Kynapcin-12, a new p-terphenyl derivative from Polyozellus multiplex, inhibits prolyl endopeptidase

Bioactive Phytochemical Constituents of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Southeast Asia

Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are collected in the wild or cultivated worldwide. Recently, mushroom extracts and their secondary metabolites have acquired considerable attention due to their biological effects, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. Thus, in addition to phytochemists, nutritionists and consumers are now deeply interested in the phytochemical constituents of mushrooms, which provide beneficial effects to humans in terms of health promotion and reduction of disease-related risks. In recent years, scientific reports on the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of mushroom have been overwhelming. However, the bioactive compounds and biological properties of wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asian countries have been rarely described. In this review, the bioactive compounds isolated from 25 selected wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asia have been reviewed, together with their biological activities. Phytoconstituents with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities have been highlighted. Several evidences indicate that mushrooms are good sources for natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.

Microbial biotransformation of bioactive and clinically useful steroids and some salient features of steroids and biotransformation

Steroids are perhaps one of the most widely used group of drugs in present day. Beside the established utilization as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, progestational, diuretic, sedative, anabolic and contraceptive agents, recent applications of steroid compounds include the treatment of some forms of cancer, osteoporosis, HIV infections and treatment of declared AIDS. Steroids isolated are often available in minute amounts. So biotransformation of natural products provides a powerful means in solving supply problems in clinical trials and marketing of the drug for obtaining natural products in bulk amounts. If the structure is complex, it is often an impossible task to isolate enough of the natural products for clinical trials. The microbial biotransformation of steroids yielded several novel metabolites, exhibiting different activities. The metabolites produced from pregnenolone acetate by Cunning hamella elegans and Rhizopus stolonifer were screened against tyrosinase and cholinesterase showed significant inhibitory activities than the parent compound. Diosgenin and its transformed sarsasapogenin were screened for their acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory activities. Sarsasapogenin was screened for phytotoxicity, and was found to be more active than the parent compound. Diosgenin, prednisone and their derivatives were screened for their anti-leishmanial activity. All derivatives were found to be more active than the parent compound. The biotransformation of steroids have been reviewed to a little extent. This review focuses on the biotransformation and functions of selected steroids, the classification, advantages and agents of enzymatic biotransformation and examines the potential role of new enzymatically transformed steroids and their derivatives in the chemoprevention and treatment of other diseases. tyrosinase and cholinesterase inhibitory activities, severe asthma, rheumatic disorders, renal disorders and diseases of inflammatory bowel, skin, gastrointestinal tract.

Terphenyl derivatives and drimane - Phathalide/isoindolinones from Hypoxylon fendleri BCC32408

The genus Hypoxylon, a member of the family Xylariaceae, has been known to produce significant secondary metabolites in terms of chemical diversity. Moreover, the compounds isolated can also be used as chemotaxonomic characters for differentiation among the two sections, which are sect. Annulata and sect. Hypoxylon. In our continuing chemical screening programme for novel compounds, the crude extracts of H. fendleri BCC32408 gave significant chemical profiles in HPLC analyses. Thus, the chemical investigation of these crude extracts was then carried out. The investigation led to the isolation of ten previously undescribed compounds including three terphenylquinones (fendleryls A - C), one terphenyl (fendleryl D), and six novel drimane - phthalide-type lactone/isoindolinones derivatives (fendlerinines A - F) along with seven known compounds (2-O-methylatromentin, rickenyl E, atromentin, rickenyls C - D, (+)-ramulosin, and O-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid). The chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D, 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical transformations. In addition, these isolated compounds were assessed for antimicrobial activity including antimalarial (against Plasmodium falciparum, K-1 strain), antifungal (against Candida albicans), antibacterial (against Bacillus cereus) activities. Cytotoxicity against both cancerous (KB, MCF-7, NCI-H187) and non-cancerous (Vero) cells of these compounds were also evaluated.

β-Secretase (BACE1) inhibitory and neuroprotective effects of p-terphenyls from Polyozellus multiplex

Polyozellin, thelephoric acid, and polyozellic acid might be useful in the development of lead compounds for the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Suppressive effects of polyozellin on TGFBIp-mediated septic responses in human endothelial cells and mice

Polyozellus multiplex (Thelephoraceae) is a wild mushroom in Korea and Japan and is usually harvested in early autumn for food. Polyozellin, a major constituent of the edible mushroom P multiplex, has been known to exhibit biological activities such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Transforming growth factor β-induced protein (TGFBIp) is an extracellular matrix protein whose expression in several cell types is greatly increased by TGF-β. TGFBIp is released by human umbilical vein endothelial cells and functions as a mediator of experimental sepsis. We hypothesized that polyozellin could reduce TGFBIp-mediated severe inflammatory responses in human endothelial cells and mice. Here, we investigated the antiseptic effects and underlying mechanisms of polyozellin against TGFBIp-mediated septic responses. Polyozellin effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced release of TGFBIp and suppressed TGFBIp-mediated septic responses. In addition, polyozellin suppressed cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis lethality and pulmonary injury. In conclusion, polyozellin suppressed TGFBIp-mediated and cecal ligation and puncture-induced septic responses. Therefore, polyozellin could be a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of various severe vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the TGFBIp signaling pathway.

Inhibitory effect of polyozellin on secretory group IIA phospholipase A2

The expression of secretory group IIA phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA) is enhanced by development of inflammatory disorders. In this study, sPLA2-IIA expression was induced in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells and mice to evaluate the effect of polyozellin. Polyozellin, a major constituent of a Korea edible mushroom Polyozellus multiplex, has been known to exhibit the biological activities such as anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Polyozellin remarkably suppressed the LPS-mediated protein expression and activity of sPLA2-IIA via inhibition of phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These results demonstrated that polyozellin might play an important role in the modulation of sPLA2-IIA expression and activity in response to the inflammatory diseases.

Polyozellin, a key constituent of the edible mushroom Polyozellus multiplex, attenuates glutamate-induced mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cell death

Polyozellus multiplex (PM), a Korean edible mushroom, has biological activities such as chemoprevention of stomach cancer, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and reduction of prolyl endopeptidase activity. However, there are little reports on the protective effects of PM or its constituents against glutamate-induced mouse hippocampal neuronal cell (HT22) death. In this study, polyozellin (PZ), a key constituent of PM, was applied to glutamate-treated HT22 cells to evaluate its neuroprotective mechanisms. PZ (25 μM) dramatically increased the HT22 cell viability when the cell death was induced by 5 mM glutamate for 12 h, which was mediated by inhibition of Ca(2+) influx, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and lipid peroxidation. PZ also regulated expression of Bid, Bcl-2, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), as well as phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These data suggest that PM and its constituent PZ might be useful for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Suppressive effects of polyozellin on endothelial protein C receptor shedding via inhibiting TACE activity and MAP kinases

Beyond its role in the activation of protein C, the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) plays an important role in the cytoprotective pathway. EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, which is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE). Polyozellin, a major constituent of a Korea edible mushroom Polyozellus multiplex, has been known to exhibit the biological activities such as anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the effects of polyozellin on EPCR shedding. We investigated this issue by monitoring the effects of polyozellin on phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-, interleukin (IL)-1β-induced EPCR shedding in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated EPCR shedding in mice and underlying mechanism. Data demonstrate that polyozellin induced potent inhibition of PMA-, TNF-α-, IL-1β- (in HUVECs), and CLP-induced EPCR shedding (in mice) via inhibition of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, janus kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Polyozellin also inhibited the expression and activity of PMA-induced TACE in HUVECs suggesting that p38, ERK1/2, and JNK could be the molecular targets of POZ. These results demonstrate the potential of polyozellin as an anti-EPCR shedding reagent against PMA-mediated and CLP-mediated EPCR shedding.

Radical scavenging, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory, and antimicrobial potential of a cultured Himalayan lichen Cetrelia olivetorum

CONTEXT

Lichens are source of natural bioactive compounds which are traditionally used to cure a variety of ailments.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to assess free radical scavenging, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory (PEPI), and antimicrobial potential of a high altitude lichen species Cetrelia olivetorum (Nyl.) W. L. Culb. & C. F. Culb (Parmeliaceae).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lichen C. olivetorum has been cultured in vitro, and optimized culture conditions were implemented in bioreactor to obtain high quantity of biomass for the study of radical scavenging, PEPI, and antimicrobial activities. Radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of Cetrelia olivetorum (MECO) was tested at 100 µg/mL, PEPI activity at 25 and 50 µg/mL, and antimicrobial activity at 5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL conc. All the biological activities of natural thallus extract and its derived culture extract were evaluated spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS

Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 3% glucose and 100 ppb indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) supported biomass growth at flask level and yielded 5.095 g biomass in bioreactor. MECO of both the cultured and the natural lichen exhibited half inhibiting concentration (IC50) for radical scavenging activities in the range of 50-60 µg/mL, whereas the IC50 value of standard antioxidants was found to be in the range of 12-29 µg/mL. The IC50 value of lichen extract for PEPI activity was 144-288 µg/mL, whereas the IC50 value of standard prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor, Z-pro-prolinal, was 57.73 µg/mL. As far as the antimicrobial activity of MECO is concerned, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of lichen extracts against tested microorganisms was obtained in the range of 50-104 µg/mL and found to be more effective than commercially available standard erythromycin.

DISCUSSION

Murashige and Skoog medium containing IBA was found to be suitable for maximum biomass production of C. olivetorum under bioreactor conditions. The cultured lichen biomass extract also showed antioxidant, PEPI, and antimicrobial potential.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates therapeutic potential of Himalayan lichen C. olivetorum against neurodegenerative diseases owing to its radical scavenging, PEPI, and antimicrobial activities. Further, the result encourages its commercial exploitation through mass culture for production of its bioactive components and their use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

Inhibitory effects of polyozellin from Polyozellus multiplex on HMGB1-mediated septic responses

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The ubiquitous nuclear protein, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), is released by activated macrophages and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and functions as a late mediator of experimental sepsis. Polyozellin, which has been reported to have a variety of biological activities including antioxidant and anticancer activity, is the major active compound found in edible mushroom (Polyozellus multiplex). In this study, we investigated the antiseptic effects and underlying mechanisms of polyozellin against HMGB1-mediated septic responses in HUVECs and mice.

METHODS

The anti-inflammatory activities of polyozellin were determined by measuring permeability, human neutrophil adhesion and migration, and activation of proinflammatory proteins in HMGB1-activated HUVECs and mice.

RESULTS

According to the results, polyozellin effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of HMGB1, and suppressed HMGB1-mediated septic responses, such as hyperpermeability, adhesion and migration of leukocytes, and expression of cell adhesion molecules. In addition, polyozellin suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-6, and the activation of nuclear factor-κB and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 by HMGB1.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these results indicate that P. multiplex containing polyozellin could be commercialized as functional food for preventing and treatment of various severe vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the HMGB1 signaling pathway.

Structural revision of kynapcin-12 by total synthesis, and inhibitory activities against prolyl oligopeptidase and cancer cells

Kynapcin-12 is a prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) inhibitor isolated from Polyozellus multiplex, and its structure was assigned as 1 having a p-hydroquinone moiety by spectroscopic analyses and chemical means. This Letter describes the total syntheses of the proposed structure 1 for kynapcin-12 and 2',3'-diacetoxy-1,5',6',4″-tetrahydroxy-p-terphenyl 2 isolated from Boletopsis grisea, revising the structure of kynapcin-12 to the latter. These syntheses involved double Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, CAN oxidation, and LTA oxidation as key steps. The inhibitory activities of synthetic compounds against POP and cancer cells were also evaluated.

Parallel and combinatorial liquid-phase synthesis of alkylbiphenyls using pentaerythritol support

Unfunctionalized alkylbiphenyls were fabricated by a parallel and combinatorial synthesis using pentaerythritol as a tetrapodal soluble support for a sulfonate-based traceless multifunctional linker system. Nickel N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed reactions of pentaerythritol tetrakis(biphenylsulfonate)s with primary alkylmagnesium bromides generated the alkylbiphenyl derivatives by desulfitative cleavage/cross-coupling of the C-S bond without any "memory" of the attachment on the support. Though the reactions were completed with sufficient yields in 12 h at room temperature, even with only 1.5 equiv of nucleophiles, they still retained the benefits of facile isolation observed in polymer-supported reactions.

Potential anti-angiogenesis effects of p-terphenyl compounds from Polyozellus multiplex

One novel p-terphenyl compound, polyozellic acid (1), and its acetone adduct (3), along with a known p-terphenyl compound, thelephoric acid (2), were isolated from the mushroom Polyozellus multiplex. Their molecular structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and chemical modification. In some assays related to angiogenesis, compounds 1 and 2 in particular showed inhibitory effects on proliferation, tubule formation, and invasion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The quinone moiety within these molecules possibly contributes to their antiangiogenesis activity.

New bioactive compounds from korean native mushrooms

Mushrooms are ubiquitous in nature and have high nutritional attributes. They have demonstrated diverse biological effects and therefore have been used in treatments of various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, bacterial and viral infections, and ulcer. In particular, polysaccharides, including β-glucan, are considered as the major constituents responsible for the biological activity of mushrooms. Although an overwhelming number of reports have been published on the importance of polysaccharides as immunomodulating agents, not all of the healing properties found in these mushrooms could be fully accounted for. Recently, many research groups have begun investigations on biologically active small-molecular weight compounds in wild mushrooms. In this mini-review, both structural diversity and biological activities of novel bioactive substances from Korean native mushrooms are described.

Traceless Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Biphenyls and Terphenyls Using Pentaerythritol as a Tetrapodal Soluble Support

Application of a novel sulfonate-based traceless multifunctional linker system using pentaerythritol as a tetrapodal soluble support was demonstrated using liquid-phase parallel and combinatorial preparation of biphenyl and terphenyl compounds. Nickel-catalyzed reactions of pentaerythritol tetrakis(arenesulfonate)s with arylmagnesium bromides generated the desired products in sufficient yields through reductive cleavage/cross-coupling of the C-S bond. Homogeneous pentaerythritol-supported reactions could be accomplished using less nucleophile with shorter reaction periods than could the corresponding heterogeneous polymer-supported reactions. This liquid-phase approach using a small polyfunctionalized support combines advantages of solution-phase and solid-phase syntheses by allowing high reactivity, high atom economy, simple isolation, and real-time monitoring of the reaction progress.

New diterpene isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid and its prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity

The ethanolic extract of the bulbs of Fritillaria imperialis was subjected to fractionation by solvent-solvent extraction. The nonpolar fraction showed inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) (EC.3.4.21.26), a large intracellular enzyme that preferentially hydrolyze proline-containing oligopeptidase at the carboxylic side of a prolyl residue. We have isolated a diterpenoid isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid (1) from the nonpolar fraction of F. imperialis, and on methylation of compound 1, a methylester 2 was obtained which is a known compound previously isolated from Fritillaria thunbergii. The present article describes the isolation and structural elucidation of isopimara-7,15-dien-19-oic acid (1) by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques along with its prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory activity.

A prolyl endopeptidase-inhibiting antioxidant from Phyllanthus ussurensis

A prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor was isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Phyllanthus ussurensis. The active compound was identified as an ellagitannin, corilagin. It was shown to non-competitively inhibit prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) with the IC50 value of 1.17x10(-6) microM. The Ki value was 6.70x10(-7) M. Corilagin was less inhibitory to other serine proteases such as chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase, indicating that it was relatively a specific inhibitor of PEP. Corilagin also effectively inhibited reactive oxygen species such as hydroxide and superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, and DPPH. Especially, corilagin showed potent scavenging activity on the superoxide anion radical in the ESR method (IC50 = 3.79x10(-6) M) as well as xanthine oxidase system.

Thelephantins D-H: five p-terphenyl derivatives from the inedible mushroom Thelephora aurantiotincta

Five p-terphenyl derivatives named thelephantins D-H (1-5) together with nine known compounds, thelephantins A-C (6-8), ganbajunin E (9), p-hydroxylbenzoic acid (10), ganbajunin C (11), thelephorin A (12), 2-O-methylatromentin (13) and atromentin (14), were isolated from the methanolic extract of fruit bodies of the Thelephoraceous Basidiomycete Thelephora aurantiotincta. Their structures were elucidated by high-resolution MS, 2D NMR, IR and UV spectroscopic analysis.

Thelephantins A, B and C: three benzoyl p-terphenyl derivatives from the inedible mushroom Thelephora aurantiotincta

Three benzoyl p-terphenyl derivatives named thelephantins A, B and C were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of fruit bodies of the Thelephoraceous Basidiomycete Thelephora aurantiotincta. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of high-resolution 2D NMR, MS, IR and UV spectra.