New bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, isolation and structure elucidation from Cocculus pendulus

This paper describes phytochemical studies on aerial part of the Cocculus pendulus, which led to the identification of a new ingredient namely, 2 N-methylkohatine (1) along with four reported compounds Kohatine (2), 1,2-Dehydrokohatine (3) and 5'Hhydroxyapateline (4). Structures of the all Compounds were elucidated by using 1 D and 2 D NMR and mass spectroscopy furthermore the structure of new Compound 1 was also proved by synthesize from compound 2 (Kohatine).

The visualization of the spatial distribution of Cocculus orbiculatus based on air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Cocculus orbiculatus (C. orbiculatus), the root of plants belonging to the Menispermaceae family, has been extensively used to treat various diseases, including malaria and rheumatism. The main chemicals in these plants are alkaloids; however, the spatial distribution of these compounds within the plant roots remains undefined. This study aimed to visualize the spatial distribution of C. orbiculatus using air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI). In total, the spatial distribution of four aporphine alkaloids, five benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, six bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, and one morphinane alkaloid in the cork layer, xylem, and ray of the root of C. orbiculatus was observed; the distribution characteristics of the different compounds in C. orbiculatus were significantly different. This study provides a visualized spatial distribution analysis method for the characterization of metabolites in the root tissue of C. orbiculatus and also provides valuable information for the specificity of the root of C. orbiculatus, which is beneficial for understanding its chemical separation, biosynthesis, and pharmacological activities.

Anticancer activity of Cocculus hirsutus against Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells in mice

CONTEXT

Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels (Menispermaceae) is used in Indian folk system of alternative medicine for rheumatism, eczema, diabetics, inflammation, and neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate antitumor activities of C. hirsutus in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C. hirsutus was successively extracted using hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT assay. Phytochemical analyses were conducted with methanol extract of C. hirsutus (MECH) and in vivo antitumor activity was carried out with MECH using Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) mouse model. Antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Phytochemical studies indicated a high content of total alkaloid (165.6 mg/100 g), total phenolic (43.5 GAE mg/g), and total flavanoid (4.97 RE mg/g) in MECH. Anti-proliferative activity against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed IC50 values of 221.5 ± 16.68, 255 ± 17.88, 213 ± 8.4, 147 ± 7.9, and 229 ± 8.02 µg/ml with hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts, respectively. A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in packed cell volume, viable cell count, and increased lifespan (58 and 77%) was observed. Hematological and serum biochemical profiles were restored to normal levels in MECH-treated mice. MECH-treated group significantly (p < 0.001) decreased SOD, lipid peroxidation, and CAT towards normal.

CONCLUSION

C. hirsutus exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities that are reasonably attributed to endogenous antioxidant mechanisms.

[Chemical constituents of Cocculus orbiculatus var. mollis root]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents in the root of Cocculus orbiculatus var. mollis.

METHODS

The compounds were isolated by silica gel chromatography, their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTS

Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as wattisine A (I), O-methylcocsoline (II), (+) cocsoline (III), (+) cocsuline (IV), magnoflorine (V), sino-coculine (VI), isosinococuline (VII), (-) coclaurine (VIII), daucosterol (IX), beta-sitosterol (X) and 1-oleioyl-3-(9Z, 12Z-arachoyl) glycerol (XI).

CONCLUSION

Compound I is isolated from this genus for the first time,and compound II - XI are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Simultaneous determination of structurally diverse compounds in different Fangchi species by UHPLC-DAD and UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Two bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, two morphine alkaloids, one aporphine alkaloid, syringaresinol and aristolochic acid І were selected as marker compounds and simultaneously analyzed using an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD) method. These marker compounds were used for the quality control of Fangchi species of different origins, including Sinomeniumacutum, Stephaniatetrandra, Cocculustrilobus and Aristolochiafangchi. A reversed-phase UHPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of structurally diverse markers in different Fangchi species. In addition, an UHPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) method was used for marker identification in Fangchi species, which provided diagnostic MS/MS spectral patterns that were dependent upon the marker structures. The UHPLC-MS/MS data were used to confirm and complement the UHPLC-DAD quality evaluation results. Additionally, magnoflorine and syringaresinol were observed for the first time in S. tetrandra and C. trilobus, respectively. Twenty different Fangchi species samples were analyzed for aristolochic acid I, syringaresinol and the alkaloids using the UHPLC-DAD and MS/MS method. Based on the levels of markers and principal component analysis (PCA), this method allowed for the clear classification of the samples into four different groups representing samples originating from the four species.

Nephroprotective activity of Cocculus hirsutus leaf extract in 5/6 nephrectomized rat model

BACKGROUND

Cocculus hirsutus, commonly known as broom creeper, belongs to the family Menispermaceae. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat leprosy, skin diseases, dyspepsia, etc. Hence, an effort has been made to investigate the nephroprotective potential of C. hirsutus.

METHODS

The nephroprotective activity of ethanolic C. hirsutus leaf extract (ECHE) in the 5/6 nephrectomized rat model was investigated. Different parameters like postoperative survival rate, change in body weight and levels of red blood corpuscles (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, urea and uric acid were estimated in experimental rats.

RESULTS

The findings revealed the postoperative survival rate of rats in the investigated novel method to be 100%. Change in the body weight of ECHE-treated groups I and II was found to be 32 and 30 g, respectively. These values suggested that ECHE treatment normalized the elevated body weight levels in experimental rats. Furthermore, ECHE treatment normalized the decreased RBC levels and the elevated Hb, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, urea and uric acid levels in experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that C. hirsutus has strong nephroprotective activity. However, further scrutiny is essential for isolation and characterization of the active components that can be employed to allay various human maladies.

Total synthesis and antimicrobial activity of +/--laurelliptinhexadecan-1-one and +/--laurelliptinoctadecan-1-one

The structures previously assigned to (+)-laurelliptinhexadecan-1-one (1a) and (+)-laurelliptinoctadecan-1-one (1b) from Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC. (Menispermaceae) have been confirmed by total synthesis of the racemic alkaloids. The key step of the synthesis involved formation of ring C of the aporphines by a radical-intiated cyclisation. Both (+/-)-laurelliptinhexadecan-1-one (1a) and (+/-)-laurelliptinoctadecan-1-one (1b) were inactive against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25932, Escherichia coli ATCC10536 and Candida albicans ATCC90028.

The effect of cinnarizine and cocculus indicus on simulator sickness

Pensacola Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) is a valuable method to analyse symptoms evoked by exposure to a flight simulator environment that can also be adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive tools, aiming at reducing simulator sickness (SS). In this study we analysed SSQ data in subjects undergoing a standard ground based spatial disorientation training inside a flight simulator, in order to evaluate the SS prevention obtained with two different pharmacological tools. Twelve males volunteers participated to an experimental design based on a double-blind, balanced administration of either 30 mg cinnarizine (CIN), or Cocculus Indicus 6CH (COC), or placebo (PLC) before one trial of about one hour spent inside a spatial disorientation trainer. All subjects underwent the three different conditions (CIN, COC, PLC) during 3 non-consecutive days separated by at least 2 weeks. During each experimental day, all subjects filled in SSQ. In addition, both postural instability (with the use of a static stabilometric platform), and sleepiness symptoms were evaluated. All the tests were performed before and after the simulated flight, at different times, in one-and-half-hour intervals. Results indicated a strong increase of sickness after flight simulation that linearly decreased, showing pre-simulator scores after 1.30 hours. In contrast to both PLC and COC, CIN showed significant side effects immediately following flight simulation, with no benefit at the simultaneous SSQ scores. Globally, no highly significant differences between COC and PLC were observed, although a minor degree of postural instability could be detected after COC administration. As far as the present exposure to a simulator environment is concerned, none of the pharmacological tools administered in this study resulted effective in reducing SS symptoms as detected by the SSQ. Moreover, CIN significantly increased sleepiness and postural instability in most subjects.

New bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Cocculus laurifolius

Two new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, alpha, alpha'-dioxo-7'-O-demethylstebisimine (1) and 7'-O-demethylstebisimine (2), along with 14 known alkaloids, were isolated from the roots of Cocculus laurifolius. These alkaloids were characterized mainly by spectroscopic methods.

Alkaloid and phenolic compounds of Galanthus caucasicus, Magnolia obovata, Cocculus laurifolius, and Veratrum lobelianum grown in Georgia

A collection of plants from the country of Georgia (Galanthus caucasicus, Magnolia obovata, Cocculus laurifolius, and Veratrum lobelianum) has been studied for their alkaloid content. Our studies led to the isolation and identification of 24 alkaloids, three of which are being identified and reported for the first time.