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Leishmaniasis is a major health problem worldwide with different clinical forms that depend on the parasite, the host's immune system, and immune-inflammatory responses. This study aimed to evaluate the secondary metabolites from Artemisia kermanensis Podlech by bioguided fractionation against Leishmania major. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on analysis of mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Antileishmanial activity were determined on promastigotes and amastigotes. Chemical structures of the isolated compound were as 1-Acetoxy-3,7-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-octa-2E,5E-dien-4-one for compound 1 and 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',6-trimethoxyflavone (Eupatilin) for compound 2, and 5,7,3'-Trihydroxy-6,4',5'-trimethoxyflavone for compound 3. Compound 2 were confirmed by significant activity with IC50 of less than 50 µg/ml for 24 and 48h in clinical form (amastigotes). Compound 3 demonstrated high susceptibility with an IC50 of less than 30 µg/ml for promastigotes for 24 h.The bioguided fractionation of A.Kermanensis resulted the isolation of potent antileishmanial agents with a low toxicity effect on macrophages. These plant metabolites can be a candidate as a drug for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Phytochemical analysis of Euphorbia gedrosiaca Rech.f., Aellen & Esfand., an Iranian endemic spurge, afforded the isolation of four myrsinane types diterpene polyesters. Two new compounds (1–2) were based on a myrsinane skeleton while the others (3–4) were known diterpenes based on a cyclomyrsinane backbone. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The isolated compounds were tested to evaluate their cell growth inhibitory activity and apoptotic effects on melanoma cell lines, B16F10 and A375. The IC50 values for compounds 1–4 were 58.45, 55.43, 86.52 and 82.27 μM, respectively, on B16F10, and 20.66, 21.88, 36.21 and 39.87 μM, respectively, on A375 cells. Non-treated cells were used as negative control (100% cell growth) and 5 nM Taxol were considered as a positive control.

Natural compounds and especially herbal medicine are of great interest due to their various biological effects and their potential to act as a drug for the treatment of various neoplasms especially breast cancer that we are facing with its increasing prevalence around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and cell death mechanism of some diterpenoids (Lathyrane or Tigliane) extracted from the Euphorbia sogdiana Popov against two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and 4T1. Determination the cytotoxic effects of four various diterpenoids was performed using MTT assay against MCF-7, 4T1, and HUVEC cell lines. The IC50 of each compound against cell lines was determined by drawing the dose-response graph using graph Pad prism software. Finally, the apoptotic effects of compound with the most cytotoxic effects was determined by flow cytometry assay for 24 hrs of incubation in IC50 concentration. Statistical analysis confirmed compound (3) with the most cytotoxicity against both cancer cell lines. The IC50 of compound (3) was determined as 10.1 ± 5, 28 ± 5, and 50 ± 3 µg/ml, for MCF-7, 4T1, and HUVEC cells, respectively. Furthermore, the cells treated with 5 and 10 μg/ml of compound (3) for 24 hrs, showed 49 and 57% of apoptosis. These surveyed compounds have the potential to be considered as useful anti-breast cancer agents due to the great cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects against related cancer cell lines and safety profile according to their rational selectivity index.

Introduction Cinnamic acids are a class of compounds based on phenyl propanoid backbone (C6-C3) isolated from plants and microorganisms, exhibiting interesting biological activities. Objective To characterise cinnamic acids through the phytochemical study of welsh onion, Allium fistulosum, and to evaluate their antibacterial and cytotoxic properties. Material and methods The phytochemical study of A. fistulosum was performed through chromatographic techniques, including reversed phase medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Preliminary analysis of crude chromatographic fractions from the organic extracts was carried out by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) in order to prioritise the study of those having phenyl propanoid skeleton. The structural identification of the isolated compounds was performed through analysis of spectroscopic data, mainly one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR. The antibacterial activity was assessed against gram negative (Escherichia coli) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria while the cytotoxic property was evaluated on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Results The 1 H-NMR study of crude fractions and application of a straightforward method to purify the phenyl propanoid compounds by reversed phase MPLC and HPLC, allowed the effortless isolation of several cinnamic acids, including two new rare phenolic imidates (1 and 2). The use of an entirely NMR approach for structural elucidation of the isolated metabolites allowed the isolated material to be kept for further pharmacological tests. Conclusion These results corroborate the importance of the use of 1D and 2D NMR to the identification of new phenyl propanoids, potential lead compounds against bacteria and cancer cells.

Throughout the centuries, people have used the dried stigma of Crocus sativus that is known as "saffron" for medicinal and nutritional purposes [1]. Studies have shown that not only is saffron well worth the money, but also, its bioactive compounds (including crocin, precrocin, and safranal that are responsible for color, taste and fragrance respectively) play a crucial role in the central nervous system to positively affect conditions such as anxiety and depression [2-5]. Saffron compounds are also neuroprotective and anxiolytic and can benefit learning and memory impairments [6].

Background: Artemisia kermanensis Podl. is a green aromatic perennial shrub that belongs to the family Asteraceae and it grows widely in central deserts and south-eastern mountains of Iran such as Taftan Mountain in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Artemisia species have been used traditionally as a remedy for various feverous diseases, including malaria, treatment of colds, infections, parasites, inflammations of the liver, as well as dyspepsia, diabetes, hypertension, and so many other conditions. Materials and Methods: Air-dried A. kermanensis extraction from all parts of the plant was done using different organic solvents. The methanolic extract was selected for isolation of flavonoids, using thin-layer chromatography. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on analysis of mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Results: Two flavone aglycones were isolated and identified for the first time from this plant's methanolic extract, including 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',6-trimethoxyflavone (eupatilin) and 5,7,3'-Trihydroxy-6,4',5'-trimethoxyflavone. Conclusions: Eupatilin is known for its anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In future researches on A. kermanensis, as a rich source of these flavone compounds, it is wise to investigate for the proven eupatilin's biological activities that have been mentioned.

An extensive phytochem. anal. of the polar exts. from bulbs of Welsh onion Allium fistulosum L. led to the isolation of nine saponins, four of them, named fistulosaponins G (1a/1b), H (2), I (3a/3b), and J (4), have never been reported previously. Fistulosaponins G and I were isolated as a couple of isomers in equil. On the basis of 2D NMR and mass spectrometry data, the structure of the novel compds. were elucidated as (25R)-26-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3β,22β-dihydroxyfurost-5-en-1β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1a) with its 22α epimer (1b), (25R)-26-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3β-hydroxyfurost-5,20-dien-1β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (25R)-26-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3β,22β-dihydroxyfurost-5-en-1β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3a) with its 22α epimer (3b), and (25R)-26-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3β-hydroxyfurost-5,20-dien-1β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). This is the first report of furostanol saponins in A. fistulosum bulbs. In addn., data on the antibacterial tests of the isolated saponins against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis are reported. [on SciFinder(R)]

From the aerial parts of Euphorbia sogdiana Popov, obtusifoliol ( 1 ) and two related steroids ( 2 – 3 ) have been isolated and characterized along with a known cycloartane derivative ( 4 ). The chemical structure of the obtusifoliol-related compounds, obtained by 1D and 2D NMR, and MS measurements, have been determined as: 3β,7α-dihydroxy-4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-ergosta-8,24(28)-diene-11-one ( 2 ) and 3β-hydroxy-4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-ergosta-8,24(28)-diene-1-one ( 3 ). Compound 2 has been previously isolated from Euphorbia chamaesyce while compound 3 was never reported before. The isolated compounds 1 – 4 were subjected to cytotoxic tests on the breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB231. Further pharmacological tests on the more active compounds 2 and 3 indicated their action to be related to cell growth inhibitory activity and apoptotic effects on the tested cells.

Phytochemical analysis of Euphorbia sogdiana Popov, Euphorbiaceae, afforded the isolation of three new diterpenes based on the rare 6(17)-epoxylathyrane skeleton (1-3), along with a lathyrane (4), a myrsinane (5) and a tigliane (6) diterpenoids, previously isolated from Euphorbia aellenii. Their chemical structures were established through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometric methods. The epoxylathyranes 1-4 were tested to evaluate their cytotoxic activity against Jurkat T-leukemia and EJ-138 bladder cancer cells and their chemical analogy allowed to propose some structure activity relationships.

Three new (1–3) cyclomyrsinane diterpenes and three new (7–9) premyrsinane diterpenes were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia sogdiana Popov. Their chemical structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The compounds are hexa- and penta-esters of two diterpene polyol skeletons, esterified with aliphatic (acetic, propanoic, isobutanoic, tiglic and methyltiglic) and aromatic (benzoic and nicotinic) acids. Three known cyclomyrsinane diterpenes (4–6), previously reported from Euphorbia tehranica (4 and 6) and Euphorbia aellenii (5), were also isolated. These structures, based on cyclomyrsinane and premyrsinane skeleta, are very rare and could be considered as taxonomic marker of the Euphorbia genus. The isolated compounds together with myrsinane (10) and tigliane (11), first reported from E. aellenii and isolated previously from this plant, were subjected to preliminary tests to evaluate cytotoxic activity against EJ-138 bladder carcinoma and Jurkat T-leukemia cells.