Bioactive Sesquiterpene Lactone Research Articles

Helivypolide G. A novel dimeric bioactive sesquiterpene lactone

In the course of our ongoing research for new allelochemicals from Helianthus annuus, a novel dimeric bioactive sesquiterpene lactone, helivypolide G has been isolated and characterized from the medium polar active fractions of the leaves of cultivar variety Stella. The monomers are connected through carbons C-15 of each unit and an oxygen bridge, forming an enolic oxane ring.

Bioactive sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea species and their cytotoxic/cytostatic activity against human cell lines in vitro.

Sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the aerial parts of various species of the genus Centaurea were examined for their in vitro cytotoxic/cytostatic activity against five human cell lines (i. e., DLD1, SF268, MCF7, H460 and OVCAR3). Compounds 1 - 4 were isolated from C. zuccariniana, 5 and 6 from C. achaia, 7 from C. thessala ssp. drakiensis and compounds 8 and 9 from C. deusta. Compound 1, 8alpha- O-(3,4-dihydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyloxy)dehydromelitensine was found to be the most active, exhibited a considerable growth inhibiting activity against three of the cell lines tested, while compound 5 8alpha- O-(3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropanoyl)dehydromelitensin exhibited a growth inhibiting effect against most of the tested cell lines. A new eudesmanolide (8alpha-hydroxysonchucarpolide, 4) was isolated from C. zuccariniana and its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Recovery of a bioactive sesquiterpene lactone fromTanacetum parthenium by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide

The isolation of parthenolide-rich products from feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.) with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction has been investigated. A 32 full-factorial design was used to map the effects of pressure and temperature on the extraction yields and on the yield of parthenolide. The composition of the essential oil of feverfew obtained by hydrodistillation was compared with that of the SFE extract containing the volatile compounds.

Biochemically active sesquiterpene lactones from Ratibida mexicana

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the methanol extract of the roots of Ratibida mexicana resulted in the isolation of two bioactive sesquiterpene lactones, isoalloalantolactone and elema-1,3,11-trien-8,12-olide. Both compounds caused a significant inhibition of the radicle growth of Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Echinochloa crus-galli, exerted moderate cytotoxic activity against three different solid tumour cell lines and inhibited significantly the radial growth of three phytopathogenic fungi. Isoalloalantolactone also caused the inhibition of ATP synthesis, proton uptake and electron transport (basal, phosphorylating and uncoupled) from water to methylviologen, therefore acting as a Hill's reaction inhibitor. The lactone did not affect photosystem I but inhibited photosystem II. The site of inhibition of isoalloalantolactone is located in the span of P 680 to Q A redox enzymes because the uncoupled electron transport from water to silicomolybdate and, from DPC to DCIP are inhibited approximately to the same extent.

Extraction of Bioactive Sesquiterpene Lactones from Magnolia grandiflora Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Near-Critical Propane

The bioactive sesquiterpene lactones parthenolide and costunolide, as well as the tricyclic sesquiterpene cyclocolorenone, were extracted from the leaves of Magnolia grandiflora by supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide and by near-critical extraction with propane. Parthenolide, costunolide, and cyclocolorenone in the extracts were identified by 1 H NMR and quantified by HPLC. Results indicate that supercritical carbon dioxide selectively removed parthenolide, costunolide, and cyclocolorenone when compared to standard liquid dichloromethane or near-critical propane extraction. HPLC traces show that the carbon dioxide extract is virtually clean of any chlorophyll or fatty material peaks which hinder isolation of these chemicals