Four new halimane-type diterpenes, vitetrifolins D-G, from the fruit of Vitex trifolia. (1/24)

Four new halimane-type (rearranged labdane-type) diterpenes, vitetrifolins D-G were isolated from the fruit of Vitex trifolia L. (Verbenaceae). Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence.  (+info)

Antiproliferative constituents in the plants 7. Leaves of Clerodendron bungei and leaves and bark of C. trichotomum. (2/24)

The constituents of the leaves of Clerodendron bungei STEUD. (Verbenaceae) and leaves and bark of C. trichotomum THUNB. were investigated guided by the antiproliferative activity against three tumor cell lines (MK-1: human gastric adenocarcinoma, HeLa: human uterus carcinoma, and B16F10: murine melanoma). Two phenylethanoid glycoside caffeic acid esters, acteoside and isoacteoside, were isolated as the constituents which selectively inhibit the growth of B16F10 cells. The antiproliferative activities against B16F10 cells of acteoside (GI50: 8 microM), isoacteoside (8 microM) and their methanolysis products, methyl caffeate (26 microM), 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl alcohol (8 microM), 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl glucoside (10 microM), desrhamnosyl acteoside (6 microM), and desrhamnosyl isoacteoside (6 microm) suggested that the 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl alcohol group might be more responsible for the activities of acteoside and isoacteoside than the caffeoyl group. The activities of chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) alanine, 3,4-dihydroxy-phenethylamine hydrochloride, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, and five dihydroxybenzoic acids were also determined and compared with those of the above compounds.  (+info)

Enzyme inhibitory constituents from Duranta repens. (3/24)

Isoprenylated flavonoids 5,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-3,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 3,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-5,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) and an isoprenylated acetophenone derivative (3) have been isolated from Duranta repens along with known compounds, 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone (4), rosenonolactone (5), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (6), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7) and 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (8), isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures and the relative configuration were determined by spectroscopic methods (1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, UV and MS) and two-dimensional (2D)-NMR experiments. The compounds 1-5 showed inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase while 4 and 5 were also active against thrombin.  (+info)

In vitro antileishmanial effects of antibacterial diterpenes from two Ethiopian Premna species: P. schimperi and P. oligotricha. (4/24)

BACKGROUND: Three antibacterial diterpenes: (5R,8R,9S,10R)-12-oxo-ent-3,13(16)-clerodien-15-oic acid (1), 16-hydroxy-clerod-3,13(14)-diene-15,16-olide (2) and ent-12-oxolabda-8,13(16)-dien-15-oic acid (3) were previously isolated form Premna schimperi and P. oligotricha. Since andrographolide and other structurally related diterpenes were shown to have antileishmanial activity, the aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro effect of premna diterpenes against Leishmania aethiopica; the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia. RESULTS: The diterpenes showed potent concentration-dependant suppressive effect on the viability of axenically cultured amastigotes of L. aethiopica. The clerodane diterpenes 1 and 2 were most active (LD50 values 1.08 and 4.12 microg/ml respectively) followed by andrographolide and 3. Compounds 1 and 2 appear to be over 20 and 10-times respectively more selective to leishmania amastigotes than the permissive host cell line, THP-1 cells or the promastigotes stage of the parasites. CONCLUSION: The clerodane diterpenes (1, 2) which were more potent and selective than labdanes (andrographolide and 3) are promising for further studies and/or development.  (+info)

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory constituents from Duranta repens. (5/24)

Three C-alkylated flavonoids 7-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-3,5-dihydroxy-3'-(4"-acetoxyl-3"-methylbutyl)-6,4'-dim ethoxyflavone (1), 7-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-3,4'-dihydroxy-3'-(4"-acetoxyl-3"-methylbutyl)-5,6-dim ethoxyflavone (2), 3,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-(8"-acetoxy-7"-methyloctyl)-5,6-dimethoxyflavone (3) and a trans-clerodane type diterpenoid (-)-6beta-hydroxy-5beta,8beta,9beta,10alpha-cleroda-3,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (4) are reported from Duranta repens along with (+)-hardwickiic acid (5) and (+)-3,13-clerodadien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (6), isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures were established on the basis of the spectral methods, especially two dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy.  (+info)

Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of Gmelina asiatica LINN. in normal and in alloxan induced diabetic rats. (6/24)

The hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of alcoholic extract of root of Gmelina asiatica LINN. (G. asiatica) was investigated in normal and in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The blood glucose levels were measured at 0 h and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 16 h after the treatment. The alcoholic extract of G. asiatica showed significant (p<0.05) dose dependent percentage blood glucose reduction in normal (25.8% at 100 mg/kg, 28.9% at 250 mg/kg and 32.4% at 500 mg/kg body weight) and in diabetic rats (26.6% at 100 mg/kg, 32.1% at 250 mg/kg and 48.2% at 500 mg/kg body weight) respectively at 6 h. The antihyperglycemic effect of G. asiatica was compared with the reference standard drug tolbutamide (40 mg/kg).  (+info)

Nemesia ring necrosis virus: a new tymovirus with a genomic RNA having a histidylatable tobamovirus-like 3' end. (7/24)

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of the new virus Nemesia ring necrosis virus (NeRNV), which is widespread in various ornamental plant species belonging to the Scrophulariaceae and Verbenaceae, has been determined. Based on its gene content, the folding properties of its 5'-untranslated region and in vitro translation experiments, NeRNV RNA is a typical tymovirus RNA. Its 3' end, however, differs greatly from those of the valine-specific tymoviral RNAs that have been analysed previously. It can be folded into an upstream pseudoknot domain and a histidine-specific tRNA-like structure, a combination that, so far, has been found only in tobamoviral RNAs. The identity elements found in NeRNV RNA for recognition by yeast histidyl-tRNA synthetase are more similar to those of yeast tRNAHis than the ones found in tobacco mosaic virus RNA. As a result NeRNV RNA can be charged with histidine even more efficiently than tobacco mosaic virus RNA.  (+info)

Heteroconium and Pirozynskiella n. gen., with comments on conidium transseptation. (8/24)

Heteroconium citharexyli, the type species of this genus, is illustrated and redescribed as a sooty mold bearing acropetal chains of conidia showing a basifugal sequence of septation. Heteroconium neriifoliae, H. glutinosa and the Heteroconium synanamorph of Antennulariella concinna are congeneric. The latter species is neotypified, illustrated and described. Pirozynskiella new genus, typified by P. solaninum comb. nov. (-Helminthosporium solaninum), differs from Heteroconium in having an obligate association with asterinaceous fungi and in the centrifugal sequence of conidium transseptation after the initial median septum. Pirozynskiella costaricensis comb. nov. (-Dendryphion costaricensis) is illustrated and described. Heteroconium tetracoilum and H. chaetospira are fungicoles of wood and bark; the former has basifugal conidium septation and the latter has a centrifugal sequence. The two latter species can be excluded from the Heteroconium. Basifugal and centrifugal septation of conidia is discussed with reference to several sooty molds, to some foliicolous anamorphs with subcuticular hyphae (Heterosporiopsis) and to some wood and bark hyphomycetes (Septonema, Taeniolella). Ten other species included in Heteroconium are known to me only from their original descriptions; only one (H. asiaticum) is probably a sooty mold.  (+info)