naphthoquinones and betulin

A phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Diospyros cuneata (Ebenaceae) together with in vitro cytotoxic evaluation of the pure compounds in four human cancer cell lines KB, Hep-2, HeLa and SiHa led to the isolation of plumbagin, elliptinone, lupeol, atraric acid methyl ester, maritinone, betulin and betulinaldehyde. The structural determination of the compounds was established by nuclear magnetic resonance, electron ionisation mass spectrometric analysis as well as comparison with data from the literature. Plumbagin exhibited a potent cytotoxic activity (CC50 = 3.56 µg mL(-1)) against KB cell lines whereas maritinone displayed cytotoxic activity against Hep-2 (CC50 = 17.30 µg mL(-1)), cervical cancer (CC50 = 21.10 µg mL(-1)) and the KB cell lines (CC50 = 20.30 µg mL(-1)). This is the first report on a phytochemical and biological evaluation of D. cuneata.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Diospyros; Humans; Naphthoquinones; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Triterpenes

To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Pterospermum heterophyllum.. The chemical constituents of P. heterophyllum were isolated and purified by silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties.. Nine compounds were isolated and identified as taraxerol (1), betulin (2), betulinic acid (3), sumaresinolic acid (4), 2-methoxy-5-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (5), 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 8-dimethylchromone (6), alpha-monpalmitin (7), palmitic acid (8), beta-sitosterol (9).. Compounds 2-7 were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Topics: Betulinic Acid; Chromatography; Malvaceae; Naphthoquinones; Oleanolic Acid; Palmitic Acid; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Plant Roots; Sitosterols; Triterpenes

Phytochemical studies of an ethanolic extract of Euclea natalensis root bark afforded two new compounds, octahydroeuclein (1) and 20(29)-lupene-3 beta-isoferulate (2), in addition to three known compounds, shinanolone (3), lupeol, and betulin. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic means. Shinanolone (3) showed inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacterial strains and a drug-sensitive strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL.

Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Bacteria; Ebenaceae; Molecular Structure; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Naphthoquinones; Plant Bark; South Africa; Triterpenes