Lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of octyl gallate

Octyl gallate inhibited soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.12, type I) with an IC(50) of 1.3 microM. The inhibition of the enzyme by octyl gallate is a slow and reversible reaction without residual activity. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plots indicates that octyl gallate is a competitive inhibitor, and the inhibition constant, K(I), was obtained as 0.54 microM. One molecule of octyl gallate scavenged six molecules of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and inhibited autoxidative lipid peroxidation. In addition, octyl gallate was effective in preventing lipid peroxidation.     

Antioxidant and antimelanogenic activities of polyamine conjugates from corn bran and related hydroxycinnamic acids

The antioxidant activity of three major polyamine conjugates, N,N'-dicoumaroyl-putrescine (DCP), N-p-coumaroyl-N'-feruloylputrescine (CFP), and N,N'-diferuloyl-putrescine (DFP) isolated from corn bran, and their related hydroxycinnamic acids, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, were evaluated by three antioxidant in vitro assay systems, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide and hydroxyl radicals generated by enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions. Additionally, five phenolic compounds were evaluated for melanogenesis inhibitory activity using mushroom tyrosinase and B16 melanoma cells. Most of the phenolic compounds significantly scavenged DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, DFP showed potent DPPH (IC50 = 38.46 microM) and superoxide (IC50 = 291.62 microM) radical scavenging activities, while DCP exhibited the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 120.55 microM). CFP also exerted moderate DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Meanwhile, DCP (IC50 = 181.73 microM) showed potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity toward l-tyrosine as the substrate, whereas DFP (IC50 = 733.64 microM) significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells. These current results indicate that these three polyamine conjugates from corn bran may be useful potential sources of natural antioxidants and skin-whitening agents.     

Inhibition on human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 by constituents of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): identification and characterization of a mechanism-based inactivator

Fennel, a seed of Foeniculum vulgare, is used as a culinary spice and traditional medicine. The methanolic extract of fennel showed a characteristic of mechanism-based inactivation on erythromycin N-demethylation mediated by human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The present study was conducted to identify the fennel constituent having the inhibition. Thirteen compounds have been isolated from a methanol extract of fennel and tested for their inhibition on CYP3A4. Among them, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) showed the strongest inhibition with an IC50 value of 18.3 microM and a mixed type of inhibition. In addition, with the preincubation time of 20 min only 5-MOP showed preincubation time dependency; the IC50 value decreased from 18.3 microM with a preincubation time of 0 min to 4.6 microM with a preincubation time of 20 min. Further investigation on 5-MOP showed the characteristics of time-dependent inhibition, requirement of NADPH, lack of protecting effect of nucleophiles, and recovery of CYP3A4 activity by the competitive inhibitor. This result suggests that the inhibitory activity of CYP3A4 by 5-MOP was a mechanism-based inactivation. The kinetic parameter for mechanism-based inactivation was characterized by a KI value of 15.0 microM and a kinact value of 0.098 min(-1).     

Chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia fruits inhibit copper-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation

The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in the genesis of arteriosclerosis. The present study focused on the effects of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia on preventing arteriosclerosis. The MeOH extract and CHCl(3)-, EtOAc-, n-BuOH-, and H(2)O-soluble phases derived from the fruits of M. citrifolia were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on copper-induced LDL oxidation by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method. The MeOH extract and EtOAc-soluble phase showed 88 and 96% inhibition, respectively. Six lignans were isolated by repeated column chromatography from the EtOAc-soluble phase. These compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis to be 3,3'-bisdemethylpinoresinol (1), americanol A (2), americanin A (3), americanoic acid A (4), morindolin (5), and isoprincepin (6), of which 4 and 5 are novel compounds. These compounds inhibited copper-induced LDL oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. 1, 2, 5, and 6 exhibited remarkably strong activities, which were the same or better than that of the known antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. The IC(50) values for 1, 2, 5, and 6 were 1.057, 2.447, 2.020, and 1.362 microM, respectively. The activity of these compounds is mainly due to their number of phenolic hydroxyl groups.     

Lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of anacardic acids

6[8'(Z)-pentadecenyl]salicylic acid, otherwise known as anacardic acid (C15:1), inhibited the linoleic acid peroxidation catalyzed by soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.12, type 1) with an IC50 of 6.8 microM. The inhibition of the enzyme by anacardic acid (C15:1) is a slow and reversible reaction without residual activity. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by Dixon plots indicates that anacardic acid (C15:1) is a competitive inhibitor and the inhibition constant, KI, was obtained as 2.8 microM. Although anacardic acid (C15:1) inhibited the linoleic acid peroxidation without being oxidized, 6[8'(Z),11'(Z)-pentadecadienyl]salicylic acid, otherwise known as anacardic acid (C15:2), was dioxygenated at low concentrations as a substrate. In addition, anacardic acid (C15:2) was also found to exhibit time-dependent inhibition of lipoxygenase-1. The alk(en)yl side chain of anacardic acids is essential to elicit the inhibitory activity. However, the hydrophobic interaction alone is not enough because cardanol (C15:1), which possesses the same side chain as anacardic acid (C15:1), acted neither as a substrate nor as an inhibitor.     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory action of natural acylated anthocyanins. 2. alpha-Glucosidase inhibition by isolated acylated anthocyanins

Four diacylated pelargonidin (Pg: SOA-4 and SOA-6), cyanidin (Cy: YGM-3), and peonidin (Pn: YGM-6) 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides isolated from the red flowers of the morning glory, Pharbitis nil cv. Scarlett O'Hara (SOA), and the storage roots of purple sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas cv. Ayamurasaki (YGM), were subjected to an alpha-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitory assay, in which the assay was performed with the immobilized AGH (iAGH) system to mimic the membrane-bound AGH at the small intestine. As a result, the acylated anthocyanins showed strong maltase inhibitory activities with IC(50) values of <200 microM, whereas no sucrase inhibition was observed. Of these, SOA-4 [Pg 3-O-(2-O-(6-O-(E-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)caffeyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-E-caffeyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside)-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside] possessed the most potent maltase inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 60 microM). As a result of a marked reduction of iAGH inhibitory activity by deacylating the anthocyanins, that is, Pg (or Cy or Pn) sophoroside-5-glucoside, acylation of anthocyanin with caffeic (Caf) or ferulic (Fer) acid was found to be important in the expression of iAGH (maltase) inhibition. In addition, the result that Pg-based anthocyanins showed the most potent maltase inhibition, with an IC(50) value of 4.6 mM, and the effect being in the descending order of potency of Pg > Pn/Cy strongly suggested that no replacement at the 3'(5')-position of the aglycon B-ring may be essential for inhibiting iAGH action.     

Monohydroxamates of aspartic acid and glutamic acid exhibit antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activities

Two monohydroxamates of l-aspartic acid beta-hydroxamate (AAH) and l-glutamic acid gamma-hydroxamate (GAH) were used for testing antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities in comparison with those of asparagine and glutamine, respectively. The half-inhibition concentrations, IC(50), of scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were 36 and 48 microM and against superoxide radicals were 18.99 and 6.33 mM, respectively, for AAH and GAH. However, no activities of asparagine and glutamine were found. AAH and GAH also exhibited activities against peroxynitrite-mediated dihydrorhodamine 123 oxidations and hydroxyl radical-mediated DNA damage. For ACE inhibitory activities, the IC(50) values were 4.92 and 6.56 mM, respectively, for AAH and GAH. The ACE hydrolyzed products on the TLC chromatogram also confirmed the inhibitory activities of the two amino acid hydroxamates on ACE. When 1.23 mM AAH was added, AAH showed competitive inhibitions against ACE, and the apparent inhibition constant (K(i)) was 2.20 mM.     

Inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase by alkamides isolated from the fruits of Piper longum and Piper nigrum

Pharmacological inhibition of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) has emerged as a potential therapy for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Bioassay-guided isolation of CHCl3 extracts of the fruits of Piper longum and Piper nigum (Piperaceae), using an in vitro DGAT inhibitory assay, lead to isolation of a new alkamide named (2E,4Z,8E)-N-[9-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2,4,8-nonatrienoyl]piperidine (2), together with four known alkamides: retrofractamide C (1), pipernonaline (3), piperrolein B (4), and dehydropipernonaline (5). Compounds 2-5 inhibited DGAT with IC50 values of 29.8 (2), 37.2 (3), 20.1 (4), and 21.2 (5) microM, respectively, but the IC50 value for 1 was more than 900 microM. This finding indicates that compounds possessing piperidine groups (2-5) can be potential DGAT inhibitors.     

Inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase from orange peel

A series of polymethoxylated flavonoids has been isolated from orange peel, and their inhibitory activity toward soybean 15-lipoxygenase was determined. The strongest inhibition was shown by 3,5,6,7,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone (IC(50) = 49 +/- 5 microM). Sinensetin, nobiletin, tangeretin, tetramethylscutellarein, and 3,5, 6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone were somewhat less active, with IC(50) values of 70-86 microM, comparable to the positive control quercetin (IC(50) = 68 +/- 5 microM). Demethylation apparently results in less active compounds, with 5-O-demethylsinensetin having an IC(50) value of 144 +/- 10 microM. Some other orange peel constituents were isolated and tested as well, hesperidin (IC(50) = 180 +/- 10 microM) and ferulic acid (111 +/- 2 microM), showing moderate activity. The polymethoxylated flavonoids were virtually inactive as scavengers of the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical. Hesperidin was only slightly active (24.2 +/- 0.7% scavenged at a concentration of 2 mM), and ferulic acid showed good activity (IC(50) = 86.4 +/- 0.7 microM). From this, it appears that orange peel constituents may counteract enzymatic lipid peroxidation processes catalyzed by 15-lipoxygenase in vitro. The radical scavenging activity of orange peel extracts is only modest.     

Solid-phase synthesis of mimosine tetrapeptides and their inhibitory activities on neuraminidase and tyrosinase

Neuraminidase is a rational target for influenza inhibition, and the search for neuraminidase inhibitors has been intensified. Mimosine, a nonprotein amino acid, was for the first time identified as a neuraminidase inhibitor with an IC(50) of 9.8 ± 0.2 μM. It was found that mimosine had slow, time-dependent competitive inhibition against the neuraminidase. Furthermore, a small library of mimosine tetrapeptides (M-A(1)-A(2)-A(3)) was synthesized by solid-phase synthesis and was assayed to evaluate their neuraminidase and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Most of the tetrapeptides showed better activities than mimosine. Mimosine-FFY was the best compound, and it exhibited 50% neuraminidase inhibition at a low micromolar range of 1.8 ± 0.2 μM, whereas for tyrosinase inhibition, it had an IC(50) of 18.3 ± 0.5 μM. The kinetic studies showed that all of the synthesized peptides inhibited neuraminidase noncompetitively with K(i) values ranging from 1.9 -to 7.2 μM. These results suggest that mimosine could be used as a source of bioactive compounds and may have possibilities in the design of drugs as neuraminidase and tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Isolation of a new phlorotannin, a potent inhibitor of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, from the brown alga Sargassum patens

Ethanol extracts from 15 kinds of marine algae collected from the coast of the Noto Peninsula in Japan were examined for their inhibitory effects on human salivary α-amylase. Four extracts significantly suppressed the enzyme activity. An inhibitor was purified from the extract of Sargassum patens . The compound was a new phloroglucinol derivative, 2-(4-(3,5-dihydroxyphenoxy)-3,5-dihydroxyphenoxy) benzene-1,3,5-triol (DDBT), which strongly suppressed the hydrolysis of amylopectin by human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases. The 50% inhibitory activity (IC(50)) for α-amylase inhibition of DDBT (3.2 μg/mL) was much lower than that of commercially available α-amylase inhibitors, acarbose (26.3 μg/mL), quercetagetin (764 μg/mL), and α-amylase inhibitor from Triticum aestivum (88.3 μg/mL). A kinetic study indicated that DDBT was a competitive α-amylase inhibitor with a K(i) of 1.8 μg/mL. DDBT also inhibited rat intestinal α-glucosidase with an IC(50) value of 25.4 μg/mL for sucrase activity and 114 μg/mL for maltase activity. These results suggest that DDBT, a potent inhibitor of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, may be useful as a natural nutraceutical to prevent diabetes.     

Inhibitory effect of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors varies according to its origin

The inhibitory effect of alpha-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitors against its origins (baker's yeast and rat, rabbit, and pig small intestines) was investigated. All inhibitors used in this study showed quite different inhibitory activities according to AGH origins. Voglibose, acarbose and glucono-1,5-lactone strongly inhibited mammalian AGHs, whereas no or less inhibition was observed in yeast AGH. On the contrary, (+)-catechin, a good inhibitor against yeast AGH (IC(50) = 1.3 x 10(-)(1) mM) as well as voglibose (IC(50) = 2.6 x 10(-)(2) mM), did not retard the mammalian AGH activity. Subsequent inhibition study with various food components revealed that all of foods except for green (IC(50) = 0.735 mg/mL) and oolong teas (IC(50) = 1.34 mg/mL) showed no inhibitory activity against rat AGH, whereas they inhibited yeast AGH. Consequently, the magnitude of AGH inhibition was greatly affected by its origin, and more attention relating to AGH origin would be needed to evaluate in vitro AGH inhibitory effect.     

Inhibition of human cAMP-phosphodiesterase as a mechanism of the spasmolytic effect of Matricaria recutita L

Mechanisms underlying the spasmolytic activity of chamomile still remain unclear. Inhibition of cAMP- and cGMP-phosphodiesterases (PDE) is one of the mechanisms operated by spasmolytic drugs. In this study, the effect of chamomile on PDE was investigated. Human platelet cAMP-PDE and recombinant PDE5A1 were assayed in the presence of infusions prepared from sifted flowers and capitula. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed different compositions in infusions made with sifted flowers and capitula. Chamomile inhibited cAMP-PDE activity (IC50 = 17.9-40.5 microg/mL), while cGMP-PDE5 was less affected (-15% at 50 microg/mL). Among the individual compounds tested, only flavonoids showed an inhibitory effect (IC50 = 1.3-14.9 microM), contributing to around 39% of the infusion inhibition; other compounds responsible for cAMP-PDE inhibition still remain unknown. Although experimental evidence supporting the use of chamomile for gastrointestinal minor spasms dates back to the fifties, cAMP-PDE inhibition as a likely mechanism underlying the spasmolytic activity is reported for the first time.     

In vitro inhibition of human cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase-5 by polyphenols from red grapes

A moderate consumption of red wine may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases via wine-derived phenolic compounds. A variety of biological mechanisms have been proposed for wine-derived phenolic compounds including nitric oxide-mediated vasorelaxation. This study examined whether the vasodilating effect of wine-derived phenolic compounds was associated with the inhibition of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and, in particular, PDE5. For this purpose, human recombinant PDE5A1 isoform was prepared by expression of the full-length cDNA of PDE5A1 into COS-7 cells. Red wine and the extracts from grape skin inhibited PDE5A1 activity, whereas the seed extracts had a negligible effect. The mixture of anthocyanins inhibited the enzyme activity (IC50 = 11.6 microM), with malvidin-3-O-beta-glucoside (IC50 = 35.4 microM) and malvidin (IC50 = 24.9 microM) the most potent among the monoglucosides and aglycons, respectively. trans-Resveratrol and trans-piceid exhibited negligible effects, whereas hydroxycinnamates were completely inactive. These results indicate that polyphenols-induced vasorelaxation may also be sustained by smooth muscle PDE inhibition by anthocyanins present in red wines and grapes.     

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from glycinin, the 11S globulin of soybean (Glycine max)

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, catalyzes the conversion of Angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor Angiotensin II and plays an important physiological role in regulating blood pressure. Inhibitors of angiotensin 1-converting enzyme derived from food proteins are utilized for pharmaceuticals and physiologically functional foods. ACE inhibitory properties of different enzymatic hydrolysates of glycinin, the major storage protein of soybean, have been demonstrated. The IC50 value for the different enzyme digests ranges from 4.5 to 35 microg of N2. The Protease P hydrolysate contained the most potent suite of ACE inhibitory peptides. The ACE inhibitory activity of the Protease P hydrolysate after fractionation by RP-HPLC and ion-pair chromatography was ascribed to a single peptide. The peptide was homogeneous as evidenced by MALDI-TOF and identified to be a pentapeptide. The sequence was Val-Leu-Ile-Val-Pro. This peptide was synthesized using solid-phase FMOC chemistry. The IC50 for ACE inhibition was 1.69 +/- 0.17 microM. The synthetic peptide was a potent competitive inhibitor of ACE with a Ki of 4.5 +/- 0.25 x 10(-6) M. This peptide was resistant to digestion by proteases of the gastrointestinal tract. The antihypertensive property of this peptide derived from glycinin might find importance in the development of therapeutic functional foods.     

Slow-binding inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase-1 by dodecyl gallate

Dodecyl gallate inhibited the soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.12, type-1) catalyzed peroxidation of linoleic acid with an IC50 of 0.007 microM without being oxidized. The progress curves for enzyme reactions were recorded by both spectrophotometric and polarographic methods, and the inhibition kinetics revealed competitive and slow-binding inhibition. Both the initial velocity and steady-state rate in the progress curve decreased with increasing dodecyl gallate. The kinetic parameters that described the inhibition by dodecyl gallate were evaluated by nonlinear regression fits.     

Identification of coumarins from the fruit of Citrus hystrix DC as inhibitors of nitric oxide generation in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells

Three known coumarins have been isolated from Citrus hystrix DC as inhibitors of both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation in RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory activity of bergamottin (IC(50) = 14 microM) was comparable to that of N-(iminoethyl)-L-ornithine (L-NIO) (IC(50) = 7. 9 microM), whereas oxypeucedanin and 5-[(6',7'-dihydroxy-3', 7'-dimethyl-2-octenyl)oxy]psoralen, structurally different from bergamottin only in their side-chain moieties, were notably less active. Using 21 coumarins, we structurally classified various types of coumarins into groups A-C: (A) bearing an isoprenyl (IP) or a geranyl (GR) group, highly active; (B) bearing an IP group cyclized to a coumarin ring, moderately active; (C) bearing an IP group modified with hydroxyl group(s) and/or having other functional groups except for the IP, completely inactive. Cellular uptake studies suggested that coumarins in group C are inactive because of poor permeability to the cell membrane.     

Inhibitory effects of oolong tea polyphenols on pancreatic lipase in vitro

Fifty-four polyphenols isolated from tea leaves were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against pancreatic lipase, the key enzyme of lipid absorption in the gut. (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is one of major polyphenols in green tea, showed lipase inhibition with an IC50 of 0.349 microM. Moreover, flavan-3-ol digallate esters, such as (-)-epigallocatechin-3,5-digallate, showed higher activities of inhibition on lipase with an IC50 of 0.098 microM. On the other hand, nonesterified flavan-3-ols, such as (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-gallocatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin, showed zero and/or the lowest activities against pancreatic lipase (IC50 > 20 microM). These data suggested that the presence of galloyl moieties within the structure was required for enhancement of pancreatic lipase inhibition. It is well-known that flavan-3-ols are polymerized by polyphenol oxidase and/or heating in a manufacturing process of oolong tea. Oolonghomobisflavans A and B and oolongtheanin 3'-O-gallate, which are typical in oolong tea leaves, showed strong inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 0.048, 0.108, and 0.068 microM, respectively, even higher than that of EGCG. The oolong tea polymerized polyphenols (OTPP) were prepared for the assay from oolong tea extract, from which the preparation effectively subtracted the zero and/or less-active monomeric flavan-3-ols by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular-weight (Mn) values of OTPP were 2017 and 903, respectively, by using gel permeation choromatography. OTPP showed a 5-fold stronger inhibition against pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 0.28 microg/mL) by comparison with that of the tannase-treated OTPP (IC50 = 1.38 microg/mL). These data suggested that the presence of galloyl moieties within their chemical structures and/or the polymerization of flavan-3-ols were required for enhancement of pancreatic lipase inhibition.     

Identification and antioxidant activity of novel chlorogenic acid derivatives from bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)

One known and two novel antioxidant compounds have been isolated from bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). The butanol-soluble extract of the bamboo leaves was found to have a significant antioxidant activity, as measured by scavenging the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and the superoxide anion radical (O(2)(-)) in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Antioxidant activity-directed fractionation of the extract led to the isolation and characterization of three structural isomeric chlorogenic acid derivatives: 3-O-(3'-methylcaffeoyl)quinic acid (1), 5-O-caffeoyl-4-methylquinic acid (2), and 3-O-caffeoyl-1-methylquinic acid (3). Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated and characterized for the first time from the natural products. In the DPPH scavenging assay as well as in the iron-induced rat microsomal lipid peroxidation system, compounds 2 (IC(50) = 8.8 and 19.2 microM) and 3 (IC(50) = 6.9 and 14.6 microM) showed approximately 2-4 times higher antioxidant activity than did chlorogenic acid (IC(50) = 12.3 and 28.3 microM) and other related hydroxycinnamates such as caffeic acid (IC(50) =13.7 and 25.5 microM) and ferulic acid (IC(50) = 36.5 and 56.9 microM). Among the three compounds, compound 1 yielded the weakest antioxidant activity, and the DPPH scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 16.0 and 29.8 microM) was lower than those of chlorogenic and caffeic acids. All three compounds exhibited both superoxide scavenging activities and inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase. Their superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) scavenging activities (IC(50) = 1, 4.3 microM; 2, 2.8 microM; and 3, 1.2 microM) were markedly stronger than those of ascorbic acid (IC(50) = 56.0 microM), alpha-tocopherol (IC(50) > 100 microM), and other test compounds, although their inhibition effects on xanthine oxidase may contribute to the potent scavenging activity. alpha-Tocopherol exerted a significant inhibitory effect (65.5% of the control) on superoxide generation in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, and compound 3 showed moderate activity (36.0%). On the other hand, other compounds including 1, 2, chlorogenic acid, and other antioxidants were weakly active (24.8-10.1%) in the suppression of superoxide generation.     

Alkaloidal components in the poisonous plant,Ipomoea carnea (Convolvulaceae)

Natural intoxication of livestock by the ingestion of Ipomoea carnea (Convolvulaceae) sometimes occurs in tropical regions of the world. Polyhydroxylated alkaloids were isolated from the leaves, flowers, and seeds of the poisonous plant and characterized. Chromatographic separation of the leaf extract resulted in the isolation of swainsonine (1), 2-epi-lentiginosine (2), calystegines B(1) (3), B(2) (4), B(3) (5), and C(1) (6), and N-methyl-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline (7). The contents of 1 in the fresh leaves and flowers were 0.0029 and 0.0028%, respectively, whereas the contents of 1, 3, and 4 in the seeds were approximately 10 times higher than those in the leaves and flowers. Alkaloids 3, 4, and 6 showed a potent inhibitory activity toward rat lysosomal beta-glucosidase, with IC(50) values of 2.1, 0.75, and 0.84 microM, respectively, and alkaloid 5 was a moderate inhibitor of alpha- and beta-mannosidases. Although alkaloid 1 is known as a powerful inhibitor of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase (IC(50) = 0.02 microM), alkaloid 2, which has been thought to be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of 1, was also a potent inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase with an IC(50) value of 4.6 microM.