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1 H NMR-guided fractionation of the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts from Hypericum hirsutum yielded to the isolation of 19 polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucinols. Structure elucidation based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy together with high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy revealed 14 acylphloroglucinols with a homoadamantane scaffold (1: -14: ), while 5 further compounds showed an adamantane skeleton (15: -19: ). Except for hookerione C (15: ), all isolated metabolites are hitherto unknown. While structurally-related metabolites have been isolated from other Hypericum species, it is the first report of admantan and homoadamantan type acylphloroglucinols in section Taeniocarpium Jaub. & Spach (Hypericaceae). The isolated compounds have been tested in a crystal violet-based in vitro assay on their properties to reduce the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells compared to hyperforin as the positive control. They showed a moderate reduction of proliferation with IC 50 values in the range ~ 3 - 22 µM, with the homoadamantane-based compounds 2: and 4: being the most active. In addition, inhibition of the TNF- α -induced ICAM-1 expression was determined for 1:  - 5, 7,: and 10:  - 12: . Substances 3: and 12: reduced the ICAM-1 expression significantly (to 46.7% of control for 3: , 62.3% for 12,: at 50 µM)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Thirteen prenylated acylphloroglucinols (1: -13: ), including 2 previously undescribed compounds (1: ) and (2: ), were isolated from Hypericum jovis. Their structures were elucidated by high-field NMR spectroscopy. The isolated prenylated acylphloroglucinols were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects in vitro through the reduction of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression induced by TNF- α in the human microvascular endothelial cells 1 cell line. Compounds 3, 5, 6, 8,: and 12: significantly reduced intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression in a concentration-dependent manner with IC 50 values of 16.9, 34.4, 4.0, 3.2, and 7.7 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 12: showed notable inhibitory activity on the formation of cyclooxygenase-1- and 12-lipoxygenase-derived inflammatory mediators in an ex vivo cyclooxygenase-lipoxygenase assay. Eleven further constituents were isolated (14: -24: ), including the rare quercetin 3-O-(2-O-acetyl)-arabinofuranoside (18: )., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Thirteen compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum kelleri Bald., growing as an endemic on the island of Crete (Greece). These compounds comprise four previously unknown prenylated xanthones 1,2-dihydro-3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1,1,5-tri(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthen-2,9-dione (kellerine A), 1,2-dihydro-3,6,8-trihydroxy-1,1,5-tri(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthen-2,9-dione (kellerine B), 1,2-dihydro-3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1,1-bi(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthen-2,9-dione (6-methylpatulone), (R/S)-1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-4-[2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-methylbut-3-enyl]-6-methoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one ((2″R/S)-kellerine C) and the hitherto undescribed depsidone (R/S)-1,3,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-4-[2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-methylbut-3-enyl]-11Η-dibenzo[b,e] [1,4]dioxepin-9-one ((2″R/S)-creticine). As known compounds, brevipsidone D, 4-geranyl-2-(2'-isobutyryl)-phloroglucinol, 4-geranyl-2-(2'-methylbutyryl)-phloroglucinol, I3, II8-biapigenin, quercetin, avicularin, pseudohypericin and neochlorogenic acid have been isolated. The structures were elucidated on the basis of their 1D, 2D NMR, CD and MS data. The study confirms the typical occurrence of xanthones in Hypericum section Oligostema (Boiss.) Stef., and is also the first report on the simultaneous isolation of acylphloroglucinols in this section. Furthermore the first evidence of depsidones in the genus Hypericum L. is reported. Cytotoxicity was investigated in HeLa cells for prenylated xanthones and the depsidones. Both triprenylated 1,2-dihydroxanthones (kellerine A and B) showed significant in vitro cytotoxicity with IC 50 values of 2.5 ± 0.1 (kellerine A) and 5.9 ± 0.9 (kellerine B) μM, whereas other compounds were less cytotoxic (IC 50  > 20 μM)., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A detailed phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum maculatum Crantz. led to the isolation of four new (2-5) and six known (1a/b, 6-10) polyprenylated phloroglucinol derivatives. The new compounds were identified by means of spectral methods (MS, NMR, IR, UV) as (E)-4-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl isobutyrate (2), (E)-2-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)-5-hydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl isobutyrate (3), (E)-4-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl 2-methylbutanoate (4) and (E)-2-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)-5-hydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl 2-methylbutanoate (5). The known compounds have been identified as hyperpolyphyllirin/hyperibine J (1a/b), erectquione A (6), (E)-1-(3-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien--yl)-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-methylpropan-1-one (7), (E)-1-(3-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)- 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutan-1-one (8), 1-(5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)chroman-8-yl)-2-methylpropan-1-one (9) and 1-(6,8-dihydroxy-1,1,4a-trimethyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-xanthen-5-yl)-2-methylpropan-1-one (10). The stereochemistry of 1a is described for the first time. The cytotoxicity of 1-6 on SKW-3, BV-173 and K-562 tumor cell lines was determined using MTT based assays.

The ¹H NMR-guided fractionation of a petroleum ether extract of Hypericum empetrifolium led to the isolation of four new bicyclic (1-4), four known bicyclic (5-8), three new tricyclic (9-11), and three new polycyclic acylphloroglucinols (12/13 and 14) possessing a monoterpenoid citran moiety. Compounds 12/13 were isolated as a mixture of two inseparable structural isomers. The compounds showed in vitro antiproliferative activity against human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) with IC₅₀ values in the range 9.2 ± 2.0 to 29.6 ± 3.5 μM.

One novel lavandulyl flavanone (=2,3-dihydro-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) with an unusual 5,2',4',6'-tetrahydroxy substitution, calycinigin A (1), was isolated from the stems of Hypericum calycinum L. (Hypericaceae). The structure was elucidated on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR analysis, as well as mass spectrometry (LR-EI- and HR-EI-MS) and circular dichroism. Three known lavandulyl flavanones with 5,7,2',4',6'-pentahydroxy substitution, i.e., 2-4, were also isolated. Chemosystematically, this is the first report on the occurrence of prenylated flavanones in the family Hypericaceae. Reduction of cell viability by all compounds was evaluated in a MTT (=3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay using HeLa cells. Compound 1 showed moderate activity with an IC₅₀ value of 9.7±1.8 μM, whereas compounds 2-4 were less active exhibiting IC₅₀ values of 11.6±0.9, 19.3±1.5, and 40.7±2.4 μM, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay, and calycinigin A (1) was again the most active compound with a Trolox equivalent of 2.3±0.2. None of the compounds was able to reduce the TNF-α induced ICAM-1 expression in vitro using human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1)., (Copyright © 2012 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.)

Five acylphloroglucinols substituted with monoterpenoids (empetrifelixin A-D and empetrikajaforin), three known monocyclic acylphloroglucinols and one monocyclic acylphloroglucinol were isolated from a petrol ether extract of Hypericum empetrifolium after fractionation by flash chromatography on silica gel, RP-18 and subsequent purification by preparative HPLC (RP-18). Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR techniques and HREIMS. To determine a possible anti-angiogenic activity, inhibition of cell proliferation was measured using a human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1). Subconfluent grown HMEC-1 cells were treated with all compounds isolated in sufficient amounts and stained with crystal violet. Highest activity was observed for empetrifelixin A and empetrifelixin D showing a concentration dependent inhibition of cell proliferation with IC(50) values of 6.5 ± 0.1 and 7.3 ± 0.4 μM, respectively. Empetrifelixin A also showed activity in a cell migration assay with HMEC-1 cells in low micromolar concentrations., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Upon activation, microglia, the immunocompetent cells in the brain, get highly phagocytic and release pro-inflammatory mediators like nitric oxide (NO). Excessive NO production is pivotal in neurodegenerative disorders, and there is evidence that abnormalities in NO production and inflammatory responses may at least support a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. Although extracts of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, notably for the treatment of depression, there is still considerable lack in scientific knowledge about the impact on microglia. We used N11 and BV2 mouse microglia, as well as RAW 264.7 macrophages to investigate the effects of St. John's wort extract and constituents thereof on NO production Moreover, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were employed to analyze the influence on phagocytosis, transcription factor activation states, and cell motility. We found that extracts of St. John's wort efficiently suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced NO release and identified hyperforin as the responsible compound, being effective at concentrations between 0.25 and 0.75 microM. The reduced NO production was mediated by diminished inducible nitric oxide synthase expression on the mRNA and protein level. In addition, at similar concentrations, hyperforin reduced zymosan phygocytosis to 20-40% and putatively acted by downregulating the CD206 macrophage mannose receptor and modulation of cell motility. We found that the observed effects correlate with a suppression of the activated state of Nf-kappaB and phospho-CREB, while c-JUN, STAT1, and HIF-1alpha activity and cyclooxygenase-2 expression remained unaffected by hyperforin. These results reveal that hyperforin influences pro-inflammatory and immunological responses of microglia that are involved in the progression of neuropathologic disorders.

As immunocompetent cells of the brain, microglia are able to counteract the damaging effects of amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease by phagocytosis-mediated clearance of protein aggregates. The survival and health of microglia are therefore critical for attenuating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. In a microglial cell line pretreated with St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) extract (HPE), the cell death evoked by treatment with amyloid-beta (25-35) and (1-40) was attenuated significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Investigation of the single compounds in the extract revealed that the flavanols (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin increase cell viability slightly, whereas the flavonol quercetin and its glycosides rutin, hyperosid and quercitrin showed no effect on cell viability. In contrast, at the same concentration, the flavonoids reduced the formation of amyloid-induced reactive oxygen species in microglia, indicating that improvement of cell viability by the catechins is not correlated to the antioxidant activity. No influence of HPE on the capacity of microglia to phagocytose sub-toxic concentrations of fibrillar amyloid-beta (1-40) was observed. Other experiments showed that HPE, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin can alter cellular membrane fluidity and thereby may have a beneficial effect on cell health. Our findings provide in vitro evidence that treatment especially with the complex plant extract HPE may restore or improve microglial viability and thereby attenuate amyloid-beta mediated toxicity in Alzheimer's disease.

Two new bicyclic acylphloroglucinol derivatives, hypercalyxone A (1-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2-(4-methyl-pent-3-enyl)-chroman-8-yl]-2-methyl-propan-1-one, 1) and B (1-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2-(4-methyl-pent-3-enyl)-chroman-8-yl]-2-methyl-butan-1-one, 2), have been isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum amblycalyx, together with two further compounds (1-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-pent-3-enyl)-chroman-8-yl]-2-methyl-propan-1-one, 3 and 1-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-pent-3-enyl)-chroman-8-yl]-2-methyl-butan-1-one, 4), which have been described only as semi-synthetic products. In addition, the known triterpene lup-20(29)-en-3-one was obtained. Structure elucidation was based on 1D and 2D NMR studies, as well as on data derived from mass spectrometry. The four acylphloroglucinol derivatives were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antibacterial activity. All compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against KB and Jurkat T cancer cells. Especially compounds 3 and 4 exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against different Gram-positive strains.

Two series of natural and natural-like mono- and bicyclic acylphloroglucinols derived from secondary metabolites in the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae) were synthesised and tested in vitro for anti-proliferative and tube-formation inhibitory activity in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). In addition, their anti-oxidative activity was determined via an ORAC-assay. The first series of compounds ( 4a – e ) consisted of geranylated monocyclic acylphloroglucinols with varying aliphatic acyl substitution patterns, which were subsequently cyclised to the corresponding 2-methyl-2-prenylchromane derivatives ( 5a and 5d ). The second series involved compounds containing a 2,2-dimethylchromane skeleton with differing aromatic acyl substitution ( 6a – d and 7a – e ). Compound 7a , (5,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-yl)-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanone), showed the highest in vitro anti-proliferative activity with an IC 50 of 0.88 ± 0.08 μM and a remarkable anti-oxidative activity of 2.8 ± 0.1 TE from the ORAC test. Interestingly, the high anti-proliferative activity of these acylphloroglucinols was not associated with tube-formation inhibition. Compounds ( E )-1-(3-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutan-1-one ( 4d ) and (5,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-yl)(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methanone ( 6a ) exhibited moderate to weak anti-proliferative effects (IC 50 11.0 ± 1 μM and 48.0 ± 4.3 μM, respectively) and inhibited the capillary-like tube formation of HMEC-1 in vitro , whereas 7a was inactive. The most active compound in the ORAC assay was 7c , which exhibited an anti-oxidative effect of 6.6 ± 1.0 TE. However, this compound showed only weak activity during the proliferation assay (IC 50 53.8 ± 0.3) and did not inhibit tube-formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven compounds were isolated from the aerial blooming parts of Hypericum trichocaulon Boiss. & Heldr., a narrow endemic plant of the island of Crete (Greece). These compounds comprise one previously undescribed prenylated phloroglycinol derivative (adhyperfoliatin), together with ten known compounds, procyanidin A 2 , hyperixanthone A, (E)-chlorogenic acid, trans -phytol, five flavonoids, i.e. I3,II8-biapigenin, quercitrin, hyperoside, rutin, myricitrin and one fatty acid. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR, as well as MS spectral analyses. Phloroglucinol derivatives are recognized as chemophenetic markers for the genus Hypericum, and the isolation of adhyperfoliatin contributes to the characterization of the section Drosocarpium Spach, where the under-investigation taxon belongs. Moreover, the investigation of the methanol extract led to the isolation of myricitrin in high amounts, a specialized metabolite which also serves as a marker for this section. [Display omitted] • Phytochemical study of Hypericum trichocaulon Boiss. & Heldr. • One undescribed phloroglycinol derivative and ten known compounds were isolated. • Adhyperfoliatin and myricitrin may serve as chemophenetic markers for the section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]