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Biomedical subjects

O Sticher

Publications and source records attributed to O Sticher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Studies on the antioxidative activity of phloroglucinol derivatives isolated from hypericum species.

Twenty-one phloroglucinol derivatives, belonging to 8 different carbon skeletons, were tested for their ability to influence the oxidative burst of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) after stimulation with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or opsonized zymosan (OZ). Results revealed a strong reduction of oxygen production by PMNs after stimulation with FMLP for the compounds ialibinone E ( 5), hyperguinone B ( 15) and hyperforin ( 21). The IC 50 values obtained were 2.5 microM ( 5), 3.3 microM ( 15) and 1.8 microM ( 21), respectively. Slight modifications of the substituents or variation of the stereochemistry resulted in a significant loss of activity. None of the active compounds showed antioxidative activity after stimulation with OZ. The influence of compounds 5, 15 and 21 on the production of oxygen radicals in an H 2 O 2 /horseradish peroxidase system was investigated and revealed potent activity only for compound 5 (IC 50 1 microM). The superoxide-scavenging properties of ialibinone E ( 5) and hyperguinone B ( 15) were additionally tested in a cytochrome c assay and only ialibinone E ( 5) was found to be significantly active at lower micromolar concentrations. Ialibinone E ( 5) was not active in a xanthine oxidase assay (urate formation) in concentrations up to 100 microM and its activity is therefore not attributable to the inhibition of this enzyme. It can be assumed that the activity of compounds 5 and 15 in the different cellular and enzymatic assays, is most likely caused by different and maybe specific mechanisms and cannot be explained by a radical scavenger activity alone. None of the active phloroglucinols showed cytotoxic effects against the PMNs.

Antioxidants↗

Solubility of hypericin in methanol and methanol-pyridine.

The solubility of hypericin in methanol and methanol-pyridine (99:1, v/v) was determined. The addition of pyridine turned out to enhance the solubility of hypericin. In pure methanol only 37.17 micrograms/ml could be dissolved. In comparison, 320.91 micrograms hypericin were soluble in one ml methanol-pyridine (99:1, v/v).

Anthracenes↗

Minor cytotoxic and antibacterial compounds from the rhizomes of Amomum aculeatum.

A new cytotoxic 1,7-dioxa-dispiro[5.1.5.2]pentadeca-9,12-dien-11-one derivative, aculeatin D, and a new alkenone, 5-hydroxy-hexacos-1-en-3-one, have been isolated as minor compounds from the rhizomes of Amomum aculeatum. Their structures have been determined mainly by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Aculeatin D showed high cytotoxicity against the KB and the L-6 cell line with IC(50) of 0.38 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml, respectively. Additionally, it revealed remarkable activity against two Plasmodium falciparum strains, as well as against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma cruzi. 5-Hydroxy-hexacos-1-en-3-one exhibited neither cytotoxic nor antiprotozoal activity, whereas antibacterial testing against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed moderate to strong activity for both compounds.

Alkenes↗

New tirucallane-type triterpenes from Dysoxylum variabile.

Eight new tirucallane-type triterpenes, dyvariabilins A-H (1-8), three known tirucallanes, niloticin (9), dihydroniloticin (10), and tirucalla-7,24-diene-3 beta,23-diol (11), and two known sesquiterpenes, 1-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-3a-methyl-7-methyleneoctahydroinden-4-ol and (+)-aphanamol I, were isolated from the stem bark of Dysoxylum variabile. Tirucallanes 1 and 11 with an allylic hydroxy group in the side chain and dyvariabilin C (3) with an alpha-epoxy group at positions 7 and 8 showed high instability in acidic medium and formed five hitherto unknown semisynthetic tirucallanes. Dyvariabilins B (2) and C (3) as well as the mixtures of dyvariabilins E and F (5 and 6) and dyvariabilins G and H (7 and 8) showed weak cytotoxicity against KB cells.

Animals↗

Two novel cyclic peptides with antifungal activity from the cyanobacterium Tolypothrix byssoidea (EAWAG 195).

Two novel cyclic tridecapeptides, tolybyssidins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the culture medium of mass cultured cyanobacterium Tolypothrix byssoidea (EAWAG 195) by means of bioguided isolation. The gross structures of these peptides were determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and tandem mass spectrometry. Both peptides contain the nonnatural amino acid dehydrohomoalanine (Dhha) as well as proteinogenic amino acids albeit with D- or L-configuration. The compounds exhibit moderate antifungal activity against the yeast Candida albicans.

Antifungal Agents↗

Iridoid glycosides from Globularia trichosantha.

A new iridoid glycoside, deacetylalpinoside (2), was isolated from the aerial parts of Globularia trichosantha together with nine known iridoid glycosides: catalpol, 10-O-benzoyl-catalpol, aucubin, asperuloside, deacetylasperuloside, asperulosidic acid, scandoside, geniposidic acid, and alpinoside (1). From the underground parts of the same plant, two new bisiridoid glycosides, globulosides A (3) and B (4); a known iridoid glycoside, globularidin; a lignan glycoside, liriodendrin; and seven phenylethanoid glycosides, arenarioside, verbascoside (= acteoside), isoacteoside, crenatoside, isocrenatoside, and trichosanthosides A and B, were isolated. Compounds 2-4 are new iridoids containing an 8,9 double bond representing a rare carbon skeleton. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.

Glucosides↗

Flavonoid, iridoid, and lignan glycosides from Putoria calabrica.

From the aerial parts of Putoria calabrica, two new flavonol triglycosides were isolated and their structures were elucidated as quercetin-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside]-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1, calabricoside A) and quercetin-3-O-[4' "-O-caffeoyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside]-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2, calabricoside B). Additionally, seven iridoid and three lignan glycosides were isolated and characterized. Radical scavenging activities of all compounds were determined by quantifying their effects on luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence in formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Calabricoside A and B showed strong radical scavenging activity with IC(50) values of 0.25 and 0.3 microM, respectively.

Chromatography↗

New prenylated bi- and tricyclic phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum papuanum.

Five new prenylated tricyclic and three new bicyclic acylphloroglucinol derivatives have been isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation of the petroleum ether extract of the dried aerial parts of Hypericum papuanum. The tricyclic compounds (1--5) were named papuaforins A--E. The bicyclic compounds were isolated together with their corresponding tautomers and were named hyperguinones A and B (6/6a,7/7a) and hyperpapuanone (8/8a), respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity toward KB nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and the antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds were determined.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Pheophorbide A from Solanum diflorum interferes with NF-kappa B activation.

Continuing our search for biogenic NF-kappa B inhibitors we investigated Solanum diflorum, used by the Istmo Sierra Zapotec Indians of Mexico in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. It became obvious very early that the active substance seems to be a degradation product of chlorophyll. Pheophorbide A was identified as one of the key compounds responsible for the NF-kappa B inhibitory activity. The compound interferes with NF-kappa B activation, was cytotoxic if exposed to light, but devoid of any cytotoxic activity in the dark.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from Phlomis longifolia var. longifolia.

From the aerial parts of Phlomis longifolia var. longifolia four iridoid glucosides, shanzhiside methyl ester (1), 5-deoxypulchelloside I (2), lamalbide (3), phlomiol (4) and three phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside (5), forsythoside B (6), leucosceptoside A (7) along with the caffeic acid ester, chlorogenic acid (8) were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic (UV, IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, FABMS) and chemical evidence. The structure elucidation of the iridoid compounds 2 and 3 are discussed in detail.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Ethnopharmacology of the Popoluca, Mexico: an evaluation.

Medicinal plants are an essential part of indigenous pharmaceutical systems. We studied the medicinal plants used by the Popoluca of the Sierra Santa Marta (Eastern Mexico). This study is part of a series on the ethnopharmacology of various Macro-Mayan groups. During 16 months of ethnobotanical fieldwork, 614 taxa used medicinally and 4488 individual use-reports were documented. The data are analysed using the concept of the "healers' consensus" in order to identify culturally important medicinal plants. The medicinal uses of the plants were grouped into 13 illness categories. The responses for each species were summarized for each of the categories and were ordered by frequency of mention. The most frequently recorded medicinal plants of the Popoluca are Hamelia patens, used to stop bleeding from wounds, and Byrsonima crassifolia, used against diarrhoea. The high-ranked medicinal species were assessed pharmacognostically using published phytochemical and pharmacological data. Popoluca medicinal uses were fairly consistent with published data on active ingredients for those plants for which such data exist. However, data is still lacking for many other species. Toxicological studies are particularly scarce. This study will be used as a basis for subsequent studies on the pharmacology and phytochemistry of medicinal plant species.

Animals↗

Absorbance data of hypericin and pseudohypericin used as reference compounds for medicinal plant analysis.

The evaluation of the absorbance data of hypericin and pseudohypericin revealed the molar/specific coefficients of absorbance in methanol-pyridine (99:1, v/v) at the maximum of the longest wavelength to be 51936/1030 and 43486/836, respectively. The absorbance data of hypericin were also determined in methanol. They were not significantly different from those in the presence of pyridine. The decrease of the coefficients by water addition was found to be the same for hypericin and pseudohypericin. It was concluded that hypericin and pseudohypericin reveal the same homoassociation behavior.

Anthracenes↗

Cytotoxic cardenolides and antibacterial terpenoids from Crossopetalum gaumeri.

From the methanol extract of the roots of (Crossopetalum gaumeri, four new highly cytotoxic cardenolides, securigenin-3beta-O-beta-6-deoxyguloside (2), 19-hydroxy-sarmentogenin-3beta-O-beta-6-deoxyguloside (4), sarmentogenin-3beta-O-[alpha-allosyl-(1-->4)-beta-6-deoxy alloside] (5), and securigenin-3beta-O-[alpha-allosyl-(1-->4)-beta-6-deoxyal loside] (6) were isolated. The dichloromethane extract afforded the new diterpene 3,15-dihydroxy-18-norabieta-3,8,11,13-tetraene (7) as well as the new triterpene 2,3,7-trihydroxy-6-oxo-1,3,5(10),7-tetraene-24-nor-friedelane-29-o ic acid methylester (11). The new terpenoids lack cytotoxicity and the antibacterial activity is moderate to low.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Bisanthraquinone glycosides of Hypericum perforatum with binding inhibition to CRH-1 receptors.

Four new bisanthraquinone glycosides, S-(+)-skyrin-6-O-beta-glucopyranoside (1), R-(-)-skyrin-6-O-beta-glucopyranoside (2), S-(+)-skyrin-6-O-beta-xylopyranoside (3) and S-(+)-skyrin-6-O-beta-alpha-arabinofuranoside (4), have been isolated from an ethanol-water (1:1, v/v) dry extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly NMR and mass spectrometry. Circular dichroism was used to determine their axial stereochemistry revealing 1 and 2 to be atropisomers. 1 and 2 inhibited [125I]sauvagine binding to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH-1) receptors.

Acetylation↗

Triterpene saponins from the fruits of Hedera helix.

Six triterpene saponins, including two new compounds, were isolated from the fruits of Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae). The structures of the new compounds, named helixosides A and B, were established as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, respectively, on the basis of chemical and spectral data.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro.

The pharmacological effects of ethanolic Vitex agnus-castus fruit-extracts (especially Ze 440) and various extract fractions of different polarities were evaluated both by radioligand binding studies and by superfusion experiments. A relative potent binding inhibition was observed for dopamine D2 and opioid (micro and kappa subtype) receptors with IC50 values of the native extract between 20 and 70 mg/mL. Binding, neither to the histamine H1, benzodiazepine and OFQ receptor, nor to the binding-site of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter, was significantly inhibited. The lipophilic fractions contained the diterpenes rotun-difuran and 6beta,7beta-diacetoxy-13-hydroxy-labda-8,14-dien . They exhibited inhibitory actions on dopamine D2 receptor binding. While binding inhibition to mu and kappa opioid receptors was most pronounced in lipophilic fractions, binding to delta opioid receptors was inhibited mainly by a aqueous fraction. Standardised Ze 440 extracts of different batches were of constant pharmacological quality according to their potential to inhibit the binding to D2 receptors. In superfusion experiments, the aqueous fraction of a methanolic extract inhibited the release of acetylcholine in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the potent D2 receptor antagonist spiperone antagonised the effect of the extract suggesting a dopaminergic action mediated by D2 receptor activation. Our results indicate a dopaminergic effect of Vitex agnus-castus extracts and suggest additional pharmacological actions via opioid receptors.

Animals↗

New antibacterial metabolites from the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune(EAWAG 122b).

Two new compounds, a diterpenoid and an anthraquinone, as well as an indane derivative, which is reported as a natural product for the first time, have been isolated from the cells of the cultured cyanobacterium Nostoc commune (EAWAG 122b) by means of bioguided isolation. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly NMR, infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. All isolates exhibit antibacterial activity.

Anthraquinones↗