Hyperxanthone

Phenolic constituents with neuroprotective activities from Hypericum wightianum.[Pubmed:31229788]

Phytochemistry. 2019 Sep;165:112049.

Five undescribed phenolic compounds, inclusing a depsidone derivative, hyperwightin A, a flavone derivative, hyperwightin B, and three benzophenone glycosides, hyperwightins C-E, along with four known ones were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the whole plants of Hypericum wightianum. Structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. The protective effects of the isolates against corticosterone-induced PC12cell injury were assessed. Hyperwightin E, petiolin G and Hyperxanthone exhibited noticeable neuroprotection at 10muM.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Xanthone Prenyltransferase from Hypericum calycinum Cell Cultures.[Pubmed:26343621]

Molecules. 2015 Aug 27;20(9):15616-30.

In plants, prenylation of metabolites is widely distributed to generate compounds with efficient defense potential and distinct pharmacological activities profitable to human health. Prenylated compounds are formed by members of the prenyltransferase (PT) superfamily, which catalyze the addition of prenyl moieties to a variety of acceptor molecules. Cell cultures of Hypericum calycinum respond to elicitor treatment with the accumulation of the prenylated xanthone Hyperxanthone E. A cDNA encoding a membrane-bound PT (HcPT) was isolated from a subtracted cDNA library and transcript preparations of H. calycinum. An increase in the HcPT transcript level preceded Hyperxanthone E accumulation in cell cultures of H. calycinum treated with elicitor. The HcPT cDNA was functionally characterized by expression in baculovirus-infected insect cells. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed biosynthesis of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-8-prenylxanthone through regiospecific C-8 prenylation of 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone, indicating its involvement in Hyperxanthone E formation. The enzymatic product shared significant structural features with the previously reported cholinesterase inhibitor gamma-mangostin. Thus, our findings may offer a chance for semisynthesis of new active agents to be involved in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Cinnamate:CoA ligase initiates the biosynthesis of a benzoate-derived xanthone phytoalexin in Hypericum calycinum cell cultures.[Pubmed:22992510]

Plant Physiol. 2012 Nov;160(3):1267-80.

Although a number of plant natural products are derived from benzoic acid, the biosynthesis of this structurally simple precursor is poorly understood. Hypericum calycinum cell cultures accumulate a benzoic acid-derived xanthone phytoalexin, Hyperxanthone E, in response to elicitor treatment. Using a subtracted complementary DNA (cDNA) library and sequence information about conserved coenzyme A (CoA) ligase motifs, a cDNA encoding cinnamate:CoA ligase (CNL) was isolated. This enzyme channels metabolic flux from the general phenylpropanoid pathway into benzenoid metabolism. HcCNL preferred cinnamic acid as a substrate but failed to activate benzoic acid. Enzyme activity was strictly dependent on the presence of Mg(2)(+) and K(+) at optimum concentrations of 2.5 and 100 mM, respectively. Coordinated increases in the Phe ammonia-lyase and HcCNL transcript levels preceded the accumulation of Hyperxanthone E in cell cultures of H. calycinum after the addition of the elicitor. HcCNL contained a carboxyl-terminal type 1 peroxisomal targeting signal made up by the tripeptide Ser-Arg-Leu, which directed an amino-terminal reporter fusion to the peroxisomes. Masking the targeting signal by carboxyl-terminal reporter fusion led to cytoplasmic localization. A phylogenetic tree consisted of two evolutionarily distinct clusters. One cluster was formed by CoA ligases related to benzenoid metabolism, including HcCNL. The other cluster comprised 4-coumarate:CoA ligases from spermatophytes, ferns, and mosses, indicating divergence of the two clades prior to the divergence of the higher plant lineages.

New phenolic principles from Hypericum sampsonii.[Pubmed:15256712]

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2004 Jul;52(7):866-9.

Using the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV)-producing cell line MS-G2 in vitro cultural system-guided screening was performed, and two new benzophenones, 2,6-dihydroxy-4-[(E)-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethylocta-2,7-dienyloxy]benzophenone (1) and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-[(E)-7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethylocta-2-enyloxy]benzophenone (2), a new xanthone, Hyperxanthone (3), a new bisanthraquinone glycoside, R-(-)-skyrin-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), and 2-caffeoyloxy-3-hydroxy-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propyl alcohol (5), and 16 known compounds were isolated from the anti-HBV active fraction of the whole herbs of Hypericum sampsonii. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, mainly 2D NMR and MS spectrometry. Circular dichroism was used to determine the stereochemistry of bisanthraquinone glycosides.