benzofurans and medicarpin

To study the chemical constituents from the root of Millettia speciosa.. To isolate and purify by silica gel, macroporous resin D-101 and Sephadex LH-20.. Five compounds were isolated from 95% EtOH extract of Millettia Speciosa and their structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis as Isoliquiritigenin (I), Maackiain (II), Pterocarpin (III), Medicarpin (IV) and Homopterocarpin (V).. Compounds I, III are obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds V is isolated from the genus Millettia for the first time.

Topics: Benzofurans; Benzopyrans; Chalcones; Ethanol; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Millettia; Molecular Structure; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Pterocarpans

Propolis has been used as a medicinal agent to treat infections and promote wound healing for centuries. The aim of the present study was to test the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of a new type of Brazilian propolis, popularly called red propolis, as well as to analyze its chemical composition. The antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus mutans UA159 was evaluated and the chloroform fraction (Chlo-fr) was the most active with lower MIC ranging from 25 to 50 microg/ml. The hexane fraction (H-fr), having the highest concentration of total flavonoids, showed the best sequestrating activity for the free radical DPPH. The ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) showed cytotoxic activity for the HeLa tumor cells with an IC(50) of 7.45 microg/ml. When the EEP was analyzed by GC-MS, seven new compounds were found, among which four were isoflavones. Our results showed that the red propolis has biologically active compounds that had never been reported in other types of Brazilian propolis.

Topics: Abietanes; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Benzofurans; Benzopyrans; Brazil; Cell Survival; Chloroform; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cresols; Equol; Ethanol; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; HeLa Cells; Hexanes; Humans; Isoflavones; Medicine, Traditional; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Propolis; Pterocarpans; Quercetin; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus mutans

The ether soluble fraction of the roots of Ononis vaginalis Vahl. Symb. afforded three new compounds: 3-hydroxy-4,9-dimethoxycoumestan, maginaldehyde [2-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-3-benzofuran-carboxaldehyde] and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-4-styrylcoumarin. In addition, four known pterocarpans; 3,4,9-trimethoxypterocarpan, maackiain, medicarpin and trifolirhizin were also isolated. The styrylcoumarin derivative showed significant antiviral activity against Herpes simplex type 1 and weak cytotoxicity.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Benzofurans; Benzopyrans; Coumarins; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Medicine, Traditional; Molecular Structure; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Pterocarpans; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

In a search for new inhibitors of leukotriene formation, a methylene chloride extract of the plant Dalbergia odorifera (Jiangxiang) was found to be a potent inhibitor of LTC4 formation in AB-CXBG Mct-1 mastocytoma cells. Following LH-20 and reverse phase HPLC chromatography, two compounds were isolated that had potent LTC4 inhibitory activity: medicarpin and 6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) benzofuran (IV) with IC50s of 0.5 and 0.05 microM respectively. IV was shown to be a specific inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase with an IC50 against the soluble rat enzyme of 0.08 microM, whereas it was inactive against cyclooxygenase. In neutrophils IV inhibited LTB4 production at comparable concentrations but had no effect on neutrophil degranulation or adhesion.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Benzofurans; Benzopyrans; Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Female; Leukotriene Antagonists; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Mice; Plants, Medicinal; Pterocarpans