Records of Natural Products Articles

The floral essential oils of Brugmansia suaveolens, from Monteverde , Costa Rica , were collected at three different times of the day by hydrodistillation and the oils analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The floral essential oil showed a dramatic change in composition between the freshly opened night (white) blossoms and the rose-colored senescent blossoms the following day. The white blossoms were dominated by 1,8-cineole (72.1%), (E)-nerolidol (11.7%), a -terpineol (5.3%), and phenethyl alcohol (3.2%), notably different from headspace analyses of B. suaveolensreported previously. The floral essential oil from “rose-colored” senescent blossoms of B. suaveolens showed dramatic decreases in 1,8-cineole (2.0%), (E)-nerolidol (1.9%), and phenethyl alcohol (not detected), with concomitant increases in heptanal (10.2%), nonanal (17.4%), terpinen-4-ol (10.5%), and megastigmatrienones (35.5%).

The effect of Adenanthera pavonina (AP) seed extract on the blood pressure of normotensive rats was evaluated. Twelve adult male Wistar rats divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each were used and were treated orally with normal saline (control group), propanolol (positive control, and was given at 1mg/kg) and 200mg/kg of AP seed extract over a 4- week period. Condon manometer was used to measure the mean arterial blood pressure. The mean arterial blood pressure of the normal saline treated animal was 60mmHg, those of propanolol treated animals was 23mmHg while the 200mg/kg extract treated group was 30mmHg. Phytochemical screening showed that the extract contained cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Cyanogenetic glycosides and anthraquinones were absent. The sodium level for the 200mg/kg group was significantly lower than that of control group. The total bilirubin, total protein and the globulin fraction were significantly higher in the extract treated groups compared to the control group. Histopathological examination showed that the extract did not cause any significant lesion changes in the liver, kidney and even the testes. The study showed that Adenantherapavonina seed extract have the potential to cause a blood pressure lowering effect. The serum biochemistry changes may suggest that the extract has a tonic effect on the kidneys and the liver and these organs play central role in drug metabolism. Absence of significant lesion in the kidney, liver and testes may indicate that the plant is safe for medicinal use.

The antifeedant activities of the Erythrina alkaloids from the seeds, seed pods and flowers of Erythrina latissima were investigated in laboratory dual- choice bioassays using third-instar Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae. The new compound (+)-11β-methoxy-10-oxoerysotramidine (1) from the flowers, showed potent dose dependant activity at concentration >=500 pm while (+)-10,11-dioxoerysotramidine (2) also new from the flowers showed potent dose dependant activity at concentration >= 100 ppm. Three known compounds (+)-erysotrine, (+)-erysotramidine, (+)-erythraline, (+)-11β-hydroxyerysotramidine showed potent dose dependant antifeedant activity at concentrations >= 100 ppm while (+)-10,11-dioxoerysotrine and (+)-11 b-hydroxyerysotramidine also a known compounds showed potent dose dependant antifeedant activity at concentrations >= 100 ppm. Three known compounds (+)-11β-methoxyerysotramidine, (+)-8-oxoerythraline and (+)-15(16) b -D-glucoerysodine showed no appreciable change in antifeedant activity with concentration change.

The antifeedant activities of the Erythrina alkaloids from the seeds, seed pods and flowers of Erythrina latissima were investigated in laboratory dual- choice bioassays using third-instar Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae. The new compound (+)-11β-methoxy-10-oxoerysotramidine (1) from the flowers, showed potent dose dependant activity at concentration >=500 pm while (+)-10,11-dioxoerysotramidine (2) also new from the flowers showed potent dose dependant activity at concentration >= 100 ppm. Three known compounds (+)-erysotrine, (+)-erysotramidine, (+)-erythraline, (+)-11β-hydroxyerysotramidine showed potent dose dependant antifeedant activity at concentrations >= 100 ppm while (+)-10,11-dioxoerysotrine and (+)-11 b-hydroxyerysotramidine also a known compounds showed potent dose dependant antifeedant activity at concentrations >= 100 ppm. Three known compounds (+)-11β-methoxyerysotramidine, (+)-8-oxoerythraline and (+)-15(16) b -D-glucoerysodine showed no appreciable change in antifeedant activity with concentration change.

Methanol extract from aerial parts of Sideritis libanotica Labill. subsp. linearis (Bentham) Borm. were investigated for its in vitro antiproliferative activities against Vero, HeLa and C6 cells. The tests were carried out as dose-dependent assay starting from 25 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL. The extract found to be active against African green monkey kidney (Vero), human uterus carcinoma (HeLa) and Rat Brain tumor cells (C6) cancer cell lines with IC 50 values. The methanol extract of S. libanotica showed the highest activity against the Vero, HeLa and C6 cell lines at 250 µg/mL as dose-dependent assay starting from 25 µg/mL.

Chemical constituents of rhizomes of Alpinia oxymitra (Zingiberaceae) were investigated. Using chromatographic techniques, two known flavonoids, epicatechin and galloepicatechin, were isolated together with a new calamenene sesquiterpene, (–)-(1R,4S)-8-hydroxy-13-calamenenoic acid. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was accomplished by means of spectroscopic techniques, especially NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

 Chemical and biological investigations of the endophytic fungus of an unidentified Ascomycete, isolated from Meliotus dentatus led to the isolation of six known polyketide metabolites (1–6) and two steroids (7 and 8). Compounds 1–3, and 5 were tested for antibacterial, antialgal and antifungal activities. Compounds 2 , 3, and 5 showed good activity against the alga Chlorella fusca, while compounds 2 and 3 were active against the Gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli and compounds 3 and 5 also against the Gram positive Bacillus megaterium. Similarly, c ompounds 3 and 5 also showed antifungal activity against Microbotryum violaceum

One of author’s name in this article has been printed wrongly. The name of Ludger Wessjohan should be written as Ludger Wessjohann. The authors apologize for this error.

One of author’s name in this article has been printed wrongly. The name of Ludger Wessjohan should be written as Ludger Wessjohann. The authors apologize for this error.