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Abstract: Dunalianosides A-I (1–9), esters of arbutin and related phenolic glucosides, were isolated from the buds of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight (Ericaceae) together with 20 known compounds, and their structures were established on the basis of 1- and 2D NMR spectroscopic evidence. Dunalianosides F–H were dimers of p-hydroxyphenyl 6-O-trans-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). The latter was obtained in extraordinary high yield (22% of dry weight), and dunalianoside I (9) was found to be a conjugate of arbutin with an iridoid glucoside. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to clarify the mechanism for formation of catechin oligomers during the fermentation stage of black tea manufacture, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, the most abundant tea flavanol in fresh tea leaves, was enzymatically oxidized and the resulting unstable quinone metabolites were converted to phenazine derivatives by treatment with o-phenylenediamine. In addition to formation of monomeric and dimeric derivatives, four trimeric derivatives were isolated whose structures were determined by application of spectroscopic methods. The derivatives differed from each other in the location of the phenazine moieties and in the atropisomerism of the biphenyl bond. The results suggested that oxidative coupling of the galloyl group with the B-ring proceeds by a quinone dimerization mechanism similar to that for production of theasinensins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Seven galloyl, caffeoyl and (S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) esters of dihydrochalcone glucosides were isolated from Balanophora tobiracola; based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence, their structures were determined to be 6″-O-galloyl-, 3″,4″-di-O-galloyl-, 4″,6″-di-O-galloyl-, 4″,6″-O-(S)-HHDP-, 3″-O-galloyl-4″,6″-O-(S)-HHDP-, 3″-O-caffeoyl-4″,6″-O-(S)-HHDP-3-hydroxyphloretin 4′-O-β-d-glucosides and 3″-O-galloyl-4″,6″-O-(S)-HHDP-phloretin 4′-O-β-d-glucoside, respectively. By contrast, these compounds were not found in the taxonomically related B. japonica. The 3″-galloyl-4″,6″-HHDP esters of the dihydrochalcone glucosides showed strong inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase. Four known compounds were also isolated namely, (±)-eriodictyol 7-O-β-d-glucoside, 1-O-caffeoyl-3-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose, phloretin 4′-O-β-d-glucoside, and 3-hydroxyphloretin 4′-O-β-d-glucoside. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Triterpene hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) esters have only been isolated from Castanopsis species, and the distribution of these esters in nature is of chemotaxonomical interest. In this study, the chemical constituents of the leaves of Castanopsis fissa were examined in detail to identify and isolate potential HHDP esters. Together with 53 known compounds, 3,4-di-O-galloyl-1-O-purpurogallin carbonyl quinic acid (1) and 3,24-(S)-HHDP-2α,3β,23,24-tetrahydroxytaraxastan-28,20β-olide (2) were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The polyphenols of the leaves were mainly composed of galloyl quinic acids, triterpenes HHDP esters, ellagitannins and flavonol glycosides. In particular, the isolation yields of 1,3,4-trigalloyl quinic acid and compound 2 were 1.53% and 0.27%, respectively, from the fresh leaves. The presence of lipid soluble HHDP esters of oleanane-type triterpenes as one of the major metabolites is an important chemotaxonomical discovery. Lipase inhibition activities and ORAC values of the major constituents were compared. The triterpene HHDP ester showed moderate lipase inhibition activity and myricitrin gave the largest ORAC value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tea leaf is rich in pyrogallol-type catechins, and their oxidation is important in the generation of black tea polyphenols. In the present study, the enzymatic oxidation of three pyrogallol-type catechins, (+)- and (−)-gallocatechins and (−)-epigallocatechin, was compared. The reactions yielded unstable quinone products, which were trapped as condensation products with o-phenylenediamine. The oxidation of (+)-gallocatechin proceeded very slowly compared to the reaction of (−)-epigallocatechin, and yielded a proepitheaflagallin-type dimer as the major product, though oxidation of (−)-epigallocatechin gave predominantly dehydrotheasinensin C. The cis-configuration of the C-3 hydroxyl group and the B-ring of (−)-epigallocatechin was apparently crucial for rapid and selective production of dehydrotheasinensin C. Oxidation of (−)-gallocatechin proceeded in a manner similar to that of (+)-gallocatechin, and produced an enantiomer of the (+)-gallocatechin product. The results suggest that enzymes catalyze oxidation of the pyrogallol B-ring to the o-quinone, with subsequent non-enzymatic coupling reactions proceed under highly steric control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To understand the early steps of C27 brassinosteroid biosynthesis, metabolic experiments were performed with Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum seedlings, and with cultured Catharanthus roseus cells. [26, 28-2H6]Campestanol, [26-2H3]cholesterol, and [26-2H3]cholestanol were administered to each plant, and the resulting metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In all the species examined, [2H3]cholestanol was identified as a metabolite of [2H6]campestanol, and [2H3]cholest-4-en-3-one and [2H3]cholestanol were identified as metabolites of [2H3]cholesterol. This study revealed that cholestanol (C27 sterol) was biosynthesized from both cholesterol (C27 sterol) and campestanol (C28 sterol). It was also demonstrated that cholestanol was converted to 6-oxocholestanol, and campestanol was converted to 6-oxocampestanol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A detailed chemical investigation of Chinese Dragon’s Blood, which is a traditional medicine produced form the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis , yielded two chalcane–stilbene conjugates, named cochinchinenenes G and H, together with 25 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic examination. HPLC analysis of the resin indicated that the major constituents were a complex mixture of oligomeric polyphenols, which were detected as a broad hump on the base line of a HPLC chromatogram. 13 C NMR analysis indicated that the oligomers were mainly composed of oxygenated chalcane units. This suggestion was supported by the results of a thiol degradation experiment with mercaptoethanol, which yielded a thioether of 4-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-3-methoxyphenol. Furthermore, methylation followed by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopic analysis of the resulting fractions established the presence of at least one heptamer of chalcane units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ent-Eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, 8,11-dihydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesmane, 11-hydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesman-8-one and 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one, were isolated from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea, which has been used as an aromatic tree since at least the 18th century. On charring the wood, 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one was detected in the smoke. In the charred wood, the concentrations of ellagitannins, such as galloyl pedunculagin, dramatically decreased, whereas concentrations of pentagalloyl glucose, and other gallotannins were relatively stable. In addition, two other compounds, the 6′-O-m- and p-digalloyl oak lactone precursor and the 3-O-methylellagic acid 4′-O-(4″-O-galloyl)-xylopyranoside, were isolated from the charred wood along with m- and p-digallic acid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]