Oliveramine: An Isolated Alkaloid from Fagraea fragrans (Tembesu) Bark

This paper described the progress of phytochemical, especially alkaloids, work on Fagraea fragrans species (tembesu), Loganiaceae. A dimeric-pyridine alkaloid with molecular formula C20H20O4N2 has been successfully isolated from diethyl ether extracts from this plant’s barks. The alkaloid was explored from diethyl ether extracts using sulphuric acid (2%), then basified with ammonium hydroxide (25%) until the solution had a pH of 10.5. The later solution was extracted again with chloroform. The alkaloid residue was subjected to column chromatography and eluted with 10% acetone in chloroform. The chemical structure of the isolated dimeric-pyridine alkaloid was determined by LCMS/MS, 13C-NMR, and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. As a result, the isolated dimeric-pyridine alkaloid was closely similar to the oliveramine alkaloid, and this is also the first report about oliveramine from Fagraea fragrans (F. Fragrans).

Feature-Based Molecular Networks Identification of Bioactive Metabolites from Three Plants of the Polynesian Cosmetopoeia Targeting the Dermal Papilla Cells of the Hair Cycle

The term cosmetopoeia refers to the use of plants in folks’ cosmetics. The aerial parts of Bidens pilosa L., the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum L. and the fruits of Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth are traditionally used in French Polynesia for hair and skin care. During the hair cycle, dermal papilla cells and their interaction with epithelial cells are essential to promote hair follicle elongation. The aim of our investigations was the identification of metabolites from these three plants and chemical families responsible for their hair growth activity. A bioactivity-based molecular network was produced by mapping the correlation between features obtained from LC-MS/MS data and dermal papilla cell proliferation, using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The analyses pointed out glycosylated flavonols and phenolic acids from B. pilosa and C. inophyllum, along with C-flavonoids, iridoids and secoiridoids from F. berteroana, as potential bioactive molecules involved in the proliferation of hair follicle dermal papilla cells. Our results highlight the metabolites of the plant species potentially involved in the induction of hair follicle growth and support the traditional uses of these plants in hair care.

In Vitro Hair Dermal Papilla Cells Induction by Fagraea berteroana, a Tree of the Marquesan Cosmetopoeia (French Polynesia)

Fagraea berteroana is a tree used in traditional medicine in various islands of the South Pacific. Here, we studied its hair growth-inducing properties as suggested by one of its Marquesan ethno-uses in haircare. The ethyl acetate extract of the fruits of F. berteroana (FEAE) and four resulting fractions (FEAE-F0, FEAE-F1, FEAE-F2, and FEAE-F3) were tested on hair follicle dermal papilla cells to determine their cell proliferative activity. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis enabled gene modulation analysis, while immunostaining of the β-catenin protein was used to follow protein regulation. We found that the plant extracts induced a controlled, dose-dependent cell proliferation. FEAE-F0 simultaneously down-regulated Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) mRNA expression and upregulated Cyclin-D1 (CCND1) gene expression, which suggests an involvement in the regulation of the Wnt and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) pathways that control the hair cycle. FEAE-F0 exhibited a 1.34-fold increase of nuclear β-catenin protein. This is indicative of an active hair growth state. Thus, we conclude that FEAE-F0 could be an innovative candidate in hair care, which opens interesting leads to promote the Marquesan cosmetopoeia.

Vascular Epiphytic Medicinal Plants as Sources of Therapeutic Agents: Their Ethnopharmacological Uses, Chemical Composition, and Biological Activities

This is an extensive review on epiphytic plants that have been used traditionally as medicines. It provides information on 185 epiphytes and their traditional medicinal uses, regions where Indigenous people use the plants, parts of the plants used as medicines and their preparation, and their reported phytochemical properties and pharmacological properties aligned with their traditional uses. These epiphytic medicinal plants are able to produce a range of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, and a total of 842 phytochemicals have been identified to date. As many as 71 epiphytic medicinal plants were studied for their biological activities, showing promising pharmacological activities, including as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. There are several species that were not investigated for their activities and are worthy of exploration. These epipythes have the potential to furnish drug lead compounds, especially for treating cancers, and thus warrant indepth investigations.

A selection of eleven plants used as traditional Polynesian cosmetics and their development potential as anti-aging ingredients, hair growth promoters and whitening products

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In French Polynesia, embellishment of the hair and skin is an important cultural and everyday practice. Yet, little research has focused on traditional preparations used for beautification in this region and their potential development as innovative cosmetic ingredients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this present study we aim to assess and compile the ethnocosmetic potential of plants of French Polynesia to select and further study plants showing the most promise to be developed as anti-aging, anti-blemish and hair care products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature analysis of plants of the IECIC list, present in French Polynesia was conducted. The most interesting plants from a cosmetic development standpoint were selected based on four main criteria, i.e. their traditional use in Polynesian cosmetic-related preparations, their biogeographical status, their phytochemistry of cosmetic interest, and lastly their availability and absence from the UICN list. Furthermore, a preliminary screening of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities was also performed on several extracts obtained.

RESULTS

Eleven plants were chosen, and a compilation of multidisciplinary data emphasized each selected plant's potentiality. Traditional allegations showed uses ranging from dermatology such as wound healing or anti-inflammatory properties, to hair growth promoting preparations or even skin ligthening ones. Preliminary screenings were useful in narrowing the number of extracts to study. Literature-based data associated to traditional uses depicted how the remaining plants and plant parts could be developed for targeted cosmetic applications.

CONCLUSIONS

A prospective approach of plants used traditionally for cosmetic purposes in French Polynesia gave insight on their development potential when paired with the appropriate multidisciplinary data. The eleven plants presented show promise in being developed sustainably as natural anti-aging or hair care products and as skin brightening agents.

Spongian-16-one Diterpenes and Their Anatomical Distribution in the Australian Nudibranch Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Six new (1-6) spongian-16-one analogues have been characterized from the Australian nudibranch species Goniobranchus collingwoodi, along with four known spongian-16-one derivatives. The structures and relative configuration were suggested by spectroscopic analyses informed by molecular modeling. Dissection of animal tissue revealed that the mantle and viscera differ in their terpene composition. Whole body extracts were not toxic to brine shrimp (Artemia sp.), but were unpalatable to palaemon shrimp (Palaemon serenus) at a concentration found within the nudibranch. Individual terpenes were not cytotoxic to human lung (NCIH-460), colorectal (SW620), and liver (HepG2) cancer cells.

Constituents of Fagraea fragrans with Antimycobacterial Activity in Combination with Erythromycin

Seven new compounds constituted by three secoiridoids (1-3), two isocoumarins (4 and 5), an iridoid (6), and an aromatic derivative (7) in addition to 24 known compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Fagraea fragrans. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. The isolated compounds showed no antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. However, 5-formylisochromen-1-one (4), (-)-mellein (8), and swermacrolactone C (9) exhibited potent antimycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium smegmatis when used in combination with the antibiotic drug erythromycin.

New Cytotoxic Norditerpenes from the Australian Nudibranchs Goniobranchus Splendidus and Goniobranchus Daphne

This study reports the isolation and characterisation of six new metabolites with ‘gracilin’-type carbon skeletons and of aplytandiene-3 from the Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus. The structure of gracilin G is revised, and the C-6 configuration deduced by comparison of calculated 3JC/H values with values measured using the EXSIDE pulse sequence. A lactone isolated from Goniobranchus daphne contains a rearranged spongionellin-type skeleton. Screening of selected metabolites revealed significant cytotoxicity against a HeLa S3 cell line by five of the new terpenes.

Chemical constituents from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa and their antimicrobial activity

Lignans and phenylethanoid glycosides purified from Forsythia suspensa were reported to display various bioactivities in the previous literature, including the antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the present research is aimed to purify and identify the chemical constituents of the methanol extracts of fruits of F. suspensa. The methanol extracts of fruits of F. suspensa were fractionated and further purified with the assistance of column chromatography to afford totally thirty-four compounds. Among these isolates, 3 β -acetoxy-20 α -hydroxyursan-28-oic acid (1) was reported from the natural sources for the first time. Some of the purified principles were subjected to the antimicrobial activity examinations against Escherichia coli to explore new natural lead compounds.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2011 for marine natural products, with 870 citations (558 for the period January to December 2011) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1152 for 2011), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Oxygenated Terpenoids from the Australian Sponges Coscinoderma matthewsi and Dysidea sp., and the Nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata

The isolation and structure elucidation of seven new oxygenated terpenoids and eight known terpene metabolites from marine invertebrates collected at the Inner Gneerings Reef, South East Queensland, is discussed. Investigation of the sponge Coscinoderma matthewsi yielded an epoxylactone derivative (1) of the known furanoterpene tetradehydrofurospongin-1 (2). A chemical investigation of the dissected nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata provided the new oxygenated diterpenes 12α-acetoxyspongian-16-one (10), 20-acetoxyspongian-16-one (12), 20-oxyspongian-16-one propionate (13) and 12α,20-dioxyspongian-16-one dipropionate (14) in conjunction with three other known diterpene metabolites, while two new chromodorolides, D (17) and E (18), in addition to four known diterpenes were isolated from a Dysidea sp.