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The chloroform soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Tanacetum santolinoides afforded six sesquiterpene lactones. Tanacetolide A (1) was isolated for the first time from a natural source, in addition to five known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures were established on the basis of extensive studies of their 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY,HMQC, HMBC, HOHAHA and NOESY) NMR spectra and FAB mass spectral determinations. The compounds showed good cytotoxic activity when tested using the brine shrimp bioassay.

The chloroform soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Tanacetum santolinoides afforded six sesquiterpene lactones. Tanacetolide A (1) was isolated for the first time from a natural source, in addition to five known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures were established on the basis of extensive studies of their 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY,HMQC, HMBC, HOHAHA and NOESY) NMR spectra and FAB mass spectral determinations. The compounds showed good cytotoxic activity when tested using the brine shrimp bioassay.

A re-investigation of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Tanacetum santolinoides has resulted in the isolation of a new sesquiterpene, tanacetonic acid (1), along with three known methoxylated flavonoids. The structure of the isolated compounds was secured based on their IR, UV, 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HSQC and HMBC) NMR spectroscopic and FAB mass spectral characteristics. The new sesquiterpene showed a significant cytotoxic activity when tested using the brine shrimp bioassay,while the three flavonoids demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in the rat paw oedema test.

A new pholoroglucinol derivative named eucalyptone G (4) together with nine known compounds (1-3, 5-10) were isolated for the first time from the ethyl acetate fraction of the bark of small twigs of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Their chemical structures were established on the basis of physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods 1D (1H and 13C) NMR and 2D (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR in addition to mass spectrometry and comparison with literature data. Eucalyptone G displayed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Bioassay guided fractionation of the EtOAc fraction of the sponge Callyspongia aerizusa yielded seven new cytotoxic cyclic peptides callyaerins A–F (1–6) and H (8). Their structures were determined using extensive 1D (1H, 13C and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, TOCSY, and ROESY) NMR and mass spectral (ESI and HRESI-TOF) data. All compounds were cyclic peptides containing ring systems of 5–9 amino acids and side chains of 2–5 amino acids in length. An unusual (Z)-2,3-diaminoacrylic acid unit provided the template for ring closure and afforded the linkage to the peptidic side chain which was always initiated with a proline moiety. All peptides contained three or more proline residues and the remaining residues were predominantly hydrophobic residues with all amino acids present in the L form. Callyaerins A–F (1–6) and H (8) showed biological activity in antibacterial assays and in various cytotoxicity assays employing different tumour cell-lines (L5178Y, HeLa, and PC12). Callyaerins E (5) and H (8) exhibited strong activity against the L5178Y cell line with ED50 values of 0.39 and 0.48 lM, respectively. On the other hand, callyaerin A (1) showed strong inhibitory properties towards C. albicans

The chloroformic fraction of the roots of Centaurium spicatum L. afforded one new xanthone named 1,5,8- trihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyxanthone (1) together with six known xanthones (2–7), one of them isolated for the first time from a plant source (2). One secoiridoid glucoside (8) was also isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D (1H–1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities. Compound 6 displayed moderate antifungal activity against Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans with IC50 values of 12.8 and 17.9 mg/ml respectively.

The chloroformic fraction of the roots of Centaurium spicatum L. afforded one new xanthone named 1,5,8- trihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyxanthone (1) together with six known xanthones (2–7), one of them isolated for the first time from a plant source (2). One secoiridoid glucoside (8) was also isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D (1H–1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities. Compound 6 displayed moderate antifungal activity against Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans with IC50 values of 12.8 and 17.9 mg/ml respectively.

Chemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the rhizomes of Iris germanica L. (Iridaceae) afforded two new compounds; irigenin S (7) and iriside A (12), together with ten known compounds: stigmasterol (1), -irone (2), γ-irone (3), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxyacetophenone (4), irilone (5), irisolidone (6), irigenin (8), stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), irilone 4'-O--D-glucopyranoside (10) and iridin (11). Their structures were established by UV, IR, 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to mass spectroscopic data and comparison with literature data. The methanolic extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity. Both the methanolic extract and the isolated flavonoids were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity.