Optimization, Bioactivity and Composition of Curcama aromatica Salisb. Extraction Oils Extracted by Microwave-assisted and Hydro-distillation

Curcama aromatica Salisb. (C.aromatica) rhizomes were extracted by hydro-distillation (HD) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The response surface method (RSM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were carried out to optimize the statistical data of MAE. The extraction oils (Eos) were analyzed by the compositions by GC/MS and were compared to the antioxidant activity, total phenolic contents (TPC), and total flavonoid contents (TFC). The highest yields (dry weight basis) of HD and MAE were 1.96% and 2.22% (w/w) respectively. From the optimization result, the highest yield for MAE was 2.33% at 795 W power, time 44 mins, and a solid/liquid ratio of 100 g/583 ml. The compositions detected from HD and MAE were 41 and 45 contents respectively. Cedrene and copaene were the major compositions, detected in the extraction oils. Cedrene was detected in HD (25.54%) and MAE (23.69%). Copaene was detected in HD (22.97%) and MAE (24.71 %). MAE presented DPPH (%inhibition) at 82.68 ± 0.31 %, TPC at 4227.62 ± 28.72 (mgGAE/g Dry weight), and TFC at 3.92 ± 28.72 (mgRE/g Dry weight) higher than HD. The extraction oils obtained in this study contained many potential compositions, and MAE was an effective method to extract the essential oil from C.aromatica.Keywords: Cedrene; copaene; response surface method; isolation oil; antioxidan

Synthesis of (+/-)epipentenomycin I and III

A synthesis of (±) epipentenomycin I and III is reported from a regioselective epoxidation of racemic 3-hydroxy- and 3-acetoxy-2-methylene-4-cyclopentenone, respectively, with dimethyldioxirane followed by hydrolytic ring-opening of the resulting epoxide

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of 3-Methylcarbazoles on RAW 264.7 Cells Stimulated with LPS, Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid and Pam3CSK

ABSTRACT In the present study, 3-methylcarbazole and 1-methoxy-3-methylcarbazole were isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp. LJK109, endophyte of Alpinia galanga Swartz. 3-methylcarbazole, a carbazole derivative, has been found to be highly potent as anti-inflammatory agent. The immunomodulatory activity of these agents in toll like receptor (TLR)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Poly(I:C), and pam3CSK was investigated by assessing nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The 3-methylcarbazoles dose-dependently suppressed the release of NO, PGE 2 , TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in LPS-and pam3CSK-activated macrophages but not in Poly(I:C)-activated macrophages. Our results suggest that 3-methylcarbazoles can be further developed as a promising anti-inflammatory remedy

Antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activity of stem bark extracts of Cephalotaxus griffithii Hook. f

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Cephalotaxus </it>spp. are known to possess various therapeutic potentials. <it>Cephalotaxus griffithii</it>, however, has not been evaluated for its biological potential. The reason may be the remoteness and inaccessibility of the habitat where it is distributed. The main aim of this study was to: (1) evaluate multiple biological potentials of stem bark of <it>C. griffithii</it>, and (2) identify solvent extract of stem bark of <it>C. griffithii </it>to find the one with the highest specific biological activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Dried powder of stem bark of <it>C. griffithii </it>was exhaustively extracted serially by soaking in petroleum ether, acetone and methanol to fractionate the chemical constituents into individual fractions or extracts. The extracts were tested for total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, and reducing power models), antibacterial (disc diffusion assay on six bacterial strains), cytotoxic (MTT assay on HeLa cells), and apoptotic activity (fluorescence microscopy, DNA fragmentation assay, and flow cytometry on HeLa cells).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the three extracts of stem bark of <it>C. griffithii</it>, the acetone extract contained the highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids and showed maximum antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic (IC₅₀of 35.5 ± 0.6 μg/ml; P < 0.05), and apoptotic (46.3 ± 3.6% sub-G0/G1 population; P < 0.05) activity, followed by the methanol and petroleum ether extracts. However, there was no significant difference observed in IC₅₀values (DPPH scavenging assay) of the acetone and methanol extracts and the positive control (ascorbic acid). In contrast, superoxide radical scavenging assay-based antioxidant activity (IC₅₀) of the acetone and methanol extracts was significantly lower than the positive control (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis suggested that phenolic and flavonoid content present in stem bark of <it>C. griffithii </it>extracts was responsible for the high antioxidant, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activity (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Stem bark of <it>C. griffithii </it>has multiple biological effects. These results call for further chemical characterization of acetone extract of stem bark of <it>C. griffithii </it>for specific bioactivity.</p

Synthesis of spirocyclopente-dione anthracene adduct, precursor of the cyclopentenone prostagladins via ring-closing metathesis reaction

A synthesis of the spirocyclopente-dione anthracene adduct, a precursor of the cyclopentenone prostaglandins has been reported. The synthesis involved a Diels-Alder reaction of anthracene and dimethyl fumarate to afford 3 followed by reduction, oxidation and esterification reactions to provide methyl ester anthracene adduct 8, which further converted to the the allylic alcohol (12). Then, Ring-Closing Metathesis (RCM) reaction afforded the cyclopentenol anthracene adduct, which after oxidation provided the spirocyclopente-dione anthracene adduct in good yields

Stereoselective synthesis of α-methylenecyclopentenones via a Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder protocol

A new procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of cross-conjugated dienones is reported. This method makes use of the Diels–Alder adduct of anthracene and dimethyl fumarate, a precursor to a spirocyclopent-2-enone anthracene adduct as the key intermediate. The addition of propyllithium or octyllithium to the key intermediate followed by a retro-Diels–Alder reaction furnished α-methylenecyclopentenones bearing a γ-propyl or γ-octyl side chain, respectively, in moderate yields and as single geometric isomers

Synthesis of 3-indolylacetamide derivatives and evaluation of their plant growth regulator activity

Some 3-indolyl acetamide derivatives were synthesised via the coupling of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) with aminobenzene derivatives and were screened for their plant growth regulator activities on rice seedling. The results show that some of the compounds synthesised possess considerable growth promoting activities in the concentration range of 1.7-0.17 ppm compared to IAA

Microwave-Assisted Isolation of Essential oil of Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Bl.: Comparison with Conventional Hydrodistillation

Microwave-assistedhydrodistillation was used to isolate an essential oil from the leaves of Cinnamomuminers Reinw. ex Bl., and the results compared with those obtained by conventional hydrodistillation. The composition of the oil from both methods was found to be similar, and (-)-linalool was found as the main component (30-50 %). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained by both methods was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and lipid peroxidation methods, all of which indicated the same but insignificant activity