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The antiproliferative activities of n-hexane, chloroform, aqueous-methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of the Achillea millefolium aggregate on three human tumour cell lines were investigated by means of MTT assays. The chloroform-soluble extract exerted high tumour cell proliferation inhibitory activities on HeLa and MCF-7 cells, and a moderate effect on A431 cells; accordingly, it was subjected to detailed bioactivity-guided fractionation. As a result of the multistep chromatographic purifications (VLC, CPC, PLC, gel filtration), five flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, centaureidin, casticin and artemetin) and five sesquiterpenoids (paulitin, isopaulitin, psilostachyin C, desacetylmatricarin and sintenin) were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative assay demonstrated that centaureidin is the most effective constituent of the aerial parts of yarrow: high cell growth inhibitory activities were observed especially on HeLa (IC(50) 0.0819 microm) and MCF-7 (IC(50) 0.1250 microm) cells. Casticin and paulitin were also highly effective against all three tumour cell lines (IC(50) 1.286-4.76 microm), while apigenin, luteolin and isopaulitin proved to be moderately active (IC(50) 6.95-32.88 microm). Artemetin, psilostachyin C, desacetylmatricarin and sintenin did not display antiproliferative effects against these cell lines. This is the first report on the occurrence of seco-pseudoguaianolides (paulitin, isopaulitin and psilostachyin C) in the Achillea genus.

From the n-hexane fraction of the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus, two labdane-type diterpenes, vitetrifolin B and C, were isolated by means of multiple chromatographic separations, together with the previously identified rotundifuran, vitexilactone and the sesquiterpene spathulenol. From the EtOAc fraction, eupatorin was identified for the first time, besides the known casticin, penduletin, vitexin and orientin. The n-hexane, EtOAc and MeOH-H(2)O fractions of the MeOH extract of Agni-casti fructus were subjected to in vitro antioxidant assays. The EtOAc extract displayed a significant concentration-dependent effect when tested by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrasyl (DPPH) free radical assay (IC(50) = 68 microg/mL) and against the autooxidation of a standard rat brain homogenate (IC(50) = 14 microg/mL). The MeOH-H(2)O fraction was less active with 3643 microg/mL (DPPH test) and IC(50) = 125 microg/mL (rat brain homogenate), while the n-hexane phase proved to be inactive. The main flavonoid constituents of the EtOAc extract, casticin, vitexin and orientin were assayed for antioxidant activity and found that only casticin possesses a marked lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect (IC(50) = 0.049 mm) compared with that of the positive control ascorbic acid (IC(50) = 0.703 mm).

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The discovery of the interaction of plant-derived N-alkylamides (NAAs) and the mammalian endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the existence of a plant endogenous Nacylethanolamine signaling system have led to the re-evaluation of this group of compounds. Herein, the isolation of seven NAAs and the assessment of their effects on major protein targets in the ECS network are reported. Four NAAs, octadeca-2E,4E,8E,10Z,14Z-pentaene-12-ynoic acid isobutylamide (1), octadeca-2E,4E,8E,10Z,14Z-pentaene-12-ynoic acid 2′-methylbutylamide (2), hexadeca-2E,4E,9Z-triene-12,14-diynoic acid isobutylamide (3), and hexadeca-2E,4E,9,12-tetraenoic acid 2′methylbutylamide (4), were identified from Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra. Compounds 2−4 are new natural products, while 1 was isolated for the first time from this species. The previously described macamides, N-(3-methoxybenzyl)-(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienamide (5), N-benzyl-(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienamide (6), and N-benzyl-(9Z,12Z)-octadecadienamide (7), were isolated from Lepidium meyenii (Maca). N-Methylbutylamide 4 and N-benzylamide 7 showed submicromolar and selective binding affinities for the cannabinoid CB 1 receptor (K i values of 0.31 and 0.48 μM, respectively). Notably, compound 7 also exhibited weak fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibition (IC 50 = 4 μM) and a potent inhibition of anandamide cellular uptake (IC 50 = 0.67 μM) that was stronger than the inhibition obtained with the controls OMDM-2 and UCM707. The pronounced ECS polypharmacology of compound 7 highlights the potential involvement of the arachidonoyl-mimicking 9Z,12Z double-bond system in the linoleoyl group for the overall cannabimimetic action of NAAs. This study provides additional strong evidence of the endocannabinoid substrate mimicking of plant-derived NAAs and uncovers a direct and indirect cannabimimetic action of the Peruvian Maca root.

The antiproliferative activities of aqueous and organic extracts prepared from 26 Hungarian species of the tribes Cynereae and Lactuceae (Asteraceae) were tested in vitro against HeLa (cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma), A431 (skin epidermoid carcinoma) and MCF7 (breast epithelial adenocarcinoma) cells by using the MTT assay. Of the tested 200 extracts of different plant parts obtained with n-hexane, chloroform, 50% methanol and water, 16 extracts displayed noteworthy cell growth inhibitory activity (>50% inhibition at a concentration of 10 microg/mL). The IC50 values of these extracts were determined, and their direct cytotoxic effects were measured. High differences between the antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities, demonstrating a real cell proliferation inhibitory activity rather than direct killing effects, were found for some Centaurea, Cirsium, Cichorium, Lactuca, Onopordum and Scorsonera extracts.

Phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Euphorbia grandicornis led to the isolation of two new tigliane diterpenes, 16-angeloyloxy-13α-isobutanoyloxy-4β,9α,20-trihydroxytiglia-1,5-diene-3,7-dione (1) and 16-angeloyloxy-13α-isobutanoyloxy-4β,9α,7β-trihydroxytiglia-1,5-dien-3-one (2). The structures and relative configuration of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments ((1)H NMR, JMOD, (1)H-(1)H COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC), mass spectrometry, and comparison with literature data. The biogenesis of 1 and 2 with respect to the unusual 5-en-7-one and 5-en-7-ol moieties is also discussed.

Introduction !Canadian horseweed [Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist, syn. Erigeron canadensis L., Asteraceae] is a plant species indigenous to America, but is now found globally; it is widely distributed in Hungary. The aerial parts of the plant have been used in different parts of the world to treat several ailments, most commonly diarrhoea and dysentery, and as a diuretic agent. In Chinese folk medicine, horseweed has also been applied for the treatment of wounds, swellings, and pain caused by arthritis [1,2]. Moreover, a decoction of horseweed has traditionally been used to treat cancerous diseases in North America [3]. Previous phytochemical studies revealed the presence of specific C 10 acetylenes [4,5], sesquiterpene hydrocarbons [6], flavonoids [7], and sterols, triterpenes, and sphingolipids [8,9] in this plant species. Recently, a triterpenoid ester, 3β,16β,20β-trihydroxytaraxastane-3-O-palmitoyl ester [5], and phenylpropanoyl 2,7-anhydro-3-deoxy-2-octulosonic acid derivatives were isolated [10]. Analysis of the essential oil of horseweed revealed 25 constituents, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and acetylenes, among which d-limonene predominated [11]. In the course of the search for antiproliferative compounds from the Asteraceae family, lipophilic and aqueous extracts of different parts of C. canadensis have been assayed on human tumour cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7, and A431). The n-hexane phase of the methanol extract of the root inhibited markedly the growth of the cells (62.4-70.1 %) at 10 µg/mL, and the CHCl 3 phase of the methanol extract of the root demonstrated at the same concentration moderate antiproliferative activity (39.3-47.9 %) [12]. The present investigation was aimed at the identification of compounds responsible for the anticancer effects of horseweed root. Activity-guided isolation, structure elucidation, and pharmacological analysis of two new C 10 dihydropyranone derivatives and various known C 10 acetylenes, triterpenes, sterols, a hydroxy-fatty acid, and apigenin are reported (l " Fig. 1). Abstract !Bioassay-guided fractionation of the n-hexane and CHCl 3 phases of the methanol extract of the roots of Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist led to the isolation of two new dihydropyranones named conyzapyranone A (1) and B (2), and the known 4Z,8Z-matricaria-γ-lactone (3), 4E,8Z-matricaria-γ-lactone (4), 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoic acid (5), epifriedelanol (6), friedeline (7), taraxerol (8), simiarenol (9), spinasterol (10), stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and apigenin. The structures were determined by means of ESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, including 1 H-1 H COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC experiments. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities and were demonstrated to exert considerable cell growth-inhibitory activity against human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), skin carcinoma (A431), and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Some of the active components, including 2, 4, and 10, proved to be substantially more potent against these cell lines...