Chemical and physical studies of cyclitols containing four or five hydroxyl groups

Biological Properties of Cyclitols and Their Derivatives

Cyclitols are polyhydroxy cycloalkanes, each containing at least three hydroxyls attached to a different ring carbon atom. The most important cyclitol derivatives are inositols, quercitols, conduritols and pinitols, which form a group of naturally occurring polyhydric alcohols and are widely found in plants. In addition, synthetic production of cyclitols has gained importance in recent years. Cylitols are molecules synthesized in plants as a precaution against salt or water stress. They have important functions in cell functioning as they exhibit important properties such as membrane biogenesis, ion channel physiology, signal transduction, osmoregulation, phosphate storage, cell wall formation and antioxidant activity. The biological activities of these very important molecules, obtained both synthetically and from the extraction of plants, are described in this review.

Design and synthesis of biologically active carbaglycosylamines: From glycosidase inhibitors to pharmacological chaperones

For over 50 years, our group has been involved in synthetic studies on biologically active cyclitols including carbasugars. Among a variety of compounds synthesized, this review focuses on carbaglycosylamine glycosidase inhibitors, highlighting the following: (1) the naturally occurring N-linked carbaoligosaccharide α-amylase inhibitor acarbose and related compounds; (2) the novel synthetic β-glycosidase inhibitors, 1'-epi-acarviosin and its 6-hydroxy analogue as well as β-valienaminylceramide and its 4'-epimer; (3) the discovery of the β-glycosidase inhibitors with chaperone activity, N-octyl-β-valienamine (NOV) and its 4-epimer (NOEV); and (4) the recent development of the potential pharmacological chaperone N-alkyl-conduramine F-4 derivatives.

Analysis of cyclitols in different Quercus species by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

The carbohydrate profile of some woods used for aging wines and spirits has been recently studied using a pressurized liquid extraction method, the main differences found being related to cyclitol content. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed study of these compounds in woods of different Quercus species in order to identify two unknown compounds which appeared in the extracts and to verify whether the obtained profile was homogeneous for other Quercus species.

RESULTS

Besides the known monosaccharides and five cyclitols previously described, three deoxy-inositols (epi-, vibo- and scyllo-quercitol) were identified. The presence of these eight cyclitols was confirmed in all subgenera and species of Quercus analyzed, allowing a characteristic cyclitol profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Three deoxy-inositols (quercitols) have been identified in the carbohydrate profile of oak wood. All examined Quercus species displayed a common profile consisting of four inositols and four quercitols, which represent a good dataset for characterization of this genus.