Three new seco-ursadiene triterpenoids from <i>Salvia syriaca</i>

<div><p>Three new seco-ursadiene triterpenoids <b>1</b>–<b>3</b> together with 11 known compounds were isolated from <i>Salvia syriaca</i> of Jordanian origin. The compounds were identified by using NMR spectroscopy including extensive 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. The structure of compound <b>3</b> was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and the information thus obtained was used to confirm the stereochemistry of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. This is the second report of 17,22-seco-17(28),12-ursadien-22-oic acids.</p></div

Selective phytotoxic activity of 2,3,11β,13-tetrahydroaromaticin and ilicic acid isolated from <i>Inula graveolens</i>

<div><p><i>Inula graveolens</i> is a poisonous annual plant of Mediterranean origin. The invasive nature of the plant suggests that it may possess phytotoxic activity. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of <i>I. graveolens</i> to inhibit the growth of different plants in Petri dish and to identify the main bioactive compounds. Bio-guided fractionation of the plant extracts led to the isolation of 2,3,11β,13-tetrahydroaromaticin (THA) and ilicic acid. Both compounds showed selective and significant phytotoxic activity at 25 ppm. Root length of barley, oat, millet, tuberous canary grass and lentils were significantly reduced by 25 ppm of THA, while the root of cauliflower, cress and radish were similarly reduced by ilicic acid at 25 ppm. The structure of each compound was elucidated by using NMR and HR-MS. X-ray crystallography of THA is reported for the first time to confirm the relative stereochemistry of the compound.</p></div

New aristolochic acid and other chemical constituents of <i>Aristolochia maurorum</i> growing wild in Jordan

<p>Investigation of the chemical constituents of <i>Aristolochia maurorum</i> growing wild in Jordan resulted in the isolation and characterisation of one new compound in addition to 19 known compounds. The new compound was identified as aristolochic acid II alanine amide (<b>14</b>). The other known compounds were the following: palmitic acid (<b>1</b>), β-sitosterol (<b>2</b>), <i>E</i>-ethyl-<i>p</i>-coumarate (<b>3</b>), <i>Z</i>-ethyl-<i>p</i>-coumarate (<b>4</b>), aristolochic acid IV methyl ester (<b>5</b>), aristolactam I (<b>6</b>), loliolide (<b>7</b>), (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (<b>8</b>), glycerol-1-palmitate (<b>9</b>), aristolochic acid I (<b>10</b>), <i>E</i>-<i>p</i>-coumaric acid (<b>11</b>), <i>E</i>-N-coumaroyltyramine (<b>12</b>), β-sitosteryl glucoside (<b>13</b>), aristolochic acid IV (<b>15</b>), aristolochic acid III (<b>16</b>), esculetin (<b>17</b>), uracil (<b>18</b>), shepherdine (<b>19</b>) and adenosine (<b>20</b>). The isolated compounds were characterised by different spectroscopic methods including NMR (1D and 2D), UV, IR and HRESIMS.</p

Chemical constituents of the aerial parts of <i>Salvia judaica</i> Boiss. from Jordan

Investigation of the chemical constituents of Salvia judaica growing wild in Jordan led to the isolation and identification of 15 known compounds. These included: luteolin-3′-methyl ether (1), indole-3-carboxyaldehyde (2), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), tricin (4), apigenin (5), methyl isoferuloyl-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactate (6), methyl rosmarinate (7), rosmarinic acid (8), salvigenin (9), β-sitosterol (10), 3β, 28-dihydroxyurs-12-ene (11), cirsilineol (12), 2,3-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (13), β-sitosteryl glucoside (14), and tormentic acid (15). Compounds 6 and 7 exhibited strong radical scavenging and chelating activities as compared to α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, compound 7 showed a 2-fold greater antioxidant activity as compared to compound 6. Furthermore, low doses of compounds 6 and 7 were able to inhibit the growth of leukemic (HL-60, Jurkat, K562 and CCRF-SB) and solid tumor cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and Caco-2). Compound 7 showed a ca. 3–4-fold stronger cytotoxicity against the tested cells as compared to compound 6.</p