the sugar moiety of the saponin with small polar residues would produce sapogen-like analogs which might be resistant to degradation in the rumen as they would not be enzymatically cleaved, allowing the antiprotozoal effect to persist over time. In this study, we used an acute assay based on the ability of protozoa to break down [14C] leucine-labeled Streptococcus bovis and a longer term assay based on protozoal motility over 24 h to evaluate both the antiprotozoal effect and the stability of this effect with fifteen hederagenin bis-esters esterified with two identical groups, and five cholesterol and cholic acid based derivatives carrying one to three succinate residues. The acute antiprotozoal effect of hederagenin derivatives was more pronounced than that of cholesterol and cholic acid derivatives. Modifications in the structure of hederagenin, cholesterol, and cholic acid derivatives resulted in compounds with different biological activities in terms of acute effect and stability, although those which were highly toxic to protozoa were not always the most stable over time. Most of the hederagenin bis-esters, and in particular hederagenin bis-succinate (TSB24), hederagenin bis-betainate dichloride (TSB37) and hederagenin bis-adipate (TSB47) had a persistent effect against rumen protozoa in vitro, shifting the fermentation pattern toward higher propionate and lower butyrate. These chemically modified triterpenes could potentially be used in ruminant diets as an effective defaunation agent to, ultimately, increase nitrogen utilization, decrease methane emissions, and enhance animal production. Further trials in vivo or in long term rumen simulators are now needed to confirm the in vitro observations presented.

Synthesis of monodeoxy analogues of the trisaccharide alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-ManpOMe recognised by Calreticulin/Calnexin.

Six (3,4,4',6',3'' or 6'')-monodeoxy analogues of the title trisaccharide (1-6) have been prepared utilising monodeoxy monosaccharide precursors. The reducing end deoxy derivatives were synthesised by N-iodosuccinimide/silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (NIS/AgOTf)-promoted couplings of a common disaccharide thioglycoside donor 10 to suitably protected monodeoxy acceptors 9 and 12, affording trisaccharides, which after deprotection yielded target structures 1 and 2. The non-reducing end deoxy derivatives could similarly be produced by halide-assisted glycosylations of a common disaccharide acceptor 17 with monodeoxy glycosyl bromide donors (obtained from thioglycosides 18 and 20) to yield, after removal of protecting groups, target trisaccharides 3 and 4. The analogues with the deoxy function in the middle mannose residue, were obtained through orthogonal halide-assisted coupling of tetrabenzyl-glucopyranosyl bromide to monodeoxy thioglycoside acceptors to give thioglycoside disaccharides, which subsequently were used as donors in NIS/AgOTf-promoted couplings to a common 2-hydroxy-mannose acceptor 15 to afford trisaccharides; deprotection yielded the final target compounds 5 and 6.

Isolation and characterisation of 13 pterosins and pterosides from bracken (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) rhizome.

Systematic phytochemical investigations of the underground rhizome of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae) afforded thirty-five pterosins and pterosides. By detailed analysis of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and high-resolution mass spectrometric data, thirteen previously undescribed pterosins and pterosides have been identified. Interestingly, for the first time 12-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside substituted pterosins, rhedynosides C and D, and the sulfate-containing pterosin, rhedynosin H, alongside the two known compounds, histiopterosin A and (2S)-pteroside A2, were isolated from the rhizomes of subsp. aquilinum of bracken. In addition, six-membered cyclic ether pterosins and pterosides, rhedynosin A and rhedynoside A, are the first examples of this type of pterosin-sesquiterpenoid. Additionally, the three previously reported compounds (rhedynosin I, (2S)-2-hydroxymethylpterosin E and (2S)-12-hydroxypterosin A) were obtained for the first time from plants as opposed to mammalian metabolic products. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was applied to the previously undescribed compounds (2R)-rhedynoside B, (2R)-pteroside B and (2S)-pteroside K, yielding the first crystal structures for pterosides, and three known pterosins, (2S)-pterosin A, trans-pterosin C and cis-pterosin C. Rhedynosin C is the only example of the cyclic lactone pterosins with a keto group at position C-14. Six selected pterosins ((2S)-pterosin A, (2R)-pterosin B and trans-pterosin C) and associated glycosides ((2S)-pteroside A, (2R)-pteroside B and pteroside Z) were assessed for their anti-diabetic activity using an intestinal glucose uptake assay; all were found to be inactive at 300 µM.