New Polyesterified Ursane Derivatives from Leaves of Maesa membranacea and Their Cytotoxic Activity

Maesa membranacea A. DC. (Primulaceae) is a plant species that has been frequently used by practitioners of the traditional ethnobotany knowledge from northern and central Vietnam. However, the chemical constituents of the plant remained unknown until recently. Chromatographic separation of a chloroform-soluble fraction of extract from leaves of M. membranacea led to the isolation of two new polyesterified ursane triterpenes (1–2) and two known apocarotenoids: (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (3) and (+)-vomifoliol (4). The chemical structures of the undescribed triterpenoids were elucidated using 1D and 2D MNR and HRESIMS spectral data as 2α,6β,22α-triacetoxy-11α-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-urs-12-ene-3α,20β-diol (1) and 2α,6β,22α-triacetoxy-urs-12-ene-3α,11α,20β-triol (2). The newly isolated triterpenoids were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against two melanoma cell lines (HTB140 and A375), normal skin keratinocytes (HaCaT), two colon cancer cell lines (HT29 and Caco-2), two prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3) and normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT-2). Doxorubicin was used as a reference cytostatic drug. The 2α,6β,22α-triacetoxy-11α-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-urs-12-ene-3α,20β-diol demonstrated cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cell lines (Du145—IC₅₀ = 35.8 µg/mL, PC3—IC₅₀ = 41.6 µg/mL), and at a concentration of 100 µg/mL reduced viability of normal prostate epithelium (PNT-2) cells by 41%.

Allobetulone rearrangement to l8αH,19βH-ursane triterpenoids with antiviral activity

Allobetulone E-ring rearrangement under treating with HClO₄ in Ac₂O under reflux afforded new triterpenoids: 3,28-diacetoxy-21-acetyl-2(3),20(21)-18α,19βH-ursandiene 3 and 3,28-diacetoxy-2(3),18(19)-oleandiene 4. 18α,19βH-Ursanes were transformed at A- and E-rings into indolo- and bis-furfurylidene 7 derivatives. Structure elucidation was performed using COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC experiments, and X-Ray analysis for 3. The potential of newly obtained 18α,19βH-ursanes was evaluated against HCMV and HPV-11, the NCI-60 cancer cell panel and inhibition of α-glucosidase. All of the compounds have shown viral inhibition towards HCMV compared to standard drug Acyclovir. 3β-Acetoxy-21β-acetyl-20β,28-epoxy-18α,19βН-ursane 1 showed moderate activity (EC₅₀ 4.87 μM) towards the HCMV-resistant isolate (GDGr K17) compared to standard drug Cidofovir and was four times more potent than Ganciclovir. Compound 7 inhibited the cell growth of the three melanoma and one colon cancer cell. 3-Oxo-21β-acetyl-20β,28-epoxy-18α,19βН-ursane 5 and compound 7 inhibited α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ 28.0 µM and 4.0 µM being from 6 to 44 times more active than acarbose.

Symplocosins C-P: Fourteen Triterpene Saponins from the Leaves of Symplocos cochinchinensis var. philippinensis

Extensive phytochemical work on the 1-BuOH-soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of the leaves of Symplocos cochinchinensis var. philippinensis resulted in the isolation of 14 new triterpenene saponins, along with four known ones. Their structures were elucidated by comparison of NMR spectroscopic data with related compounds reported in the literature. Three oleanane-type saponins, symplocosins K, M, and P, possessed glucuronic acid as a sugar component, and their carboxyl groups appeared as methyl esters. These are probably formed during extraction and isolation procedures. Symplocosin K (9) showed moderate cytotoxicity toward A549 cells. In addition, all isolated compounds did not show α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Antimicrobial pentacyclic triterpenes and glycosides from the stem bark of Cussonia bancoensis

The stem bark of Cussonia bancoensis is used traditionally for the treatment of different types of infection and pain. A bioassay guided fractionation of the methanol stem bark extract led to the isolation of five pentacyclic triterpenes and glycosides identified based on spectroscopic data as 23-hydroxyursolic acid (CB1), hederagenin (CB2), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-echinocystic acid (CB3), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl- oleanolic acid (CB4) and 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-ursolic acid (CB5). CB2 - CB5 are being reported for the first time from this species. The compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against ten microorganisms using the HT-SPOTi method. CB3 demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. pyogens, E. faecalis, S. typhi and C. albicans at MICs between 3.12 and 12.5 µg/mL. Among the studied compounds, it was observed that hydroxylation of position C-16 of the oleanane skeleton may enhance antimicrobial activity. This study gives insight into the anti-infective constituents of the stem bark of C. bancoensis and justifies its use in ethnomedicine.[Formula: see text].

Cytotoxic activities of naturally occurring oleanane-, ursane-, and lupane-type triterpenes on HepG2 and AGS cells

Background:

It is well known that the naturally occurring modified triterpenes in plants have a wide diversity of chemical structures and biological functions. The lupane-, oleanane-, and ursane-type triterpenes are the three major members of natural triterpenes with a wide range of biological properties. A systematic approach is necessary to review their structures and biological activities according to the backbones and the different substituents.

Objective:

Thirty lupane-(L1-7), oleanane-(O1-14), and ursane-type (U1-9) triterpenes with structural diversity were examined to evaluate their cytotoxic activities against two cancer cell lines, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and AGS cells.

Materials and Methods:

They were isolated from Hedera helix, Juglans sinensis, and Pulsatilla koreana using a series of column chromatography methods and were treated to evaluate their cytotoxic activities against HepG2 and AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell. Further, two triterpenes showing the most potent activities were subjected to the apoptotic screening assay using flow cytometry.

Results:

The polar groups, such as an oxo group at C-1, a free hydroxyl at C-2, C-3, or C-23, and a carboxylic moiety at C-28, as well as the type of backbone, explicitly increased the cytotoxic activity on two cancer cells. O5 and U5 showed significantly the potent cytotoxic activity in comparison to other glycosidic triterpenes. In annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining assay, the percentage of late apoptosis (annexin-V+/PI+) 12 and 24 h after treatment with O5 and U5 at 25 μM increased from 14.5% to 93.1% and from 46.4% to 49.1%, respectively, in AGS cells. The cytotoxicity induced by O5 showed a significant difference compared to U5 for 12 and 24 h.

Conclusion:

In the study, we can suggest the potent moieties which influence their cytotoxic activities against two cancer cells. The polar groups at C-1, C-2, C-3, C-23, and C-28 and the linkage of sugar moieties influenced the different cytotoxic activities.

SUMMARY

Thirty naturally occurring oleanane-, ursane-, and lupane-type triterpenes were isolated from Hedera helix, Juglans sinensis, and Pulsatilla koreana

An oxo, a free hydroxyl, a carboxylic moiety, and the types of aglycone influenced the cell cytotoxicity

Corosolic acid and α-hederin showed the most potent cytotoxicity via apoptosis.

The ethanolic extract of Juglans sinensis leaves and twigs attenuates CCl4-induced hepatic oxidative stress in rats

Background:

The nuts of Juglans sinensis Dode, walnut tree, are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity on liver damages. However, hepatoprotective activity of the leaves and twigs of J. sinensis have not intensively studied yet.

Objective:

Hepatoprotective activity of the refined ethanolic extract of J. sinensis (JSE3) was evaluated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-intoxicated rats.

Materials and Methods:

Hepatotoxicity was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ for 6 weeks in the presence or absence of JSE3 (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight). The hepatoprotective activity of JSE3 was assessed by biochemical parameters including plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxide, reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione, along with histopathological studies on hepatic tissue.

Results:

JSE3 significantly decreased the elevated levels of AST and ALT and restored the reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes. JSE3 also decreased the amounts of collagen content accumulated by CCl₄ intoxication.

Conclusion:

These results suggested that the refined extract of J. sinensis may have a potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent to treat hepatic diseases, such as fatty liver and hepatic fibrosis.

Pentacyclic triterpene distribution in various plants - rich sources for a new group of multi-potent plant extracts

Pentacyclic triterpenes are secondary plant metabolites widespread in fruit peel, leaves and stem bark. In particular the lupane-, oleanane-, and ursane triterpenes display various pharmacological effects while being devoid of prominent toxicity. Therefore, these triterpenes are promising leading compounds for the development of new multi-targeting bioactive agents. Screening of 39 plant materials identified triterpene rich (> 0.1% dry matter) plant parts. Plant materials with high triterpene concentrations were then used to obtain dry extracts by accelerated solvent extraction resulting in a triterpene content of 50 - 90%. Depending on the plant material, betulin (birch bark), betulinic acid (plane bark), oleanolic acid (olive leaves, olive pomace, mistletoe sprouts, clove flowers), ursolic acid (apple pomace) or an equal mixture of the three triterpene acids (rosemary leaves) are the main components of these dry extracts. They are quantitatively characterised plant extracts supplying a high concentration of actives and therefore can be used for development of phytopharmaceutical formulations.