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The phytochemical investigation of the n-hexane, the EtOAc, and the n-BuOH soluble fractions of the methanolic extract of the arial parts of Perovskia abrotanoides Karelin furnished ten compounds including the two new tetracyclic diterpenes abrotandiol (7) and abrotanone (8) besides the known cirsimaritin (9), hespiridin (10), rosmarinic acid (11), stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol (12), stigmast-5,22-dien-3beta-ol (13), stigmast-5-en-3beta,7alpha-diol (14), ursolic acid (15) and betulinic acid (16). Compounds 7 and 8 both show a 6,5,6,6 ring skeleton with a trans-1,1-dimethylcyclohexano[e,b]tetrahydrofuran element perpendicular to a benzodihydropyran system. The complete structure elucidation of these compounds has been achieved with NMR techniques.

Three compounds, namely the interesting biflavanonol GB-2(naringenin 1-3, 11-8-dihydroquercetin, 1), 1-4',1-5,11-5,1-7,11-7-pentahydroxyflavanone(l-3,11-8)chromone [naringenin-(3 -8) 5,7-dihydroxychromone, 21 and stigmasterol, have been isolated from the leaves of Cratoxylum neriifolium Kurz. Compounds 1 and 2 show rotameric behavior due to the presence of a single bond between the highly substituted flavanone and flavanonol part and the flavanone and chromone part, respectively. Complete NMR spectral assignments of 1 and 2 have been done at 27 C and 90 C for the first time followed by a study of conformational behavior at room temperature by ROESY.

A new chlorine-containing guaianolide, chloroscoparin, was isolated from the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of CENTAUREA SCOPARIA Sieb. together with three known chlorine-containing guaianolides. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including (1)H-NMR-, 2D (1)H- (1)H COSY-, (13)C-NMR-, APT-, DEPT-, HETCOR-, long-range-HETCOR-, 2D INADEQUATE-, and mass spectra. The relative configuration was determined by 2D-NOESY studies. New NMR data for the known compounds are reported.

The root extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. and bryonolic acid (1), its main constituent, as well as the fruit juice and cucurbitacin B (3), its main constituent, were tested for cytotoxicity against four human breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, MCF7, T47D, and MDA-MB435), two lung cancer cell lines (A549 and SK-LU1), and one colon cancer cell line (Caco-2). The root extract had higher IC (50) values than bryonolic acid (1) against three breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 = 267/121, T47D = 316/124, MDA-MB435 = 140/90 microL/mL) and one lung cancer cell line (A549 = 106/100 microL/mL). The fruit juice also had higher IC (50) values than cucurbitacin B (3) against the four breast cancer cell lines (131/73, 375/35, 249/60, and 156/26 microL/mL, respectively) and one lung cancer cell line (141/41 microL/mL) as shown above, as well as against the colon cancer cell line (101/1.5 microL/mL). However, the root extract inhibited SK-LU1 more strongly than did the fruit juice, cucurbitacin B (3), and bryonolic acid (1) (149/169/180/>500 microL/mL, respectively). The root extract inhibited the two lung and three breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, MDA-MB435, and MCF7) more strongly than the fruit juice. Bryonolic acid (1) inhibited MDA-MB435 somewhat better than the other tested human cancer cell lines. The fruit juice inhibited the colon cancer cell line (Caco-2) more strongly than the root extract. Cucurbitacin (3) inhibited human cancer cell lines, especially Caco-2, much more strongly than bryonolic acid (1). In addition to bryonolic acid (1), bryononic acid (2), cucurbitacin B (3), and dihydrocucurbitacin B (4) also were isolated from the root extract.

Four new compounds, the limonoid 24-epi-melianodiol (8), the tirucallane aglaiodiol (9), and the two cyclopentatetrahydrobenzopyran derivatives pyramidaglain A (11) and B (12) were isolated from the leaves of Aglaia andamanica Hiern (Meliaceae), together with the eleven known constituents beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol glucoside, cycloart-23E-ene-3 beta,25-diol (1), three flavonoids 5-hydroxy-3,4',7-trimethoxyflavone (2), retusin (3) and pachypodol (4), the tirucallane 24-epi-piscidinol A (5), the lignan yangambin (6), the limonoid melianodiol (7), the bisamide pyramidatine (10) and the amino acid N-methyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (13). All structures were established by means of detailed spectroscopic analysis.

Three of ten sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the herb of Arctotis fastuosa (Asteraceae) belong to the heliangolide series. The first was identified as hirsutolide, the second is new and named dihydrohirsutolide, and the third, dichloromethyldihydrohirsutolide, is an artifact. The known degraded carotenoid loliolide was also isolated. Structures were established by spectroscopic methods including IR, 1D-/2D- 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, GHSQC, GHMBC, HREIMS and CD.

The new homoisoflavanone R(-)-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-5-hydroxy-6, 7,8-trimethoxychroman-4-one (1) was isolated from the petroleum ether and the diethyl ether extracts of the bulbs of Veltheimia viridifolia (Hyacinthaceae) together with the known homoisoflavanone muscomin (2). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of 1H-NMR, 2D 1H-1H-COSY, 13C-NMR, HMQC, HMBC, mass, and CD spectra. Pharmacological testings of the new homoisoflavanone are reported.

The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Centaurea scoparia Sieb. (Asteraceae) afforded five polyoxygenated flavones apigenin, luteolin, salvigenin, cirsimaritin, and hispidulin, the two lignans (-)-matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin together with omega-hydroxypropioguaiacone and vanillin. The structure elucidations of the isolated compounds are based on spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. Some proton and carbon signals are revised or newly reported.

Aerial parts of CENTAUREA SCOPARIA Sieb. afforded a new chlorinated guaianolide with an unusual isobutyl structural feature, diain ( 1), together with three known guaianolides, janerin ( 2), cynaropicrin ( 3), and deacylcynaropicrin ( 4). Structural assignments of the isolated compounds are based on spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectroscopy. New and revised (1)H- and (13)C-NMR data are reported.

The defatted ethanolic extract of the fresh flowers of Pancratium maritimum L. yielded the four known alkaloids lycorine, maritidine, lycoramine, and galanthamine. The structures of the isolated alkaloids were determined mainly through spectroscopic studies including one- and two-dimensional NMR (COSY, NOESY, DEPT, HETCOR, and HMBC) and CD techniques. Some spectral data are newly reported or revised.

The structure, relative and absolute configuration of bulbispermine from CRINUM BULBISPERMUM (Amaryllidaceae) is elucidated with spectroscopic techniques and via its methiodide, UV, CD, IR, MS, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR data, [alpha] (20)(D).

The stereochemistry of pancracine, from HIPPEASTRUM VITTATUM, has been fully characterized as free base and as its O, O-di-acetate by means of spectroscopic analyses and CD-data. Carbon magnetic resonance data provide a simple tool in differentiating the contained montanine skeleton from other alkaloid ring systems within the Amaryllidaceae.