Chemical composition and evaluation of prolyl oligopeptidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Leonurus Sibiricus L. from Brazil.

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Leonurus sibiricus L. used in Brazilian folk medicine led to the identification of the following constituents: the labdane-type diterpenoid leojaponin, the phytosterols ß-sitosterol and ß-sitosterol glucoside and the alkaloid leonurine. The crude extracts obtained from methanol and methanol/1% HCl and pure compounds isolated from L. sibirius were investigated as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) inhibitors. Extracts obtained by maceration were active against POP (53-58%), but showed weak activity against AChE. The isolated leojaponin and leonurine were evaluated as POP inhibitors.

Lanostane-type triterpenes from the fungal endophyte Scleroderma UFSMSc1 (Persoon) Fries.

Two lanostane triterpenoids (sclerodols A and B) were isolated from the culture of the Eucalyptus grandis derived from the endophyte Scleroderma UFSM Sc1(Persoon) Fries together with three known compounds: one related triterpenoid lanosta-8,23-dien-3ß,25-diol, the disaccharide α,ß-trehalose, and the sugar alcohol mannitol. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR, HRME, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The methanol crude extract and the isolated lanostane triterpenoids showed promising anticandidal activities.

Cyclopeptide alkaloids: stereochemistry and synthesis of the precursors of discarines C and D and myrianthine A.

The stereochemistry of discarines C (1) and D (2) and myrianthine A (3), three cyclopeptide alkaloids isolated from Discaria febrifuga, was determined by a combination of NMR studies of 1-3, enantioselective gas chromatography, and comparison of NMR data with those of synthetic tripeptides. For the synthesis of peptides, the nonproteinogenic amino acid 3-phenylserine was also obtained in its four diastereoisomeric forms (l and d threo, obtained by recrystallization of the diastereoisomeric tripeptide, and l and d erythro, obtained by a Mitsunobu reaction with the threo-tripeptides). The general synthetic strategy described in this paper allows the tripeptide to be obtained with the free N-terminal extremity protected or dimethylated. This strategy also allows the synthesis of the corresponding peptide with an imidazolidinone ring.

Alkaloids from Melochia chamaedrys.

Investigation of the chemical constituents from the roots of Melochia chamaedrys (Sterculiaceae) resulted in the isolation of two quinolinone alkaloids: a new alkaloid, named chamaedrone (1), and a known alkaloid, antidesmone (2). Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Furthermore, alkaloids 1 and 2, and the synthetic analogues 3-6 obtained from 2, were screened for antimicrobial activities.

Essential oil from Zanthoxylum hyemale.

The essential oils from aerial parts of young (sample A) and mature leaves (sample B), fruit (sample C), and flowers (sample D) of Zanthoxylum hyemale were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC, GC/MS, and chiral phase gas chromatography (CPGC). Thirty-four compounds were identified from the essential oils, representing approximately 90.71, 91.19, 87.33, and 89.08 % of the oils, respectively. The major constituent of the young leaf essential oil was the sesquiterpene trans-nerolidol (51 %), while the main constituent of mature leaf (31 %) and flower oils (22 %) was an as yet unknown humulane-type sesquiterpenoid, which was characterized by spectral techniques (EI-MS and 1D-, 2D-NMR) as 3,7,10,10-tetramethylcycloundeca-3,7-dien-1-ol ( 1) and given the trivial name "hyemalol". In the fruit essential oil, the most abundant components were the monoterpenes beta-pinene (25 %) and alpha-pinene (10 %). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils and some isolated compounds is also reported.

Cyclic peptide alkaloids from the bark of Discaria americana.

The isolation and structure determination of cyclic peptide alkaloids, discarine-M and discarine-N, along with seven known cyclic peptide alkaloids, adouetine-Y', franganine, frangulanine, discarines-A, -B, -C, and -D from the root bark of Discaria americana are described. Structures were determined spectroscopically, especially using 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The crude methanol extract, the basic ether extract, and the alkaloids 6 and 7 also weakly inhibited growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Antibacterial cyclopeptide alkaloids from the bark of Condalia buxifolia.

The cyclopeptide alkaloid, named condaline-A, was isolated from the root bark of Condalia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae), along with the known compounds adouetine-Y', scutianine-B, and scutianine-C. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses, with their antibacterial activities being evaluated by use of a direct bioautography method.

Chemical analysis and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Calea clematidea.

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Calea clematidea Baker obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves and flowers was analysed by GC and GC/MS and the oils were assayed for their antifungal activities. The essential oil of the leaves showed a high content of a new natural epoxy terpenoid, named clemateol (ca. 70 %), with minor amounts of o-vanillin (6.5 %), spathulenol (4.2 %), alpha-terpinene (4.0 %), germacrene B (2.9 %), yomogi alcohol (1.8 %), ( E)-caryophylene (1.7 %), m-cymenene (1.6 %), and alpha-gurjunene (1.5 %), while the essential oil of the flowers was characterized by a higher content of thymol methyl ether (ca. 80 %), with minor amounts of clemateol (4.8 %) and o-cymene (4.7 %). The antimicrobial activity of the oils was also evaluated against dermatophytes for their possible use in pharmaceutical preparations for topical applications. The oil of the leaves (MIC > 3.57 mg/ml), clemateol (MIC > 1.52 mg/ml), and the alcohol 2 (MIC > 2.82 mg/ml) showed a moderate antifungal activity against Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton menthagrophytes var. i nterdigitale, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis and Microsporum nanum.