Chemical constituents of Physalis minima / 中国中药杂志

Fifteen compounds(1-15) were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the whole herb of Physalis minima by various chromatography techniques including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, middle chromatogram isolated gel(MCI), octadecyl silica(ODS), and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Their structures were elucidated by infrared spectroscopy(IR), ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic re-sonance(NMR), and circular dichroism(CD) as(5S)-5,11-dihydroxy-3-methyl-5-pentylfuran-2(5H)-one(1), withaphysalin R(2), withaphysalin Q(3), withaphysanolide A(4), phaseic acid(5), grasshopper ketone(6), 3S,5R-dihydroxy-6S,7-megastigmadien-9-one(7), vanillic acid(8), 2-trans,4-trans-abscisic acid(9), capillasterolide(10), 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone(11),(-)-loliolide(12), 4-hydroxyacetophenone(13), acetosyringone(14), and aurantiamide acetate(15). Compound 1 was a new butenolide, and compounds 5-7 and 10-12 were isolated from the Physalis for the first time. Compounds 4, 13, and 15 were isolated for the first time from P. minima. Moreover, their anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vitro. Compound 12 was found to possess an inhibitory effect on the transcription of an NF-κB-dependent reporter gene in LPS-induced 293 T/NF-κB-luc cells at 10 μmol·L~(-1), showing an inhibitory rate of 62.31%±4.8%.

Pharmacognostical And Phytochemical Standardization Of Physalis Minima L. Leaf

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacognostical and phytochemical parameters of Physalis minima leaf. Methods: The leaf of Physalis minima was examined for macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical parameters and fluorescence analysis. Extracts obtained from the leaf was analyzed for phytochemical screening and estimation of total tannin, phenolic and flavonoid content following the standard procedure available in the literature. Results: Morphologically, the leaf was found to be ovate in shape, 5 to 8 cm long and up to 3 cm width with dentate margin, asymmetrical base, hairy surface, reticulate veins on each side of midrib, green in colour, characteristic odour and slight bitter in taste. Microscopic study has shown the important diagnostic characters of Solanaceae family which is characterized by presence of dorsiventral leaf with anomocytic stomata, grandular or uniseriate trichomes and cluster crystal of calcium oxalate. Physicochemical parameters like foreign organic matter (0.78%), loss on drying (8.23%), total ash (11.4%), acid insoluble ash (2.2%), water-soluble ash (6.1%), sulphated ash (2.4%) alcohol soluble extractive (10.4%), water-soluble extractive (9.5%), ether soluble extractive (1.8%) foaming index (below 100), swelling index (1), volatile oil and heavy metal content were quantified. Phytochemical analysis of different extracts of Physalis minima leaf has shown the presence of phytoconstituents viz. alkaloids, steroids, tannin, flavonoids, protein. Quantification of phytoconstituents was also reported like phenols (10.59±0.65 mg/gm equivalent to tannic acid), tannin (8.24±0.27 mg/gm equivalent to tannic acid) and flavonoids (87.17±0.87 mg/gm equivalent to rutin) respectively. Conclusion: This present study was provided the qualitative and quantitative standard of Physalis minima will help to prevent the possible steps of adulteration with other species of the same genus.

Withaminimas A-F, six withanolides with potential anti-inflammatory activity from Physalis minima / 中国天然药物

Withaminimas A-F (1-6), six new withaphysalin-type withanolides were isolated from the aerial parts of Physalis minima L.. The structures of these compounds were elucidated through a variety of spectroscopic techniques including HR-MS, NMR, and ECD. Compound 1 belongs to rare 18-norwithanolides, and 2-3 were 13/14-secowithanolides. According to the traditional usage of P. minima, inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccaride-activated RAW264.7 macrophages were evaluated, and compounds 1-4 exhibited significant inhibitory effects with IC values among 3.91-18.46 μmol·L.

Antifungal and cytotoxic activities of extracts obtained from underutilised edible tropical fruits

Objective: To evaluate antifungal and cytotoxic activities of four underutilised fruit species,i.e. Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit), Cynometra cauliflora (nam-nam), Mangifera pajang (M.pajang) (Bambangan) and Physalis minima (wild gooseberry). Methods: Extracts from the fresh flesh of Artocarpus altilis and Cynometra cauliflora, the flesh and kernel of M. pajang,and the whole fruit of Physalis minima were obtained by sequential extraction using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and distilled water. Each extract was assessed against six species of human fungal pathogens using a colourimetric broth microdilution method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells.Results: All 30 extracts showed inhibitory activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. However,none of the extracts were active against Aspergillus fumigatus. The ethanol, methanol and water extracts from the kernel of M. pajang fruit showed the strongest activity against three species of Candida and Trichophyton interdigitale, with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 0.001 – 0.630 mg/mL. The corresponding mean 50％ cytotoxic concentrations for these three extracts were 358.7, 158.4 and 261.3 μg/mL, respectively against Vero cells. In contrast, the flesh of M. pajang fruit (hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts) showed statistically significant (P<0.001; ANOVA) strong toxicity against the cells, with 30.6, 13.5 and 22.2 μg/mL of mean values of 50％ cytotoxic concentrations, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the bioactivity of the kernel of M. pajang fruit is more selective towards fungi and thus is a potential source of new antifungal agents.

Study on steroidal chemical constituents of Physalis minima / 中草药

Objective To investigate the steroidal chemical constituents from the whole plants of Physalis minima. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, medium pressure ODS column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis. Results Seven compounds were separated from the whole plant of P. minima, among them, two compounds were identified as physalins and named as 16,24-cyclo-13,14-secoergost-2-ene-18,26- dioicacid-14:17,14:27-diepoxy-5α,6β,13α,20α,22β,25β-hexahydroxy-1,15-dioxo-γ-lactone-δ-lactone (1) and physalin D (2); The other five compounds were identified as withanlides and named as physagulin L (3), physagulin M (4), physaminimin F (5), physagulin K (6), and withagulatin A (7). Conclusion Compound 1 is a new compound named 25-hydroxy-physalin D, at the same time, compounds 3, 4, and 7 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Antifungal and cytotoxic activities of extracts obtained from underutilised edible tropical fruits

Objective: To evaluate antifungal and cytotoxic activities of four underutilised fruit species, i.e. Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit), Cynometra cauliflora (nam-nam), Mangifera pajang (M. pajang) (Bambangan) and Physalis minima (wild gooseberry). Methods: Extracts from the fresh flesh of Artocarpus altilis and Cynometra cauliflora, the flesh and kernel of M. pajang, and the whole fruit of Physalis minima were obtained by sequential extraction using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and distilled water. Each extract was assessed against six species of human fungal pathogens using a colourimetric broth microdilution method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. Results: All 30 extracts showed inhibitory activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. However, none of the extracts were active against Aspergillus fumigatus. The ethanol, methanol and water extracts from the kernel of M. pajang fruit showed the strongest activity against three species of Candida and Trichophyton interdigitale, with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 0.001 - 0.630 mg/mL. The corresponding mean 50% cytotoxic concentrations for these three extracts were 358.7, 158.4 and 261.3 μg/mL, respectively against Vero cells. In contrast, the flesh of M. pajang fruit (hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts) showed statistically significant (P<0.001; ANOVA) strong toxicity against the cells, with 30.6, 13.5 and 22.2 μg/mL of mean values of 50% cytotoxic concentrations, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the bioactivity of the kernel of M. pajang fruit is more selective towards fungi and thus is a potential source of new antifungal agents.

Physalis minima Linn Methanolic Extract Reduces Blood Glucose Level without Compromising Sperm Quality in Normoglycaemic Mice.

Effects of Physalis minima Linn (PML) methanolic extract on blood glucose level and sperm quality of normoglycaemic mice have been investigated. Twenty four ICR male mice were randomly assigned to four groups and fed with maintenance diets (commercial rat chow, 5 g/head/day and water ad-libitum). Group A (n=6) served as a control and received additional 2 ml/kg bodyweight (bwt) of distilled water. Group B, C and D were supplemented with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bwt of PML, respectively. Bodyweight and blood glucose level were monitored on a weekly basis. After four weeks of treatment, all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their epididymis was collected and subjected to sperm analysis. Bodyweight was increased (p<0.05) over time but no differences (p>0.05) were observed between treatments. Blood glucose was decreased significantly (p<0.05) in PML treated groups (dose dependent manner) compared to control. Sperm quality was not affected with PML supplementation. In conclusion, PML methanolic extract exhibit hypoglycaemic effect without affecting sperm quality in male mice.

Isolation and identification of Withaphysalins from Physalis minima / 中国药科大学学报

@#To investigate the chemical constituents of Physalis minima L. , compounds were isolated by chromatographic methods from Physalis minima L. . Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis. Five compounds were isolated and identified as Withaphysalin P(I), 14, 18-di-O-acetylwithaphysalin C(II), Withaphysalin Q(III), Withaphysalin 1(IV)and Withaphysalin 2(V). Compounds IV and V are new compounds, orderly named as Withaphysalin T and Withaphysalin U.