Two new derivatives of 2, 5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid from the kernel of Entada phaseoloides

Pharmacological and Chemical Analysis of Bauhinia divaricata L. Using an In Vitro Antiadipogenic Model

Obesity is characterized by an excessive and abnormal accumulation of fat. According to the 2022 National Health and Nutrition Survey, in Mexico, the prevalence of overweight and obesity-diagnosed if one's body mass index (BMI) was ≥25 kg/m2-in adults was 75.2%. A strong association between the amount of visceral fat and diseases such as diabetes mellitus type II has been recognized. Species of the Bauhinia genus have lipid-lowering and antidiabetic properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the lipolytic and antiadipogenic activity of Bauhinia divaricata L. in 3T3-L1 cells and to identify the major compounds in the bioactive treatments. The extraction of aerial parts allowed us to obtain hexanic (BdHex), ethyl acetate (BdEAc), and hydroalcoholic (BdHA) extracts. Lipid levels were measured in 3T3-L1 cells differentiated into adipocytes. Our evaluation of cell viability identified an IC50 > 1000 μg/mL in all the extracts, and our evaluation of the antiadipogenic activity indicated that there was a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the accumulation of lipids with hydroalcoholic (60%) and ethyl acetate (75%) extracts of B. divaricate compared with metformin at 30 mM (65%). The major compounds identified in these extracts were as follows: triacetin (1), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl acetate (2), (3E)-2-methyl-4-(1,3,3-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-2-yl)-3-buten-2-ol (3), 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (4), (3R)-3-hydroxydodecanoic acid (5), kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside (6), and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (7). Some of these naturally occurring compounds have been related to the anti-obesity effects of other medicinal plants; therefore, these compounds isolated from B. divaricata could be responsible for inhibiting the differentiation process from preadipocytes to mature adipocytes.

Chromosome-level genome of Entada phaseoloides provides insights into genome evolution and triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis

As a medicinal herbal plant, Entada phaseoloides has high levels of secondary metabolites, particularly triterpenoid saponins, which are important resources for scientific research and medical applications. However, the lack of a reference genome for this genus has limited research on its evolution and utilization of its medicinal potential. In this study, we report a chromosome-scale genome assembly for E. phaseoloides using Illumina, Nanopore long reads, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology. The assembled reference genome is 456.18 Mb (scaffold N50=30.9 Mb; contig N50=6.34 Mb) with 95.71 % of the sequences anchored onto 14 pseudochromosomes. E. phaseoloides was estimated to diverge from the Leguminosae lineage at approximately 72.0 million years ago. With the integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, gene expression patterns and metabolite profiling of E. phaseoloides were determined in different tissues. The pattern of gene expression and metabolic profile of the kernel were distinct from those of other tissues. Furthermore, the evolution of certain gene families involved in the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins and terpenes was analyzed and offer new insights into the formation of these two metabolites. Four CYP genes, one UGT gene and related transcription factors were identified as candidate genes contributing to regulation of triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis. As the first high-quality assembled reference genome in the genus Entada, it will not only provide new information for the evolutionary study of this genus and conservation biology of E. phaseoloides but also lay a foundation for the formation and utilization of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.

Medicinal and edible plants used by the Lhoba people in Medog County, Tibet, China

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Lhoba people are a small, ancient, tribal ethnic group from the Himalayas and are located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Medog County is rich in biocultural diversity. For a long time, Medog has been almost isolated from the outside world. The Lhoba people, who live in Medog, have maintained a relatively unique lifestyle and have accumulated rich traditional knowledge (TK), especially about medicinal and edible plants. Currently, there is very little documentation of the plants traditionally used by the local Lhoba communities.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our investigation aimed to (i) document the species of medicinal and food plants used by the Lhoba people in Medog County, Tibet, China; (ii) screen the most important plant taxa for specific medicines, and identify the aliments treated to further contribute to drug and food supplement research; and (iii) examine whether the ethnobotanical knowledge of the Lhoba is similar among different tribes and discuss traditional uses in the health practices and livelihoods of the local communities.

METHODS

Ethnobotanical data were recorded through semi-structured interviews, guided field trips, and quantitative analysis. The informant consensus factor (FIC) was used as a quantitative index.

RESULTS

Ninety-one informants (61 men and 30 women) were interviewed. A total of 75 species, including 37 medicinal plants for 14 categories of diseases and 57 edible plants from six types of food, were recorded. Among the usage types of medicinal plants, the highest FIC values were recorded for antidotes (FIC = 0.98), anthelmintics (FIC = 0.98), and treatments of gastrointestinal problems (FIC = 0.93). The FIC values for different types of edible plants were very similar. The most frequently used medicinal and food plants in the studied communities are Zanthoxylum motuoense, Crassocephalum crepidioides, and Swertia nervosa. According to the comparative study, few differences in the use of wild plants were found. There appeared to be more overlapping species between two Lhoba tribes in Medog, named Mixingba and Miguba, with 46 (61%) common species, compared with the Bo'gaer tribe in Milin, which had only two (2.7%) overlapping species. This might be due to the different geographical environments, vegetation types, and different influences of other ethnic cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

The Lhoba people in Medog County, Tibet, China, have rich TK about the uses of wild plants. However, the TK is seriously threatened due to environmental degradation and acculturation, and it showed signs of being forgotten and abandoned by the younger generation. Therefore, measures are urgently needed to document and protect the TK of the uses of the wild plant resources; and (i) the most frequently used medicinal and/or edible plants; (ii) the plants used to treat the most commonly mentioned diseases; and (iii) the endemic species that are widely used in Medog, which should be assessed for their potential future as food supplements and therapeutic products.

Remote azidation of C(sp3)–H bonds to synthesize δ-azido sulfonamidesviairon-catalyzed radical relay

A selective remote C–H azidation was developed with an iron catalyst playing dual roles as a radical initiator and terminator.

Base-Controlled Regiodivergent Azidation of Trifluoromethyl Alkenyl Triflates: Transition-Metal-Free Access to CF3-Containing Allyl Azides and Alkenyl Azides

A base-controlled regiodivergent azidation of trifluoromethyl alkenyl triflates providing either (E)-3-azido-1-aryl-4,4,4-trifluorobut-1-ene (CF₃-containing allyl azides) or (Z)-1-azido-1-aryl-4,4,4-trifluorobut-1-ene (CF₃-containing alkenyl azides) is described. Catalyzed by Et₃N, the azidation of trifluoromethyl alkenyl triflates with TMSN₃ gave CF₃-containing allyl azides. On the other hand, using stoichiometric DBU, the regioisomeric azidation products, CF₃-containing alkenyl azides, were obtained in good yield. A further transformation for CF₃-containing amines, triazoles, and azirines highlights the practical applicability of this transition-metal-free protocol.

Biological activity of Entada phaseoloides and Entada rheedei

The aim of our study is to find functional compounds from natural resources. We focus on plants grown in tropical areas, especially Madagascar and Thailand, because they have unique flora and are expected to contain interesting compounds. We review the functional compounds of the seed kernels of Entada phaseoloides and E. rheedei and their biological activities such as anti-proliferation and melanogenesis inhibitory properties, etc.

Triterpene saponins with anti-inflammatory activity from the stems of Entada phaseoloides

The phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the stems of Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr (also called "Guo Gang Long") led to the isolation of eleven triterpene saponins (1-11). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D- ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D-NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, HSQC-TOCSY and ROESY) experiments as well as ESIMS analysis and hydrolysis. These saponins comprised entagenic acid as the main aglycon, saccharide moieties at C-3 and C-28, and esterification of C-2 or C-3 hydroxyl group of the terminal β-d-glucopyranose unit with a monoterpenic acid. To further explain the clinical applications of "Guo Gang Long" for its anti-inflammatory effect, the inhibitory activities on the production of NO of the saponins and the related aglycon, entagenic acid (12), were evaluated in vitro. The compounds containing a free hydroxyl at C-3 of aglycon (1 and 4) and entagenic acid showed significant activities against NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 25.08, 20.13 and 23.48 μM, respectively. And the three compounds could also inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8.