Iridoid glucosides from Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers growing on the Island of Sardinia

The ethanolic extract of Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers was investigated from a phytochemical point of view and in particular on the monoterpenoid glucosides content. Iridoid glucosides have a taxonomic relevance, e.g., asperuloside and its derivative are characteristic of the Rubioideae subfamily where this species is comprised. In the light of earliest phylogenetic molecular study which proposed to merge P. lanceolata in the Spermacoceae tribe, a phytochemical approach also becomes necessary for a correct classification of this species. A total of 12 compounds were identified in detail, ten of these are iridoid glucosides: asperuloside, asperulosidic acid, tudoside, E-uenfoside and Z-uenfoside previously identified in this genus; whereas, deacetyl-asperulosidic acid, ixoside, griselinoside, 6β,7β-epoxysplendoside were recognized here for the first time from P. lanceolata. Among the non-iridoidic compounds ursolic acid and d-xylose were identified

New developments in the synthesis of emicoron

This paper reports on the modification of two synthetic steps in the usual protocol used for obtaining EMICORON. EMICORON is a benzo[ghi]perylen-diimide, which was synthesized for the first time in our laboratory in 2012, and has shown to have in vivo antitumor activities that interferes with the tumor growth and development using a multi-target mechanism of action. The provided modifications, which involved the reaction times, the reaction conditions, and the work-up procedures, allowed the global yield of the process to be increased from 28% to about 40%. Thus, this new procedure may be more suitable for recovering higher amounts of EMICORON to be used in further preclinical studies

Molecular composition and quality/taste of olive oil: monoterpenes and natural phenols

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Secondary metabolites with ecologic and medicinal implications in Anthemis cretica subsp. petraea from Majella National Park

Anthemis cretica subsp. petraea (Ten.) Greuter is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family and endemic of central Italy. In this paper, the first analysisof the ethanolic fraction of samples collected in the Majella National Park is reported. Seven compounds were isolated and identified namely parthenolide (1), 9α-acetoxyparthenolide (2), tamarixetin (3), 7-hydroxycoumarin (4), 4'-hydroxyacetophenone (5), leucanthemitol (conduritol F) (6),and proto-quercitol (7). Isolation of the compounds was achieved by means ofcolumn chromatography (CC), while their identification was achieved through spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The presence of these compounds is of great relevance. Compounds 1 and 2 are chemosystematic markers of the family, thus confirming the correct botanical classification of the species. Conversely, compounds 3, 5,and 7 were identified for the first time in the species and, instead, confirm the tendency of endemic entities to develop characteristic metabolite patterns in respect to cosmopolite species. Moreover, the presence of compounds 6 and 7 has ecologic implications and may be linked to this taxon’s adaption to dry environments. The production of these osmolytes may, in fact, represent the reason why this species is able to survive in extreme conditions of aridity. Lastly, from a medicinal standpoint, the isolated compounds are endowed with interesting biological activities and may justify, on a molecular base, the widespread traditional uses of the Anthemis species, as well as a basis for the use ofthe subspecies petraea

Deepening inside the pictorial layers of Etruscan sarcophagus of Hasti Afunei: An innovative micro-sampling technique for Raman/SERS analyses

The Hasti Afunei sarcophagus is a large Etruscan urn, made up of two chalky alabaster monoliths. Dated from the last quarter of the third century BC, it was found in 1826 in the small town of Chiusi (Tuscany- Il Colle place) by a landowner, Pietro Bonci Casuccini, who made it part of his private collection. The noble owner’s collection was sold in 1865 to the Royal Museum of Palermo (today under the name of Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum), where it is still displayed. The sarcophagus is characterized by a complex iconography that is meticulously illustrated through an excellent sculptural technique, despite having subjected to anthropic degradation and numerous restorative actions during the last century. During the restoration campaign carried out between 2016 and 2017, a targeted diagnostic campaign was carried out to identify the constituent materials of the artefact, the pigments employed and the executive technique, in order to get an overall picture of conservation status and conservative criticalities. In particular, this last intervention has allowed the use of the innovative micro-sampling technique, patented by the Cultural Heritage research group of Sapienza, in order to identify the employee of lake pigments through SERS analyses. Together with this analysis, Raman and NMR technique have completed the information requested by restorers, for what concerns the wax employed as protective layers, and allowed to rebuild the conservation history of the sarcophagus. In fact, together with the identification of red ocher and yellow ocher, carbon black, Egyptian blue and madder lake, pigments compatible with the historical period of the work, modern pigments (probably green Paris, chrome orange, barium yellow, blue phtalocyanine) have been recognized, attributable with not documented intervention during the eighteenth and twentieth centuries. © 2019 by the authors

Natural aromatic compounds as scaffolds to develop selective G-quadruplex ligands. From previously reported berberine derivatives to new palmatine analogues

In this paper, the selective interactions of synthetic derivatives of two natural compounds, berberine and palmatine,with DNA G-quadruplex structureswere reported. In particular, the previous works on this subject concerning berberine were further presented and discussed, whereas the results concerning palmatine are presented here for the first time. In detail, these palmatine derivatives were developed by inserting seven different small peptide basic chains, giving several new compounds that have never been reported before. The preliminary studies of the interactions of these compounds with various G-quadruplex-forming sequences were carried out by means of various structural and biochemical techniques, which showed that the presence of suitable side chains is very useful for improving the interaction of the ligands with G-quadruplex structures. Thus, these new palmatine derivatives might act as potential anticancer drugs

Pedicularis L. Genus. Systematics, botany, phytochemistry, chemotaxonomy, ethnopharmacology, and other

In this review, the relevance of the plant species belonging to the Pedicularis L. genus has been considered from different points of view. Particular emphasis was given to phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology, since several classes of natural compounds have been reported within this genus and many of its species are well known to be employed in the traditional medicines of many Asian countries. Some important conclusions on the chemotaxonomic and chemosystematic aspects of the genus have also been provided for the first time. Actually, this work represents the first total comprehensive review on this genus

Leucosceptosides A and B. Two phenyl-ethanoid glycosides with important occurrence and biological activities

In this review paper, the occurrence in the plant kingdom, the chemophenetic value and the biological activities associated with two specific phenyl-ethanoid glycosides, i.e., leucosceptoside A and leucosceptoside B, were reported. This is the first work ever conducted on such a subject. Analysis of the literature data clearly led to three important conclusions: leucosceptoside A is much more common in plants than leucosceptoside B; leucosceptoside A exerts more biological activities than leucosceptoside B even if nothing can be generally concluded about which one is actually the most potent; neither of these compounds can be used as a chemophenetic marker. These three aspects and more are discussed in more depth in this work

Nor-lignans. Occurrence in plants and biological activities. A review

In this review article, the occurrence of nor-lignans and their biological activities are explored and described. Nor-lignans have proven to be present in several different families also belonging to chemosystematically distant orders as well as to have many different beneficial pharmacological activities. This review article represents the first one on this argument and is thought to give a first overview on these compounds with the hope that their study may continue and increase, after this