Unambiguous Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Dimeric Stilbene Glucosides from the Rhizomes of Gnetum africanum

J Nat Prod. 2014 Aug 22;77(8):1981-5. doi: 10.1021/np500427v.

Abstract

Dimeric stilbene glucosides 1-3 [two diastereomers of (-)-gnemonoside A (1a and 1b), (-)-gnemonoside C (2), and (-)-gnemonoside D (3)] as well as a mixture of the two enantiomers of gnetin C (4) were isolated from the rhizomes of Gnetum africanum. The two enantiomers of gnetin C, (+)-4 and (-)-4, were obtained from the aglycones of 1a and 1b, respectively. The configurations of these stilbenoids were investigated by NMR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) experiments. The absolute configurations of (-)-1a, (-)-2, (-)-3, and (-)-4 were established as 7aS,8aS by VCD spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations. The antiamyloidogenic activity of the isolated stilbenes was also evaluated versus beta-amyloid fibrils. The four glucosides of gnetin C (1a, 1b, 2, and 3) were found to be the most active compounds, with inhibition percentages of 56, 56, 58, and 54 at 10 μM, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Benzofurans / isolation & purification
  • Cameroon
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Glucosides / chemistry*
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Gnetum / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Rhizome / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Stilbenes / chemistry*
  • Stilbenes / isolation & purification

Substances

  • 2',3',4',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside
  • Benzofurans
  • Glucosides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Stilbenes
  • gnemonoside A
  • gnetin C