Reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of flavone glycosides from Melilotus neapolitana

One new and six known flavone glycosides were isolated from the MeOH extract of Melilotus neapolitana Ten. The new compound, identified as 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4',5-dihydroxy-3-[O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy]flavone (1) by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and mass spectra, was isolated along with kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (3), rutin (4), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (5), isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (6), and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (7). The antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of these compounds and the whole crude methanol extract were evaluated. The organic extract can inhibit MDA marker's synthesis by 57%. All the metabolites displayed good reducing power, with the kaempferol (2,3) and isorhamnetin derivatives (6,7) being less active than the corresponding quercetin derivatives 4,5.

Structural Elucidation of a New Aromatic Metabolite from Melilotus Neapolitana and its Potential Allelopathic Effect on Wild Species

From the ethereal extract of Melilotus neapolitana Ten., an herbaceous plant living in the Mediterranean macchia, a new aromatic metabolite was isolated. The structure 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)2-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)1,3-propandiol, was elucidated on the basis of its mass spectrum and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data (DQ-COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC). The relative configuration was determined from NOESY/ROESY experiments and computational calculations. The compound was tested for its potential allelopathic effect on two wild plant species living in the same habitat as M. neapolitana.

Structural characterization of phytotoxic terpenoids from Cestrum parqui

Isolation, chemical characterization and phytotoxicity of nine polyhydroxylated terpenes (five C13nor-isoprenoids, two sesquiterpenes, a spirostane and a pseudosapogenin) from Cestrum parqui L'Herr are reported. In this work we completed the phytochemical investigation of the terpenic fraction of the plant and described the structural elucidation of polar isoprenoids using NMR methods. All the configurations of the compounds have been assigned by NOESY experiments. Four new structures have been identified as (3S,5R,6R,7E,9R)-5,6,9-trihydroxy-3-isopropyloxy-7-megastigmene, 5alpha-spirostan-3beta,12beta,15alpha-triol, and 26-O-(3'-isopentanoyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-5alpha-furost-20(22)-ene-3beta,26-diol, and as an unusual tricyclic sesquiterpene. The compounds have been assayed for their phytotoxicity on lettuce at the concentrations ranging between 10(-4) and 10(-7)M. The activities of some compounds were similar to that of the herbicide pendimethalin.

Structure elucidation and phytotoxicity of C13 nor-isoprenoids from Cestrum parqui

Twelve C(13) nor-isoprenoids have been isolated from the leaves of Cestrum parqui (Solanaceae). The structure (2R,6R,9R)-2,9-dihydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one has been assigned to the new compound. All the structures have been determined by spectroscopic means and chemical correlations. The compounds showed phytotoxic effect on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa L.