Biflavonoids isolated from Selaginella lepidophylla inhibit photosynthesis in spinach chloroplasts

J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Aug 27;56(16):6994-7000. doi: 10.1021/jf8010432. Epub 2008 Jul 23.

Abstract

Through bioactivity-guided chemical analysis of Selaginella lepidophylla, biflavonoids robustaflavone (1), 2,3-dihydrorobustaflavone (2), and 2,3-dihydrorobustaflavone-5-methyl ether (3) were isolated and their structures confirmed by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. Their NMR resonances were unambiguously assigned from HMBC, NOESY, and NOESY-1D experiments, and absolute configurations of 2 and 3 were established. Compound 3 has not been reported, and although structure of 2 was described before, the (13)C NMR assignment does not correlate with the structure reported. Therefore, this is the first report of 2. All compounds inhibited ATP production. Compounds 1 and 2 behaved as Hill reaction inhibitors. 1 interacted with photosystem II, transforming the reaction centers to silent centers at 300 and 600 microM. The interaction and inhibition target of 2 was located on Cyt b6f to PC. The three compounds also behaved as energy transfer inhibitors, 3 being the most active.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biflavonoids / chemistry
  • Biflavonoids / isolation & purification*
  • Biflavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Chloroplasts / drug effects
  • Chloroplasts / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Photosynthesis / drug effects*
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / drug effects
  • Selaginellaceae / chemistry*
  • Spinacia oleracea / ultrastructure*

Substances

  • Biflavonoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • robustaflavone
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase