Additional Insights into Hypericum perforatum Content: Isolation, Total Synthesis, and Absolute Configuration of Hyperbiphenyls A and B from Immunomodulatory Root Extracts

J Nat Prod. 2018 Aug 24;81(8):1850-1859. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00325. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of the root extracts of Hypericum perforatum led to the isolation of two biphenyl derivatives named hyperbiphenyls A and B (1 and 2) and four known xanthones (3-6). These structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods including UV, NMR, and HRMS. The absolute configuration of the biphenyl derivatives was defined by two different approaches: biomimetic total synthesis of racemic hyperbiphenyl A followed by 1H and 19F NMR Mosher's esters analysis and stereoselective total synthesis of hyperbiphenyl B, permitting assignment of the S absolute configuration for both compounds. The bioactivity of compounds 1-6 toward a set of biomolecules, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules expressed on vascular endothelial cells, was measured. The results showed that the major xanthone, i.e., 5- O-methyl-2-deprenylrheediaxanthone B (3), is a potent inhibitor of MHC that efficiently reduces HLA-E, MHC-II, and MICA biomolecules on cell surfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzofurans / chemistry*
  • Benzofurans / pharmacology*
  • Benzopyrans / chemistry*
  • Benzopyrans / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypericum / chemistry*
  • Immunologic Factors / chemical synthesis
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry*
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Benzopyrans
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Immunologic Factors