Patoomratana Tuchinda

Evaluation of the mutagenic, cytotoxic, and antitumor potential of triptolide, a highly oxygenated diterpene isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii

Triptolide, a highly oxygenated diterpene isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (Celastraceae), has been shown to demonstrate potent antileukemic activity in rodent models at remarkably low treatment doses. A variety of other physiological responses are known to be mediated by this compound, including immunosuppressive and antifertility effects. We currently report that triptolide was not mutagenic toward Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677, either in the presence or absence of a metabolic activating system. Relatively potent but non-specific cytotoxicity was observed with a panel of cultured mammalian cell lines, and modest antitumor activity was observed when an i.p. dose of 25 microg was administered three times weekly to athymic mice carrying human breast tumors. Treatment regimens involving higher doses of triptolide (e.g. 50 microg/mouse three times weekly) were lethal.

Anti-inflammatory cyclohexenyl chalcone derivatives in Boesenbergia pandurata.

The cyclohexenyl chalcone derivative [(-)-hydroxypanduratin A], together with the previously known panduratin A, sakuranetin, pinostrobin, pinocembrin, and dihydro-5,6-dehydrokawain were isolated from the chloroform extract of the red rhizome variety of Boesenbergia pandurata (Robx.) Schltr. [currently known as Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf., Kulturpfl.]. Their structures were assigned on the basis of their spectroscopic data. (-)-Hydroxypanduratin A and (-)-panduratin A showed significant topical anti-inflammatory activity in the assay of TPA-induced ear edema in rats.

Fluoride-Catalyzed Addition of PhSCF2SiMe3 to N-Substituted Cyclic Imides Followed by Radical Cyclization: General Synthetic Strategy of gem-Difluoromethylenated 1-Azabicyclic Compounds

PhSCF(2)SiMe(3) (1) was found, for the first time, to undergo fluoride-catalyzed nucleophilic difluoro(phenylsulfanyl)methylation reaction to cyclic imides 2, affording the corresponding adducts 3 in moderate to good yields. Reductive cleavage of the phenylsulfanyl group of N-alkylated adducts 3 with Bu(3)SnH/AIBN yielded gem-difluoromethylated products 4. Under the same reduction conditions, N-alkenylated and N-alkynylated adducts 3 afforded the corresponding gem-difluoromethylenated 1-azabicyclic compounds 5 and 6 with trans stereoselectivity. These compounds were employed as precursors for preparing substituted gem-difluoromethylenated pyrrolizidinones and indolizidinones 7 and 8 by treatment with Et(3)SiH/BF(3) x OEt(2), and compounds 9 and 10 by nucleophilic displacement of the hydroxyl group, using organosilanes in the presence of BF(3) x OEt(2). The synthesis of highly substituted gem-difluoromethylenated pyrrolizidines 13 and 14 was also demonstrated.

Phenanthrenes of Eulophia nuda

Abstract From the tubers of Eulophia nuda six phenanthrene derivatives have been isolated: 9,10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-1,7-diol, 9,10-dihydro-4-methoxyphenanthrene-2,7-diol, 1,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-2,7-diol, 1,5,7,-trimethoxyphenanthrene-2,6-diol, 5,7-dimethoxyphenanthrene-2,6-diol and 4,4′,8,8′-tetramethoxy [1,1′-biphenanthrene]-2,2′,7,7′-tetrol. 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were also isolated. The structures were assigned by spectroscopic methods and the structure of 9, 10-dihydro-2,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene- 1,7-diol was also determined by a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of its acetate derivative.

Prenylated caged xanthones: Chemistry and biology

Context: Prenylated caged xanthones are “privileged structure” characterized by the presence of the unusual 4-oxo-tricyclo[4.3.1.03,7]dec-8-en-2-one scaffold. The natural sources of these compounds confines mainly in the Garcinia genus in the family of Guttiferae. Gambogic acid is the most abundant substance and most of the studies have been done on this compound, particularly as a new potential antitumor agent. The history, sources, structural diversity, and biological activities of these compounds are covered. Objective: This review is written with the intention to provide additional aspects from what have been published of prenylated caged xanthones, including history, sources, structural diversity, and biological activities. Methods: This review has been compiled using information from a number of reliable references mainly from major databases including SciFinder, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. Results: More than 120 prenylated caged xanthones have been found in the plant genera Garcinia, Cratoxylum, and Dascymaschalon. These compounds exhibited various potentially useful biological activities such as anticancer, anti-HIV-1, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic activities. Conclusions: Prenylated caged xanthones, both naturally occurring and synthetic analogues, have been identified as promising bioactive compounds, especially for anticancer agents. Gambogic acid has been demonstrated to be a highly valuable lead compound for antitumor chemotherapy. The structure activity relationship (SAR) study of its analogues is still the subject of intensive research. Apoptosis cytotoxic mechanism has been identified as the major pathway. Research on the delineation of the in-depth mechanism of action is still on-going. Analogues of gambogic acid had been identified to be effective against a rare and special form of liver cancer, cholangiocarcinoma for which currently there is no chemotherapeutic treatment available.

Radical cyclization/ipso-1,4-aryl migration cascade: asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2-propanoylbicyclo[3.3.0]octanes.

A novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2-propanoylbicyclo-[3.3.0]octanes involves an unprecedented intramolecular radical cyclization/ipso-1,4-aryl migration cascade.

Dichapetalin-type triterpenoids and lignans from the aerial parts of Phyllanthus acutissima

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus acutissima resulted in the isolation of five new dichapetalin-type triterpenoids, acutissimatriterpenes A-E ( 1- 5), and two new lignans, acutissimalignans A ( 6) and B ( 7), along with two known lignans and three known ellagic acid derivatives. The structures of 1- 7 were determined mainly on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The compounds obtained were evaluated for cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 activities.

Vicinal Dianion of Triethyl Ethanetricarboxylate: Syntheses of (±)-Lichesterinic Acid, (±)-Phaseolinic Acid, (±)-Nephromopsinic Acid, (±)-Rocellaric Acid, and (±)-Dihydroprotolichesterinic Acid

The vicinal dianion 2 derived from triethyl ethanetricarboxylate reacted regioselectively with aldehydes and ketones at C(β) to provide paraconic acid derivatives 5a–f in moderate to high yields as mixtures of diastereoisomers. The paraconic acid derivatives 5e and 5f were utilized as the starting materials for the syntheses of (±)-lichesterinic acid (12), (±)-phaseolinic acid (13), (±)-nephromopsinic acid (14), (±)-rocellaric acid (15), and (±)-dihydroprotolichesterinic acid (16).

NOVEL CYTOTOXIC RING-A SECO-CYCLOARTANE TRITERPENES FROM GARDENIA CORONARIA AND G. SOOTEPENSIS

Abstract Coronalolide methyl ester (1), coronalolide (2), and coronalolic acid (3) were isolated from the leaves and/or stems of Gardenia coronaria. A further compound, methyl coronalolate acetate (4), was purified from the stems after methylation. The novel compounds 1–4 have the rare ring-A seco-cycloartane carbon skeleton and their structures were assigned on the basis of spectral data and molecular modeling, as well as X-ray crystallography performed on 1. Compounds 1 and 2 were also isolated from the leaves of Gardenia sootepensis and showed broad cytotoxic activity when evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines.

An azaanthracene alkaloid from Polyalthia suberosa.

An azaanthracene alkaloid, 1-aza-9,10-dimethoxy-4-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroanthracene (kalasinamide) has been isolated from the stems of Polyalthia suberosa. In addition, the known N-trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine are also reported from the same source. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.