Molecular Identification of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in Ginseng Commercial Products

Molecular techniques (PCR and RFLP) were used to verify the presence of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in commercial products containing ginseng. DNA, extracted from four vegetable forms present in marketed products, was amplified with 18df/28ccr primers. The RFLP of the DNA amplified products, obtained using Inf I, Sau 3A1 and Taq I endonucleases, allowed the identification of P. ginseng and its differentiation from P. quinquefolium. P. ginseng was detected in 9 out 16 samples tested which, according to the declaration on the labels, contained the drug. Negative results were obtained for products containing the dried extract of the drug. A comparison of the results acquired using the molecular techniques with those using HPLC is also reported

The co-occurrence of C(3) epimer Nb,C(21)-secocuran alkaloids in Strychnos diplotricha and Strychnos myrtoides

From the stem bark of Strychnos diplotricha, three Nb,C(21)-secocuran alkaloids, viz., 3-epi-myrtoidine, 11-demethoxy-3-epi-myrtoidine and 11-demethoxy-12-hydroxy-3-epi-myrtoidine, were isolated together with the known myrtoidine and 11-demethoxymyrtoidine. They also occur in different parts of S. myrtoides. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd

Prenylated isoflavonoids from Millettia pervilleana

From the root bark of Millettia pervilleana, which had shown significant cytotoxic activity, a 3-phenylcoumarin, named pervilleanine, two new pterocarpans, pervilline and pervillinine, and one known, emoroidocarpan, were isolated in addition to rotenone and 3alpha-hydroxyrotenone. The anticancer activity of two previously isolated isoflavanones, pervilleanone and 3'-O-demethylpervilleanone is reported. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Traceability in multi-ingredient botanicals by HPTLC fingerprint approach

A high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for simple and rapid chemical analyses of multi-ingredient botanicals. The method was based on comparison of the fingerprint of the marketed multi-ingredient botanical with the fingerprints of the extracts of its component plants and of a handmade mixture of the constituent extracts in a ratio as similar as possible to that of the market product, when labeled. Planar chromatography analysis was completed by a densitometric scansion. The analyses revealed a good correspondence between the market products and the handmade mixture of standard extracts

Polyketides from Eleutherine bulbosa

Four new polyketides, (R)-4-hydroxyeleutherin, eleuthone, eleutherinol-8-O - D-glucoside and isoeleuthoside C (dihydroisoeleutherin-5-O -β- D-gentiobioside) were isolated from the bulbs of Eleutherine bulbosa, to join eleutherin, isoeleutherin, eleutherinol, eleutherol, eleuthoside B (eleutherol-4-O -β- D-gentiobioside), eleuthoside C (dihydroeleutherin-5-O -β- D-gentiobioside), hongconin (4-oxodihydroisoeleutherin) and elecanacin, which have already been isolated from the same plant. The structures of the new polyketides, based on oxydated cyclic systems, have been elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. © 2010 Taylor & Francis

Iridoid glucosides from Viburnum ayavacense

Nine new iridoid glucosides, all characterized by a β-D-glucopyranosyl moiety linked to the C-11 oxymethylene and either a 3-methylbutyroyl (isovaleroyl) or a 2-methylbutyroyl group at position 1, have been isolated from leaves and branches of Viburnum ayavacense, together with three related known compounds. The nine new structures (namely 7,10,2',3' tetra- acetylsuspensolide F, 7,10,2',3' tetra-acetylisosuspensolide F, 7,10,2',6' tetra-acetylisosuspensolide F, 2',3' diacetylvalerosidate, 2',3' diacetylisovalerosidate, isoviburtinoside II, isoviburtinoside III, isosuspensolide E and isosuspensolide F) have been elucidated by spectroscopic means

Two prenylated isoflavanones from Millettia pervilleana

From the root bark of Millettia pervilleana, which showed high cytotoxic activity, two prenylated isoflavanones were isolated. Their structures were determined by means of chemical and spectroscopic properties to be (3R)- 2',7-dihydroxy-3,4'-dimethoxy-5'-α,α-dimethylallylisoflavanone, named pervilleanone, and its 3'-O-demethyl derivative

Benzylbenzoate and norlignan glucosides from Curculigo pilosa: structural analysis and in vitro vascular activity

From the rhizomes of Curculigo pilosa, two benzylbenzoate diglucosides, piloside A and piloside B, and a glucosyl-fused norlignan, pilosidine, previously obtained only as the tetra-O-methyl derivative, were isolated. Pilosidine showed facilitating effect on adrenaline evoked contractions in rabbit aorta isolated preparations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

New cholinesterase inhibiting bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Abuta grandifolia

The phytochemical study of the stem bark and wood of Abuta grandifolia (Mart.) Sandwith led to the identification of four bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BBIQs), namely (R,S)-2 N-norberbamunine (1), (R,R)-isochondodendrine (2), (S-S)-O4 ''-methyl, Nb-nor-O6 '-demethyl-(+)-curine (3), and (S-S)-O4 ''-methyl, O6 '-demethyl-(+)-curine (4), together with the aporphine alkaloid R-nomuciferine (5), all obtained by countercurrent distribution separation (CCD) and identified on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Alkaloids 3 and 4 were new. All the isolated compounds were tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities. 1 was the most active against AChE, whereas 3 and 4 were the most potent against BChE. interestingly, all tested alkaloids are more potent against BChE than against AChE. This selectivity of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition could be important in order to speculate on their potential therapeutic relevance. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved