Pharmacological properties and related constituents of stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Fabaceae).

Objective: To screen methanol and dichloromethane extracts of stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, in vitro antioxidant activities and phytochemical analysis.

Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by using carrageenan induced-edema of mice paw and croton oil-induced edema of mice ear; analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing. Phytochemical screening of extracts was performed by thin layer chromatography.

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of compounds isolated from Marrubium deserti de Noé.

In our continual course toward the valorization of traditionally used endemic flora through the analysis of its chemobiodiversity, the phytochemical analysis of aerial parts of Marrubium deserti de Noé was undertaken. Dichloromethane and methanol extracts led to the isolation of terpenoid derivatives among which two were new labdane diterpenes named marrulibacetal A and desertine, respectively. Six of them were known compounds (a mixture of the isomers cyllenin A and 15-epi-cyllenin A, marrubiin, marrulactone, marrulibacetal and β-stigmasterol) and seven known phenolic compounds were also isolated: apigenin and several 7-O-substituted derivatives (apigenin-7-O-β-neohesperidoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, terniflorin and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide) together with two phenylethanoid glucosides (acteoside and forsythoside B).

Cytotoxic and antiplasmodial xanthones from Pentadesma butyracea.

Four new xanthones, butyraxanthones A-D (1-4), were isolated from the stem bark of Pentadesma butyracea, together with six known xanthones (5-10) and a triterpenoid (lupeol). The structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-10 were tested in vitro for antiplasmodial activity against a Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant strain and for cytotoxicity against a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

Selective modulation of P-glycoprotein activity by steroidal saponines from Paris polyphylla.

Bio-guided fractionation of the roots of Paris polyphylla (Trilliaceae), based on inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated daunorubicin efflux in K562/R7 cell line, led to isolation and identification of the three saponins 3-O-Rha(1-->2)[Ara(1-->4)]Glc-pennogenine, gracillin and polyphyllin D, and the two ecdysteroids 20-hydroxyecdysone and pinnatasterone. These compounds were tested for multidrug reversion on P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) with both drug-selected and transfected cell lines, and also on Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP/ABCG2). By contrast to a weak efficiency on BCRP, the three saponins displayed significant effects as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux.

Sesquiterpenes from aerial parts of Ferula vesceritensis.

From the dichloromethane extract of aerial parts of Ferula vesceritensis (Apiaceae), 11 sesquiterpene derivatives were isolated. Among them five were compounds designated as 10-hydroxylancerodiol-6-anisate, 2,10-diacetyl-8-hydroxyferutriol-6-anisate, 10-hydroxylancerodiol-6-benzoate, vesceritenone and epoxy-vesceritenol. The six known compounds were identified as feselol, farnesiferol A, lapidol, 2-acetyl-jaeschkeanadiol-6-anisate, lasidiol-10-anisate and 10-oxo-jaesckeanadiol-6-anisate.

Isoflavones from Ficus nymphaefolia.

A new isoflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-3'-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)isoflavone (1) was isolated from the stem bark of Ficus nymphaefolia Mill. (Moraceae) together with eight known isoflavones: genistein, erycibenin A, cajanin, 5,7,2'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone, erythrinin C, alpinumisoflavone, derrone and 3'-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)biochanin A. Their structures were established by spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR experiments.

Effects of flavonoids on cell proliferation and caspase activation in a human colonic cell line HT29: an SAR study.

A library of 42 natural and synthetic flavonoids has been screened for their effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a human colonic cell line (HT-29). Examples of different classes of flavonoids have been screened, and the effects of hydroxylation, methoxylation and/or C-alkylation at various positions in the A- and B-rings have been assessed. Flavones and flavonols possess greater antiproliferative activity than chalcones and flavanones.