Chemical constituents from Chonemorpha griffithii

Chemical constituents from Chonemorpha fragrans roots and antibacterial activity studies of sarcorucinine D

Nine non-alkaloid constituents viz., sitostenone (1), β-sitosterol (2), naringenin (3), aromadendrin (4), matairesinol (5), vanillic acid (6), ferulic acid (7), protocatechuic acid (8) and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9) were isolated from the acetone extract as well as five alkaloids viz., japindine (10), sarcorucinine D (11), dictyophlebin (12), chonemorphine (13) and N-formylchonemorphine (14) were isolated from the ethanol extract of Chonemorpha fragrans roots. Except β-sitosterol, all other non-alkaloid compounds and the alkaloid sarcorucinine D are being reported for the first time from C. fragrans. From the MIC and MBC values, it has been found that sarcorucinine D shows most promising antibacterial activity. Quantification of antibacterial activity as well as killing curve determinations were performed in order to confirm the efficacy of the compound. The cytotoxic activity studies revealed that it is nontoxic up to 100 µM concentration.

Antioxidant activities and Allelopathic Potential of Chonemorpha splendens Chun et Tsiang Stem Methanol Extract

Finding agriculturally active compounds from nature or finding active lead compounds from natural products, artificial synthesis and structural modification are the main ways to create new agrochemical. In order to explore the agricultural activities of Chonemorpha splendens Chun et Tsiang (C. splendens), an important medicinal plant, the antioxidant activities and allelopathic potential were investigated. C. splendens was extracted with methanol, then, C. splendens methanol extract (CSME) were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Reducing activity, lipid peroxidation, and the scavenging abilities for DPPH∙, O2-∙, HO∙, and H2O2 were also measured and allelopathic potentials were evaluated by bioassay method. GC-MS analysis revealed that esters were the main component (66.34%) of CSME, the total CSME flavonoid content was 313 mg g-1 (rutin equivalent). The chloroform phase of CSME was identified as stigmasterol by NMR for the first time. The DPPH• scavenging rate of CSME was 87%, with an IC50 value of 0.12 ± 0.02 mg mL-1, which was significantly difference from the positive control, trolox. Chloroform fraction showed the strongest inhibitory effect against Mimosa pudica (MP) seed germination at 1.0 mg mL-1 (100% inhibition), which was better than that of the chemical herbicide paraquat. In the seed growth experiment, systematic EC50 and the principal component analysis (PCA) were used to assess the allelopathic potential of extracts. The systematic EC50 values of Crotalaria pallida Ait. (CP), Bidens pilosa L. (BP) were significantly greater than MP. MP, Oryza sativa L. (OS) and Lactuca satiua L., (LS) inhibited all parameters. Our results would provide an idea for controlling weeds through allelopathy from C. splendens to reduce dependency on synthetic herbicides.

Three new terpenoids from Chonemorpha megacalyx

Two new triterpenoids, 3β-hydroxytirucall-7,25-dien-24-one (1) and 3β-acetoxytirucall-7,23,25-triene (2), along with one new sesquiterpenoid, alloaromadendrane-12α,14β-dioic acid (3), were isolated from the vines and leaves of Chonemorpha megacalyx Pierre. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data.