Antihyperglycemic sesquiterpenes from Psacalium decompositum

J Nat Prod. 1999 Aug;62(8):1088-92. doi: 10.1021/np990023v.

Abstract

Psacalium decompositum was investigated for antihyperglycemic compounds using diabetic ob/ob mice as a model for type 2 diabetes. In vivo bioassay-guided fractionation of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. decompositum led to the isolation of two new eremophilanolides, 3-hydroxycacalolide (1a) and epi-3-hydroxycacalolide (1b). A 1:1 mixture of 1a/1b exhibited antihyperglycemic activity when tested at 1.09 mmol/kg in ob/ob mice. The known furanoeremophilanes, cacalone (2a) and epicacalone (2b), were also isolated from the aqueous extract and were inactive. The known furanoeremophilane, cacalol (3), was isolated from a CH2Cl2 extract of P. decompositum roots and possessed antihyperglycemic activity. The relative stereochemistry in 1a and 1b was assigned 3R,5S and 3S,5S, respectively, based on ROESY data, 3J H-H values, and molecular mechanics calculations. Complete 13C and 1H NMR chemical shifts were assigned for 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3, and several revisions in 13C NMR assignments for 2a and 3 were made. Results from the conformational analysis of 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b indicate that each compound exists in one major conformation in solution with H3-12 in a pseudoaxial position.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asteraceae / chemistry*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Sesquiterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Sesquiterpenes