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).

Two new xanthones: mangostanaxanthones I (3) and II (5) were isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana, along with four known xanthones: 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone (1), parvifolixanthone C (2), -mangostin (4), and rubraxanthone (6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, UV, 1D, 2D NMR, and MS spectroscopic data, in addition to comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and quorum-sensing inhibitory activities. Compounds 3 and 5 displayed promising antioxidant activity with IC50 12.07 and 14.12 µM, respectively using DPPH assay. Compounds 4–6 had weak to moderate activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while demonstrated promising action against Bacillus cereus with MICs 0.25, 1.0, and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The tested compounds were inactive against Candida albicans. However, they showed selective antifungal potential toward Aspergillus fumigatus. Compounds 3 and 4 possessed quorum-sensing inhibitory activity against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472.

In continuation of our ongoing efforts to identify bioactive compounds from Red Sea marine organisms, a new collection of the ascidian Didemnum species was investigated. Chromatographic fractionation and HPLC purification of the CH2Cl2 fraction of an organic extract of the ascidian resulted in the identification of two new spiroketals, didemnaketals F (1) and G (2). The structure determination of the compounds was completed by extensive study of 1D (1H, 13C, and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR experiments in addition to high-resolution mass spectral data. Didemnaketal F (1) and G (2) differ from the previously reported compounds of this class by the lack the terminal methyl ester at C-1 and the methyl functionality at C-2. Instead, 1 and 2 possess a methyl ketone moiety instead of the terminal ester. Furthermore, didemnaketal F possesses a disubstituted double bond between C-2 and C-3, while the double bond was replaced by a secondary alcohol at C-3 in didemnaketal G. In addition, they possess the unique spiroketal/hemiketal functionality which was previously reported in didemnaketal E. Didemnaketals F (1) and G (2) displayed moderate activity against HeLa cells with of IC50s of 49.9 and 14.0 µM, respectively. In addition, didemnaketal F (1) displayed potent antimicrobial activity against E. coli and C. albicans. These findings provide further insight into the biosynthetic capabilities of this ascidian and the chemical diversity as well as the biological activity of this class of compounds.

Two new spiroketals, didemnaketals D (1) and E (2) were isolated from a marine ascidian species belonging to the genus Didemnum. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive 1D (1H, 13C, and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and ROESY) NMR studies and high-resolution mass spectroscopic data. The new didemnaketals differ from the reported ones in which that they lack the methyl functionality at C-6 and the hydroxy moiety at C-21. Instead, they possess an ester moiety at C-6 in addition to new oxygen functionality at C-20 of the didemnaketals. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their protein kinase inhibitory activity against different kinases (CDK5, CK1, DyrK1A, and GSK3) at 10 µg/mL. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate activity against these kinases. In addition, the compounds displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively.