Post-column in-source derivatisation in LC-MS: a tool for natural products characterisation and metabolomics.

Introduction: An efficient characterisation of metabolites is a crucial task in many aspects of basic research, such as the de-replication of crude extracts in natural products chemistry or the tentative identification of compounds in untargeted metabolomics.

Objective: The goal of this work is the evaluation of the reaction with phenylhydrazine for the derivatisation post-column in situ of carbonyl-containing compounds in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Materials And Methods: LC-MS was performed using electrospray, Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) or Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization (APPI) as ionisation techniques.

Biodiversity and threats in non-protected areas: A multidisciplinary and multi-taxa approach focused on the Atlantic Forest.

Along many decades, protected environments were targeted by the scientific community for ecological research and for the collection of scientific information related to environmental aspects and biodiversity. However, most of the territory in hotspot regions with weak or even non legal protection has been left aside. These non-protected areas (NPA) could host high biodiversity values.

Liquid chromatography coupled to different atmospheric pressure ionization sources-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and post-column addition of metal salt solutions as a powerful tool for the metabolic profiling of Fusarium oxysporum.

Fusarium oxysporum L11 is a non-pathogenic soil-borne fungal strain that yielded an extract that showed antifungal activity against phytopathogens. In this study, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled to different atmospheric pressure ionization sources-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (API-QTOF-MS) was applied for the comprehensive profiling of the metabolites from the extract. The employed sources were electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI).

Multicomponent synthesis of 4,4-dimethyl sterol analogues and their effect on eukaryotic cells.

Most sterols, such as cholesterol and ergosterol, become functional only after the removal of the two methyl groups at C-4 from their biosynthetic precursors. Nevertheless, some findings suggest that 4,4-dimethyl sterols might be involved in specific physiological processes. In this paper we present the synthesis of a collection of analogues of 4,4-dimethyl sterols with a diamide side chain and a preliminary analysis of their in vitro activity on selected biological systems.

Differentiation of cyclosporin A from isocyclosporin A by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with post-column addition of divalent metal salt.

Rationale: Cyclosporin A (CsA) rearranges to its isomer isocyclosporin A (isoCsA) upon acid hydrolysis and also during ionization in the ion source of the mass spectrometer. It has been reported that both compounds could not be differentiated by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using atmospheric pressure ionization (API) sources and ambiguously differentiated by using other sources. In order to analyze these compounds which are common fungal metabolites, it is relevant to develop a simple method for their differentiation.

Antioxidant neolignans from Cordia americana.

Five new neolignans with a bicyclo[2.2.2]octene framework were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the bark of Cordia americana.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of C-21 steroids with an aromatic D ring.

Six analogues of salpichrolides with a simplified side chain (6-11) were synthesized using a new methodology to obtain steroids with an aromatic D-ring. The key step was the elimination of HBr in a vicinal dibromo D-homosteroid by treatment with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.

Multicomponent synthesis of acylated short peptoids with antifungal activity against plant pathogens.

In this article, we describe the synthesis of a small library of short peptoids composed of four glycine residues and acylated with a fatty acid that showed a remarkable in vitro activity against two fungal plant pathogens. Their straightforward synthesis implied two consecutive Ugi reactions and can be efficiently extended to the construction of highly diverse libraries.

Synthesis and preliminary biological screening of sterol analogues as new antifungal agents against plant pathogens.

In this paper we report the synthesis of a new family of sterol analogues that have two amidic bonds on the side chain. These azasterols were obtained by a straightforward procedure including an Ugi condensation that allows the facile attachment of a polyfunctionalized side chain into the steroidal framework. Some of the new compounds showed an interesting inhibitory effect on the growth of two pathogenic fungi involved in plant diseases.

Withanolides from Jaborosa laciniata.

Six new trechonolide type withanolides (compounds 1- 6), together with trechonolide A, jaborotetrol, and 12- O-methyl jaborosotetrol, were isolated from the aerial parts of Jaborosa laciniata. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, MS).

Spiranoid withanolides from Jaborosa odonelliana.

Six new spiranoid withanolides, (20R,22R,23S)-5alpha-chloro-6beta,12beta,17beta,22-tetrahydroxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-2,24-dien-26,23-olide (2), (20R,22R,23S)-5beta,6beta-epoxy-12beta,17beta,22-trihydroxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-2,24-dien-26,23-olide (3), (20R,22R,23S)-5beta,6beta-epoxy-4beta,12beta,17beta,22-tetrahydroxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-2,24-dien-26,23-olide (4), (20R,22R,23S)-5alpha,6beta,12beta,17beta,22-pentahydroxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-2,24-dien-26,23-olide (5), (20R,22R,23S)-6beta,12beta,17beta,22-tetrahydroxy-5alpha-methoxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-2,24-dien-26,23-olide (6), and (20R,22R,23S)-6beta,12beta,17beta,22-tetrahydroxy-2alpha,5alpha-epidioxy-1-oxo-12,23-cycloergosta-3,24-dien-26,23-olide (7), were isolated from the leaves of Jaborosa odonelliana. Compounds 2-7 were characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, MS) and molecular modeling.

Induction of quinone reductase by withanolides.

Thirty-seven naturally occurring withanolides (1-37), previously isolated in our laboratories, were evaluated for their potential to induce quinone reductase with cultured murine hepatoma cells (Hepa 1c1c7). Spiranoid (29, 32) and 18-functionalized withanolides (2-5, 7-9, 24) were found to be potent inducers of the enzyme, while 5alpha-substituted derivatives exhibited weak activity. Preliminary studies were performed with compound 29 to evaluate enzyme-inducing capacity in multiple organ sites of BALB/c mice.