Limonoids With Antimicrobial Activity From Phellodendron chinense Schneid.
Yan Luo1, Jia-Peng Wang2, Yong-Fan Zi1
1School of Chemical Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Functional Molecules Analysis and Biotransformation Key Laboratory of Universities in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming, P. R. China.
Chemistry & Biodiversity
|June 3, 2025
Summary
Researchers isolated a new limonoid, pheldronone, and six known compounds from Phellodendron chinense. Several compounds demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens, validating the herb's traditional uses.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Phellodendron chinense Schneid is a traditional Chinese herb with diverse medicinal applications.
- Investigating its chemical constituents can lead to the discovery of novel bioactive compounds.
- Understanding the chemical basis of its therapeutic effects is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from Phellodendron chinense.
- To identify new bioactive limonoids and evaluate their antimicrobial properties.
- To provide scientific validation for the traditional use of P. chinense.
Main Methods:
- Systematic isolation of chemical constituents using chromatographic techniques.
- Structure elucidation of the new compound (pheldronone) via extensive spectroscopic analyses (NMR, ECD).
- Determination of relative and absolute configurations using DP4+ and ECD data.
- Antimicrobial activity testing using a 2-fold dilution method against plant pathogens.
Main Results:
- A new limonoid, pheldronone (1), and six known limonoids (2-7) were isolated.
- Pheldronone's structure and stereochemistry (20R*,21R*,22R*,23S*) were confirmed.
- Compound 3 showed potent activity against Plectosphaerella cucumerina (MIC = 4.00 µg/mL).
- Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited activity against Alternaria panax, and compound 4 against Fusarium solani.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified a new limonoid and characterized known ones from P. chinense.
- Several isolated compounds possess significant antimicrobial activities against phytopathogenic fungi.
- These findings offer a scientific basis for the traditional antibacterial applications of P. chinense.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:15Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
01:21Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...