Terpene Alkaloids from Tripterygium wilfordii

Two new sesquiterpene alkaloids, 1ß-hydroxy-2ß,5a,11-triacetoxy-7ß-nicotinoyl-8ß-benzoyl-dihydroagarofuran (1), and 1ß,5a,11-triacetoxy-7ß-nicotinoyl-8ß-benzoyl-dihydroagarofuran (2) were isolated from the xylem of Tripterygium wilfordii, together with six known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies

Celastraceae sesquiterpene pyridyl ligands

Celastraceae plant extracts have been widely used as traditional medicines and insecticides in China and South America. More recently, the extracts from Celastraceae plants have been studied at the molecular level and many of the interesting medicinal and agrochemical properties can be attributed to a large class of sesquiterpene alkaloids found in these extracts. These are generally based on highly oxygenated dihydroagarofuran cores with pyridyl diacid macrodilactone bridging ligands. Whereas previous reviews have focused on the dihydroagarofuran cores, in this article, the history, structure, and syntheses of the macrodilactone bridging ligands are reviewed

Insecticidal Natural Products From Sri Lankan Plants

This thesis describes investigations of the insecticidal compounds of three Sri Lankan plants, Pleurostylia opposita (Wall) Alston (Celastraceae), Aegle marmelos Correa (Rutaceae) and Excoecaria agallocha Linn. (Euphorbiaceae). After establishing the insecticidal activity of the extracts of three plants, separation of compounds was achieved by bio-assay directed chromatography, and the compounds were characterised by NMR especially 2D experiments, mass, UV and IR spectroscopy. Three new macrocyclic sesquiterpene polyol ester alkaloids 1, 2 and 3 containing a novel 6,7 ring skeleton have been identified from the petroleum ether-ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Pleurstylia opposita. They are homologues of known macrocyclic sesquiterpene alkaloids which contains a 6,6 ring system based on the ß-dihydroagarofuran core. The extra methylene has been shown by NMR to be in the 8 position of the 6,7 ring. Observation of insecticidal activity in the Pleurostylia genus is novel. The previously reported 20-hydroxylupane-3- one has also been identified from the active extract and shown to be noninsecticidal. Two new insecticidal compounds 6 and 7 have been identified from the petroleum ether-ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Aegle marmelos. They are shown to be protolimonoids, and are senecioate ester analogues of the known isovalerate esters of C-21-ß and C-21-α glabretal which were also isolated. Compounds 8 and 9 were also found to be insecticidal against mustard beetles and houseflies. Separation and characterisation of epimeric mixtures were first achieved for the di p-nitrobenzoate derivative. Previously recorded epoxyaurapten, marmesin, marmin and lupeol have been isolated from the active extract of Aegle marmelos and shown to be noninsecticidal. Five compounds 24-28 have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Excoecaria agallocha. They all have the previously reported daphnane diterpenoid orthoester skeleton, and differ only in the orthoester alkyl side chain. Two of them 24 and 27 are novel. Insecticidal activity has not been recorded previously for extracts of Excoecaria species, nor for the daphnane orthoesters

Herbicidal Activity of Peumus boldus and Drimys winterii Essential Oils from Chile

[EN] The essential oil composition of Peumus boldus and Drimys winterii was analyzed by means of capillary GC-FID and GC-MS. More than 96% of the total oil components (43 and 54 compounds, respectively) were identified, with ascaridole (51.17 ± 9.51), p-cymene (16.31 ± 2.52) and 1,8-cineole (14.45 ± 2.99) as the main compounds in P. boldus and ¿-eudesmol (21.65 ± 0.41), followed of elemol (12.03 ± 0.34) and terpinen-4-ol (11.56 ± 1.06) in D. winterii. The herbicidal activity was tested against Amaranthus hybridus and Portulaca oleracea. P. boldus essential oil was the most phytotoxic against both weeds, inhibiting seed germination and seedling growth at all concentrations assayed (0.125-1 ¿L/mL). D. winterii essential oil did not show any effect on A. hybridus germination and only affected P. oleracea germination at the highest concentration. The results suggest the possible use of the essential oil from P. boldus as a natural herbicide. © 2010 by the authors.Research performed under an International Cooperation Project (number A/024753/09), financed by Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).Verdeguer Sancho, MM.; García Rellán, D.; Boira Tortajada, H.; Pérez, E.; Gandolfo Wiederhold, SP.; Blazquez Ferrer, MA. (2011). Herbicidal Activity of Peumus boldus and Drimys winterii Essential Oils from Chile. Molecules. 16:403-411. doi:10.3390/molecules16010403S4034111

COMPARATIVE PHYSICOCHEMICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY EVALUATION OF HEART WOOD AND SMALL BRANCHES OF AQUILARIA AGALLOCHA ROXB.

Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. commonly called as Agaru is a medicinal plant. Heartwood of this tree is widely used in Ayurveda for various diseases. Removal of heart wood from trunk of this tree may make this plant weak and susceptible to damage due to which availability of this plant may be difficult in near future. Present study outlines the concept of plant part substitution. Heart wood and small branches of A. agallocha are compared on the basis of physicochemical analysis, phytochemical analysis, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) to evaluate the possibilities of using small branches instead of heart wood. Physicochemical parameters of heartwood and small branches and phytochemical analysis of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of both heart wood and small branches were carried out using standard methods. Total phenolics and total flavonoids were estimated spectrophotometrically using Folin-ciocalteu assayand aluminum chloride assaymethods, respectively. CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with semi-automatic applicator was used for HPTLC of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of stem bark and small braches using suitable mobile phases. Results of phytochemical analysis and HPTLC of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed many similarities whichsuggest that small branches may have nearly similar active potency like heart wood and may be used as a substitute of heart wood after comparison and confirmation of same for pharmacological activities

Maytenus emarginata: A Folklore Ethnomedicinal Plant of Rajasthan

Tribal or folk medicines system is based on use of herbal medicines by tribal communities, which includes utilization of crude extract from local medicinal plants by medicine-men of community. The tribal communities dominated in various parts of Rajasthan harbors a vast diversity of vegetation. The surrounding plants form an integral part of culture of tribal people and the medicinal knowledge of plants is passed on from generation to generation through oral folklore and mythical stories. Ethno-botany is the study of plants and their practical uses through traditional knowledge by local inhabitants of a region. Maytenus emarginata Ding Hou is a Celesrtaceae family plant. It is locally known as ‘Kankero’ in hindi and Thorny staff tree in English. Various parts of this plant were used traditionally in folk culture for the treatment of various ailments. This review article includes therapeutic uses of crude extract of various parts of plant Maytenus emarginata and its phyto-chemical constituents. In this review article, we studied about anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, hepato-protective, anti-ulcerogenic activities of this plant. Keywords: folk medicines, medicine-men, folklore, anti-cancer, hepato-protective

PERSPECTIVE APPROACH TO PSYCHO-SOMATIC DISORDERS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CERTAIN MEDICINAL PLANTS IN COVID PANDEMIC

Psychosomatic disorders have now become a common disease in present global scenario due to Covid pandemic. People are always in panic due to morbidity of the disease whereas the livelihood has become a secondary morbid condition due to economic slowdown. Under the above global scenario almost every person is undergoing certain psychosomatic problems either one or both of the factors.  Apart from this, the present trend of competitive and conservative life-style has made young and old person to panic mental situations. The egoistic attitude of the human being and his inability to compromise his desire/demands tends to imbalance of temperament resulting into essential hypertension, insomnia, irritability etc. Ultimately such person becomes addicted to anxiolytic, anti-depressant and tranquilising drugs of modern medicine. Psychiatric disorders are commonly encountered by clinical medicine and the management includes psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, physical treatment with antipsychotic drugs, but the post management leads to addiction or drug dependence along with morbid withdrawal symptoms in patients. In view of problems of dependence specific approach of Ayurvedic concept like Satwavajaya and Daivavyapasraya have provided the light of protection but the practices are still limited due to orthodox beliefs. Some psychotropic drugs like Medhyarasayana etc. in single and compound form are described in classical texts for the management of different mental disorders. The use of herbs to offset these antecedents and outcome has greatly increased in recent years. Not only it is helpful for psychosomatic issues rather it would be helpful at least in such Covid pandemic as because the anti-psychotic drugs are scarce in market due to heavy personal demands. Ayurvedic approach can also create a trend of revitalising herbal preparations keeping behind the hazardous post drug complication. It is an attempt for mainstreaming the Ayurveda in present scenario

Isolation, characterisation and some synthesis studies on insecticidal natural products from Sri Lankan plants

Four Sri Lankan plant species, Acronychia pedunculata (L.) Miq (Rutaceae), Pleurostylia opposita (Wall) Alston (Celastraceae), Alseodaphne semicarpifolia (Lauraceae) and Walsura piscidia Roxb. (Meliaceae) were investigated for insecticidal activity. Acrovestone (1), was identified as the major insecticidal principle from A. pedunculata. New reactions conditions were developed for its synthesis from isovaleraldehyde and two key intermediates, acronylin and demethylacronylin. The latter intermediate was synthesised by optimisation of a previously reported method. This is the first report of the synthesis of acrovestone and recognition of its insecticidal activity. A structure-activity relationship programme, based on synthetic analogues incorporating small but systematic structural changes, revealed that the number, position and size of substituents were all critical for activity. Optimum activity was associated with the presence of a single methoxy group and that only the central region was amenable to variation leading to increased activity. Recognition of the structural similarities between acrovestone and another class of insecticidal products, the kunzeins, prompted an extension of the SAR study. A series of novel ‘hybrid’ compounds incorporating structural features from both classes was synthesised and tested. In contrast to the conclusions from the systematic SAR study, this part of the study indicated that substantial variations could be tolerated in one segment of the acrovestone molecule leading to analogues with higher levels of activity than the individual parent compounds. Overall this study has demonstrated the advantage of combining a conventional SAR approach based on small but systematic structural changes with one using larger changes through synthesis of hybrid compounds from related natural products. Limited evaluation against other species indicated variation in the spectrum of activity with chemical structure. Previously reported insecticidal compounds of P. opposita were re-isolated and structures reassigned by means of chemical degradation and spectroscopic methods. They were identified as sesquiterpene polyol ester alkaloids, compounds 2, 3 and 4 containing a previously unknown combination of 6 ,6 β-dihydroagarofuran core with an alkaloidal firagment. Sesamin (5) was isolated as the insecticidal component from A. semicarpifolia. This is the first report of its isolation from the genus Alseodaphne. 7-Deacetyl-7α-hydroxyazadirone (6) was isolated as the insecticidal component from W. piscidia. This is the first report of its insecticidal activity and its isolation from the genus Walsura