Hong-Xiang Lou

A-type proanthocyanidins from peanut skins

Abstract Six A-type proanthocyanidins were isolated from the water-soluble fraction of peanut skins. On the basis of spectral data, reductive cleavage with sodium cyanoborohydride, and chiral HPLC analysis, three new compounds, epicatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→6)-catechin, epicatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→6)-ent-catechin and epicatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→6)-ent-epicatechin were unambiguously identified, together with the three known compounds, proanthocyanidin A-1, proanthocyanidin A-2 and epicatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→8)-ent-epicatechin. 13 C NMR chemical shift rules to distinguish between [2→O→7, 4→8] and [2→O→7,4→6] double-linked heptamethyl ethers of A-type proanthocyanidins are proposed. Bioassay experiments showed that these six compounds possess substantial activity against hyaluronidase.

Catalytic Enantioselective Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Benzylic Ethers with Aldehydes†

The first one-pot enantioselective oxidative coupling of cyclic benzylic ethers with aldehydes has been developed. A variety of benzylic ethers were transformed into the corresponding oxygen heterocycles with high enantioselectivity. Mechanistic experiments were conducted to determine the nature of the reaction intermediates. The application of this strategy to coupling reactions with other nucleophiles besides aldehydes was also explored.

Plagiochin E, an antifungal active macrocyclic bis(bibenzyl), induced apoptosis in Candida albicans through a metacaspase-dependent apoptotic pathway.

BACKGROUND Plagiochin E (PLE) is an antifungal active macrocyclic bis(bibenzyl) isolated from liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. To elucidate the mechanism of action, previous studies revealed that the antifungal effect of PLE was associated with the accumulation of ROS, an important regulator of apoptosis in Candida albicans. The present study was designed to find whether PLE caused apoptosis in C. albicans. METHODS We assayed the cell cycle by flow cytometry using PI staining, observed the ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy, studied the nuclear fragmentation by DAPI staining, and investigated the exposure of phosphatidylserine at the outer layer of the cytoplasmic membrane by the FITC-annexin V staining. The effect of PLE on expression of CDC28, CLB2, and CLB4 was determined by RT-PCR. Besides, the activity of metacaspase was detected by FITC-VAD-FMK staining, and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria was also determined. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidant L-cysteine on PLE-induced apoptosis in C. albicans was also investigated. RESULTS Cells treated with PLE showed typical markers of apoptosis: G(2)/M cell cycle arrest, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine exposure. The expression of CDC28, CLB2, and CLB4 was down-regulated by PLE, which may contribute to PLE-induced G(2)/M cell cycle arrest. Besides, PLE promoted the cytochrome c release and activated the metacaspase, which resulted in the yeast apoptosis. The addition of L-cysteine prevented PLE-induced nuclear fragmentation, phosphatidylserine exposure, and metacaspase activation, indicating the ROS was an important mediator of PLE-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS PLE induced apoptosis in C. albicans through a metacaspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE In this study, we reported for the first time that PLE induced apoptosis in C. albicans through activating the metacaspase. These results would conduce to elucidate its underlying antifungal mechanism.

Manganese dioxide-methanesulfonic acid promoted direct dehydrogenative alkylation of sp3 C-H bonds adjacent to a heteroatom.

A manganese dioxide (MnO2)-methanesulfonic acid (CH3SO3H) oxidation system has been developed to efficiently promote direct coupling of benzylic ethers and carbamates with simple ketones via oxidative C-H bond activation. The alkylation proceeds smoothly under air atmosphere to afford the corresponding products in good to excellent yields (53-87%). The employment of the combination of MnO2 and CH3SO3H is attractive on the basis of economical and environmental issues.

Practical metal-free C(sp(3))-H functionalization: construction of structurally diverse α-substituted N-benzyl and N-allyl carbamates.

Described is a practical and universal CH functionalization of readily removable N-benzyl and N-allyl carbamates, with a wide range of nucleophiles at ambient temperature promoted by Ph3 CClO4 . The metal-free reaction has an excellent functional-group tolerance, and displays a broad scope with respect to both N-carbamates and nucleophile partners (a variety of organoboranes and CH compounds). The synthetic utility in target- as well as diversity-oriented syntheses is demonstrated.

Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Carbamoyl Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Terminal Alkynes

The first catalytic asymmetric cross-dehydrogenative coupling of cyclic carbamates and terminal alkynes has been established. The reaction features high enantiocontrol and excellent functional group tolerance and displays a wide range of structurally and electronically diverse carbamates as well as terminal alkynes. N-Acyl hemiaminals were identified as the reactive intermediates through preliminary control experiments. Employing readily removable carbamates as substrates rather than traditionally adopted N-aryl amines allows applications in complex molecule synthesis and therefore advances the C-H functionalization strategy to a synthetically useful level.

Neuroprotective effects of linarin through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in amyloid-β-induced neuronal cell death.

Linarin, a natural occurring flavanol glycoside derived from Mentha arvensis and Buddleja davidii is known to have anti-acetylcholinesterase effects. The present study intended to explore the neuroprotective effects of linarin against Aβ(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity with cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) and the possible mechanisms involved. For this purpose, PC12 cells were cultured and exposed to 30 μM Aβ(25-35) in the absence or presence of linarin (0.1, 1.0 and 10 μM). In addition, the potential contribution of the PI3K/Akt neuroprotective pathway in linarin-mediated protection against Aβ(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity was also investigated. The results showed that linarin dose-dependently increased cell viability and reduced the number of apoptotic cells as measured by MTT assay, Annexin-V/PI staining, JC-1 staining and caspase-3 activity assay. Linarin could also inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity induced by Aβ(25-35) in PC12 cells. Further study revealed that linarin induced the phosphorylation of Akt dose-dependently. Treatment of PC12 cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 attenuated the protective effects of linarin. Furthermore, linarin also stimulated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a downstream target of PI3K/Akt. Moreover, the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was also increased by linarin treatment. These results suggest that linarin prevents Aβ(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity through the activation of PI3K/Akt, which subsequently inhibits GSK-3β and up-regulates Bcl-2. These findings raise the possibility that linarin may be a potent therapeutic compound against Alzheimers disease acting through both acetylcholinesterase inhibition and neuroprotection.

Effects of polyphenols from grape seeds on oxidative damage to cellular DNA

Grape seed polyphenols have been reported to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological properties. In this study, eleven phenolic phytochemicals from grape seeds were purified by gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of five representative compounds with different structure type were assessed by the free radical-scavenging tests and the effects of the more potent phytochemicals on oxidative damage to DNA in mice spleen cells were investigated. Procyanidin B4, catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid reduced ferricyanide ion and scavenged the stable free radical, α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) much more effectively than the known antioxidant vitamin ascorbic acid, while epicatechin lactone A, an oxidative derivative of epicatechin, did not reduce ferricyanide ion appreciably at concentrations used and was only about half as effective on free radical-scavenging as epicatechin. Mice spleen cells, when pre-incubated with relatively low concentration of procyanidin B4, catechin or gallic acid, were less susceptible to DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as evaluated by the comet assay. In contrast, noticeable DNA damage was induced in mice spleen cells by incubating with higher concentration (150 μM) of catechin. Collectively, these data suggest that procyanidin B4, catechin, gallic acid were good antioxidants, at low concentration they could prevent oxidative damage to cellular DNA. But at higher concentration, these compounds may induce cellular DNA damage, taking catechin for example, which explained the irregularity of dose-effect relationship. (Mol Cell Biochem 267: 67–74, 2004)

Secondary Metabolites in Bryophytes: An Ecological Aspect

Bryophytes frequently grow in an unfavorable environment as the earliest land plants, and inevitably biosynthesize secondary metabolites against biotic or abiotic stress. They not only defend against the plant competition, microbial attack, and insect or animal predation, but also function in UV protection, drought tolerance, and freezing survival. This review covers the ecological aspect of secondary metabolites in bryophytes and is taxonomically presented according to the ecological significances.

Plagiochin E, an antifungal bis(bibenzyl), exerts its antifungal activity through mitochondrial dysfunction-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation in Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND Plagiochin E (PLE) is an antifungal macrocyclic bis(bibenzyl) isolated from liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. Its antifungal mechanism is unknown. To elucidate the mechanism of action, its effect on mitochondria function in Candida albicans was studied. METHODS We assayed the mitochondrial membrane potential (mtDeltapsi) using rhodamine 123, measured ATP level in mitochondria by HPLC, and detected the activities of mitochondrial F(0)F(1)-ATPase and dehydrogenases. Besides, the mitochondrial dysfunction-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined by a fluorometric assay, and the effects of antioxidant L-cysteine on PLE-induced ROS production and the antifungal effect of PLE on C. albicans were also investigated. RESULTS Exposure to PLE resulted in an elevation of mtDeltapsi, and a decrease of ATP level in mitochondria. The ATP depletion owed to PLE-induced enhancement of mitochondrial F(0)F(1)-ATPase and inhibition of the mitochondrial dehydrogenases. These dysfunctions of mitochondria caused ROS accumulation in C. albicans, and this increase in the level of ROS production and PLE-induced decrease in cell viability were prevented by addition of L-cysteine, indicating that ROS was an important mediator of the antifungal action of PLE. CONCLUSIONS PLE exerts its antifungal activity through mitochondrial dysfunction-induced ROS accumulation in C. albicans. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The effect of PLE on the mitochondria function in C. albicans was assayed for the first time. These results would conduce to elucidate its underlying antifungal mechanism.