Rings B,D-seco limonoid antifeedants from Swietenia mahogani.

Three phragmalin-type limonoids, swietephragmin H (1), swietephragmin I (2) and 11-hydroxyswietephragmin B (3), and a mexicanolide-type limonoid 2-hydroxy-6-deacetoxyswietenine (4), together with known compounds, 6-O-acetyl-2-hydroxyswietenin (5), 2-hydroxyswietenine (6), swietemahonin G (7), methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate (8) and 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin (9) were isolated from the leaves of Swietenia mahogani (Meliaceae). Their structures were established by extensive NMR experiments in conjunction with mass spectrometry. The antifeedant activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated.

Rings D-seco and B,D-seco tetranortriterpenoids from root bark of Entandrophragma angolense.

Investigation of the root bark extract of Entandrophragma angolense led to identification of two gedunin-type limonoids 5-hydroxy-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin and 5,6-dehydro-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, and three methyl angolensate derivatives, 6-deacetoxydomesticulide D, 6-deacetoxydomesticulide D 21-methylether, and entangosin, together with known compounds, methyl angolensate, 6-acetoxymethyl angolensate and secomahoganin. Their structures were established by extensive NMR experiments in conjunction with mass spectrometry. Entangosin is a rare example of a limonoid derivative having a fully O-substituted furan moiety.

Cytotoxic biscembranes from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum.

Seven new tetracyclic biscembranes (1-7) have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum. Four (1-4) may be formed biogenetically by a Diels-Alder reaction of Delta(4(5)) and Delta(8(9)) geometrical isomers of methyl sarcoate and Delta(21(34), 35(36)) dienes, including two with a tetrahydrofuran ring between C-27 and C-30 (3, 4), and three biscembranes (5-7) are probably derived from methyl sarcoate isomers with Delta(1(14), 4(5), 8(9)) and a cembrane diene. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Six of them (1-5, 7) exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60).

Limonoids from the stem bark of Cedrela odorata.

Four nomilin/obacunol derivatives and a swietenolide derivative, together with seven known limonoids, were isolated from stem bark of Cedrela odorata and their structures established by spectroscopic methods. Antifeedant activity of the isolated compounds was also tested.

Biscembranes from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum.

Four novel biscembranes have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum, collected at Amami Oshima, two of which showed weak activity against proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). Their absolute structures were determined on the basis of the CD spectra.

Rings B,D-seco limonoids from the leaves of Swietenia mahogani.

Seven phragmalin limonoids of swietephragmins A-G, and two other different types of 2-hydroxy-3-O-tigloylswietenolide and deacetylsecomahoganin, were isolated along with three known limonoids from the leaves of Swietenia mahogani (Meliaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

Briarlides I-R, briarane diterpenes from a gorgonian Briareum sp.

Further investigations of the secondary metabolites of a gorgonian Briareum sp., collected at Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, have yielded 10 new briarane diterpenes, briarlides I-R (1-10). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis.

Antifungal activity of limonoids from Khaya ivorensis.

Chemical investigation of the diethyl ether extract of the stem bark of Khaya ivorensis A Chev (Meliaceae) afforded ten limonoids of angolensates, ring D-opened limonoids and mexicanolides. The structures of the limonoids isolated were determined by comparison of their (1)H and (13)C NMR data with those reported in the literature. These compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. Methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate and 3,7-dideacetylkhivorin were also tested for their antifungal and antibacterial activities on several fungal and bacterial species. Methyl angolensate and 1,3,7-trideacetylkhivorin displayed the highest antifungal activity against B. cinerea, with respectively 62.8 and 64.0% mycelial growth inhibition at 1000 mg litre(-1), and 73.3 and 68.6% mycelial growth inhibition at 1500 mg litre(-1). 3,7-Dideacetylkhivorin showed stronger antifungal and antibacterial activities than methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate against all of the test fungi and bacteria except Penicillium expansum Link. This is the first report on the antifungal and antibacterial effects of these limonoids. Structure-antifungal activity relationships of the limonoids isolated are discussed.

Phragmalin limonoids from Chukrasia tabularis.

Six phragmalin limonoids, named tabulalin and tabulalides A-E, were isolated from the root bark of Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, and their antifeedant properties evaluated.

Antifungal limonoids from the fruits of Khaya senegalensis.

Investigation of the fruits of Khaya senegalensis resulted in the isolation of three new mexicanolide limonoids containing a rare conjugated diene lactone system named seneganolide A (1), 2-hydroxyseneganolide A (2) and 2-acetoxyseneganolide A (3). Two known limonoids, 3-deacetyl-7-deacetoxy-7-oxokhivorin (4) and methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate (5), were also found. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral methods. The antifungal activity of compounds 1, 3 and 5 was tested against the fungus Botrytis cinerea.

Feeding deterrent and growth inhibitory properties of limonoids from Khaya senegalensis against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis.

Three rearranged phragmalin-type limonoids, khayanolide A, khayanolide B and 1-O-acetylkhayanolide B, and a mexicanolide-type limonoid, khayalactol, have been isolated from the stem bark of Khaya senegalensis (Desr) A Juss (Meliaceae). The antifeedant and growth-inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval). When added to an artificial diet, khayanolide A, khayanolide B and 1-O-acetylkhayanolide B showed antifeedant activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Khayalactol exhibited strong antifeedant activity without significant differences at all of the tested concentrations (7.5-100 mg kg(-1)). Khayanolide B was the most potent antifeedant with an ECso of 2.19 mg kg(-1). The results also revealed that the isolated compounds caused marked larval growth inhibition on S littoralis after 7 days of feeding on treated diet; this effect was concentration-dependent. Khayanolide B was the most active growth inhibitor among the isolated compounds, with an EC50 of 6.96 mg kg(-1).

Briarlides, briarane diterpenes from a gorgonian Briareum sp.

New briarane diterpenes, briarlides A-H (1-8), have been isolated from a gorgonian Briareum sp., collected at Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Their structures and cytotoxity toward Vero and MDCK cells are described.

Three new modified limonoids from Khaya senegalensis.

Three new rings B/D opened limonoids, two rearranged phragmalin limonoids named khayanolides D and E (1 and 2), and one limonoid glucoside named khayanoside (3) were isolated as insect antifeedants from the stem bark of Egyptian Khaya senegalensis. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR and CD.

Molluscicidal and anti-feedant activities of diterpenes from Euphorbia paralias L.

Nine known diterpene polyesters of segetanes, jatrophenes and paralianes have been isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia paralias L. The molluscicidal activity of isolated compounds was evaluated on Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg). Paraliane diterpene, (2S,3S,4R,5R,6R,8R,12S,13S,14R,15R)-5,8,14-triacetoxy-3-benzoyloxy-15- hydroxy-9-oxo-paraliane, was the most potent compound against the snail. Anti-feedant activity was tested by a conventional leaf disc method against third-instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd). Jatrophene diterpene, (2R,3R,4S,5R,7S,8R,13R,15R)-2,3,5,7,15-pentaacetoxy-8-angeloyloxy-14,15- dioxojatropha-6(17)-11E-diene, had the highest anti-feedant activity among the compounds tested.

Degraded limonoids from Melia azedarach.

Two new degraded limonoids, azedararide and 12alpha-acetoxy fraxinellone, were isolated together with two known degraded limonoids, fraxinellone and fraxinellonone, as ichthyotoxic substances from the root bark of Melia azedarach. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical means.