Morusacerane: A new gammacerane triterpenoid from the trunk of Morus Alba linn. with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

This phytochemistry investigation on the trunk of Morus alba L. resulted in the isolation of three triterpenoids, including a new gammacerane triterpenoid - morusacerane (1); along with two known compounds of betulinic acid (2) and ursolic acid (3). The structure elucidation was thoroughly conducted based on 1D, 2D-NMR and HRESIMS spectra, followed by a comparison with existing literatures. The evaluation on α-glucosidase inhibitory exhibited the great potential of the application of these isolated compounds in diabetes treatments. The results show that morusacerane (1), betulinic acid (2), and ursolic acid (3) demonstrate the strong inhibitory with the IC50 values of 106.1, 11.12, and 7.20 μM, respectively. All of these compounds interacted well with the allosteric site enzyme α-glucosidase MAL32 through H-bonds and hydrophobic interaction.

Volatile Constituents of Some Selected Plant Species Traditionally Used as Tea in the Sharri Mountains (Kosovo)

The study evaluates the chemical composition of the volatile constituents of ten plant species traditionally used as herbal tea in the Sharri Mountain regions (Kosovo and North Macedonia). Volatile constituents responsible for the flavour and fragrance of selected species (Crataegus monogyna, Cydonia oblonga, Malus sylvestris, Matricaria chamomilla, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Rosa canina, Sambucus nigra, Tilia cordata, and Vaccinium myrtillus) were separated and then identified using GC-MS, whereas GC-FID is employed for the quantitative analysis. Experimental data revealed different patterns of volatile constituents depending on plant species. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and norisoprenoids were the most abundant volatile constituents. Principal component analysis (PCA) was deployed for data analysis and resulted in grouping these ten species in four principal clusters. The combination of various volatile constituents present in specific plant species may play an important role in the specific aroma and taste sensation of these species used as recreational teas.

Morusflavone, a New Therapeutic Candidate for Prostate Cancer by CYP17A1 Inhibition: Exhibited by Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation

Morusflavone, a flavonoid from Morus alba L., was evaluated for its interactive ability and stability with CYP17A1, in comparison with abiraterone, which is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved CYP17A1 inhibitor. CYP17A1 inhibition is an important therapeutic target for prostate cancer. The CHAMM36 force field was used to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in this study. The results show that Morusflavone has significant interactive ability and stability for CYP17A1, in comparison with abiraterone. The final interaction energies for the Morusflavone–CYP17A1 and abiraterone–CYP17A1 complexes were −246.252 KJ/mol and −207.86 KJ/mol, respectively. Since there are only limited therapeutic agents available, such as abiraterone, galeterone, and seviteronel, which are being developed for prostate cancer, information on any potent natural anticancer compounds, such as vinca alkaloids, for prostate cancer treatment is limited. The results of this study show that CYP17A1 inhibition by Morusflavone could be an important therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Further preclinical and clinical evaluations of the lead compound Morusflavone are required to evaluate whether it can serve as a potential inhibitor of CYP17A1, which will be a new hope for prostate cancer treatment.

Advances in various techniques for isolation and purification of sterols

Plants consist of triterpenoids such as phytosterols (PT) (C₂₉H₅₀O) with steroidal nuclei, including sitosterol, stigmasterol, brassicasterol and campesterol. They are hydrophobic but soluble in alcohol and other organic solvents and are isolated from industrial waste deodorizer distillates of various edible oil industries. They exist as free PT or their ester derivatives in soybean, rice, wheat, oat, cottonseed and corn fiber, and other cereals and grains. Conventional isolation techniques such as solvent extraction, distillation, evaporative fractionation, saponification and chemical esterification are employed for isolation and purification of PT. The present article reviews the various advanced separation techniques like solvent crystallization, supercritical fluid extraction, high speed counter-current chromatography and enzymatic process as strategic methods to isolate and purify sterols.

New triterpenoids from Morus alba L. stem bark

Two lupeol-type pentacyclic triterpenoids characterised as lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol-27-oic acid (moruslupenoic acid A) and lup-12, 20(29)-dien-3β-ol-26-oic acid (moruslupenoic acid B) and lanst-5, 24-dien-3β-yl acetate (moruslanosteryl acetate) along with the known triterpenoidal phytoconstituents α-amyrin acetate, β-amyrin-β-D-glucopyranoside and betulinic acid have been isolated from the stem bark of Morus alba L. (Moraceae). The structures of the isolated phytoconstituents were established on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical means.

Evaluation of nonpolar metabolites in plant extracts by 13C NMR spectroscopy

(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was explored as a simple and efficient technique for the quantitative analysis of nonpolar metabolites in plants. The method was first optimized with a mixture of known metabolites and then applied to the nonpolar leaf extracts of plants harvested in the Valencian community (eastern Spain) belonging to three different genera: Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), Araujia (Apocynaceae), and Morus (Moraceae). Furthermore, an exhaustive analysis of Euphorbia characias leaf and stem extracts from different geographic locations allowed that quantitative (13)C NMR spectroscopy is a suitable tool for metabolic profiling purpose.

Quantification of α- and β-amyrin in rat plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: application to preclinical pharmacokinetic study

α- and β-Amyrins are naturally occurring triterpenes with a wide range of biological activities. In this study, a reliable GC-MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of α- and β-amyrins in rat plasma. The calibration curves were linear (R(2) > 0.996) with a limit of quantification of 1.0 ng ml(-1) for both α- and β-amyrins. The precision and repeatability of this method was good as the relative standard deviation were 12% or less. The absolute recovery ranged from 71% to 89%, while the analytical recovery ranged from 95% to 99%. The pharmacokinetic profiles of α- and β-amyrins in rats were subsequently investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. β-Amyrin was administered intravenously and also orally in two forms, namely, as a suspension of the pure compound and the crude plant extract. α-Amyrin was administered orally as a suspension of the crude plant extract. β-Amyrin had a very long terminal elimination half-life (t(1/2λz) = 610 ± 179 min) and extremely slow clearance (Cl = 2.04 ± 0.24 ml min(-1) kg(-1)). The absolute oral bioavailability of β-amyrin in the crude plant extract was about fourfold higher than that in the suspension of pure form (3.83% vs 0.86%). When given in crude plant extract, both α- and β-amyrins had a similar dose normalized C(max). This reliable GC-MS method will enable further pharmacokinetic investigations of α- and β-amyrins.