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International audience; A library of 26 novel carboxamides deriving from natural fislatifolic acid has been prepared. The synthetic strategy involve dabio-inspired Diels-Aldercycloaddition,followed by functionalisations of the carbonyl moiety. All the compounds were evaluated on Bcl-xL, Mcl-1andBcl-2 proteins. In this series of cyclohexenyl chalcone analogues,six compounds behaved as dua lBcl-xL/Mcl-1 inhibitors in micromolar range and one exhibited sub-micromolar affinities toward Mcl-1andBcl-2.The most potent compounds evaluated on A549 and MCF7cancer cell lines showed moderate cytotoxicities

Two new annonaceous acetogenins, cohibins C (1a) and D (1b), have been isolated by extensive chromatography of a hexane extract of Annona muricata seeds and a cyclohexane extract of Annona nutans root bark. Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral evidence (NMR, MS) and confirmed by chemical transformation into a pair of monotetrahydrofuran (mono-THF) acetogenins. The role of these compounds in the biogenesis of mono-THF acetogenins is discussed.

An alkaloidal extract of the stem barks of Zanthoxylum chiloperone var. angustifolium exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale using a TLC bioautographic method. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract resulted in the isolation of two active compounds identified as canthin-6-one and 5-methoxycanthin-6-one. Canthin-6-one exhibited a broad spectrum of activities against Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. terreus, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichosporon beigelii, Trichosporon cutaneum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale with MICs values between 5.3 and 46 µmol/L. 5-methoxy-canthin-6-one was active against only Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale with a MIC value of 12.3 µmol/L. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

From the leaves of Buxus sempervirens has been isolated, in addition to known alkaloids, a new alkaloid, spirofornabuxine ( 1 ), and its structure was determined by NMR spectroscopic analysis. This new alkaloid can be considered as the first member of a new group of steroidal derivatives, the spirobuxus alkaloids. Its implication in the biosynthesis of other Buxus alkaloids is discussed. © 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Annonaceae have been commonly described in traditional medicine as remedies against head lice and for their insecticidal properties. Acaricidal effects of Uvaria pauci-ovulata bark extracts were investigated on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the European house dust mite, and compared with those of benzyl benzoate used as standard acaricidal compound. A dichloromethane extract was the most effective with an EC50 = 0.028 g/m2 after a 24 h period as compared with benzyl benzoate (EC50 = 0.06 g/m2). Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of benzyl benzoate and squamocin; this latter compound also had acaricidal properties (EC50 = 0.6 g/m2). Moreover, squamocin was shown to potentiate the activity of benzyl benzoate using the fractional effective concentration (FEC) method.

Sodium salts of cashew nut shell extracts (CNSL) and anacardic acids isolated from Anacardium occidentale demonstrate a potent antivectorial activity against Aedes aegypti larvae and Biomphalaria glabrata snails. The structure–activity relationship is discussed, particularly the hydrogenation of CNSL and anacardic acids which lower dramatically these properties, showing the importance of the double bonds on the side chains of anacardic acids. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.