Biological activities of Indian celery, Seseli diffusum (Roxb. ex Sm.) Sant. & Wagh.

In continuation of our work on Indian celery (Seseli diffusum (Roxb. ex Sm.) Santapau & Wagh; Umbelliferae), the fractionation of the 80% MeOH-H(2) O extract of the seeds was performed to identify the principles responsible for its folk use as an antispasmodic and diuretic. Several compounds were isolated as active components: seselin (1) and anthriscinol methyl ether (4) showed a selective cytotoxicity to some yeast strains. Compound 1 also showed spasmolytic activity. On the other hand, isopimpinellin (3) and isorutarin (5) exhibited a spasmogenic effect on the smooth muscle preparations. Compound 5 was also found to have antioxidant activity. Among them, compound 4 was isolated for the first time from this plant.

Kaurane-type diterpenoids from Chromoleana odorata, their X-ray diffraction studies and potent α-glucosidase inhibition of 16-kauren-19-oic acid.

A new diterpenoid, 15-angeloyloxy-16,17-epoxy-19-kauronic acid (1), along with five known metabolites, 16-kauren-19-oic acid (2), 6'-hydroxy-2',3',4,4'-tetramethoxychalcone (3), isosakuranetin (4), acacetin (5), and kaempferide (6) was isolated from the organic extracts of the roots of Chromoleana odorata. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic evidences. The structures of 1 and 2 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 2 exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory and antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

Chemical characterization of a commercial Commiphora wightii resin sample and chemical profiling to assess for authenticity.

The gum resin of Commiphora wightii [(Hook. ex Stocks) Engl.] is an ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of arthritis, inflammation, obesity, lipid disorders, and cardiovascular diseases and is known as guggul. Morphologically, it is not easy to distinguish guggul from closely related gum resins of other plants. Reliability of the commercially available guggul is critical due to the high risk of adulteration. To check authenticity, a commercial guggul sample was investigated for its chemical markers and 17 metabolites were identified, including three new, 20(S),21-epoxy-3-oxocholest-4-ene (1), 8 ß-hydroxy-3,20-dioxopregn-4,6-diene (2), and 5-(13' Z-nonadecenyl)resorcinol (17) from the ethyl acetate soluble part. During the current study, compounds 14- 17 were identified as constituents of Mangifera indica gum, as an adulterant in the commercial guggul sample. This discovery highlighted the common malpractices in the trade of medicinal raw material in the developing world. The structures of the compounds were deduced by the spectroscopic technique and chemical methods, as well as by comparison with the reported data. The structure of 20(S),21-epoxy-3-oxocholest-4-ene (1) was also unambiguously deduced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique.

17ß-Hy-droxy-17α-(hy-droxy-meth-yl)estr-4-en-3-one.

The title compound, C(19)H(28)O(3), the fungal-transformed metabolite of the steroid methyl-oestrenol contains four fused rings A, B, C and D. Ring A adopts a half-chair and the trans-fused rings B and C adopt chair confirmations; the five-membered D ring is folded like an envelope. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O(carbon-yl) and O-H⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds into a layer structure.

Protein glycation inhibitory activities of Lawsonia inermis and its active principles.

The protein glycation inhibitory activity of ethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis (henna) plant tissues was evaluated in vitro using the model system of bovine serum albumin and glucose. Protein oxidation and glycation are posttranslational modifications that are implicated in the pathological development of many age-related disease processes. This study investigated the effects of Lawsonia inermis ethanolic extract and its components, on protein damage induced by a free radical generator in in vitro assay system. We found that alcoholic extract of Lawsonia inermis can effectively protect against protein damage and showed that its action is mainly due to Lawsone. In addition, the presence of gallic acid also plays an important role in the protective activity against protein oxidation and glycation. Two known compounds, namely, Lawsone and gallic acid previously isolated from this plant were subjected to glycation bioassay for the first time. It was found that the alcoholic extract, lawsone (1) and gallic acid (2) showed significant inhibition of Advanced Glycated End Products (AGEs) formation and exhibit 77.95%, 79.10% and 66.98% inhibition at a concentration of 1500 microg/mL, 1000 microg/mL and 1000 microM respectively. Lawsonia inermis, compounds 1 and 2 were found to be glycation inhibitors with IC(50) 82.06 +/- 0.13 microg/mL, 67.42 +/- 1.46 microM and 401.7 +/- 6. 23 microM respectively. This is the first report on the glycation activity of these compounds and alcoholic extract of Lawsonia inermis.

Two new fatty esters from Rhazya stricta roots (Apocynanaceae).

Investigation of roots of Rhazya stricta (Apocynanaceae) of Pakistan origin lead to isolation of two new fatty esters 9-octadecenoic acid-2',3'-dihydroxy propyl ester (1) and hexadecanoic acid-2',3'-dihydroxy propyl ester (2). Linked scan MS measurements were used to propose a mass fragmentation pattern for the fatty ester 9-octadecenoic acid-2',3'-dihydroxy propyl ester.