scholarly journals Quassinoids from the Roots of Eurycoma longifolia and Their Anti-Proliferation Activities

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5939
Author(s):  
Wei-Qun Yang ◽  
Wei Tang ◽  
Xiao-Jun Huang ◽  
Jian-Guo Song ◽  
Yue-Yue Li ◽  
...  

A phytochemical investigation on the roots of medicinal plant Eurycoma longifolia resulted in the isolation of 10 new highly oxygenated C20 quassinoids longifolactones G‒P (1–10), along with four known ones (11–14). Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallographic data. Notably, compound 1 is a rare pentacyclic C20 quassinoid featuring a densely functionalized 2,5-dioxatricyclo[5.2.2.04,8]undecane core. Compound 4 represents the first example of quassinoids containing a 14,15-epoxy functionality, and 7 features an unusual α-oriented hydroxyl group at C-14. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-proliferation activities on human leukemia cells. Among the isolates, compounds 5, 12, 13, and 14 potently inhibited the in vitro proliferation of K562 and HL-60 cells with IC50 values ranging from 2.90 to 8.20 μM.

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1009
Author(s):  
Farida Larit ◽  
Khaled M. Elokely ◽  
Manal A. Nael ◽  
Samira Benyahia ◽  
Francisco León ◽  
...  

The in vitro activity of L. donovani (promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes in THP1 cells) and T. brucei, from the fractions obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Hypericum afrum and the isolated compounds, has been evaluated. The chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts showed significant antitrypanosomal activity towards T. brucei, with IC50 values of 12.35, 13.53 and 12.93 µg/mL and with IC90 values of 14.94, 19.31 and 18.67 µg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical investigation of the fractions led to the isolation and identification of quercetin (1), myricitrin (2), biapigenin (3), myricetin (4), hyperoside (5), myricetin-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (6) and myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7). Myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7) has been isolated for the first time from this genus. The chemical structures were elucidated by using comprehensive one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) spectroscopic data, as well as high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI–MS). These compounds have also been evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity. Quercetin (1) and myricetin (4) showed noteworthy activity against T. brucei, with IC50 and IC90 values of 7.52 and 5.71 µM, and 9.76 and 7.97 µM, respectively. The T. brucei hexokinase (TbHK1) enzyme was further explored as a potential target of quercetin and myricetin, using molecular modeling studies. This proposed mechanism assists in the exploration of new candidates for novel antitrypanosomal drugs.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1911
Author(s):  
Jiang Wan ◽  
Xiao-Juan Wang ◽  
Nan Guo ◽  
Xi-Ying Wu ◽  
Juan Xiong ◽  
...  

During a phytochemical investigation of the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (i.e., Fructus Rubi, a traditional Chinese medicine named “Fu-Pen-Zi”), a number of highly oxygenated terpenoids were isolated and characterized. These included nine ursane-type (1, 2, and 4–10), five oleanane-type (3, 11–14), and six cucurbitane-type (15–20) triterpenoids, together with five ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids (21–25). Among them, (4R,5R,8R,9R,10R,14S,17S,18S,19R,20R)-2,19α,23-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid A, 1), (2R*,4S*,5R*,8R*,9R*,10R*,14S*,17S*, 18S*,19R*,20R*)-2α,19α,24-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (rubusacid B, 2), (5R,8R,9R,10R, 14S,17R,18S,19S)-2,19α-dihydroxy-olean-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid C, 3), and (3S,5S,8S,9R, 10S,13R,16R)-3α,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-2-one (rubusone, 21) were previously undescribed. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids featuring a special α,β-unsaturated keto-enol (diosphenol) unit in ring A. Cucurbitacin B (15), cucurbitacin D (16), and 3α,16α,20(R),25-tetrahydroxy-cucurbita-5,23- dien-2,11,22-trione (17) were found to have remarkable inhibitory effects against NF-κB, with IC50 values of 0.08, 0.61, and 1.60 μM, respectively.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4488
Author(s):  
Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor ◽  
Temitayo Samson Ademolue ◽  
Cynthia Mmalebna Amisigo ◽  
Kwaku Kyeremeh ◽  
Theresa Manful Gwira

The search for novel antitrypanosomals and the investigation into their mode of action remain crucial due to the toxicity and resistance of commercially available antitrypanosomal drugs. In this study, two novel antitrypanosomals, tortodofuordioxamide (compound 2) and tortodofuorpyramide (compound 3), were chemically derived from the natural N-alkylamide tortozanthoxylamide (compound 1) through structural modification. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed through spectrometric and spectroscopic analysis, and their in vitro efficacy and possible mechanisms of action were, subsequently, investigated in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), one of the causative species of African trypanosomiasis (AT). The novel compounds 2 and 3 displayed significant antitrypanosomal potencies in terms of half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) and selectivity indices (SI) (compound 1, EC50 = 7.3 μM, SI = 29.5; compound 2, EC50 = 3.2 μM, SI = 91.3; compound 3, EC50 = 4.5 μM, SI = 69.9). Microscopic analysis indicated that at the EC50 values, the compounds resulted in the coiling and clumping of parasite subpopulations without significantly affecting the normal ratio of nuclei to kinetoplasts. In contrast to the animal antitrypanosomal drug diminazene, compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited antioxidant absorbance properties comparable to the standard antioxidant Trolox (Trolox, 0.11 A; diminazene, 0.50 A; compound 1, 0.10 A; compound 2, 0.09 A; compound 3, 0.11 A). The analysis of growth kinetics suggested that the compounds exhibited a relatively gradual but consistent growth inhibition of T. brucei at different concentrations. The results suggest that further pharmacological optimization of compounds 2 and 3 may facilitate their development into novel AT chemotherapy.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1694
Author(s):  
Kamel Arraki ◽  
Perle Totoson ◽  
Alain Decendit ◽  
Andy Zedet ◽  
Justine Maroilley ◽  
...  

Polyphenolic enriched extracts from two species of Cyperus, Cyperus glomeratus and Cyperus thunbergii, possess mammalian arginase inhibitory capacities, with the percentage inhibition ranging from 80% to 95% at 100 µg/mL and 40% to 64% at 10 µg/mL. Phytochemical investigation of these species led to the isolation and identification of two new natural stilbene oligomers named thunbergin A-B (1–2), together with three other stilbenes, trans-resveratrol (3), trans-scirpusin A (4), trans-cyperusphenol A (6), and two flavonoids, aureusidin (5) and luteolin (7), which were isolated for the first time from C.thunbergii and C. glomeratus. Structures were established on the basis of the spectroscopic data from MS and NMR experiments. The arginase inhibitory activity of compounds 1–7 was evaluated through an in vitro arginase inhibitory assay using purified liver bovine arginase. As a result, five compounds (1, 4–7) showed significant inhibition of arginase, with IC50 values between 17.6 and 60.6 µM, in the range of those of the natural arginase inhibitor piceatannol (12.6 µM). In addition, methanolic extract from Cyperus thunbergii exhibited an endothelium and NO-dependent vasorelaxant effect on thoracic aortic rings from rats and improved endothelial dysfunction in an adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kuzikov ◽  
Elisa Costanzi ◽  
Jeanette Reinshagen ◽  
Francesca Esposito ◽  
Laura Vangeel ◽  
...  

Compound repurposing is an important strategy for the identification of effective treatment options against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease. In this regard, SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CL-Pro), also termed M-Pro, is an attractive drug target as it plays a central role in viral replication by processing the viral polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab at multiple distinct cleavage sites. We here report the results of a repurposing program involving 8.7 K compounds containing marketed drugs, clinical and preclinical candidates, and small molecules regarded as safe in humans. We confirmed previously reported inhibitors of 3CL-Pro, and have identified 62 additional compounds with IC50 values below 1 uM and profiled their selectivity towards Chymotrypsin and 3CL-Pro from the MERS virus. A subset of 8 inhibitors showed anti-cytopathic effect in a Vero-E6 cell line and the compounds thioguanosine and MG-132 were analysed for their predicted binding characteristics to SARS-CoV-2 3CL-Pro. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex of myricetin and SARS-Cov-2 3CL-Pro was solved at a resolution of 1.77 Angs., showing that myricetin is covalently bound to the catalytic Cys145 and therefore inhibiting its enzymatic activity.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li ◽  
Peifer ◽  
Janussen ◽  
Tasdemir

The sponge genus Latrunculia is a prolific source of discorhabdin type pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids. In the continuation of our research interest into this genus, we studied the Antarctic deep-sea sponge Latrunculia biformis that showed potent in vitro anticancer activity. A targeted isolation process guided by bioactivity and molecular networking-based metabolomics yielded three known discorhabdins, (−)-discorhabdin L (1), (+)-discorhabdin A (2), (+)-discorhabdin Q (3), and three new discorhabdin analogs (−)-2-bromo-discorhabdin D (4), (−)-1-acetyl-discorhabdin L (5), and (+)-1-octacosatrienoyl-discorhabdin L (6) from the MeOH-soluble portion of the organic extract. The chemical structures of 1–6 were elucidated by extensive NMR, HR-ESIMS, FT-IR, [α]D, and ECD (Electronic Circular Dichroism) spectroscopy analyses. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 showed promising anticancer activity with IC50 values of 0.94, 2.71, and 34.0 µM, respectively. Compounds 1–6 and the enantiomer of 1 ((+)-discorhabdin L, 1e) were docked to the active sites of two anticancer targets, topoisomerase I-II and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), to reveal, for the first time, the binding potential of discorhabdins to these proteins. Compounds 5 and 6 are the first discorhabdin analogs with an ester function at C-1 and 6 is the first discorhabdin bearing a long-chain fatty acid at this position. This study confirms Latrunculia sponges to be excellent sources of chemically diverse discorhabdin alkaloids.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (21) ◽  
pp. 3911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Meng Wang ◽  
Xiao-Ku Ran ◽  
Muhammad Riaz ◽  
Miao Yu ◽  
Qian Cai ◽  
...  

Tagetespatula L. is a widely cultivated herbal medicinal plant in China and other countries. In this study, two new 2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran glucosides (1, 2) and fourteen known metabolites (3–16) were isolated from the stems and leaves of T. patula (SLT). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were characterized comprehensively based on one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry. Absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by ECD calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate in vitro inhibitory activities against human gastric cancer cell lines (AGS) with IC50 values of 41.20 μmol/L and 30.43 μmol/L, respectively. The fingerprint profiles of stems and leaves of T. patula with three color types of flowers (Janie Yellow Bright, Jinmen Orange, Shouyao Red and Yellow color) were established by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ten different batches of stems and leaves were examined as follow: Shouyao Red and Yellow color (1, 2, 3), Janie Yellow Bright (4, 5, 6, 7) and Jinmen Orange (8, 9, 10). Twenty-two common peaks were identified with similarity values ranging from 0.910 to 0.977. Meanwhile, the average peak area of SLT in the three types of flowers was different and it was the highest in Janie Yellow Bright.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (14) ◽  
pp. 2655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei ◽  
Lei ◽  
Zhou ◽  
Hu ◽  
Niu ◽  
...  

Four new compounds, including two new polyketides, heterocornols M and N (1, 2), and a pair of epimers, heterocornols O and P (3, 4), were isolated from the fermentation broth of the marine sponge-derived fungus Pestalotiopsis heterocornis XWS03F09, together with three known compounds (5–7). The new chemical structures were established on the basis of a spectroscopic analysis, optical rotation, experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). All of the compounds (1–7) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities, and heterocornols M-P (1–4) exhibited cytotoxicities against four human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 20.4–94.2 μM.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 2631-2643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather J Lacey ◽  
Cameron L M Gilchrist ◽  
Andrew Crombie ◽  
John A Kalaitzis ◽  
Daniel Vuong ◽  
...  

Chemical investigation of an undescribed Australian fungus, Aspergillus nanangensis, led to the identification of the nanangenines – a family of seven new and three previously reported drimane sesquiterpenoids. The structures of the nanangenines were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis supported by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The compounds were assayed for in vitro activity against bacteria, fungi, mammalian cells and plants. Bioinformatics analysis, including comparative analysis with other acyl drimenol-producing Aspergilli, led to the identification of a putative nanangenine biosynthetic gene cluster that corresponds to the proposed biosynthetic pathway for nanangenines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lowes ◽  
Rand Al-waqfi ◽  
Kirk Hevener ◽  
Brian Peters

Due to structural similarities that exist between established inhibitors of the NLRP3-inflammasome, sulfonylureas Glyburide and MCC-950, and herbicidal-sulfonylureas, that specifically target fungal acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), we sought to determine the potential for compounds to block both inflammation and inhibit fungal growth. In silico screening of ∼250,000 compounds was used to identify a prioritized list of chemical structures capable of inhibiting both targets. Prioritization of the top 1% of scores identified ∼70 compounds with a diverse set of scaffolds for testing in vitro. Selected hits were used to assess anti-inflammatory function in a THP-1 challenge model with LPS+ATP and resulting IC50 values were obtained. MIC and hyphal-growth assays were conducted to determine potential antifungal activity using media depleted of branched chain amino acids isoleucine and valine, to confirm on target AHAS inhibition. Identification of hits that exhibited low micromolar activity for NLRP3 and AHAS inhibition were selected for SAR study. In vitro testing of the analogs along with molecular docking led to increased knowledge for lead optimization of the potential hits. In silico screening has resulted in IC50 (IL-1β release) and MIC50 (fungal growth) values with low μM potency against several Candida species. In vivo validation will further confirm the potential of the scaffolds for further synthetic-modification for the rationale design of novel dual-purpose drugs


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