Chemical Constituents of Ethyl Acetate Extract from Seed Cake of Camellia oleifera and Its Anti-inflammatory Activities / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To intensively study the chemical constituents from the seed cake of Camellia oleifera and its pharmacological activities,in order to provide scientific basic for its further development and utilization. Method: All kinds of column chromatography and spectral methods were employed to isolate and identify the monomeric compounds from its ethyl acetate portion of ethanol extract. The in vitro anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by LPS-induced inflammatory model in RAW264.7 macrophages. Result: Eight phenolic acids and two flavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble portion and identified as p-hydroxybenzoic acid(1),protocatechuic acid(2),gallic acid(3),methyl gallate(4),ethyl gallate(5),isovanillic acid(6),ethyl 3,4-dihydroxylbenzoate(7),2-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-aldehyde(8),quercetin(9),rutoside(10). Among them, compounds 4-8 were first isolated from this plant. These compounds had good anti-inflammatory activities against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages in an obvious dose-dependent manner. Among them, compound 8 showed a strongest activity. Conclusion: The above results show that the phenolic acids and flavonoids from seed cake of C. oleifera have good prospects for the development and application of anti-inflammatory drugs.

A new triterpene saponin from roots of Camellia oleifera / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Camellia oleifera. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and PHPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. Results: Three compounds were isolated from the roots of C. oleifera and elucidated as 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→3)]- β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-3β,15α,16α,21β,22α,28-hexahydroxy-21-O-acetyl-22-O-angeloyloxyolean-12-ene (1), gordonoside J (2), and camelliasaponin B1 (3). Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound named camelliasaponin Ac, and compounds 2 and 3 are isolated from the roots of this plant for the first time.

Study on Chemical Constituents of n-Butanol Part from the Roots of Camellia oleifera / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To study the chemical constituents of n-Butanol part from the roots of Camellia oleifera， and to provide reference for elucidating the pharmacodynamic substance basis of it’s anti-tumor effect. METHODS： The ethanol extracts were obtained by using 95％ ethanol as extraction solvent to extract the roots of C. oleifera， and the n-Butanol part was obatined after the extracts were extratced with ethyl acetate and water-saturated n-butanol solution in turn. The chemical constituents of n-butanol part were isolated and purified by D101 macroporous resin column， silica gel， atmospheric pressure reversed phase column chromatography， sephadex gel SephadexLH-20 column chromatogram and preparative HPLC. The structure of the compounds was identified by spectroscopic analysis of physicochemical constants， electrospray ionization mass spectrometry， 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. RESULTS： Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of C. oleifera and elucidated as quercetin 3′ -O-β-D-glucoside （compound 1）， apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside （compound 2）， （+）-lyoniresinol-3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （compound 3）， rubusoside （compound 4）， dulcoside B （compound 5）， 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenol 1-O-β-D-[6-O-（4-hydroxy-3，5-dimethoxylbenzoate）-glucopyranoside （compound 6）， 3，4，5-trimethoxyphenyl-6-O- syringoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside （compound 7）， gordonoside P （compound 8）.  CONCLUSIONS： Compounds 1-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time. This not only enriches the chemical constituents of this genus， but also provides a reference for elucidating the anti-tumor bioactive substances in this part.

Diversity and Antifungal Activity of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Camellia oleifera

Endophytic fungi strains (n = 81) were isolated from the leaves, barks, and fruits of Camellia oleifera from Hunan province (China) to delineate their species composition and potential as biological control agents of C. oleifera anthracnose. The fungi were identified by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Fungal colonization rates of the leaves, barks, and fruits were 58.02, 27.16, and 14.81%, respectively. The isolates were identified as 14 genera, belonging to two subdivisions, Deuteromycotina and Ascomycotina; 87.65% of all isolates belonged to Deuteromycotina. The dominant species, occurring with a high relative frequency, were Pestalotiopsis sp. (14.81%), Penicillium sp. (14.81%), and Fusarium sp. (12.35%). The Simpson’s and Shannon’s diversity indices revealed the highest species diversity in the leaves, followed by the barks and fruits. The similarity index for the leaves versus barks comparison was the highest, indicating that the number of endophytic fungal species shared by the leaves and barks was higher than barks and fruits or leaves and fruits. Based on the results of dual culture experiments, only five strains exhibited antifungal activity against C. oleifera anthracnose pathogen, with isolate ty-64 (Oidium sp.) generating the broadest inhibition zones. Our results indicate that the endophytes associated with C. oleifera could be employed as natural agents controlling C. oleifera anthracnose.

A new triterpene saponin from tdefatted seeds of Camellia oleifera / 中草药

Objective To study the chemical constituents of the defatted seeds of Camellia oleifera. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel, MPLC, and PHPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. Results Three compounds were isolated from the defatted seeds of C. oleifera and elucidated as 3β,15α,16α,22α,28-pentol-22-O-angeloyloxy-olean-12-ene-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D- xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (1), gordonoside R (2), and gordonoside Q (3). Conclusion Compound 1 is a new compound named camelliasaponin Ab, and compounds 2 and 3 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

A new triterpene saponin from stem of Camellia oleifera / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the stem of Camellia oleifera. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and PHPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and special analysis. Results: Three compounds were isolated from the stem of C. oleifera and elucidated as 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-3β,15α, 16α,22α,28-pentol-22-O-angeloyloxy-olean-12-ene (1), camelliasaponin B2 (2), gordonsaponin H (3). Conclusion: Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from the stem of this plant for the first time.

Hypolipidemic effect of a novel biflavonoid from shells of Camellia oleifera (Abel.).

Camellia oleifera Abel. [C. oleosa (Lour.) Rehd.], an evergreen plant, is used for healthful oil production, but the shells are always discarded and need to be utilized. The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of extracts from the shells of C. oleifera on adjusting cardiovascular system. A flavonoid was obtained by reflux extraction of the shells in 70% methanol, hydrolysis in 2 M hydrochloric acid, and crystallization in acetone. Its structure was identified as a novel biflavonoid. Mice model of hyperlipidemia was setup by high fat diet for 30 d to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of the biflavonoid at dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/d (ig). Antioxidative activity was determined by levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in mice serum. The biflavonoid significantly controlled mice weight and liver coefficient, decreased the content of total cholesterol and triglyceride, promoted the level of high density lipoprotein in a dose dependent manner. The significant decrease of MDA content and increase of SOD and GSH-Px activity indicated it enhanced antioxidative capacity in vivo and was ascribed to hypolipidemic effect. The biflavonoid is useful in the prevention of high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia.

Histopathological Changes in Tissues of Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos Incubated in Crude Extracts of Camellia Seed and Mangosteen Pericarp

The present study was performed to observe histopathological changes in tissues of Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos (Gastropoda, Bithyniidae) incubated in crude extract solutions of camellia (Camellia oleifera) seed and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) pericarp, and furthermore to estimate the molluscicidal effects of 2 plant substances. Substantial numbers of bithyniid snails were incubated in various concentrations of 2 plant solution for 24 hr. As the positive control, snails incubated in various concentrations of niclosamide, a chemical molluscicide, were used. The histopathological findings were observed in sectioned snail specimens of each experimental and control groups. The results showed that both camellia and mangosteen extracts had molluscicidal effects at 24 hr with 50% lethal concentration (LC50) at concentrations of 0.003 and 0.002 g/ml, respectively, while niclosamide had LC50 at concentrations 0.599 ppm. B. siamensis goniomphalos snail tissues (foot, gill, and digestive system) showed disruption of columnar muscle fibers of the foot, reduction of the length and number of gill cilia, numerous mucous vacuoles, and irregularly shaped of epithelial cells. Irregular apical and calciferous cells, dilatation of the digestive gland tubule, and large hemolymphatic spaces, and irregular apical surfaces, detachment of cilia, and enlargement of lysosomal vacuoles of epidermis were also shown in all groups. By the present study, it is confirmed that 2 plants, camellia and mangosteen, are keeping some substance having molluscicidal effects, and histopathological findings obtained in this study will provide some clues in further studies on their action mechanisms to use them as natural molluscicides.