Flavonoid glucuronides and a chromone from the aquatic macrophyte Stratiotes aloides

Joint effects and mechanisms of luteolin and kaempferol on toxigenic Microcystis growth-Comprehensive analysis on two isomers interaction in binary mixture

Allelochemicals are widely accepted as promising algaecide to mitigate Microcystis-dominated cyanobacterial blooms (MCBs). Allelopathic algicidal effect of single luteolin or kaempferol against Microcystis had been confirmed, but their joint effect against Microcystis was unclear. This study comprehensively explored time-dependent joint effect and mechanisms of luteolin and kaempferol on Microcystis growth during 14 day-test. The 50%-inhibitory threshold of their mixture (IC_{50 mix}) was verified as 4.872 and 5.211 mg/L at equitoxic ratio, and 5.167 and 4.487 mg/L at equivalent ratio, respectively, on day 8 and 14. Using toxicity unit, isobologram and predictive models, results revealed that luteolin and kaempferol at equivalent ratio interacted additively at lower, median and higher dosages, while at equitoxic ratio interacted additively at lower dosage but synergistically at median and higher dosages in Microcystis on day 8 and 14, implying that their equitoxic mixture posed better algicidal effect against Microcystis. Various dosages of equitoxic mixture concurrently decreased aqueous and total microcystins (MCs) contents along test. Thus, luteolin and kaempferol could be jointly applied as high-efficacy and eco-safe algaecide with declined MCs pollution risks. As mixture dosage elevated, more strongly weakened cellular MCs retention and inhibited cellular photosynthetic pigments content during late stage, as well as decreased aqueous MCs content long test, jointly explained increasing growth inhibition ratio with rising mixture dosage. Yet, cell damage was gradually repaired due to early stimulated antioxidant defense at each mixture dosage, thus cell damage might not be a major reason for inhibited growth under mixture stress. This study provided novel insights and guidance to coupled application of luteolin and kamepferol for mitigating MCBs and decreasing MCs pollution risks.

Isolation and evaluation of virucidal activities of flavanone glycosides and rosmarinic acid derivatives from Dracocephalum spp. against feline calicivirus

Feline calicivirus is one of the surrogate viruses of human norovirus. This study aimed to identify virucidal compounds, chemical constituents of plants from the genus Dracocephalum, which are rich in flavonoids and phenylpropanoid oligomers. Four undescribed compounds, including a flavanone glucoside, two stilbenoid glycosides, and a phenylpropanoid amide glycoside, as well as 17 known compounds, were isolated from the Mongolian plants Dracocephalum fruticulosum Stephan ex Willd., and D. nutans L. belonging to the family Lamiaceae. The structures of the compounds were determined based on NMR, MS, and electronic CD spectroscopic data. In addition to these 21 compounds, 15 previously reported compounds from D. foetidum Bunge in C.F. von Ledebour were included, and a total of 36 compounds were evaluated for their virucidal activities against feline calicivirus. Some of the flavanone glycosides and phenylpropanoid oligomers showed virucidal activities, and their structural features are discussed. The findings suggest that isosakuranetin glycosides and phenylpropanoid oligomers may have the potential for norovirus inactivation.

The isolation of water-soluble natural products - challenges, strategies and perspectives

Covering period: up to 2019Water-soluble natural products constitute a relevant group of secondary metabolites notably known for presenting potent biological activities. Examples are aminoglycosides, β-lactam antibiotics, saponins of both terrestrial and marine origin, and marine toxins. Although extensively investigated in the past, particularly during the golden age of antibiotics, hydrophilic fractions have been less scrutinized during the last few decades. This review addresses the possible reasons on why water-soluble metabolites are now under investigated and describes approaches and strategies for the isolation of these natural compounds. It presents examples of several classes of hydrosoluble natural products and how they have been isolated. Novel stationary phases and chromatography techniques are also reviewed, providing a perspective towards a renaissance in the investigation of water-soluble natural products.

Time- and dose-dependent allelopathic effects and mechanisms of kaempferol on toxigenic Microcystis growth

This study determined time-dependent IC₅₀ and confirmed 3.5 mg/L as IC₅₀ value for kaempferol inhibiting toxigenic Microcystis growth, based on which algicidal effects and mechanisms against toxigenic Microcystis exposed to various kaempferol doses (0.5-2 × IC₅₀) were explored along 14 day-test. Results showed that growth inhibition ratio (GIR) almost elevated with increasing kaempferol dose, and at each dose GIR elevated firstly and fluctuated around 17.8%- > 40%, 53.6%-65.6% and 84.8%-89.3% at 1.75, 3.5 and 7 mg/L kaempferol during mid-late stage, respectively. With rising kaempferol dose, photosynthetic pigments contents (chlorophyll-a, phycobiliproteins), antioxidant response (superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT) activities, glutathione (GSH) contents) and microcystins (MCs) production were almost increasingly stimulated as cellular protective responses during early-mid stage. However, these parameters (excluding CAT and GSH) were almost increasingly inhibited at late stage by prolonged stress and Microcystis cell was still more severely damaged as dose elevated along test, which could be reasons for increasing GIR with rising kamepferol dose. Persistent stimulation of CAT and GSH at each dose could alleviate cell damage until late stage, thus GIR no longer increased at late stage at each kaempferol dose. Moreover, fewer MCs release under kaempferol stress than control suggested kaempferol as eco-safe algaecide for migrating toxigenic Microcystis-dominated blooms (MCBs) and decreasing MCs risks. Compared with our previous data for luteolin inhibiting toxigenic Microcystis, this study supported formerly-proposed 'flavonoids structure - algicidal activity' relationship that the only OH-location difference between kaempferol and luteolin could affect algicidal activity and mechanisms against toxigenic Microcystis. Also, kaempferol and luteolin was revealed to exert additive effect on toxigenic Microcystis growth at equitoxic ratio. Our findings gave novel algicidal scenario of flavonoids and were greatly implicated in eco-friendly migrating toxigenic MCBs.

Multivariate statistical and comparison analysis of chemical constituents in Arenaria kansuensis Maxim. from different regions in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

INTRODUCTION

Arenaria kansuensis Maxim. (AKM) is one of the most valued medicinal and edible herbs widely used in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and there is also a large number of AKM bioactive constituents for health benefits of human beings. However, few works have referred to phytochemical content, fingerprint analysis and quality control of AKM. Therefore, the establishment of validated analytical methods is urgently needed for fingerprint comparison and quantitative analysis of AKM multicomponent.

OBJECTIVES

To determine quantitatively and compare the phytochemical constituents of AKM located at different areas.

METHODOLOGY

The chemical constituents in AKM samples were separated, identified, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector. The discrimination and separation models for the chemical constituents were developed by chemometric analysis.

RESULTS

The flavones and β-carboline alkaloids were rich in AKM herbs, and the overall pattern of phytochemical profiles was the same, while the significant differences were detected in the total flavonoids, total β-carboline alkaloids and individual contents, especially the predominant compounds such as tricin and arenarine B. This demonstrated that ecogeographical origin gave an important impact on phytochemical compositions which could be considered as reliable parameters for classifying the AKM resources. Moreover, the contents of AKM constituents were higher in July and/or August than other months of the year, and there were no significant differences in the main phytochemical contents between cultivated and wild AKM herbs.

CONCLUSION

This study could provide credible data and method for geographical origin trace, comprehensive evaluation and further utilization of AKM resources.

A review on control of harmful algal blooms by plant-derived allelochemicals

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have several negative impacts on aquatic ecosystem, and even harm to humans. Utilization of allelochemicals to inhibit microalgal overgrowth is an environment-friendly approach for controlling HABs. This paper demonstrated the development of allelochemicals with algicidal effects, including the development history of allelopathy, the application methods, the reported allelopathic plants and their derived allelochemicals. Allelopathy is a promising strategy to control HABs as the effectiveness of allelochemicals on inhibiting microalgae cells has been discovered and confirmed for many years. The proposed allelopathic mechanisms and species-selective properties were expounded as well. Moreover, this paper further proposed suggestions for the further research and development of allelopathy strategy for HABs control.

Water Soldier Stratiotes aloides L.-Forgotten Famine Plant With Unique Composition and Antioxidant Properties

Stratiotes aloides L. is common water plant in central Poland. Due to its expansive character, S. aloides L. can strongly affect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. S. aloides L. was an important famine plant in central Poland. This plant was commonly collected and cooked until the turn of the 20th century. It has also been used to heal wounds, especially when these are made by an iron implement. The objective of the present work was to study the phenolic profile in the leaves and roots of S. aloides as well as their antioxidant potential and ability to inhibit lipoxygenase (LOX) in the light of their potential bioaccessibility. The dominant compound in its leaves was luteolin-7-O-hexoside-glucuronide (5.84 mg/g DW), whereas the dominant root component was chrysoeriol-7-O-hexoside-glucuronide (0.83 mg/g DW). Infusions from leaves, roots, and their 1:1 (v/v) mixture contained potentially bioaccessible antiradical compounds. S. aloides is a good source of water-extractable reductive compounds. Especially valuable are the leaves of this plant. The roots of S. aloides contained very active hydrophilic compounds able to chelate metal ions. However, their potential bioaccessibility was relatively low. The hydrophilic compounds from the leaves were the most effective XO inhibitors (EC₅₀ = 9.91 mg DW/mL). The water-extractable compounds derived from the leaves and roots acted as uncompetitive LOX inhibitors.

Growth, physiological responses and microcystin-production/-release dynamics of Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to various luteolin doses

By testing time-dependent IC₅₀ of luteolin against Microcystis growth, this study revealed 6.5 mg/L as nearly IC₅₀ value during prolonged stress until day 14, and explored chlorophyll-a (CLA) and phycobiliproteins (PBPs) contents, antioxidant responses and microcystin (MC)-production/-release dynamics at rising luteolin doses (0.5~2-fold IC₅₀). Growth inhibition ratio (GIR) generally rose at rising luteolin dose, while at each dose GIR firstly increased and then leveled off or dropped. In early stage, CLA, allophycocyanin (APC), phycoerythrin (PE) and glutathione (GSH) contents, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, were increasingly stimulated at rising luteolin dose to enhance energy yield and antioxidant defense, but Microcystis was damaged more severely at rising dose, due to stress-repair imbalance. Such more severe damage in early stage, coupled with stronger PBPs-inhibition in mid-late stage, at rising dose could jointly account for rising GIR at rising dose. The CAT/GSH-stimulation persisting until late stage could alleviate cell damage in late stage, which explained for why GIR no longer increased in late stage at each luteolin dose. Besides, more MCs were produced and retained in cell to exert protective roles against luteolin-stress in early stage, but intracellular MCs decreased following inhibited MC-production by prolonged stress to decrease cell protectant. Extracellular MCs detection showed that less MCs amount existed in water phase than control along luteolin-stress, implying luteolin as eco-friendly algaecide with promising potential to remove MPM blooms and MC-risks. This is the first study to reveal the effect of various luteolin doses on MC-production/release and PBP-synthesis dynamics of Microcystis during prolonged stress. The findings shed novel views in anti-algal mechanisms of luteolin, and provided direct evidence for luteolin applied as safe agent to remediate Microcystis-dominant blooms.

Advances on the in vivo and in vitro glycosylations of flavonoids

Flavonoids possess diverse bioactivity and potential medicinal values. Glycosylation of flavonoids, coupling flavonoid aglycones and glycosyl groups in conjugated form, can change the biological activity of flavonoids, increase water solubility, reduce toxic and side effects, and improve specific targeting. Therefore, it is desirable to synthesize various flavonoid glycosides for further investigation on their medicinal values. Compared with chemical glycosylations, biotransformations catalyzed by uridine diphospho-glycosyltransferases provide an environmentally friendly way to construct glycosidic bonds without repetitive chemical synthetic steps of protection, activation, coupling, and deprotection. In this review, we will summarize the existing knowledge on the biotechnological glycosylation reactions either in vitro or in vivo for the synthesis of flavonoid O- and C-glycosides and other rare analogs.Key points• Flavonoid glycosides usually show improved properties compared with their flavonoid aglycones.• Chemical glycosylation requires repetitive synthetic steps and purifications.• Biotechnological glycosylation reactions either in vitro or in vivo were discussed.• Provides representative synthetic examples in detail.

Diversified Thiazole Substituted Coumarins and Chromones as Non- Cytotoxic ROS and NO Inhibitors

Background:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, indomethacin, flufenamic acid and phenylbutazone are used to treat most of the inflammatory disorders. These NSAIDs are also associated with serious side effects including gastric ulceration, nephrotoxicity, and bleeding, mainly due to acidic nature. Hence, there is a need to identify highly potent and safer treatment for inflammatory disorders.

Methods:

Herein, synthetic hydrazinyl thiazole substituted coumarins and chromones 1-48 were evaluated for ROS inhibitory activity. ROS were generated from zymosan activated whole blood phagocytes.

Results:

Among all tested compounds, compounds 1 (IC50 = 38.3 ± 7.1 μM), 2 (IC50 = 5.7 ± 0.2 μM), 5 (IC50 = 28.3 ± 3.5 μM), 23 (IC50 = 12.5 ± 3.1 μM), 27 (IC50 = 32.8 ± 1.1 μM), 39 (IC50 = 20.2 ± 1.6 μM), and 42 (IC50 = 43.2 ± 3.8 μM) showed potent ROS inhibition as compared to standard ibuprofen (IC50 = 54.3 ± 1.9 μM). Whereas, compounds 3 (IC50 = 134.7 ± 1.0 μM), 16 (IC50 = 75.4 ± 7.2 μM), 24 (IC50 = 102.4 ± 1.0 μM), and 31 (IC50 = 86.6 ± 1.5 μM) were found to be moderately active. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 23, 27, 39, and 42, having potent ROS inhibitory activity were also screened for their nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. Cytotoxicity was also checked for all active compounds on NIH-3T3 cell line. Cyclohexamide (IC50 = 0.13 ± 0.02 μM) was used as standard.

Conclusion:

Identified active compounds from these libraries may serve as lead candidates for future research in order to obtain a more potent, and safer anti-inflammatory agent.

Flavonoids and antioxidant activity of rare and endangered fern: Isoetes sinensis

Isoetes sinensis Palmer is a critically endangered, first-class protected plant in China. Until now, researchers have primarily focused on the ultrastructure, phylogeny, and transcriptomes of the plant. However, flavonoid profiles and bioactivity of I. sinensis have not been extensively investigated. To develop the endangered I. sinensis for edible and medicinal purposes, flavonoid content, chemical constitution, and antioxidant activities were investigated in this study. Results revealed the following. 1) The total flavonoid content was determined as 10.74 ± 0.25 mg/g., 2) Antioxidant activities were stronger than most ferns, especially ABTS free radical scavenging activities. 3) Four flavones, containing apigenin, apigenin-7-glucuronide, acacetin-7-O-glcopyranoside, and homoplantageninisoetin; four flavonols, namely, isoetin, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-[6"-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl)-β-D-glucopyranoside], and limocitrin-Neo; one prodelphinidin (procyanidins;) and one nothofagin (dihydrochalcone) were tentatively identified in the mass spectrometry-DAD (254nm) chromatograms. This study was the first to report on flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of I. sinensis. Stronger antioxidant activity and flavonoid content suggests that the endangered I. sinensis is an important and potentially edible and medicinal plant.

New Hybrid Hydrazinyl Thiazole Substituted Chromones: As Potential α-Amylase Inhibitors and Radical (DPPH & ABTS) Scavengers

Current research is based on the identification of novel inhibitors of α-amylase enzyme. For that purpose, new hybrid molecules of hydrazinyl thiazole substituted chromones 5-27 were synthesized by multi-step reaction and fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as EI-MS, HREI-MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Stereochemistry of the iminic bond was confirmed by NOESY analysis of a representative molecule. All compounds 5-27 along with their intervening intermediates 1-4, were screened for in vitro α-amylase inhibitory, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. All compounds showed good inhibition potential in the range of IC50 = 2.186-3.405 µM as compared to standard acarbose having IC50 value of 1.9 ± 0.07 µM. It is worth mentioning that compounds were also demonstrated good DPPH (IC50 = 0.09-2.233 µM) and ABTS (IC50 = 0.584-3.738 µM) radical scavenging activities as compared to standard ascorbic acid having IC50 = 0.33 ± 0.18 µM for DPPH and IC50 = 0.53 ± 0.3 µM for ABTS radical scavenging activities. In addition to that cytotoxicity of the compounds were checked on NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line and found to be non-toxic. In silico studies were performed to rationalize the binding mode of compounds (ligands) with the active site of α-amylase enzyme.

effects of natural flavonoids on photosynthetic activity and cell integrity in Microcystis aeruginosa

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds produced by many aquatic plants and released in their environments. In this study, the effects of several aquatic flavonoids on cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa, especially in relation to the cell growth, photosynthetic activity, cell morphology, and cell membrane integrity, were investigated. Significant growth inhibition was observed when the cyanobacteria were exposed to three flavonoids, namely, 5,4'-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), apigenin, and luteolin. Luteolin reduced the effective quantum yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and maximal electron transport rate by 70%, 59% and 44%, respectively, whereas 5,4'-DHF and apigenin slightly affected these parameters, which implies that luteolin disrupts the photosynthetic system. Moreover, 5,4'-DHF and apigenin compromised the membrane integrity, and induced membrane depolarization in 52% and 38%, and permeabilization in 30% and 44% of the cells, respectively. The 5,4'-DHF and apigenin showed more pronounced effects on M. aeruginosa morphology and membrane integrity, compared to the luteolin. These results suggest that flavonoids could have significant effects on growth and physiological functions in cyanobacterial species.

Epigenetic Manipulation of a Filamentous Fungus by the Proteasome-Inhibitor Bortezomib Induces the Production of an Additional Secondary Metabolite

The use of epigenetic modifiers, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, has been explored increasingly as a technique to induce the production of additional microbial secondary metabolites. The application of such molecules to microbial cultures has been shown to upregulate otherwise suppressed genes, and in several cases has led to the production of new molecular structures. In this study, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was used to induce the production of an additional metabolite from a filamentous fungus (Pleosporales). The induced metabolite was previously isolated from a plant, but the configuration was not assigned until now; in addition, an analogue was isolated from a degraded sample, yielding a new compound. Proteasome inhibitors have not previously been used in this application and offer an additional tool for microbial genome mining.

Polyketides with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 inhibitory activity from Penicillium sp

Three new polyketide compounds (1-3), a new quinolone alkaloid (4), and seven known polyketide derivatives were identified from the cultures of Penicillium sp. I09F 484, a strain isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the plant Picea asperata from Kanas Lake, Xinjiang, China. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 4 were established by quantum chemical time-dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism calculation and Marfey's method, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed inhibitory activity against New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 with IC₅₀ values of 94.9 and 87.9 μM, respectively.

Homoflavonoid glucosides from Ophioglossum pedunculosum and their anti-HBV activity

Chemical investigation of the ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Ophioglossum pedunculosum afforded seven new homoflavonoid glucosides, pedunculosumosides A-G (1-7). Pedunculosumosides A and C exhibit modest activity of blocking HBsAg secretion with IC(50) values of 238.0 and 70.5 μM, respectively.