From a cytotoxic Et2O-soluble extract of Muntingia calabura roots, twelve new flavonoids were isolated, constituting seven flavans 1-7, three flavones 8, 10, and 12, and two biflavans 9 and 11. The structures of compounds 1-12 were established by the interpretation of spectral data, with the nmr assignments of these constituents being based on 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C HETCOR, and selective INEPT experiments. This is the first report of the occurrence of 7,8-di-O-substituted flavans, biflavans, and flavones. Most of the isolates demonstrated cytotoxic activity when tested against cultured P-388 cells, with the flavans being more active than the flavones. Furthermore, certain of these structurally related flavonoids exhibited somewhat selective activities when evaluated with a number of human cancer cell lines.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma tetrahydrobiopterin levels in patients with psychiatric disorders.

The plasma total biopterin and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels of 24 psychiatric patients were measured in the symptomatic phase, under no influence of psychotropic drugs as long as possible, and were compared with those of normal controls. The significant increase in total biopterin levels was observed only in the plasma of the patients with affective disorders or panic disorder in the depressive mood. A significant decrease in BH4 levels was observed only in the plasma of the patients with depression, and an increase in BH4 levels was observed only in the patients with hypomania. The changes of these biopterin levels in plasma could be a disease effect or a phase effect.

Adult↗