Composition of the Fresh Leaves and Stems of <i>Melissa officinalis</i> and Evaluation of Skin Irritation in a Reconstituted Human Epidermis Model

The composition of a centrifuged product obtained from the fresh leaves and stems of Melissa officinalis and skin irritation in the reconstituted human epidermis (Episkin model) have been investigated in comparison to the EtOH−H2O (1:1) extract obtained by Soxhlet from the dried plant. Two new sulfated triterpenes (1 and 2) and two ionol derivatives have been isolated for the first time from Melissa officinalis together with caffeic and rosmarinic acids. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Both the centrifuged material and its major constituents neither affected cell viability nor caused the release of pro-inflammatory mediators or the decrease of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in the reconstituted human epidermis

Saponins and Polyphenols from <i>Fadogia ancylantha</i> (Makoni Tea)

Three new saponins (1−3) and a known saponin, together with four known polyphenolic compounds, have been isolated from the fermented and dried leaves of Fadogia ancylantha (Makoni tea). The structures of compounds 1−3 were established by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Both an ethanol−water extract of F. ancylantha and its phenolic constituents showed significant free-radical-scavenging and antimicrobial activities. No cytotoxicity, as evaluated by analysis of hypodiploid nuclei in HUVEC cells using propidium iodide staining, was observed for either the plant crude extract or its constituents

Triterpenoid Constituents from the Roots of <i>Paeonia rockii</i> ssp. <i>rockii</i>

An investigation of a chloroform-soluble extract from the roots of Paeonia rockii ssp. rockii yielded three new noroleanane triterpenoids (1–3) together with 19 known compounds. Their structures were established by analysis of the spectroscopic data. The effects of this chloroform-soluble extract and its major constituents on cell proliferation and apoptosis of a panel of human cancer cell lines (melanoma M-14, colon cancer HT-29, breast cancer MCF-7) were evaluated by the MTT bioassay and propidium iodide staining, respectively, in comparison with normal human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). Two of the triterpenoids, betulinic acid (4) and oleanolic acid (5), and the crude extract were cytotoxic and induced apoptosis selectively in the M-14 melanoma cell line. This effect was reversed by the caspase-inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, suggesting that such action is mediated by caspase-3 activation

New sesquiterpenes from <i>Asteriscus graveolens</i>

Asteriscus graveolens (Forsk) Less. is a Saharan medicinal plant of Asteraceae family. A new acyclic sesquiterpene [7,12-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5,(6) E-dehydronerolidol (3)] and sesquiterpene germacranolide lactone derivatives [9β-hydroxy-11β,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) and 9α-hydroxy-11β,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8)] along with eight known compounds were isolated from polar extracts of aerial parts. Their structures were established by the analysis of 1 D- 2 D-NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry data. A. graveolens extracts and compounds showed a significant (P 50 in a concentration range from 89.4 to 296.0 µg/mL for extracts and from 32.6 to 728.1 µg/mL for compounds. No cytotoxic effects was evidenced in normal Primary Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDFa) up to 0.050 mg/mL for extracts and 1.0 mg/mL for pure compounds.</p