A phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the bark of Endiandra kingiana led to the isolation of seven new tetracyclic endiandric acid analogues, kingianic acids A-G (1-7), together with endiandric acid M (8), tsangibeilin B (9) and endiandric acid (10). Their structures were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR analysis in combination with HRMS experiments. The structure of compounds 9 and 10 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These compounds were screened for Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 binding affinities and cytotoxic activity on various cancer cell lines. Compound 5 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against human colorectal adeno-carcinoma (HT-29) and lung adenocarcinoma epithelial (A549) cell lines, with IC50 values in the range 15-17 µM, and compounds 3, 6 and 9 exhibited weak binding affinity for the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1.
A phytochemical study of the EtOAc-soluble part of the methanolic extract of the bark of Endiandra kingiana led to the isolation of three new pentacyclic kingianins as racemic mixtures, kingianins O-Q (1-3), together with the known kingianins A, F, K, L, M and N (4-9), respectively. The structures of the new kingianins 1-3 were determined by 1D and 2D NMR analysis in combination with HRESIMS experiments. Kingianins A-Q were assayed for Mcl-1 binding affinity. Kingianins G and H were found to be potent inhibitors of Mcl-1/Bid interaction. A structure-activity relationship study showed that potency is very sensitive to the substitution pattern on the pentacyclic core. In addition, in contrast with the binding affinity for Bcl-xL, the levorotatory enantiomers of kingianins G, H and J exhibited similar binding affinities for Mcl-1 than their dextrorotatory counterparts, indicating that the two anti-apoptotic proteins have slightly different binding profiles.
A new bisbenzylisoquinoline, lancifoliaine (1), together with seven known alkaloids--N-allyllaurolitsine (2), reticuline (3), actinodaphnine, norboldine, pallidine, cassythicine and boldine--were isolated from the stem bark of Litsea lancifolia (Lauraceae). In addition to that of lancifoliaine, complete ¹³C-NMR data of N-allyl-laurolitsine (2) was also reported. The alkaloidal structures were elucidated by means of high field 1D- and 2D-NMR IR, UV, and LCMS-IT-TOF spectral data. N-Allyllaurolitsine (2) showed a moderate vasorelaxant activity on isolated rat aorta.
Phytochemical investigation on the fruits of Mesua lepidota (Calophyllaceae) led to the isolation of seven new phenylcoumarin derivatives named lepidotols A-E (1-5) and lepidotins A and B (6, 7). These structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods including UV, NMR, and HRMS. Lepidotol A (1), the major compound, was evaluated for its inhibitory effect on inflammation and immunity using endothelial cell-based cellular assays. At 10 μM, 1 exhibited an anti-inflammatory activity, with a significant inhibition of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression induced by tumor necrosis factor-α. Lepidotol A also showed a mild immunosuppressive effect, with inhibition of the major histocompatibility complex molecules, namely, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and HLA-E.
Five morphinoid alkaloids have been isolated from Dehaasia longipedicellata, namely (-) pallidine, a new alkaloid (+) pallidinine (1), (+)-milonine, (-) 8,14-dehydrosalutaridine and (-) sinoacutine.
Studies have been conducted over the last decade to identify secondary metabolites from plants, in particular those from the class of alkaloids, for the development of new anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) drugs. The genus Alseodaphne, comprising a wide range of alkaloids, is a promising source for the discovery of new cholinesterase inhibitors, the first-line treatment for AD. With regard to this, a phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the bark of A. pendulifolia Gamb. was conducted. Repeated column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography led to the isolation of a new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, N-methyl costaricine (1), together with costaricine (2), hernagine (3), N-methyl hernagine (4), corydine (5), and oxohernagine (6). Their structures were elucidated by the 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques and LCMS-IT-TOF analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were more-potent BChE inhibitors than galantamine with IC50 values of 3.51 ± 0.80 µM and 2.90 ± 0.56 µM, respectively. The Lineweaver-Burk plots of compounds 1 and 2 indicated they were mixed-mode inhibitors. Compounds 1 and 2 have the potential to be employed as lead compounds for the development of new drugs or medicinal supplements to treat AD.
A phytochemical study of the bark of Alseodaphne perakensis has yielded three aporphine alkaloids: the new compound N-cyanomethylnorboldine (1), and the two known alkaloids N-methyllaurotetanine (2) and norboldine (3). The isolation was achieved by chromatographic techniques and the structural elucidation was performed via spectral methods, notably 1D- and 2D-NMR, UV, IR, and HRFABMS. The vasorelaxation activity of compound 1 has been studied.
A new acylphenol, malabaricone E (1) together with the known malabaricones A-C (2-4), maingayones A and B (5 and 6) and maingayic acid B (7) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fruits of Myristica cinnamomea King. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and LCMS-IT-TOF analysis. Compounds 3 (1.84±0.19 and 1.76±0.21μM, respectively) and 4 (1.94±0.27 and 2.80±0.49μM, respectively) were identified as dual inhibitors, with almost equal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes inhibiting potentials. The Lineweaver-Burk plots of compounds 3 and 4 indicated that they were mixed-mode inhibitors. Based on the molecular docking studies, compounds 3 and 4 interacted with the peripheral anionic site (PAS), the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole of the AChE. As for the BChE, while compound 3 interacted with the PAS, the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole, compound 4 only interacted with the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole.
Nine monoterpenoid indole alkaloids; naucletine (1), angustidine (2), nauclefine (3), angustine (4), naucline (5), angustoline (6), harmane (7), 3,14-dihydroangustoline (8), strictosamide (9) and one quinoline alkaloid glycoside; pumiloside (10) from Nauclea officinalis were tested for cholinesterase inhibitory activity. All the alkaloids except for pumiloside (10) showed strong to weak BChE inhibitory effect with IC50 values ranging between 1.02-168.55 μM. Angustidine (2), nauclefine (3), angustine (4), angustoline (6) and harmane (7) showed higher BChE inhibiting potency compared to galanthamine. Angustidine (2) was the most potent inhibitor towards both AChE and BChE. Molecular docking (MD) studies showed that angustidine (2) docked deep into the bottom gorge of hBChE and formed hydrogen bonding with Ser 198 and His 438. Kinetic study of angustidine (2) on BChE suggested a mixed inhibition mode with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 6.12 μM.
A new indole alkaloid, naucline (1) together with four known alkaloids, angustine (2), angustidine (3), nauclefine (4) and naucletine (5), were isolated from the bark of Nauclea officinalis. The structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated with various spectroscopic methods such as 1D- and 2D- NMR, IR, UV and LCMS-IT-TOF. In addition to that of alkaloid 1, the complete 13C-NMR data of naucletine (5) were also reported. Naucline (1) showed a moderate vasorelaxant activity (90% relaxation at 1 × 10(-5) M) whereas, angustine (2), nauclefine (4), and naucletine (5) showed potent vasorelaxant activity (more than 90% relaxation at 1 × 10(-5) M) on an isolated rat aorta.
Two new indole alkaloids, neolamarckines A and B (1, 2) were isolated from the leaves of Neolamarckia cadamba (Rubiaceae). Structural elucidation of 1 and 2 was performed by combination of 2D-NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectra, and chemical correlations. Neolamarckine A (1) showed inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) dose dependently.
A new indole alkaloid; neonaucline (1), along with six known compounds-Cadamine (2), naucledine (3), harmane, benzamide, cinnamide and blumenol A-were isolated from the leaves of Ochreinauclea maingayii (Rubiaceae). In addition to that of compound 1, (13)C-NMR data of cadamine (2) and naucledine (3) were also reported. Structural elucidations of these alkaloids were performed using spectroscopic methods especially 1D- and 2D-NMR, IR, UV and LCMS-IT-TOF. The excellent vasorelaxant activity on isolated rat aorta was observed for the alkaloids 1-3 after injection of each sample at 1 × 10(-5) M.
The alkaloidal extract of the leaves of Phoebe grandis (nees) merr. have provided two new minor alkaloids; phoebegrandine D (1), a proaporphine-tryptamine dimer, and phoebegrandine E (2), an indoloquinolizidine. This is the first report on the occurrence of an indoloquinolizidine in the Phoebe species. The crude extract also exhibited antiplasmodial activity (IC50<8 microg mL-1). The structures of the novel compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, notably 2D NMR and HRMS.
The leaves of the Phoebe scortechinii (Gamb.) Kochummen Comb. Nov. (Lauraceae), afforded one new proaporphine-tryptamine dimer; (-)-phoebescortechiniine (1), along with two known ones; phoebegrandine A and phoebegrandine B. The proaporphine, tetrahydropronuciferine (2), was isolated for the first time as a natural product. The alkaloids were elucidated primarily by means of high field NMR and HRMS.
The bark of Cryptocarya crassinervia provided two new phenantrene alkaloids, 2-hydroxyatherosperminine (1) and N-demethyl-2-methoxyatherosperminine (2).
The phytochemical study of the bark of Malaysian Phoebe scortechinii (Lauraceae) has resulted in the isolation and identification of two new proaporphine alkaloids; (+)-scortechiniine A (1) and (+)-scortechiniine B (2) together with two known proaporphines; (-)-hexahydromecambrine A (3), (-)-norhexahydromecambrine A (4), and one aporphine; norboldine (5). Structural elucidations of these alkaloids were performed using spectroscopic methods especially 1D and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR.
A phytochemical study on the bark of Neisosperma oppositifolia (Apocynaceae) yielded two new beta-carboline indole alkaloids, oppositinines A (1) and B (2), together with five known alkaloids, isoreserpiline, isocarapanaubine, vobasine, 10-methoxydihydrocorynantheol-N-oxide, and ochropposinine oxindole. Structural elucidation of 1 and 2 was performed using 2D NMR methods. Oppositinines A (1) and B (2) showed potent vasorelaxant effects on the rat aorta.
A library of 26 novel carboxamides deriving from natural fislatifolic acid has been prepared. The synthetic strategy involved a bio-inspired Diels-Alder cycloaddition, followed by functionalisations of the carbonyl moiety. All the compounds were evaluated on Bcl-xL, Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 proteins. In this series of cyclohexenyl chalcone analogues, six compounds behaved as dual Bcl-xL/Mcl-1 inhibitors in micromolar range and one exhibited sub-micromolar affinities toward Mcl-1 and Bcl-2. The most potent compounds evaluated on A549 and MCF7 cancer cell lines showed moderate cytotoxicities.
Malabaricones A-C (1-3) and giganteone A (4) were isolated from the bark of Myristica cinnamomea King. Their structures were elucidated and characterized by means of NMR and MS spectral analyses. These isolates were evaluated for their anti-quorum sensing activity using quorum sensing biosensors, namely Escherichia coli [pSB401] and Escherichia coli [pSB1075], whereby the potential of giganteone A (4) as a suitable anti-quorum sensing agent was demonstrated.
In our search for inhibitors of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL, investigation of Xylopia caudata afforded a new diterpenoid, ent-trachyloban-4beta-ol (2), and five known ent-trachylobane or ent-atisane compounds. Only ent-trachyloban-18-oic acid (1) exhibited weak binding activity to Bcl-xL. These compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against KB and HCT-116 cell lines with IC(50) values between 10 and 30 microM. Bioconversion of compound 1 by Rhizopus arrhizus afforded new hydroxylated metabolites (3-7) of the ent-trachylobane and ent-kaurene type and compound 8, with a rearranged pentacyclic carbon framework that was named rhizopene. Compounds 3-8 were noncytotoxic to the two cancer cell lines, and compounds 3 and 5 exhibited only weak binding affinity for Bcl-xL.