Isolation of Premyrsinane, Myrsinane, and Tigliane Diterpenoids from Euphorbia pithyusa Using a Chikungunya Virus Cell-Based Assay and Analogue Annotation by Molecular Networking

J Nat Prod. 2017 Jul 28;80(7):2051-2059. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00233. Epub 2017 Jul 3.

Abstract

Six new premyrsinol esters (1-6) and one new myrsinol ester (8) were isolated from an aerial parts extract of Euphorbia pithyusa, together with a known premyrsinol (7) and two known dideoxyphorbol esters (9 and 10), following a bioactivity-guided purification procedure using a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) cell-based assay. The structures of the new diterpene esters (1-6 and 8) were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopic data interpretation. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated against CHIKV replication, and results showed that the 4β-dideoxyphorbol ester 10 was the most active compound, with an EC50 value of 4.0 ± 0.3 μM and a selectivity index of 10.6. To gain more insight into the structural diversity of diterpenoids produced by E. pithyusa, the initial extract and chromatographic fractions were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The generated data were annotated using a molecular networking procedure and revealed that dozens of unknown premyrsinane, myrsinane, and tigliane analogues were present.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chikungunya virus / drug effects*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Diterpenes / chemistry
  • Diterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Euphorbia / chemistry*
  • France
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Components, Aerial / chemistry
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Diterpenes