Acaricidal Properties of Four Neem Seed Extracts () on the Camel Tick ().

Tick infestation remains one of the major health problems that affect the productivity and comfort of camels. The control of ticks mainly relies on using chemical acaracides. Limited information is available on the potential benefits and activity of various neem extracts on ticks.

Plant cell cultures: An enzymatic tool for polyphenolic and flavonoid transformations.

Background: In the pharmaceutical sector, tissue culture techniques for large-scale production of natural chemicals can be a less expensive alternative to large-scale synthesis. Although recent biotransformation research have used plant cell cultures to target a wide range of bioactive compounds, more compiled information and synopses are needed to better understand metabolic pathways and improve biotransformation efficiencies.

Purpose: This report reviews the biochemical transformation of phenolic natural products by plant cell cultures in order to identify potential novel biotechnological approaches for ensuring more homogeneous and stable phenolic production year-round under controlled environmental conditions.

Three new polyacetylene glycosides (PAGs) from the aerial part of Launaea capitata (Asteraceae) with anti-biofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Four polyacetylenic glycosides, three of which are new, together with two known flavonoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Launaea capitate, designated bidensyneoside A1 (1), 6´-O-acetyl-bidensyneoside A1 (2), bidensyneoside E (3), bidensyneoside F (4), luteolin (5) and luteolin-7-glucoside (6) also known as cynaroside. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of 1D, 2D-NMR and HR-MS data. The absolute configuration of the bidensyneosides was determined by Mosher ester analysis and the optical rotation values.

Terpenoid bio-transformations and applications via cell/organ cultures: a systematic review.

Structurally diverse natural products are valued for their targeted biological activity. The challenge of working with such metabolites is their low natural abundance and complex structure, often with multiple stereocenters, precludes large-scale or unsophisticated chemical synthesis. Since select plants contain the enzymatic machinery necessary to produce specialized compounds, tissue cultures can be used to achieve key transformations for large-scale chemical and/or pharmaceutical applications.

Anti-inflammatory activity of highly oxygenated terpenoids from Achillea biebersteinii Afan.

In continuation of our chemical investigation on some medicinal plants of the genus Achillea, chromatographic investigation of the methylene chloride/methanol (1:1) extract of the air-dried aerial part of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. (family Asteraceae) afforded a new natural monoterpene (2), in addition to two known sesquiterpenes (3 and 4). Compound 1 was isolated as light needle crystals.

Terpenes from Artemisia herba-alba.

Chromatographic investigation of the methylene chloride/methanol extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba afforded a new monoterpene dimer, in addition to a known monoterpene and three known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures of the compounds were determined by comprehensive NMR analyses, including DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and HRMS.

A new trans-neoclerodane diterpene from Stachys aegyptiaca.

Phytochemical investigation of the methylenechloride/methanol extract of the aerial parts of Stachys aegyptiaca afforded a new neoclerodane-type diterpene with a new side chain 1, in addition to two known diterpenes 2 and 3 and a known flavonoid glycoside 4. The structures of the compounds were determined by comprehensive NMR studies including DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC and HR-MS.

New guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones from Inula verbascifolia.

The aerial parts of Inula verbascifolia afforded two new guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC).

Steroidal metabolites transformed by Marchantia polymorpha cultures block breast cancer estrogen biosynthesis.

Suspension of cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha have the potential to hydrogenate the olefinic bonds present in androst-1,4-dien-3,17-dione (boldione, 1) to afford dihydroandrost-3,17-dione derivatives including: androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione, 4-AD, 2), 5α-androstane-3,17-dione (androstenedione, AD, 4), and the less abundant metabolite 5α-androst-1-ene-3,17-dione (1-androstenedione, 1-AD, 3). After isolation and purification, these metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D NMR as well as mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity of the biotransformation products against breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) was assessed by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and cell death (apoptosis or necrosis) was assayed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining.

Estrogenic activity of chemical constituents from Tephrosia candida.

In a continued investigation of medicinal plants from the genus Tephrosia, phytochemical analysis of a methylene chloride-methanol (1:1) extract of the air-dried aerial parts of Tephrosia candida afforded two new 8-prenylated flavonoids, namely, tephrocandidins A (1) and B (2), a new prenylated chalcone, candidachalcone (3), a new sesquiterpene (4), and a previously reported pea flavonoid phytoalexin, pisatin (5). The structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic methods, including HREIMS, and 1H, 13C, DEPT, HMQC, and HMBC NMR experiments. The most potent estrogenic activity of these isolated natural products in an estrogen receptor (ERα) competitive-binding assay was for 3, which exhibited an IC50 value of 80 μM, compared with 18 nM for the natural steroid 17β-estradiol.

Biotransformation of progesterone by cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha.

Cell suspensions of Marchantia polymorpha hydrogenate progesterone to 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione. Structure elucidation of the product was achieved by comprehensive NMR analyses.

Triterpenes from Euphorbia rigida.

Phytochemical studies of the aerial parts of Euphorbia rigida afforded three triterpenes: betulin (1), cycloart-23Z-ene-3, 25-diol (2) and cycloartan-3, 24, 25-triol (3), firstly isolated from this plant. The structures and relative stereochemistry were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (1H NMR, 13C NMR, COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC).

Crystal and molecular structure of lancerodiol-p-hydroxybenzoate.

Lancerodiol-p-hydroxybenzoate was isolated from the leaves of Ferula sinaica L. (Apiaceae) as light needle crystals. This work reports for the first time the molecular structure and relative configuration of compound 1, established by X-ray analysis.

Cytotoxicity of 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl) etioline, a steroidal alkaloid from Solanum diphyllum L.

In continuation of our interest in phytochemical screening of the Egyptian flora for potential drugs, the reinvestigation of the methanolic extract of the roots of Solanum diphyllum, which grows naturally in the south of Egypt and is recorded as new to the Egyptian flora, afforded an interesting, highly cytotoxic compound, named 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl) etioline [(25S)-22,26-epimino-3beta-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) cholesta-5,22(N)-dien-16alpha-ol]. The chemical structure of this compound was determined by comprehensive NMR studies, including DEPT, COSY, HMQC, and MS. The compound exhibited high cytotoxic effects against the cervical cancer cell line, Hela cells, with an IC50 value of 150 microg/mL.

Bioactive jatrophane diterpenes from Euphorbia guyoniana.

Chromatographic investigation of the methylenechloride/methanol extract of the aerial parts of Euphorbia guyoniana afforded two jatrophane diterpenes, designated guyonianins E and F, in addition to a known jatrophane diterpene. The structures of the compounds were determined by comprehensive NMR analyses, including DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and HRMS. These compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells with IC(50) values of 35-100 microM.

Ketoisophorone transformation by Marchantia polymorpha and Nicotiana tabacum cultured cells.

Stereospecific olefin (C=C) and carbonyl (C=O) reduction of the readily available prochiral compound ketoisophorone (2,2,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione) (1) by Marchantia polymorpha and Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension cultures produce the chiral products (6R)-levodione (2), (4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone (3), and (4R,6R)-actinol (4) as well as the minor components (4R)-hydroxyisophorone (5) and (4S)-phorenol (6).

Highly oxygenated guaianolides and eudesman-12-oic acids from Balsamorhiza sagittata and Balsamorhiza macrophylla.

Investigation of lipophilic exudates from the aerial parts of Balsamorhiza sagittata and B. macrophylla afforded three new highly oxygenated guaianolides (1-3), in addition to known guaianolides, germacranolide and eudesmane acids. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and the data for the compounds are reported in Tables 1 and 2 and in Experimental.

Salvidorol, a nor-abietane diterpene with a rare carbon skeleton and two abietane diterpene derivatives from Salvia dorrii.

Salvidorol (1), a irregular nor-abietane-type diterpene, was isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia dorrii, in addition to two epimeric abietane diterpenes (2 and 3). This is the first report of a nor-diterpene with an irregular skeleton. The structures were established by high-field NMR techniques ((1)H-(1)H COSY, DEPT, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and HRMS) and in case of 2 was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Eremophilane-type sesquiterpene derivatives from Senecio aegyptius var. discoideus.

Investigation of a CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the aerial parts of Senecio aegyptius var. discoideus afforded nine eremophilane compounds, of which six are new (1-6), namely, 1beta-hydroxy-8alphaH-eremophil-7(11),9-dien-8beta,12-olide (1), 1beta,8alpha-dihydroxyeremophil-7(11),9-dien-8beta,12-olide (2), 1beta-hydroxy-8alpha-methoxyeremophil-7(11),9-dien-8beta,12-olide (3), 1-oxo-8alpha-methoxy-10alphaH-eremophil-7(11)-en-8beta,12-lactam (4), 1beta,10beta-epoxy-8alpha-hydroxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8beta,12-olide (5), and 1beta,10beta-epoxy-8alpha-methoxyeremophil-7(11)-en-8beta,12-olide (6). The structures of 1-6 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with literature data.

Terpenes from Inula verbascifolia.

The aerial parts of Inula verbascifolia afforded two new xanthanes and a new germacranolide derivative, together with the known compounds inusoniolide, 4-O-dihydroinusoniolide and 9beta-hydroxyparthenolide. The structures were determined by spectral methods (IR, HRMS,1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC).