X-Ray Crystal Structure of Embelin and Its DFT Scavenging of Superoxide Radical.

Embelin is a phytochemical component of tropical plants that have a long history of being used in ethnic pharmacology in various parts of the world, including Ayurdvedic and Chinese medicinal texts. Many modern studies confirm its promise as a medicinal compound. The X-ray crystal structure determination of embelin shows a remarkably ordered alkyl chain and particularly strong pi-pi interactions for a nonaromatic system.

beta-sitosterol among other secondary metabolites of Piper galeatum shows inhibition of TNFalpha-induced cell adhesion molecule expression on human endothelial cells.

A phytochemical investigation of the stems of Piper galeatum yielded one novel amide, 1-(3'-hydroxy-5'-methoxycinnamoyl)-piperidine (5) along with four known compounds, i.e. beta-sitosterol (1), cyclostachine-A (2), piperine (3) and piperolein-B (4).