An Intramolecular CAr-H•••O=C Hydrogen Bond and the Configuration of Rotenoids

The effects of flavonoids in experimental sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sepsis is a host's dysregulated immune response to an infection associated with systemic inflammation and excessive oxidative stress, which can cause multiple organ failure and death. The literature suggests that flavonoids, a broad class of secondary plant metabolites, have numerous biological activities which can be valuable in the treatment of sepsis. This study aimed to review the effects of flavonoids on experimental sepsis, focusing mainly on survival rate, and also summarizing information on its mechanisms of action. We searched in the main databases up to November 2022 using relevant keywords, and data were extracted and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Thirty-two articles met the study criteria for review and 29 for meta-analysis. Overall, 30 different flavonoids were used in the studies. The flavonoids were able to strongly inhibit inflammatory response by reducing the levels of important pro-inflammatory mediators, for example, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1β, oxidative stress, and showed antibacterial and anti-apoptotic actions. The meta-analysis found an increase of 50% in survival rate of the animals treated with flavonoids. They appear to act as multi-target drugs and may be an excellent therapeutic alternative to reduce a number of the complications caused by sepsis, and consequently, to improve survival rate.

Rotenoids and Other Specialized Metabolites from the Roots of Mirabilis multiflora: Opioid and Cannabinoid Receptor Radioligand Binding Affinities

Mirabilis multiflora is an acclaimed hallucinogen consumed traditionally by the Hopi Indians to induce diagnostic visions. Its root extract afforded a new (3) and four known (2, 5, 6, and 7) 12a-hydroxyrotenoids, a known rotenoid (4), and two known secondary metabolites (1 and 8). The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic and spectrometric data analysis. Electronic circular dichroism data were used to define the (6aS,12aR) absolute configuration of the 12a-hydroxyrotenoids. Compounds 2-7 were screened for their radioligand binding affinities toward the opioid (δ, κ, and μ) and cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) receptor subtypes. The 6-methoxy-substituted rotenoids 3, 4, and 7 showed the highest receptor binding affinity with moderate selectivity toward the δ-opioid receptor subtype, with negligible binding affinities for CB1 and CB2. Their binding affinities toward the δ-opioid receptor were 64.5% (4), 58.7% (7), and 55.3% (3) at 10 μM, respectively.