No abstract

A drimane, (+)-drimenol (1), five known herbertanes, (-)-alpha-herbertenol (2), (-)-herbertenediol (3), mastigophorene A (4), (-)-mastigophorene C (5) and (-)-mastigophorene D (6), a pimarane, (-)-ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (7), and two eudesmanolides, (-)-diplophyllolide A (8) and (-)-diplophyllin (9) were isolated from the Tahitian Mastigophora diclados (Brid.) Nees. Herbertane sesquiterpenes (2, 3, 5 and 6) showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 and KB cell lines, radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis. (-)-Diplophyllolide A (8) also exhibited cytotoxicity against HL-60 and KB cell lines.

Cytotoxic bibenzyls, and germacrane-and pinguisane-type sesquiterpenoids have been isolated from unidentified Indonesian and Tahitian Frullania sp. and Japanese Porella perrottetiana by using a combination of chromatographic methods. The structure activity relationship (SAR) study showed that the presence of a phthalide group in bibenzyls, an α-methylene-γ-lactone in germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, and β-hydroxycarbonyl in pinguisane-type sesquiterpenoids play an important role in providing cytotoxic activity against both human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) and human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma (KB) cell lines. The structure of each isolated compound was elucidated by using spectroscopic methods and the cytotoxicity was determined by using the WST-8 colorimetric assay.

A new modification reaction of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (1) to afford a series of p-methoxycinnamamide and p-methoxy--nitrostyrene has been developed by using the assistance of the unmodified microwave oven. The synthesized compounds were characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques and furthermore screened for their anti-inflammatory activity by using anti-denaturation of heat bovine serum albumin (BSA) method. The result of bioassay indicated that p-methoxycinnamamide derivatives and p-methoxy--nitrostyrenes showed interesting anti-inflammatory activity.

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) (1) has been isolated as a major compound from the rhizome of Kaempferia galanga together with the other compound ethyl cinnamate (2). As reported in the literature, EPMC (1) exhibited a significant in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. In this research, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1 and 2 by using anti-denaturation of heat bovine serum albumin (BSA) method. In order to analyze active sites that are responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity, therefore, it is necessary to conduct structural modification of EPMC (1). The structural modification was performed through re-esterification reaction by using conventional and assistance of the unmodified microwave oven. Evaluation of the results of the bioassay indicated that the ester and methoxy functional groups of EPMC (1) play an important role for the anti-inflammatory activity.

Six Tahitian liverworts, Trichocolea pluma, Chandonanthus hirtellus, Mastigophora diclados, Jungermannia sp., Plagiochila sp. and Cyathodium foetidissimum were chemically investigated. All of these liverworts produce their own characteristic compounds. Vanillic acid methyl ester was isolated for the first time from T. pluma. Skatol is responsible for the very intense unpleasant odor of C. foetidissimum. Herbertane-type sesquiterpenoids are peculiar components of M. diclados, and fusicoccane-type diterpenoids were identified in Pagiochila sp. Cembranes and ent-verticillanes were isolated from C. hirtellus and also detected in Jungermannia species. C. hirtellus also biosynthesizes algal components and such results may suggest that some liverworts originate from algae.

Crude extracts of the Tahitian liverworts Mastigophora diclados and Frullania sp., the Indonesian Frullania sp., Dumortiera hirsuta and Marchantia sp., and the Japanese Porella perrottetiana were investigated chemically by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All extracts contained various volatile sesqui-and diterpenoids and a few aromatic compounds. The Tahitian M. diclados and Frullania sp., and the Indonesian Frullania sp. exhibited cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and KB cell lines. The extracts of the Tahitian M. diclados and the Indonesian Marchantia sp. showed radical scavenging activity, whereas the crude extracts of the Tahitian M. diclados and Frullania sp., and the Indonesian Frullania and Marchantia sp. showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.

Investigation on the leaves of Melicope bonwickii (F.Muell.) T.Hartley (Rutaceae) afforded a new 7-(2'-hydroxy-3'-chloroprenyloxy)-4-methoxyfuroquinoline (1) together with the known 7-(2',3'-epoxyprenyloxy)-4-methoxyfuroquinoline (2), evellerine (3) kokusaginine (4) and an amide aurantiamide acetate (5). Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant activity against cervical cell lines (Hela).