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Antioxidative constituents from the leaves of Hypericum styphelioides.

Two new compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Hypericum styphelioides. Their structures have been established on the basis of mass spectrometry and 2D NMR techniques as 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-(2',2'-dimethyl-4'-isopropenyl)cyclopentanylxanthone (1) and 3,5-dihydroxybenzophenon-4-beta-d-glucoside (2). Known compounds 5-O-demethylpaxanthonin (3) and 3-geranyl-1-(3-methylbutanoyl)phloroglucinol (4) were also isolated and characterized. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their antioxidative properties in Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) and chemiluminescence (CL) assays.

Antioxidants↗

Hyperjovinols A and B: Two new phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum jovis with antioxidant activity in cell cultures.

Two new and four known phloroglucinol derivatives were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the Greek endemic plant Hypericum jovis. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro with the DPPH assay and in cell cultures using the DCFH-DA assay. All six compounds demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, while two of them possessed activity at a cellular level comparable to Trolox, protecting against ROS.

Antioxidants↗

Prenylated benzophenones and xanthones from Hypericum scabrum.

Two new polyprenylated benzophenones, a new polyprenylated phloroglucinol, and six new xanthone derivatives were isolated from the aerial parts of the Uzbekistan medicinal plant Hypericum scabrum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The isolated compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity for human tumor cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Benzophenones from Hypericum carinatum.

Two new benzophenones were isolated from the leaves of Hypericum carinatum. Their structures were established on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and mass spectrometry as cariphenone A (6-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,8-trimethyl-2H-chromene) (1) and cariphenone B (8-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-2H-chromene) (2). Five known compounds, the phloroglucinol derivative uliginosin B (3), 1-eicosanol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, were also characterized. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their total antioxidant capacity through a total radical-trapping parameter assay. Only compound 1 showed moderate antioxidant activity, exhibiting inhibition of chemiluminescence similar to that of quercetin at the same concentration.

Antioxidants↗

Quercetin as the active principle of Hypericum hircinum exerts a selective inhibitory activity against MAO-A: extraction, biological analysis, and computational study.

The methanol extract from Hypericum hircinum leaves exhibited in vitro inhibition of monoamine oxidases (MAO). Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of quercetin and five compounds identified for the first time from H. hircinum. Quercetin was the only compound with a selective inhibitory activity against MAO-A, with an IC50 value of 0.010 microM. To explain MAO selective inhibition at the molecular level, a computational study was carried out by conformational search and docking techniques using recently determined crystallographic models of both enzymatic isoforms. An in vivo study in mice was carried out using the forced swimming test in order to elucidate the behavioral effects of quercetin.

Animals↗

Acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum prolificum.

Three new acylphloroglucinol derivatives have been isolated from the hexane extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum prolificum L.: prolificin A (1), prolifenone A (2), and prolifenone B (3). The structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 2D NMR and MS data. All three compounds were evaluated for in vitro cell proliferation inhibitory activity against human breast (MCF-7), lung (NCI-H460), CNS (SF-268), stomach (AGS), and colon (HCT-116) tumor cell lines. Prolificin A showed growth inhibition of all cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 23 to 36 microM. Prolifenones A and B were inactive at the concentrations tested.

Animals↗

New phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum papuanum.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum papuanum led to the isolation of five new tricyclic phloroglucinol derivatives. On the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments as well as MS studies, their structures were elucidated as the C-3 epimers of 8-hydroxy-4,4, 7-trimethyl-9-(2-methylpropionyl)-3-(1-methylvinyl)-5beta -H-tricyclo[ 5.3.1.0(1,5)]undec-8-ene-10,11-dione (1,2); the C-3 epimers of 8-hydroxy-4,4, 7-trimethyl-9-(2-methylbutyryl)-3-(1-methylvinyl)-5beta-H-++ +tricyclo[5. 3.1.0(1,5)]undec-8-ene-10,11-dione (3, 4), and 8-hydroxy-4,4, 7-trimethyl-9-(2-methylpropionyl)-5beta-H-tricyclo[5.3 .1.0(1, 5)]undec-8-ene-10,11-dione (5), and their corresponding tautomers (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a). Compounds 1/1a-5/5a were named ialibinones A-E, respectively. Compounds 1/1a-4/4a showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Micrococcus luteus.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Biyouyanagin A, an anti-HIV agent from Hypericum chinense L. var. salicifolium.

[structure: see text] A structurally unique hydrophobic compound, biyouyanagin A, was isolated from the MeOH extract of the leaves of Hypericum chinense L. var. salicifolium. The structure of biyouyanagin A was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Biyouyanagin A showed a significant activity against HIV and inhibited cytokine production.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Cytotoxic polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinol derivatives with an unusual adamantyl skeleton from Hypericum sampsonii (Guttiferae).

[formula: see text] The structures of sampsoniones I and J, isolated from the aerial parts of the Chinese medicinal plant Hypericum sampsonii, have been elucidated by detailed spectral analysis. They are complex adamantyl derivatives, and sampsonione I is the first polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinol derivative with the unique caged tetracyclo[7.3.1.1.0]tetradecane-2,12,14-trione skeleton. Cytotoxic sampsonione I has also been obtained by the biomimetic transformation of sampsonione J.

Adamantane↗

Induction of hypericins and hyperforins in Hypericum perforatum in response to damage by herbivores.

Plants respond to herbivore and pathogen attack by a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms that include the induction of secondary metabolites. The phytomedicinal plant Hypericum perforatum L. produces two different classes of secondary metabolites: hyperforins, a family of antimicrobial acylphloroglucinols; and hypericins, a family of phototoxic anthraquinones exhibiting antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiherbivore properties in vitro. To determine whether these compounds are part of the herbivore-specific inducible plant defense system, we used an in vitro detached assay to assess the effects of specialist and generalist herbivore damage on the levels of hypericins and hyperforin. Greenhouse-grown H. perforatum plant sections were challenged with the specialist, Chrysolina quadrigemina, or with one of the following generalist feeders: Spilosoma virginica, Spilosoma congrua, or Spodoptera exigua. Feeding by the specialist beetle or mechanical wounding caused little change in phytochemical levels in plant tissue, whereas the small amount of feeding by the generalists caused 30-100% increases in hypericins and hyperforin as compared to control levels. Although the leaf damage index of the specialist feeding was 2.7 times greater, C. quadrigemina had little effect on H. perforatum chemical defenses in response to feeding damage in comparison to generalist feeding.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Genetic diversity and reproductive biology in ecotypes of the facultative apomict Hypericum perforatum L.

Apomixis is a mode of asexual reproduction through seed. Progeny produced by apomixis are clonal replicas of a mother plant. The essential feature of apomixis is that embryo sacs and embryos are produced in ovules without meiotic reduction or egg cell fertilisation. Thus, apomixis fixes successful gene combinations and propagates high fitness genotypes across generations. A more profound knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate reproductive events in plants would contribute fundamentally to understanding the evolution and genetic control of apomixis. Molecular markers were used to determine levels of genetic variation within and relationship among ecotypes of the facultative apomict Hypericum perforatum L. (2n = 4x = 32). All ecotypes were polyclonal, being not dominated by a single genotype, and characterised by different levels of differentiation among multilocus genotypes. Flow cytometric analysis of seeds indicated that all ecotypes were facultatively apomictic, with varying degrees of apomixis and sexuality. Seeds set by haploid parthenogenesis and/or by fertilisation of aposporic egg cells were detected in most populations. The occurrence of both dihaploids and hexaploids indicates that apospory and parthenogenesis may be developmentally uncoupled and supports two distinct genetic factors controlling apospory and parthenogenesis in this species. Cyto-embryological analysis showed that meiotic and aposporic processes do initiate within the same ovule: the aposporic initial often appeared evident at the time of megaspore mother cell differentiation. Our observations suggest that the egg cell exists in an active metabolic state before pollination, and that its parthenogenetic activation leading to embryo formation may occur before fertilisation and endosperm initiation.

DNA Primers↗

The production of hypericins and hyperforin by in vitro cultures of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum L.) is a herbaceous perennial distributed throughout the World that has been widely used in traditional medicine. H. perforatum produces several types of biologically active compound, including the hypericins--a family of light-activated anthraquinones, localized within specialized glands found predominantly on flowers and leaves--and the hyperforins--a family of prenylated acylphloroglucinols localized in the reproductive structures of the plant. Hypericins are known to be toxic to mammals and display antiviral and anticancer activity, but the role of these compounds within the plant is unknown. Hyperforins display potent antimicrobial activity and are thought to be the primary bioactive ingredient for anti-depressive effects of the herb. The introduction of H. perforatum from Europe into the U.S.A. occurred in the 17th Century. Since the plant is considered a noxious weed, few efforts have been carried out to analyse populations in the context of secondary-metabolite concentrations. But in terms of secondary-metabolite studies, H. perforatum is an ideal model system to study the biosyntheses of aromatic polyketides and regulation of those pathways by environmental and genetic influences. This is due, in part, to the ease of conducting these studies in plant tissue culture. This review describes the progress of secondary-metabolite studies currently underway using H. perforatum. Specifically, this Review focuses on the production and regulation of the hypericins and the hyperforin in wild populations, field cultivation, greenhouse studies and plant tissue culture. Additionally, factors optimizing compound production--particularly in in vitro cultures--are presented and reviewed.

Anthracenes↗

Reconstruction of reproductive diversity in Hypericum perforatum L. opens novel strategies to manage apomixis.

The mode of reproduction was characterized for 113 accessions of the tetraploid facultative apomictic species Hypericum perforatum using bulked or single mature seeds in the flow cytometric seed screen (FCSS). This screen discriminates several processes of sexual or asexual reproduction based on DNA contents of embryo and endosperm nuclei. Seed formation in H. perforatum proved to be highly polymorphic. Eleven different routes of reproduction were determined. For the first time, individual seeds were identified that originated from two embryo sacs: the endosperm from an aposporous and the embryo from the legitimate meiotic embryo sac. Moreover, diploid plants were discovered, which apparently reproduce by a hitherto unknown route of seed formation, that is chromosome doubling within aposporous initial cells followed by double fertilization. Although most plants were tetraploid and facultative sexual/apomictic, diploid obligate sexuals and tetraploid obligate apomicts could be selected. Additionally, genotypes were detected which at a high frequency produced embryos either from reduced parthenogenetic or unreduced fertilized egg cells. The endosperm developed most frequently after fertilization of the central cell in aposporous embryo sacs (pseudogamy) but in few cases also autonomously. The genetic control of apomixis appears to be complex in H. perforatum. Basic material was developed for breeding H. perforatum, and strategies are suggested for elucidation of inheritance as well as evolution of apomixis and for molecular approaches of apomixis engineering.

Flow Cytometry↗

Benzophenone synthase and chalcone synthase from Hypericum androsaemum cell cultures: cDNA cloning, functional expression, and site-directed mutagenesis of two polyketide synthases.

Benzophenone derivatives, such as polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinols and xanthones, are biologically active secondary metabolites. The formation of their C13 skeleton is catalyzed by benzophenone synthase (BPS; EC 2.3.1.151) that has been cloned from cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum. BPS is a novel member of the superfamily of plant polyketide synthases (PKSs), also termed type III PKSs, with 53-63% amino acid sequence identity. Heterologously expressed BPS was a homodimer with a subunit molecular mass of 42.8 kDa. Its preferred starter substrate was benzoyl-CoA that was stepwise condensed with three malonyl-CoAs to give 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone. BPS did not accept activated cinnamic acids as starter molecules. In contrast, recombinant chalcone synthase (CHS; EC 2.3.1.74) from the same cell cultures preferentially used 4-coumaroyl-CoA and also converted CoA esters of benzoic acids. The enzyme shared 60.1% amino acid sequence identity with BPS. In a phylogenetic tree, the two PKSs occurred in different clusters. One cluster was formed by CHSs including the one from H. androsaemum. BPS grouped together with the PKSs that functionally differ from CHS. Site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids shaping the initiation/elongation cavity of CHS yielded a triple mutant (L263M/F265Y/S338G) that preferred benzoyl-CoA over 4-coumaroyl-CoA.

Acyltransferases↗

Interaction between cyclosporine and Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) after organ transplantation.

The use of herbal medicine has become increasingly popular in the United States. Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) is an herbal extract that is used widely as a folk remedy for depression. In this case report, we describe a kidney transplant recipient who developed marked reduction of cyclosporine therapeutic activity after the self-initiation of St. John's wort. Postulated mechanisms for the ability of this herbal extract to interact with pharmaceutical medications are presented, and the existing literature is reviewed.

Creatinine↗

Flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum show antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test.

It has been shown recently that a flavonoid fraction (fraction II) obtained from a crude extract of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) was remarkably active in the forced swimming test (FST). Fraction II was further separated using MLCCC to give fractions IIa and IIb. Both fractions proved to be active in the FST at different dosages. Further separation of fraction IIa by preparative HPLC yielded fraction IIa1 which mainly was composed of hyperoside, isoquercitrin, miquelianin and quercitrin, and fraction IIa2 which contained small amounts of hyperoside and astilbin, while most compounds were not known. Both fractions were active after acute treatment in the FST. Isolates obtained from these fractions including hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, miquelianin, the aglycone quercetin and astilbin, were tested for activity in the FST. Except for quercetin, quercitrin and astilbin all compounds were active. To exclude false positive results in the FST the validity was checked in open field experiments and in the FST after 12 days of daily treatment.

Animals↗

Xanthones in cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum.

Cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum contain an array of prenylated xanthone aglycones and their glucosides, when grown in modified B5 medium in the dark. Derivatives of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone prevail over compounds with the 1,3,5,6-oxygenation pattern. 1,7-Dihydroxyxanthone was also isolated. Xanthone accumulation parallels cell growth, is repressed by light and strongly influenced by the culture medium used.

Cells, Cultured↗