Three new ylangene-type sesquiterpenoids: dendronephthol A (7,13-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro--ylang-5-one) (1), dendronephthol B (6,7,13-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro--ylangene) (2), and dendronephthol C (6,7,13-trihydroxy--ylang-5-one) (3), together with two known compounds: dendronesterone A and cholesterol were isolated from the CHCl3 fraction of Red Sea soft coral Dendronephthya sp. (Nephtheidae). The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic studies (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) as well as MS spectroscopy and by comparison of the spectral data with those of related known compounds. Compounds 1 and 3 showed cytotoxic activity against the murine lymphoma L5187Y cancer cell line with ED50 values of 8.4 and 6.8 µg/mL, respectively.

One new compound, (2S)-1-O-(Z)-tetracos-6-enoate glycerol (1) named urgineaglyceride A, along with six known compounds, 3,5,7,3',5'-pentahydroxydihydroflavonol (2), stigmasterol (3), (25S)-5-furostane-3-22-26-triol (4), scillaridin A (5), (2S)-(+)-2-hydroxynaringenin-4'-O--D-glucopyranoside (6) and quercetin-3'-O--Dglucopyranoside (7), were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn bulbs. Their structures were secured based on their IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR data, in addition to HR-MS data and comparison with the literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity against A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), U373 glioblastoma (GBM) and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. Compounds 2 and 3 displayed variable activities against the tested cancer cell lines. Compound 2 was a selective inhibitor of the NSCLC cell line with an IC50 of 2.3 µM, whereas 3 was selective against GBM with IC50 of 0.5 µM and against PC-3 with 2.0 µM.

In our search for bioactive metabolites from marine organisms, we have investigated the polar fraction of the organic extract of the Red Sea sponge Theonella swinhoei. Successive chromatographic separations and final HPLC purification of the potent antifungal fraction afforded a new bicyclic glycopeptide, theonellamide G (1). The structure of the peptide was determined using extensive 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectral determinations. The absolute configuration of theonellamide G was determined by chemical degradation and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Theonellamide G showed potent antifungal activity towards wild and amphotericin B-resistant strains of Candida albicans with IC50 of 4.49 and 2.0 μM, respectively. Additionally, it displayed cytotoxic activity against the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HCT-16) with IC50 of 6.0 μM. These findings provide further insight into the chemical diversity and biological activities of this class of compounds.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) leaves resulted in the isolation and identification of two new compounds: 5-methyl-2,2',5',2'',5'',2''',5''',2''''-quinquethiophene (1) and quercetagetin-6-O-(6-O-caffeoyl--D-glucopyranoside) (9), in addition to seven known compounds: quercetin-3,6-dimethyl ether (2), quercetin-3-methyl ether (3), quercetin (4), axillarin-7-O--D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetagetin-3,7-dimethoxy-6-O--D-glucopyranoside (6), quercetagetin-7-methoxy-6-O--D-glucopyranoside (7), and quercetagetin-6-O--D-glucopyranoside (8). The compounds were identified by UV, IR, 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectral data. They showed significant antioxidant activity, comparable with that of propyl gallate. Compounds 8 and 3 showed weak to moderate antileishmanial and antimalarial activities, with IC50 values of 31.0 μg/mL and 4.37 μg/mL, respectively.

We have studied the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanolic extract of the root barks of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) from Egypt. Bioassay-directed fractionation and final purification of the extract resulted in the identification of a new cardenolide glycoside named proceraside A (1) together with two known compounds, frugoside (2) and calotropin (3). Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR studies and mass spectrometric data. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against A549 non-small cell lung cancer, U373 glioblastoma and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. They showed potent activity against the tested cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 0.005 to 0.3 µg/mL. Cisplatin was used as positive control.

Eight phenolic compounds were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of the aerial parts of Primula elatior L. (Primulaceae) cultivated in Egypt. Their structures were established as kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), 5-hydroxy pyrogallol (3), gallic acid methyl ester (4), gallic acid (5), 4`-methoxy kaempferol-3-O--glucuronopyranoside (6), kaempferol-3-O--glucuronopyranoside (7), and quercetin-3-O--glucuronopyranoside (8). Three of these compounds (6-8) have been isolated for the first time from the genus Primula. Their structures were confirmed by comparison of their chromatographic properties, chemical and spectroscopic data (UV, 1H, and 13C NMR) with those reported in the literature. The isolated flavonoids 1, 2, and 6-8 were found to exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This is the first report about the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 6-8.

Phytochemical investigation of the cytotoxic fractions of fresh bulbs of Pancratium maritimum L. led to the isolation and structure identification of two new compounds, pancricin (1) and pancrichromone (4), together with four known compounds, including 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl acetophenone (2), 5-formylfurfuryl acetate (3), 7--D-glucosyloxy-5-hydroxy-2-methylchromone (5), and ethyl--D-glucopyranoside (6). Their structures were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), as well as HR mass spectral analyses. The compounds were evaluated for their antimigratory and antiproliferative activities against the highly metastatic human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3M). Compound 5 was the most active compound displaying good activity in the proliferation assay comparable to that of the positive control 4-hydroxyphenylmethylene hydantoin, while it displayed only weak antimigratory activity compared to the positive control 4-ethylmercaptophenylmethylene hydantoin.

One of the most critical problems of throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries is the increase in human population. Fertility control is an issue of global and national public health concern. Sexual and reproductive health is a prerequisite of all goals because it has a direct link to social, economic and human development. Family planning has been prompted through several methods of contraception, but due to adverse effects produced by synthetic steroidal contraceptives attention has now been focused in indigenous plants for possible contraceptive effect. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of contraceptive. This review attempts to focus on the potential of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles.

Re-investigation of the EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Kleinia odora led to the isolation of two new triterpenes; klodorone A (3) and klodorol A (4), together with two known compounds: -amyrin (1) and germanicol (2), which were reported from this plant for the first time. Their structures were determined by using extensive 1D (1H, 13C and DEPT) and 2D (1H–1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR and mass spectral measurements in addition to comparison of their data with the literature.

Two new fusicoccane diterpenes hypoestenonols A (1) and B (2), along with two known compounds verticillarone (3) and hypoestenone (4) were isolated from the n-hexane fraction of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Hypoestes forskalei (Acanthaceae) growing in Saudi Arabia. The structures were established by UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D (1H and 13C NMR) and 2D (1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) NMR experiments, in addition to comparison with literature data. The total MeOH extract and isolated compounds were tested for their antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activities. The MeOH extract showed moderate activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma brucei with IC50 values of 8.8, 8.1, 9.1 and 8.1 µg/mL without cytotoxicity (IC50 >64 µg/mL on MRC5 cells). A very weak in vitro antiplasmodial effect was observed for hypoestenonol A (1) (IC50 18.9 µM), verticillarone (3) (IC50 25.1 µM), and hypoestenone (4) (IC50 16.7 µM).