Flavonoids of Neotorularia aculeolata Plant

1H NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach in Investigating the Chemical Profile, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Gynura procumbens and Cleome gynandra

Gynura procumbens and Cleome gynandra are two herbs commonly used in Malaysia to treat various ailments and are also consumed as salads (ulam) and vegetables. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between the chemical compositions of both herbs and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics approach, which is being reported for the first time. Different ethanolic extracts of both herbs were tested for DPPH scavenging and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) via RAW 264.7 macrophage cell induction. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a good separation between the extracts and the corresponding metabolites identified via ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The 100% ethanolic extract from both herbs and 20% ethanolic extract of C. gynandra were found to have the best antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Kaempferol, quercetin, caffeoylquinic, dicaffeoylquinic acids, gallic acid, mallic acid, citric acid, phenylalanine, and choline are among the metabolites that contributed to bioactivities. The partial least square (PLS) model for both herbs have an overall acceptable goodness of fit and predictive power, which further strengthens the validity of this study. The present study provides a preliminary reference for the selection of optimum extract and will shed some light on the potential use of G. procumbens and C. gynandra as a phytomedicinal preparation.

Phytochemical profile of Euphorbia peplus L. collected in Central Italy and NMR semi-quantitative analysis of the diterpenoid fraction

In this work, the phytochemical profile of the ethanolic extract of Euphorbia peplus L. collected in Central Italy, was reported. This specimen had never been studied before and the analysis was accomplished by means of Column Chromatography for the separation procedure and by means of NMR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry for the identification step. In particular, fourteen compounds were evidenced belonging to five different classes of natural compounds i.e. triterpenoids (pentacyclic and saponin), peculiar diterpenoids (jatrophanes and pepluanes), flavonoids (flavonols), caffeoyl-quinic acids and rare disaccharides. In addition to this, a semi-quantitative analysis on the diterpenoid fraction, by means of NMR Spectroscopy, was also performed in order to provide the real quantities of these compounds in the same fraction and in the total extract. Due to the pronounced chemo variability observed in Euphorbia spp., the availability of a reliable and quick analytical technique, such as that reported in the present study, could be a useful tool in the standardization of plant materials to be used in pharmacological studies or for ethnomedicinal purposes. The technical details for both the general phytochemical analysis and the specific quantitative one, were inserted in this paper. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic and ethnopharmacological relevance of these compounds was also discussed.

Ursane and tirucallane-type triterpenes of Boswellia rivae oleo-gum resin

Two new ursane-type triterpenes characterized as 3-oxo-24-acetoxy-11α-hydroxy-urs-12-ene (1) and methyl 3α-acetoxy-11α-methoxy-urs-12-en-24-oate (2), together with known compounds 3-11, were isolated from Boswellia rivae oleo-gum resin exudate. Their structural elucidation was accomplished using physical, chemical, and spectroscopic methods. The compounds exhibited weak to moderate antibacterial activities against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.