Production mechanism of proepitheaflagallin, a precursor of benzotropolone-type black tea pigment, derived from epigallocatechin via a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-type intermediate

An unstable intermediate proepitheaflagallin B (2), a precursor of proepitheaflagallin (3), was isolated as an enzymatic oxidation product of (?)-epigallocatechin (1), and the structure of 2 was determined based on spectroscopic data. The structure and its decomposition revealed that the detailed production mechanism of proepitheaflagallin (3) via a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-type intermediate was related to that of major black tea pigments, theaflavins

Chemical Synthesis and Biological Effect on Xylem Formation of Xylemin and Its Analogues

Xylemin (6 ) and its designed structural analogues 18 –23 , N ‐(4‐aminobutyl)alkylamines, were synthesized by 2‐nitrobenzenesulfonamide (Ns) strategy. Investigation of the improved synthesis of 20 –23 resulted in the development of one‐step synthesis of these analogues from the commercially available corresponding ketones. Biological assessment of the synthetic molecules elucidated that xylemin (6 ) and the analogue N ‐(4‐aminobutyl)cyclopentylamine (21 ) promoted the expression level of thermospermine synthase ACAULIS5 (ACL5 ) and enhanced xylem formation. In addition, xylemin (6 ) was found to significantly promote lateral root formation, whereas xylemin analogues 18 –23 including 21 did not. These results indicate that the analogue 21 has the potential as a novel inhibitor of thermospermine synthesis to work specifically in xylem differentiation

Production and degradation mechanism of theacitrin C, a black tea pigment derived from epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate via a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-type intermediate

Black tea is rich in polyphenols and has been shown to have various health benefits; however, its components have not yet been clarified in detail. Enzymatic oxidation of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, the most abundant polyphenol in tea, is thought to contribute significantly to the production of black tea polyphenols. We identified theacitrin C, an unstable black tea pigment, as an enzymatic oxidation product of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate. Degradation of theacitrin C afforded theacitrinin A and 2,3,5,7- tetrahydroxychroman-3-O-gallate. Furthermore, theacitrinin B, which was isolated from black tea, is deduced to be a degradation product of theacitrin A, the desgalloyl analogue of theacitrin C. The structures of theacitrinins A and B were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. This is the first time that a degradation product of theacitrin has been isolated from black tea. We also examined the influence of esterification of the epigallocatechin C-3 hydroxyl group on the decomposition of bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-type intermediates

Two new maltol glycosides and cyanogenic glycosides from Elsholtzia rugulosa Hemsl.

Two new maltol glycosides, maltol 6\u27-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and maltol 6\u27-O-(5-O-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from Elsholtzia rugulosa Hemsl. along with 11 known compounds including prunasin and amygdalin. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. This is the second example of isolation of cyanogenic glycosides from Lamiaceous plants

Isolation of Ellagitannin Monomer and Macrocyclic Dimer from Castanopsis carlesii Leaves

In a phytochemical and chemotaxonomical investigation of Castanopsis species (Fagaceae), new monomeric and dimeric ellagitannins, named carlesiins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from fresh leaves of Castanopsis carlesii along with 55 known compounds. Carlesiin A was identified as 1-O-galloyl-4,6-(S)- tergalloyl-ß-D-glucose. Carlesiin B is a macrocyclic ellagitannin dimer with a symmetrical structure composed of two tergalloyl and two glucopyranose moieties. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence

Dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the flowers of Panax notoginseng.

Four new dammarane-type triterpene saponins named floranotoginsenosides A (1), B (2), C (3) and D (4), together with five known triterpene saponins, were isolated from the flowers of Panax notoginseng. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence

ent-Eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, galloyl esters of the oak lactone precursor, and a 3-O-methylellagic acid glycoside from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea.

ent-Eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, 8,11-dihydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesmane, 11-hydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesman-8-one and 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one, were isolated from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea, which has been used as an aromatic tree since at least the 18th century. On charring the wood, 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one was detected in the smoke. In the charred wood, the concentrations of ellagitannins, such as galloyl pedunculagin, dramatically decreased, whereas concentrations of pentagalloyl glucose, and other gallotannins were relatively stable. In addition, two other compounds, the 6\u27-O-m- and p-digalloyl oak lactone precursor and the 3-O-methylellagic acid 4\u27-O-(4″-O-galloyl)-xylopyranoside, were isolated from the charred wood along with m- and p-digallic acid

Revised Structure of Cercidinin A, a Novel Ellagitannin Having (R)-Hexahydroxydiphenoyl Esters at the 3, 4-Positions of Glucopyranose

The structue of cercidinin A, an ellagitannin isolated from the bark of Cercidiphyllum japonicum, was revised to 1, 2, 6-tri-O-galloyl-3, 4-(R)-hexahydroxydipenoyl-β-D-glucose by two-dimensional NMR spectral analysis. Cercidinin A represents the first ellagitannin possessing a hexahydroxydiphenoyl group at the 3, 4-positions of a modified 4C1-glucopyranose core

Alkaloids, Diarylheptanoid and Naphthalene Carboxylic Acid Ester from Rhoiptelea chiliantha

Two pyrrolidine alkaloids (1, 2) were isolated from the fruits of Rhoiptelea chiliantha DIEL et HAND.-MAZZ. (Rhoipteleaceae). A diphenyl ether-type diarylheptanoid (3), and a naphthalene carboxylic acid methyl ester (4) which is biogenetically-related to juglone were isolated from the branches of the same plant. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence

Studies on a Medicinal Parasitic Plant: Lignans from the Stems of Cynomorium songaricum

Eight phenolic compounds including two new lignan glucopyranosides together with a known alkaloid were isolated from the stems of Cynomorium songaricum RUPR. (Cynomoriaceae). Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. The chemotaxonomic significance of these metabolites is discussed