ABSTRACT
Objective To study the characteristic 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone components of endophytic fungal strain of Aquilaria sinensis by solid culture. Methods The compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods such as silica gel, reverse-phase silica gel, Sephadex-LH20 column chromatography as well as crystallization. Results Seven 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone analogues were isolated from the solid culture of Botryosphaeria rhodina A13. Their structures were established by spectral data as well as physicochemical properties, and identified as 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (1), 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone (2), (5S,6R,7S,8R)-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrchromone (3), 6-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (4), 4′-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (5), 6-methoxy-2-phenethyl-4H-chromen-4-one (6), and 6-methoxy-2-(4′-methoxy-phenethyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (7). Conclusion All of the compounds are isolated for the first time from the genus Botryosphaeria. This research opens up a new vista to produce the characteristic components of agarwood by endophytic fungi.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to study the phytochemical and antifungal activity of anthraquinones and root and leaf extracts of Coccoloba mollis on phytopathogens. The chemical analysis of ethanolic extracts showed a mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons, carboxyl esters and 3-taraxerone in the leaf extract. Two anthraquinones (emodin and physcion) were isolated and identified from the root extract. Phytochemical screening using the pharmacognostic methods revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins in the leaves and roots. Anthraquinones were only found in the root extract, no alkaloids, coumarins, saponins and simple phenolics were present. The antifungal activity of C. mollis extracts and anthraquinones isolated from the root of this plant against Botryospheria ribis, B. rhodina, Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium sp showed promising results for their use as fungicides, where emodin was the most active compound, which inhibited the microorganisms tested up to 44 percent.
ABSTRACT
Botryosphaeran, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide of the beta-(1 --> 3;1 --> 6)-D-glucan type that has been isolated from the culture medium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 grown in submerged fermentation using glucose as the sole carbon source, was previously demonstrated to be non-genotoxic in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and exhibited strong anticlastogenic activity. In the present study, the effects of botryosphaeran were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as well as in high-fat diet-fed hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. The plasma glucose level was reduced by 52% in the diabetic group of rats after administration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg body weight of the rats (b.w.)/day by gavage over 15 days. A reduction in the median ration intake was accompanied by an increase in the median body weight gain, as well as the efficiency of food conversion. These results demonstrate that botryosphaeran has protective effects by reducing the symptoms of cachexia in Diabetes mellitus. Botryosphaeran administered by gavage at a concentration of 12 mg botryosphaeran/kg b.w./day over 15 days also reduced the plasma levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 18% and 27%, respectively, in hyperlipidemic rats. Based on these findings, we conclude that botryosphaeran possesses hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties in conditions of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, respectively, and may be used as an oral anti-diabetic agent.