Stephen J. Cutler

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaves of Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage) resulted in the isolation of four previously known flavonoid derivatives, 5-hydroxy-6,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-6,3′,4′-trimethoxyflavone (2), 5-hydroxy-6,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone (3), and 5,7-dihydroxy-6,4′-dimethoxyflavone (4). Compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed displacement of the radioligand for the cloned human δ opioid receptor with K_i values ranging from 3.1 to 26.0 μM. In addition, the binding mode of the compounds in the active site of the δ opioid receptor was investigated through molecular modeling algorithms. This study may have implications in better understanding non-nitrogenous δ opioid receptor ligands.

Cannabis has been around for thousands of years and has been used recreationally, medicinally, and for fiber. Over 500 compounds have been isolated from Cannabis sativa with approximately 105 being cannabinoids. Of those 105 compounds, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol has been determined as the primary constituent, which is also responsible for the psychoactivity associated with Cannabis. Cannabinoid receptors belong to the large superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Targeting the cannabinoid receptors has the potential to treat a variety of conditions such as pain, neurodegeneration, appetite, immune function, anxiety, cancer, and others. Developing in vitro bioassays to determine binding and functional activity of compounds has the ability to lead researchers to develop a safe and effective drug that may target the cannabinoid receptors. Using radioligand binding and functional bioassays, a structure–activity relationship for major and minor cannabinoids was developed.

Phytochemical investigation of the soil microfungus Eupenicillum parvum led to the isolation of two new compounds: a chromone derivative euparvione (1) and a new mycophenolic derivative euparvilactone (2), as well as thirteen known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of extensive IR, NMR, and MS data and by comparison of data reported in the literature. The structure of the known compound 6 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Several isolated compounds were evaluated for in vitro binding assays using opioid receptors (subtypes δ, κ, and µ) and cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). Compound 10 displayed the best selective µ-opioid receptor and CB1 receptor binding affinities showing values of 47 % and 52 % at a 10 µM concentration, respectively. These findings provide insight into the potential therapeutic utility of this class of compounds.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc extracts of the epiphytic fungus Emericella nidulans resulted in the isolation of a mixture of two fatty acids. This mixture showed 98% binding affinity to human δ opioid receptor. These two fatty acids were identified as palmitic (PAM), 1, and linoleic acids (LNA), 2, by 1D NMR as well as by GC/MS analysis, after their methylation. We found that different ratio mixtures of 1 and 2 showed variations in selective binding activities to human δ opioid receptors. Five more fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA), 3, cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexanoic acid (DHA), 4, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 5, linolenic acid (ALA), 6, and γ-linolenic acid (GLA), 7, were evaluated for their binding affinity for opioid receptors. ARA, 3, displayed affinity to δ and μ human opioid receptors with 68% and 80%, respectively. GLA, 7, showed selective binding affinity to μ receptor with a value of 55%. These findings provide fascinating insight into the use of foods with high concentrations of fatty acids.

A new polyketide derivative koninginin H (1), has been isolated from the fungus Emericella nidulans, together with koninginin E (2), koninginin A (3), trichodermatide B (4), citrantifidiol (5), (4 S,5 R)-4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-2-one (6), the glycerol derivatives gingerglycolipid B (7), (2 S)-bis[9 Z,12 Z]-1- O, 2- O-dilinoleoyl-3- O-[α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1″→6′)β-D-galactopyranosyl]glycerol (8), (2 S)-bis[9 Z,12 Z]-1- O, 2- O-dilinoleoyl-3- O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (9), the cerebroside flavuside B (10), and the known sterols β-sitosterol glucoside and ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol. Their structures were established by extensive NMR studies (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, ¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) and mass spectrometry. The antibacterial, antimalarial, antifungal and antileishmanial activities of compounds 1–10 were examined and the results indicated that compound 4 showed good antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with an IC₅₀ value of 4.9 μg/mL.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a fungus Neocosmospora sp. (UM-031509) resulted in the isolation of three new resorcylic acid lactones, neocosmosin A (2), neocosmosin B (3), and neocosmosin C (4). Three known resorcylic acid lactones, monocillin IV (1), monocillin II (5), and radicicol (6), were also isolated and identified. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, mass spectrometric (ESIMS) data, and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4–6 show good binding affinity for the human opioid receptors. These findings have important implications for evaluating the potential psychoactive effects with this class of compounds.