Inhibition of porcine detrusor contractility by the flavonoid fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum--a potential phytotherapeutic drug for the treatment of the overactive bladder syndrome.

AIMS: To determine if the phytotherapeutic agent, Bryophyllum pinnatum, could serve as an alternative drug for the overactive bladder syndrome, and to characterise the fraction responsible for the inhibition of detrusor contractility. METHODS: Fractions were prepared from the MeOH extract of B. pinnatum and further analysed by HPLC-PDA-MS. Detrusor muscle strips were prepared from porcine bladders and the electrically induced muscle contractility measured by organ bath. The effect of B. pinnatum leaf press juice (2.5-10%), a flavonoid fraction (0.1-1 mg/ml), and a bufadienolide fraction (0.1-40 µg/ml) on detrusor contractility was assessed and compared with controls (polar fraction (0.5-5 mg/ml) and oxybutynin (10(-8)-10(-6) M)). RESULTS: The press juice, at a concentration of 10% led to a reduction of detrusor contractility. Bladder strips treated with the flavonoid fraction showed a significant reduction of the contractility to 21.3 ± 5.2% (1 mg/ml) while the bufadienolide fraction had no inhibitory effect in the investigated concentrations. The polar fraction showed a reduction of the contractility in a pH-dependent fashion. At 10(-6) M concentration oxybutynin reduced the detrusor contractility to 21.9 ± 4.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The flavonoid fraction of Bryophyllum pinnatum reduces the porcine detrusor contractility in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Fractions from B. pinnatum may be a new pharmacological approach for the treatment of OAB.

Characterization of the pungent principles and the essential oil of Zanthoxylum schinifolium pericarp.

The pungent principles and the essential oil from the pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Rutaceae) have been investigated and compared to those of Z. bungeanum, the primary source of the traditional Chinese drug Huajiao (Pericarpium Zanthoxyli). HPLC-MS and HPLC-NMR analyses revealed an alkylamide profile highly similar to that of Z. bungeanum, with hydroxy-alpha-sanshool and hydroxy-beta-sanshool being in both plants the major constituents of the alkylamide fraction. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil showed that limonene was, like in Z. bungeanum, the main component (21%), followed by 4-terpineol, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpineol acetate, beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol and beta-linalool.

Clausine Z, a new carbazole alkaloid from Clausena excavata with inhibitory activity on CDK5.

A new carbazole alkaloid, named clausine Z, has been isolated from the stems and leaves of Clausena excavata Burm. (Rutaceae). Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods. The compound exhibits inhibitory activity against cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and shows protective effects on cerebellar granule neurons in vitro.

Flavonoids and phenylpropanoid derivatives from Campanula barbata.

Four new phenylpropanoid derivatives, barbatosides A-D, and a new catechin, barbatoflavan, were isolated from the whole plant of Campanula barbata L. (Campanulaceae) and identified as wahlenbergioside-3'-O-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(2'''-(p-methoxycinnamoyl))-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(4'''-(trans-p-coumaroyl))-glucoside, wahlenbergioside-3'-O-(4"'-(cis-p-coumaroyl))-glucoside and 3-acetyl-5-methoxy-7,3',4'-trihydroxy-8-O-glucoside-flavan-3-ol, respectively, by spectroscopic methods. In addition, four flavonols were isolated and identified as kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside. Barbatoflavan demonstrated scavenging properties towards the DPPH radical.

A stilbene and dihydrochalcones with radical scavenging activities from Loiseleuria procumbens.

A new dihydrochalcone, 6''-acetylphloridzosid, was isolated from the whole plant of Loiseleuria procumbens (L.) Desv. and identified as 2'-O-(6''-O-acetylglucopyranosyl)-4,4',6'-trihydroxydihydrochal cone by spectroscopic methods. In addition, one stilbene and three other dihydrochalcones were identified as (E)-piceid, phloretin (2',4,4',6'-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone), phloridzosid (2'-O-glucopyranosyl-4,4',6'-trihydroxydihydrochalcone) and asebotin (2'-O-glucopyranosyl-4'-methoxy-4,6'-dihydroxydihydrochalcone), respectively. Some of these compounds showed scavenging properties towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and antioxidant properties in a test with lysozyme.

Liquid chromatography-electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry for on-line accurate mass determination and identification of cyclodepsipeptides in a crude extract of the fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae.

Electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) has been used for the detection and identification of destruxins (cyclodepsipeptides) in a crude extract of the fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae. HPLC-MS analyses were performed with a post-column addition of erythromycin as a reference compound (lock mass procedure). Seven destruxin derivatives could be identified on-line from their accurate masses (deviation from calculated values <5.5 ppm) through elemental composition calculations. As a highly sensitive and accurate method, ESI-TOF-MS proved to be very powerful for the analysis and dereplication of natural products in complex mixtures.

Use of on-flow LC/1H NMR for the study of an antioxidant fraction from Orophea enneandra and isolation of a polyacetylene, lignans, and a tocopherol derivative.

The CH2Cl2 extract of the leaves of Orophea enneandra displayed antifungal, antioxidant, and radical scavenging properties in bioautographic TLC assays. To obtain rapid information on the active compounds, on-flow LC/1H NMR and LC/UV/MS analyses of the antioxidant fraction were performed. The on-line information led rapidly to the partial identification of three closely related lignans, one tocopherol derivative, and one polyacetylene. This approach necessitated, however, large quantities to be injected to obtain satisfactory on-flow LC/1H NMR spectra, and isolation of the compounds was necessary to obtain complete NMR data. These compounds were isolated and identified as (-)-phylligenin (1), (-)-eudesmin (2), (-)-epieudesmin (3), polycerasoidol (4), and oropheic acid (5), a new polyacetylene. Their activities against the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and the fungus Cladosporium cucumerinum were investigated. This paper indicates the possibilities and limits of on-flow LC/1H NMR in this type of study.

Antioxidant and lipophilic constituents of Tinospora crispa.

TLC autographic assays revealed in the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of Tinospora crispa Miers (Menispermaceae) the presence of three compounds exhibiting antioxidant and radical scavenging properties towards beta-carotene and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. They were isolated and identified as N-CIS-feruloyltyramine, N-trans-feruloyltyramine and secoisolariciresinol. When tested in dilution assays on the reduction of the DPPH radical, these 3 compounds proved to be more active than the synthetic antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Further investigation of the CH(2)Cl(2) extract led to the isolation of vanillin, syringin, the alkaloid N-formylnornuciferin and the diterpene derivatives borapetosides B and C. In addition, a LC/UV/MS analysis enabled the on-line identification of borapetoside F and N-formylannonain.

Xanthones from Hypericum roeperanum.

Four new xanthones have been isolated from the roots of Hypericum roeperanum. Their structures have been established by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods as 1,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-4',5'-dihydro-4',4',5'-trimethylfurano- (2',3':3,4)-xanthone (5-O-methyl-2-deprenylrheediaxanthone B), 1,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-6',6'-dimethylpyrano-(2',3':3,4)-xanthone (5-O-methylisojacareubin), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-(2',2'-dimethyl-4'-isopropenyl)-cyclopen tanylxanthone (5-O-demethylpaxanthonin) and 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-4-trans-sesquilavandulylxanthone (roeperanone). In addition, 2-hydroxyxanthone, 5-hydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone, 1,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone, 2-deprenyl rheediaxanthone B, isojacareubin and calycinoxanthone D have been isolated and characterized. Some of the isolated xanthones exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Kanchanamycins, new polyol macrolide antibiotics produced by Streptomyces olivaceus Tii 4018. II. Structure elucidation.

Kanchanamycins are a new group of polyol macrolide antibiotics isolated from Streptomyces olivaceus Tü 4018. They all share a common bicyclic carbon skeleton formed by a 36-membered lactone ring and a 6-membered hemiacetal ring. A feature unusual for that class of macrolides is the terminal urea moiety observed in kanchanamycin A. The structures of the kanchanamycins were determined by electrospray MS and modern 2D NMR techniques. Due to substantial overlap of the signals intensive use of inverse detected heteronuclear correlation experiments (HSQC, HMBC, 2D-HSQC-TOCSY) was made.

Antibacterial phloroglucinols and flavonoids from Hypericum brasiliense.

Three known phloroglucinols (japonicine A, uliginosin A and isouliginosin B) and a new phloroglucinol (hyperbrasiol A) have been isolated from a petrol extract of the leaves and flowers of Hypericum brasiliense. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods (UV, DCI-MS, 1H and 13CNMR, including SINEPT, HMBC, HSQC, DQFCOSY experiments). The substitution pattern of hyperbrasilol A was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. All four phloroglucinols were antibacterial against Bacillus subtilis in a TLC bioautographic assay. The flavonoids, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and guaijaverin, were isolated from a methanol extract of the same organs.

Isolation of biologically active plant constituents by liquid chromatography.

Strategies are outlined for the separation of biologically active products of plant origin. The techniques involved include low-pressure liquid chromatography, semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, flash chromatography and droplet counter-current chromatography. Their application to the isolation of compounds from Sesamum angolense (Pedaliaceae), Psorospermum febrifugum (Guttiferae) and Cordia goetzei (Boraginaceae) is described.