Carapanolides J-L from the seeds of Carapa guianensis (Andiroba) and their effects on LPS-activated NO production

In silico studies on leishmanicide activity of limonoids and fatty acids from Carapa guianensis Aubl

The oil of Carapa guianensis showed leishmanicidal activity, with its activity being related to limonoids, but fatty acids are the major constituents of this oil. The present study evaluated the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity profiles of limonoids and fatty acids already identified in the species. Based on these results, 2 limonoids (methyl angosinlate, 6-OH-methyl angosinlate) and 2 fatty acids (arachidic acid; myristic acid) were selected for the prediction of possible targets and molecular docking. Included in this study were: Gedunin, 6α-acetoxygedunin, Methyl angosenlato, 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, Andirobin, 6-hydroxy-angolensate methyl, 17β-hydroxyazadiradione, 1,2-dihydro-3β-hydroxy-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, xyllocensin k, 11beta-Hydroxygedunin, 6α,11-11β-diacetoxygedunin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitoleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, and Beenic Acid. Regarding physicochemical aspects, fatty acids violated LogP, and only limonoid 11 violated Lipinski's rule. A common pharmacokinetic aspect was that all molecules were well absorbed in the intestine and inhibited CYP. All compounds showed toxicity in some model, with fatty acids being mutagenic and carcinogenic, and limonoids not being mutagenic and carcinogenic at least for rats. In in vivo models, fatty acids were less toxic. Molecular dockings were performed on COX-2 steroids (15 and 16) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha for limonoids (3,6), with this target being essential for the intracellular development of leishmania. Limonoids 3 and 6 appear to be promising as leishmanicidal agents, and fatty acids are promising as wound healers.

Efficacy of Carapa guianensis oil (Meliaceae) against monogeneans infestations: a potential antiparasitic for Colossoma macropomum and its effects in hematology and histopathology of gills

This study evaluated the efficacy of therapeutic baths with Carapa guianensis (andiroba) oil against monogeneans of Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui), as well as the hematological and histological effects on fish. Among the fatty acids identified in C. guianensis oil, oleic acid (53.4%) and palmitic acid (28.7%) were the major compounds, and four limonoids were also identified. Therapeutic baths of 1 hour were performed for five consecutive days, and there was no fish mortality in any of the treatments. Therapeutic baths using 500 mg/L of C. guianensis oil had an anthelmintic efficacy of 91.4% against monogeneans. There was increase of total plasma protein and glucose, number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes and number of monocytes and decrease in mean corpuscular volume. Histological changes such as epithelium detachment, hyperplasia, lamellar fusion and aneurysm were found in the gills of tambaqui from all treatments, including controls with water of culture tank and water of culture tank plus iso-propyl alcohol. Therapeutic baths with 500 mg/L of C. guianensis oil showed high efficacy and caused few physiological changes capable of compromising fish gill function. Results indicate that C. guianensis oil has an anthelmintic potential for control and treatment of infections by monogeneans in tambaqui.

Bioactive limonoids from Carapa guianensis seeds oil and the sustainable use of its by-products

Carapa guianensis (Andiroba, Meliaceae) is considered a multipurpose tree. In Brazil, Indigenous people have used it as insect repellent and in the treatment of various diseases. Most biological activities and popular uses are attributed to limonoids, which are highly oxygenated tetranortriterpenoids. More than 300 limonoids have been described in Meliaceae family. Limonoids from Andiroba oil have shown high anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities in vivo, by inhibiting platelet activating factors and many inflammatory mediators such as IL-5, IL-1β and TNF-α. It also reduced T lymphocytes, eosinophils and mast cells. In corroboration with the wide popular use of Andiroba oil, no significant cytotoxicity or genotoxicity in vivo was reported. This oil promotes apoptosis in a gastric cancer cell line (ACP02) at high concentrations, without showing mutagenic effects, and is suggested to increase the body's nonspecific resistance and adaptive capacity to stressors, exhibit some antioxidant activity, and protect against oxidative DNA damages. Recently, new methodologies of toxicological assays have been applied. They include in chemico, in vitro, in silico and ex vivo procedures, and take place to substitute the use of laboratory animals. Andiroba by-products have been used in sustainable oil production processes and as fertilizers and soil conditioners, raw material for soap production, biodegradable surfactants and an alternative natural source of biodegradable polymer in order to reduce environmental impacts. This review reinforces the relevance of Andiroba and highlights its ability to add value to its by-products and to minimize possible risks to the health of the Amazonian population.

Limonoids with anti-inflammatory activity: A review

The natural limonoids distributed mainly in the Meliaceae and Rutaceae plants are known for their unique and complex structure with high degree oxidation and cyclic rearrangement. However, these compounds exhibit a broad range of biological activities such as insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. There is still limited report about the biological activity of the anti-inflammatory effect of limonoids isolated from plants. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of intact, deformed and rearranged limonoids as anti-inflammatory agents. The majority of anti-inflammatory investigations were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays of the isolated pure compounds and their derivatives. For the in vitro study, intact and C-ring seco limonoids showed a potent inhibitory effect against NO production. The in vivo analysis of Intact, C-seco, and AD-seco limonoids showed a potent effect based on the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, indicating their potency as anti-inflammatory agents.

Research progress of meliaceous limonoids from 2011 to 2021

Covering: July 2010 to December 2021Limonoids, a kind of natural tetranortriterpenoids with diverse skeletons and valuable insecticidal and medicinal bioactivities, are the characteristic metabolites of most plants of the Meliaceae family. The chemistry and bioactivities of meliaceous limonoids are a continuing hot area of natural products research; to date, about 2700 meliaceous limonoids have been identified. In particular, more than 1600, including thirty kinds of novel rearranged skeletons, have been isolated and identified in the past decade due to their wide distribution and abundant content in Meliaceae plants and active biosynthetic pathways. In addition to the discovery of new structures, many positive medicinal bioactivities of meliaceous limonoids have been investigated, and extensive achievements regarding the chemical and biological synthesis have been made. This review summarizes the recent research progress in the discovery of new structures, medicinal and agricultural bioactivities, and chem/biosynthesis of limonoids from the plants of the Meliaceae family during the past decade, with an emphasis on the discovery of limonoids with novel skeletons, the medicinal bioactivities and mechanisms, and chemical synthesis. The structures, origins, and bioactivities of other new limonoids were provided as ESI. Studies published from July 2010 to December 2021 are reviewed, and 482 references are cited.

Ultrasound-assisted lipid extractions, enriched with sterols and tetranortriterpenoids, from Carapa guianensis seeds and the application of lipidomics using GC/MS

This study describes the optimized stages of lipid extraction assisted by ultrasound to increase the concentrations of limonoids and steroids from andiroba seeds, identified as Carapa guianensis Aublet, and the lipidome analyzed by TLC and GC/MS.

Triterpenoids

Covering 2014. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2017, 34, 90-122 This review covers the isolation and structure determination of triterpenoids reported during 2014 including squalene derivatives, lanostanes, holostanes, cycloartanes, cucurbitanes, dammaranes, euphanes, tirucallanes, tetranortriterpenoids, quassinoids, lupanes, oleananes, friedelanes, ursanes, hopanes, serratanes, isomalabaricanes and saponins; 374 references are cited.

Carapanosins D-F from the Seeds of Andiroba (Carapa guianensis, Meliaceae) and Their Effects on LPS-Activated NO Production

A novel nor-phragmalin-type limonoid, named carapanosin D (1), and two novel mexicanolide-type limonoids, carapanosins E (2) and F (3), were isolated from the seed oil of andiroba (Carapa guianensis A_ublet), a traditional medicine in Brazil and Latin American countries. Their structures were unambiguously determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques and High resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (HRFABMS). Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for their effects on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The NO inhibitory assay suggested that compounds 2 and 3 have high potency as inhibitors of macrophage activation.

Guianolactones A and B, Two Rearranged Pentacyclic Limonoids from the Seeds of Carapa guianensis

Two novel rearranged limonoids, guianolactones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae) seeds. The structures of 1 and 2 with their absolute configurations were elucidated in detailed examinations using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and 2D NMR spectra. Guianolactone A (1) has a novel 5/6/6/6/6 pentacyclic core including two δ-lactone and a tetrahydropyran ring, while guianolactone B (2) is a novel limonoid with a 6/6/5/6/6 pentacyclic core featuring a δ-lactone and a tetrahydrofuran ring.

Five New Limonoids from Peels of Satsuma Orange (Citrus reticulata)

Five new: 21,23-dihydro-21-hydroxy-23-oxonomilin (1), 21,23-dihydro-23-methoxy-21-oxonomilin (2), 21,23-dihydro-21-hydroxy-23-oxonomilinic acid methyl ester (3), 21,23-dihydro-23-methoxy-21-oxolimonin (4), and 21,23-dihydro-21-oxolimonin (5), and seven known limonoids were isolated from peels of satsuma orange (Citrus reticulata). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on macrophage activation by an inhibitory assay of nitric oxide (NO) production. Among them, compound (2) exhibited NO inhibitory activity without cytotoxicity.

Carapanosins A-C from Seeds of Andiroba (Carapa guianensis, Meliaceae) and Their Effects on LPS-Activated NO Production

Two new phragmalin-type limonoids, Carapanosins A and B (1 and 2), and a new gedunin-type limonoid, Carapansin C (3), together with five known limonoids (4–8) were isolated from the oil of Carapa guianensis A_UBLET (Meliaceae) seeds, a traditional medicine in Brazil and Latin American countries. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HRFABMS. Compounds 1–8 were evaluated for their effects on the production of NO in LPS-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The NO inhibitory assay suggested that Compounds 3, 6, and 8 may be valuable as potential inhibitors of macrophage activation.

Recent progress in the chemistry and biology of limonoids

Significant limonoids: new isolated limonoids, and recent developments in the total chemical synthesis, and structural modifications of limonoids regarding the bioactivities have been summarised.

Six new ergostane-type steroids from king trumpet mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

Six new ergostane-type steroids; (22E)-3β,5α,6α,11-tetrahydroxy-9(11)-seco-ergosta-7,22-dien-9-one (1), (22E)-8,14-epoxyergosta-6,22-diene-3β,5α,9α-triol (2), (22E)-4α,5α-epoxyergosta-7,22-diene-3β,6β-diol (3), (22E)-3β,4β,5α-trihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (4), (22E)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5β,6α-triol (5), and (22E)-6β-methoxyergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5α-diol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of king trumpet mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii), along with fourteen known compounds (7-20). All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on macrophage activation using a nitric oxide production inhibition assay.

Three Novel Triterpenoids from Taraxacum officinale Roots

Three novel lupane-, bauerane-, and euphane-type triterpenoids (1-3), in addition to seven known triterpenoids (4-10)-18β,19β-epoxy-21β-hydroxylupan-3β-yl acetate (4), 21-oxolup-18-en-3β-yl acetate (5), betulin (6), officinatrione (7), 11α-methoxyolean-12-en-3-one (8), eupha-7,24-dien-3-one (9), and 24-oxoeupha-7,24-dien-3β-yl acetate (10)-were isolated from the roots of Taraxacum officinale. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses using 1D and 2D-NMR spectra and electron ionization mass spectrometry (EIMS). The effects of compounds 1-10 on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages were evaluated. Compounds 4, 6, and 10 exhibited similar NO inhibitory activities to N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine acetate (l-NMMA). These compounds did not exhibit cytotoxicity at an effective concentration. The results of present study suggest that compounds 4, 6, and 10 have potential as anti-inflammatory disease agents.

Hepatoprotective Limonoids from Andiroba (Carapa guianensis)

Three gedunin-type limonoids, gedunin (1), 6α-acetoxygedunin (2), and 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin (3), which were isolated from the seed and flower oils of andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aublet, Meliaceae), exhibited hepatoprotective effects at doses of 25 mg/kg, p.o. against d-galactosamine (d-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. To characterize the mechanisms of action of 1-3 and clarify the structural requirements for their hepatoprotective effects, 17 related limonoids (1-17) isolated from the seed and/or flower oils of C. guianensis were examined in in vitro studies assessing their effects on (i) d-GalN-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes, (ii) LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages, and (iii) tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells. The mechanisms of action of 1-3 are likely to involve the inhibition of LPS-induced macrophage activation and reduced sensitivity of hepatocytes to TNF-α; however, these compounds did not decrease the cytotoxicity caused by d-GalN. In addition, the structural requirements of limonoids (1-17) for inhibition of LPS-induced NO production in mouse peritoneal macrophages and TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells were evaluated.

Carapanolides T-X from Carapa guianensis (Andiroba) Seeds

Two new mexicanolide-type limonoids, carapanolides T–U (1–2), and three new phragmalin-type limonoids, carapanolides V–X (3–5), were isolated from the seeds of Carapa guianensis (andiroba). Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.

Two new ent-kaurane-type diterpene glycosides from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds

Two new ent-kaurane diterpene glycosides; 12α-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-7β-hydroxykaurenolide (1) and 7β-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-12α-hydroxykaurenolide (2), a new steroid; (24S)-stigmasta-7,22E,25-trien-3-one (12), and known compounds (3-11, 13-14) were isolated from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds. The absolute structures of 1 and 2 were determined by acid hydrolysis and application of a modified Moscher's method. Furthermore, isolated compounds (1-14), and a derivative, 1a, were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on macrophage activation by an inhibitory assay of nitric oxide (NO) production.