Search Results (4)

The essential oil (EO) of Tagetes filifolia Lag. was obtained from dried plant material through Clevenger-type steam distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), a gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and enantioselective gas chromatography. The results showed 50 compounds (93.33%) with a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes. The main components were trans-anethole (55.57 ± 9.83%), tridecene <1-> (8.66 ± 0.01), methyl chavicol (5.81 ± 0.85%) and Neophytadiene (3.45 ± 0.88) Enantioselective analysis revealed linalool and <methyl-γ-> ionone as enantiomers. The identification of secondary metabolites from the ethyl acetate extract obtained by maceration was performed by GC-MS, NMR and by a literature comparison, determining the presence of mostly trans-anethole and a mixture of two triterpenes, fernenol and lupeol. Full article

Fruit and leaf cuticular waxes are valuable source materials for the isolation of triterpenoids that can be applied as natural antioxidants and anticancer agents. The present study aimed at the semi-preparative fractionation of triterpenoids from cuticular wax extracts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) leaves and fruits and the evaluation of their cytotoxic potential. Qualitative and quantitative characterization of obtained extracts and triterpenoid fractions was performed using HPLC-PDA method, followed by complementary analysis by GC-MS. For each fraction, cytotoxic activities towards the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29), malignant melanoma cell line (IGR39), clear renal carcinoma cell line (CaKi-1), and normal endothelial cells (EC) were determined using MTT assay. Furthermore, the effect of the most promising samples on cancer spheroid growth and viability was examined. This study allowed us to confirm that particular triterpenoid mixtures from lingonberry waxes may possess stronger cytotoxic activities than crude unpurified extracts. Fractions containing triterpenoid acids plus fernenol, complexes of oleanolic:ursolic acids, and erythrodiol:uvaol were found to be the most potent therapeutic candidates in the management of cancer diseases. The specificity of cuticular wax extracts of lingonberry leaves and fruits, leading to different purity and anticancer potential of obtained counterpart fractions, was also enclosed. These findings contribute to the profitable utilization of lingonberry cuticular waxes and provide considerable insights into the anticancer effects of particular triterpenoids and pharmacological interactions. Full article

Brevicoryne brassicae is a problematic pest in cabbage and other field crops. Synthetic pesticides are used to control this pest, but they are injurious for human health and the environment. The present study aimed to purify and identify the active compounds from Citrullus colocynthis leaves with an appraisal of their efficacy against B. brassicae. Separation and purification were performed via different chromatographic techniques. Molecular analysis and chemical structures were recognized by mass spectrum (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), respectively. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo aphicidal activity was assessed using various concentrations, i.e., 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 µg/mL at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h exposure. The outcome shows that mass spectrum analyses of the purified compounds suggested the molecular formulae are C₃₀H₅₀O and C₂₉H₅₀O, C₂₉H₄₈O. The compounds were characterized as fernenol and a mixture of spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectrum analysis. The toxicity results showed that the mixture of spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol showed LC₅₀ values of 32.36, 44.49 and 37.50 µg/mL by contact, residual and greenhouse assay at 72 h exposure, respectively. In contrast, fernenol recorded LC₅₀ values as 47.99, 57.46 and 58.67 µg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol showed the highest mortality, i.e., 66.67%, 53.33% and 60% while, 30%, 23.33% and 25% mortality was recorded by fernenol after 72 h at 50 µg/mL by contact, residual and greenhouse assay, respectively. This study suggests that spinasterol, 22,23-dihydrospinasterol are more effective against B. brassicae which may be introduced as an effective and suitable substitute of synthetic chemical pesticides. Full article

One new pentacyclic triterpenoid, 3β-carboxylicfilic-4(23)-ene (1), and three known pentacyclic triterpenoids, adian-5-en-3α-ol (2), fernenol (3), and fern-7-en-3β-ol (4) were isolated from the petroleum ether phase of the ethanolic extract of Ainsliaea yunnanensis Franch. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods including 1-D and 2-D NMR, and MS experiments. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 showed significant selective cytotoxicity against human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) with IC₅₀ values of 5.12 μM, 1.78 μM, 1.74 μM, and 1.75 μΜ, respectively. Compound 1 also showed an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of the activity of NF-κB by blocking the nuclear translocation of p65. Full article