Isabelle Fourasté

Two tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids from Galipea officinalis

Abstract Two tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids have been isolated from the bark of Galipea officinalis Hancock. Their structures have been established by spectroscopic methods. The compounds were named angustureine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2(n-pentyl)-1-methylquinoline) and galipeine (2-[(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-phenylethyl)]-2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-methylquinoline).

Novel indole-type glucosinolates from woad (Isatis tinctoria L.)

Abstract Four novel indole-type glucosinolates ( 1 – 1 ′ and 2 – 2 ′ ), together with six other known glucosinolates, were isolated from the seeds of Isatis tinctoria L. and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Combining an aliphatic and an indole moiety, they represent an original family of glucosinolates, thus broadening the structural diversity of those plant metabolites.

The kinetics of exsheathment of infective nematode larvae is disturbed in the presence of a tannin-rich plant extract (sainfoin) both in vitro and in vivo

The mode of action of bioactive plants on gastrointestinal nematodes remains obscure. Previous in vitro studies showed that exsheathment was significantly disturbed after contact with tannin-rich extracts. However, the role of important factors (extract concentration, parasite species) has not been assessed and no information is available on the occurrence in vivo. These questions represent the objectives of this study. The model incorporated the parasites Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis with sainfoin as the bioactive plant. A set of in vitro assays was performed, measuring the changes observed, after 3 h of contact with increasing concentrations of sainfoin, on the rate of artificial exsheathment. The results indicated that sainfoin extracts interfered with exsheathment in a dose-dependent manner and the process overall was similar for both nematodes. The restoration of control values observed after adding PEG to extracts confirms a major role for tannins. A second study was performed in vivo on rumen-cannulated sheep fed with different proportions of sainfoin in the diet to verify these in vitro results. The consumption of a higher proportion of sainfoin was indeed associated with significant delays in Haemonchus exsheathment. Overall, the results confirmed that interference with the early step of nematode infection might be one of the modes of action that contributes to the anthelmintic properties of tanniniferous plants.

Direct characterization of isoquinoline alkaloids in a crude plant extract by ion-pair liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: example of Eschscholtzia californica

An ion-pair HPLC-ESI-MS-MS method has been developed for the direct and rapid characterization of isoquinoline alkaloids in a crudely purified extract of the aerial parts of Eschscholtzia californica (Papaveraceae). This plant was chosen because of its increasing use in pharmaceutical industries and because its well known alkaloid composition allows the optimization of the experimental procedure through an on-line analytical sequence. Thus, 14 isoquinoline alkaloids of different types were detected and characterized. The identities of these compounds were confirmed unambigously by their fragmentation and UV spectra obtained by LC-diode-array detection. Various experiments including tandem mass spectrometry and in-orifice collision induced dissociation were performed and prove that MS-MS is a very efficient technique to identify these compounds. An explanation for each isoquinoline alkaloid type MS-MS fragmentation pattern is proposed and indicates similar neutral and/or radical losses. The order of the fragmentation depended on the type of compound but the lost fragments were similar.

An antioxidant sinapic acid ester isolated from Iberis amara

The isolation of 6-O-sinapoyl sucrose (1) from Iberis amara seeds and an evaluation of its antioxidative properties in comparison with sinapic acid and ascorbic acid are reported.

Three furano-diterpenes from the bark of Croton campestris

Abstract Three furano-diterpenes have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Croton campestris St Hil. roots. Their structures have been established by spectroscopic methods. The compounds were named velamone (ent-15,16-epoxy-2-oxo-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien), velamolone (ent-15,16-epoxy-20-hydroxy-2-oxo-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien) and velamolone acetate (ent-15,16-epoxy-20-acetoxy-2-oxo-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien).

Essential oil of leaves of Croton campestris St. Hilaire, its secretory elements, and its biological activity.

Abstract The structure of the secretory tissues and the essential oil of the leaves of Croton campestris St Hil. were studied. The oil isolated by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and was found to contain 75 components accounting for 92.9% of the total oil, with the major components being caryophyllene oxide (29.9%) and humulene oxide II (8.0%). Growth inhibitory activity of the active compounds in solution was evaluated by measuring Minimal Inhibitory Concentration using a broth micro-method. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of the leaf oil was 1.56 µg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 6.25 µg/mL for Enterrococcus hirae and 6.25 µg/mL for Candida albicans.

Glucosinolates from Cardaria draba

A new glucosinolate salt, L-prolinium 4-(methylsulfinyl)butyl glucosinolate, was isolated from the flowering heads of Cardaria draba and characterized by current spectroscopic methods.

Novel quinoline alkaloid from trunk bark of Galipea officinalis

The isolation of N-methyl-4-hydroxy-3-(2,3-epoxyisobutyl)-2-quinolone (1), a new natural compound, and candicine (2) from Galipea officinalis trunk bark is reported. This is the first report of candicine in the genus Galipea.

Anatomical study of secondary tuberized roots of Harpagophytum procumbens DC and quantification of harpagoside by high-performance liquid chromatography method.

Aim and Background: A botanical study is conducted to provide a standard diagnostic tool. In order to improve the quality assurance of the secondary tuberized roots of Harpagophytum procumbens, derived extract and phytomedicine, a simple, rapid, and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to assess the harpagoside. Material and Mehods: This HPLC assay was performed on a reversedphase C18 column with methanol and water (50/50–V/V) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min and using a monitoring wavelength at 278 nm. Results and Conclusion: This method was successfully applied to quantify these bioactive iridoid in an aqueous extract of H. procumbens and in its related phytomedicine “harpagophyton”. The result demonstrated that the quantification of harpagoside, indicating that the quality control of the bioactive ingredient in H. procumbens, derived extract and phytomedicine, is critical to ensure its clinical benefits.