Novel Antiinflammatory Flavonoids fromPodophyllum versipelleCell Culture1¹

Abstract

of the phorbol triesters are found in this extract, because of their lipophilic nature. 'H-NMR spectroscopy is an interesting method to partially identify and to quantify phorbol esters in mixtures, in semipurified samples, or even in the complete croton oil, and it is possible to determine at the same time the proportion of diesters and triesters. Structural information and quantitative results are obtained simultaneously. This method can be used for the phytochemical screening of cocarcinogenic and cryptic cocarcinogenic phorbol di-and triesters in natural and semisynthetic samples. Because of its speed and accuracy this technique provides a valuable alternative for the less versatile biological methods. The limitation of this physico-chemical method is its restriction to known classes of diterpene esters.

Biochemical pharmacology of biflavonoids: Implications for anti-inflammatory action

“…Podoverine B, a flavanone-flavonol dimer isolated from plant callus culture, inhibits macrophage chemiluminescence with an IC 50 of 6.4 µM (Arens et al, 1986). Some biflavonoids inhibit lymphocyte proliferation in vitro at 10-100 µM (Lee et al, 1995).…”

A New Biscoumarin Glucoside Ester fromRuta ChalepensisCell Cultures

“…Like other Rutaceae, R. chalepensis contains coumarins, alkaloids, and terpenes (2). In the course of the investigation into our plant cell cultures, we studied R. chalepensis among others (3). Three compounds of interest were found: the coumarin glucoside isorutarin (5), not described so far for the native plant; the alkaloid rutacridone (6), previously described as a component of the plant (4); and rutarensin (1), a so far unknown compound.…”

Secondary Products from Plant Cell Cultures

“…The idea of screening plant cell cultures for novel pharmacologically active compounds was mainly followed by the Nattermann Company in Cologne and researchers of the Pharmaceutical Institute of the University of Munich. Indeed, some new biologically active compounds were detected by such screenings (ARENS et al, 1986). However, from a biotechnological point of view this approach would only be successful if the new compound had unique (superior) pharmacological characteristics and if product levels were high enough to encourage further development.…”