Search

Fractionation of the stem bark of Enantia chlorantha Oliv yields three alkaloids, palmatine (1), jatrorrhizine (2), columbamine (3), and β-Sitosterol (4). In this investigation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to evaluate the electronic structure and properties of 1–4 by DFT-B3LYP/6-31G level of theory using Gaussian 09 software. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), HOMO-LUMO energy difference (band gap), hardness (η), softness (S), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), hydrophobicity (logP), topological surface area (TPSA), and energy gap (Eg) were calculated. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was investigated against MCF-7 and HCT116 cancer cell lines using Wi-38 cells as a control. The compounds inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7 and HCT116 cell lines and induced apoptosis via upregulation of caspase-3, Bax, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Bcl-2. DFT analyses revealed that compounds 1 and 3 have smaller energy gaps, 0.072 and 0.071eV, respectively, with the highest dipole moments; hence, these compounds are more chemically reactive and exhibit better modulation of caspase-3 enzyme and inhibitory activities of the MCF-3 and HCT116 cell lines. The antimicrobial and antiparasitic evaluation of 1–4 showed moderate efficacy against the bacterial strains and moderate antiparasitic activity against Cichlidogyrus tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Available data suggests that there is no specific treatment in modern medicine. The present study aims to investigate the anti-SARSCoV-2 activity of Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts as well as their acute toxicity study. The phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was done using standard methods. The acute toxicity evaluation was done using Lorke method. The antiviral activity screening against SARS-CoV-2 was done by plaque assay with Vero-E6 cell line. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in both plants, while tannins and anthraquinone glycosides were absent. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by plaque assay with Vero (E6) cell line shows a reduction in the zones of cellular death for the extracts treated cells compared to the cells with the virus only. Acute toxicity test showed no death or abnormal behavioural changes in mice during and after 24 hours of extract administration. On the basis of the results obtained from the present study, both Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts are considered to have some level of inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 virus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of extracts of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) by in vitro assay methods. The powdered plant material was successively extracted to yield n-hexane extract (CG-HX), ethyl acetate extract (CG-EA), and methanol extract (CG-ME), respectively. The crude extract (CG-TE) was separately obtained from methanol. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, and reducing sugars. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in the CG-ME (122.559 mg GAE/g extract), followed by CG-TE (121.913 mg GAE/g extract), while the total flavonoids content (TFC) was highest in the CG-EA extract (159.351 mg QE/g). The percentage DPPH free radical scavenging assay shows that the potency of the CG-EA extract (95.4±0.40 %) was comparable to ascorbic acid (96.22±0.692 %), p<0.05. In the ferric powerreducing antioxidant assay, CG-TE (2.246±0.1796) and CG-ME (2.140±0.1227) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to others. The extracts significantly inhibited α-Amylase and glucose uptake in yeast cells in the in vitro study. This inhibitory potential was concentration-dependent with crude methanol extract (CG-TE) showing comparable inhibitory potency with Acarbose (45.7%) at 0.05 mg/mL but 40.10% at 4.00 mg/mL as against 51.27 % for Acarbose. Similarly, CG-TE was more potent than metronidazole, with percentage glucose uptake inhibitory potency of 50.13% and 76.465% at concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL and 4.00 mg/mL, respectively. We conclude that the plant extracts possess significant antidiabetic activity, which correlated with the antioxidant effects and could be further investigated for use in managing diabetes and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new 5-chloro-1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole-4-sulfonyl-8-quinolinoxide was synthesized starting from diethyloxalate via a four-reaction step. The new compound obtained in a simple and efficient procedure in the solvent and solvent-free with good yield and methanol served as a precipitating agent to isolate compound 2. The purity of 5- chloro-1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole-4-sulfonyl-8-quinolinoxide was tested by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Carbon-13 (C13) nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR), and DEPT 135 to confirm the presence and nature of CH2. The solvent-free reaction of compound 1 was better in relation to green chemistry and better yield. The presence of solvent responsible for a color change that differentiates between compound 1 and 2 as they have the same physical data, functional group, and the chemical shift studied. The newly synthesized compound was evaluated and screened in vitro against Gram-positive (methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial strains, and Candida albicans using the standard microbiological method. 5-Chloro-1-ethyl-2- methylimidazole-4-sulfonyl-8-quinolinoxide exhibited weak activities when compared with the standard drug ciprofloxacin and itraconazole used for many bacterial and fungal infections respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title cassane-type diterpenoid known as pulcherrimin C, C34H36O8·H2O, systematic name 5,6-bis(benzoyloxy)-4a-hydroxy-4,7,11b-trimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,11,11a,11b-dodecahydrophenanthro[3,2-b]furan-4-carboxylic acid monohydrate, was isolated as a monohydrate from the medicinally important plant Caesalpinia pulcherrima, found in the tropical regions of south and south-east Asia. The molecule is composed of three trans-fused sixmembered rings having chair, chair and half-chair conformations, and a fivemembered planar furan ring. In the crystal, O--H...O hydrogen bonds link molecules into chains parallel to the b axis. Weak C--H...π interactions are also observed. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the contribution of O...H interactions towards the total generated Hirshfeld surface is 21.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C29H36O5, a cassane-type diterpenoid {systematic name: (4aR,5R,6R,6aS,7R,11aS,11bR)-4a,6-dihydroxy-4,4,7,11b-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,- 4a,5,6,6a,7,11,11a,11b-dodecahydrophenanthro[3,2-b]furan-5-yl 3-phenylprop- 2-enoate}, was isolated from a medicinally important plant, Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Fabaceae). In the molecule, three cyclohexane rings are transfused and adopt chair, chair and half-chair conformations. In the crystal, molecules are linked via O--H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a tape structure along the b-axis direction. The tapes are further linked into a double-tape structure through C--H...π interactions. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the contributions to the crystal packing are H...H (65.5%), C...H (18.7%), O...H (14.5%) and C...O (0.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, C29H36O4 [systematic name (4aR,5R,6aS,7R,11aS,11bR)-4a-hydroxy-4,4,7,11b-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,11,11a,11b-dodecahydrophenanthro[3,2-b]furan-5-yl cinnamate], a natural diterpene known as pulcherrin J, was isolated from stem barks of medicinally important Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.). The crystal structure of pulcherrin J shows it to be composed of a central core of three trans-fused cyclohexane rings and a near planar five-membered furan ring, along with an axially oriented cinnamate moiety and an -hydroxy substituent attached at positions 4a and 5 of the steroid ring system, respectively. The absolute structure was established with the use of Cu Kα radiation. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O--H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate [100] C(8) chains. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most significant contacts in packing are H⋯H (67.5%), followed by C⋯H (19.6%) and H⋯O (12.9%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Caesalpiniaceae) is an ornamental plant with several ethnomedicinal uses. The present study was designed to investigate the brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity of oil obtained from C. pulcherrima root. The powdered root was extracted with methanol and then defatted with petroleum ether (40-60oC) to obtain a viscous oil. The oil was investigated for its brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity in vitro. The chemical constituents were identified by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The oil showed significant lethal effect against Artemia salina (Brine shrimp) with LC50 of 23.85 μg/mL and mild insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum and Callosbruchus analis with percentage mortality of 20% and 40% respectively at 1 mg/cm². GC-MS analysis identified 37 compounds mainly steroids, terpenoids and fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]