Two new epoxysteroids from Helianthus tuberosus.

Two new epoxy steroids, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1) and 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2), and ten known steroids including (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5), β-sitosterol (6), sitost-5-en-3β-ol acetate (7), 7α-hydroxysitosterol (8), schleicheol 2 (9), (24R)-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (10), 7α-hydroxystigmasterol (11), and stigmasterol (12) were isolated from Helianthus tuberosus grown in Laizhou salinized land of coastal zone of Bohai Sea, China. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The new compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity and no antifungal activity.

1. Introduction

Helianthus tuberosus Linn (Asteraceae, commonly named Jerusalem artichoke) is an herbaceous plant cultivated widely around the temperature areas for its edible tubers. In addition, it is widely used in industry as a raw material to produce inulin and ethanol [1,2]. Phytochemical investigations have indicated that this species is a rich source of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes [3,4]. Triterpenes and steroids have also been reported from this species [5,6]. Recently, H. tuberosus has been successfully planted in Laizhou salinized land for ameliorating the salizined soil, where the salt contents and pH values are 3.79 g/kg and 7.55 at 0–20 cm depth and 4.01 g/kg and 7.50 at 20–40 cm depth, respectively [7]. In order to explore the application of this grown plant, its secondary metabolites were examined. As a result, two new epoxysteroids, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1) and 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2), and ten known steroids including (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3) [8], (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4) [9], (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5) [9], β-sitosterol (6) [10,11], sitost-5-en-3β-ol acetate (7) [11], 7α-hydroxysitosterol (8) [11], schleicheol 2 (9) [12], (24R)-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (10) [13], 7α-hydroxystigmasterol (11) [14], stigmasterol (12) [10] were isolated and identified (Figure 1). Herein we mainly report the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivity of steroids 1–12.

Figure 1

Steroids 1–12 from H. tuberosus.

2. Results and Discussion

Compound 1 was obtained as a white solid. The broad IR absorption at vmax 3,410 cm−1 suggested the presence of a hydroxyl group in the molecule. The molecular formula was determined to be C28H44O4 on the basis of HREIMS (m/z 444.3238 [M]+, calcd. for C28H44O4, 444.3240), indicating seven degrees of unsaturation. The 1H-NMR spectrum (Table 1) showed two methyl singlets, four methyl doublets, two double doublets assigned to two epoxygenated methines, one multiplet characteristic of an oxygenated methine, and two doublets attributed to two olefinic protons. The 13C- NMR and Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT) spectra (Table 1) along with the HSQC experiment displayed the presence of six methyls, seven methylenes, eleven methines including one oxygenated methine (C-3), two epoxygenated methines (C-22 and C-23), and two sp2 methines (C-6 and C-7), and four quaternary carbon atoms containing two oxygenated carbons (C-5 and C-8). Detailed NMR data comparison with those reported for (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3) revealed that 1 differed from 3 mainly at the side chain moiety [8]. The 5α,8α-epidioxy moiety was further confirmed by the 1H- and 13C-NMR data comparison with those of ergosta-6,22-dien-3,5,8-triol and 5β,8β-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol [9,15]. Replacing two methylenes at C-22 and C-23 in 3, two epoxy methines were located at C-22 and C-23 in 1 by the HMBC correlations from H-21 to C-17, C-20, and C-22, from H-22 to C-20, from H-23 to C-24, and from H-28 to C-23, C-24, and C-25 and 1H–1H COSY correlations between H-20/H-22, H-22/H-23, and H-23/H-24. The relative configuration for the side chain moiety of 1 were established by the identical NMR data with those reported for (22R,23R,24R)-24-methyl-22,23-epoxy-3α,5-cyclo-5α-cholestan-6β-yl acetate [16]. Furthermore, the NOESY correlation between H-20/H-23 indicated C-20 and H-23 to be on the same side of the epoxy ring. The NOESY correlations of H-22 with H-17 and H-21 allowed them to be the same orientation, while H-23 and C-28 were assigned on the same face by the observed NOESY correlation between H-23/H-28. So, compound 1 was identified as 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxy-ergosta-6-en-3β-ol, which was verified by the other HMBC, 1H–1H COSY (Figure 2), and NOESY correlations.

Table 1

1H and 13CNMR data for 1 and 2 (in CDCl3, δ in ppm, J in Hz).

No.	1			2
	δ H	δ C		δ H	δ C
1a	1.70 (m)	34.7 (CH2)		1.69 (m)	34.7 (CH2)
1b	1.95 (m)			1.95 (m)
2a	1.54 (m)	30.1 (CH2)		1.55 (m)	30.1 (CH2)
2b	1.85 (m)			1.84 (m)
3	3.97 (m)	66.4 (CH)		3.97 (m)	66.4 (CH)
4a	1.91 (m)	36.9 (CH2)		1.91 (m)	36.9 (CH2)
4b	2.12 (ddd, 13.8, 4.9, 1.4)			2.12 (ddd, 13.8, 5.0, 1.8)
5		82.2 (C)			82.2 (C)
6	6.26 (d, 8.5)	135.6 (CH)		6.25 (d, 8.5)	135.5 (CH)
7	6.49 (d, 8.5)	130.5 (CH)		6.50 (d, 8.5)	130.6 (CH)
8		79.3 (C)			79.4 (C)
9	1.51 (m)	51.1 (CH)		1.51 (m)	51.2 (CH)
10		37.0 (C)			37.0 (C)
11a	1.23 (m)	23.4 (CH2)		1.24 (m)	23.4 (CH2)
11b	1.53 (m)			1.52 (m)
12a	1.28 (m)	39.3 (CH2)		1.25 (m)	39.4 (CH2)
12b	1.98 (m)			1.93 (m)
13		45.0 (C)			45.0 (C)
14	1.57 (m)	51.3 (CH)		1.57 (m)	51.3 (CH)
15a	1.47 (m)	21.0 (CH2)		1.48 (m)	20.8 (CH2)
15b	1.68 (m)			1.68 (m)
16a	1.43 (m)	28.0 (CH2)		1.71 (m)	27.1 (CH2)
16b	1.96 (m)			2.01 (m)
17	1.37 (m)	53.9 (CH)		1.40 (m)	56.3 (CH)
18	0.79 (s)	12.7 (CH3)		0.79 (s)	12.8 (CH3)
19	0.89 (s)	18.2 (CH3)		0.88 (s)	18.2 (CH3)
20	1.17 (m)	39.2 (CH)		1.31 (m)	38.2 (CH)
21	1.08 (d, 6.4)	16.9 (CH3)		0.99 (d, 7.0)	16.0 (CH3)
22	2.38 (dd, 8.2, 1.9)	62.8 (CH)		2.58 (dd, 7.1, 2.2)	63.8 (CH)
23	2.66 (dd, 8.4, 1.9)	63.9 (CH)		2.45 (dd, 7.8, 2.2)	60.3 (CH)
24	1.09 (m)	42.4 (CH)		1.05 (m)	42.2 (CH)
25	1.78 (m)	31.0 (CH)		1.65 (m)	31.1 (CH)
26	0.92 (d, 6.8)	18.6 (CH3)		0.92 (d, 6.8)	19.5 (CH3)
27	0.96 (d, 6.8)	20.2 (CH3)		0.95 (d, 6.8)	20.4 (CH3)
28	0.91 (d, 7.0)	12.6 (CH3)		0.97 (d, 6.9)	13.6 (CH3)

Figure 2

Key HMBC (curved arrows) and 1H–1H COSY (bold lines) correlations of 1 and 2.

Compound 2 was also obtained as a white solid. The broad IR absorption at vmax 3,402 cm−1 indicated the presence of a hydroxyl group in the molecule. The molecular formula was also established to be C28H44O4 on the basis of HREIMS (m/z 444.3238 [M]+, calcd. for C28H44O4, 444.3240), implying seven degrees of unsaturation. The 1H-NMR spectrum (Table 1) exhibited two methyl singlets, four methyl doublets, two double doublets representative of two epoxygenated methines, one multiplet ascribed to an oxygenated methine, and two doublets assignable to two olefinic protons. The 13C-NMR and DEPT spectra (Table 1) along with the HSQC experiment revealed the presence of six methyls, seven methylenes, eleven methines, and four quaternary carbon atoms. The NMR data showed close similarity to those of 1, with the exception of the different resonances for side chain moiety. The identical NMR data of the side chain moiety for 2 with those reported for (22S,23S,24R)-24-methyl-22,23-epoxy-3α,5-cyclo-5α-cholestan-6β-yl acetate and the observed HMBC and 1H–1H COSY correlations (Figure 2) confirmed 2 to be 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol, an isomer of 1 [16]. The observed NOESY correlations further confirmed the relative configuration for the side chain moiety. In the NOESY spectrum, the correlation between H-20/H-23 located C-20 and H-23 on the same face of the epoxy ring. The correlations of H-22 with H-17 and H-21 positioned them in the same direction, while H-23 and C-28 were placed on the same side by the correlation between H-23/H-28.

The antimicrobial activity of new epoxy steroids 1 and 2 were evaluated using a standard agar diffusion test at 30 μg/disk. Compound 1 showed weak inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition diameter 7 mm), and 2 exhibited weak inhibitory activity against E. coli (inhibition diameter 7 mm). However, 1 and 2 were found no antifungal activity against plant pathogens Colletotrichum lagenarium and Fusarium oxysporium. Additionally, 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory rates of 58.7% and 22.5%, respectively, in the toxicity assay against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) at 100 μg/mL.

3. Experimental

3.1. General

NMR spectra were recorded at 500 and 125 MHz for 1H and 13C, respectively, on a Bruker Avance III 500 NMR spectrometer in CDCl3 using TMS as internal standard. Low and high resolution mass spectra were determined on an Autospec Premier P776 mass spectrometer. IR spectra were obtained on a JASCO FT/IR-4100 Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometer. HPLC separation was carried out on an Elite HPLC system (P270 pump, UV230+ detector, Dalian Elite Analytical Instruments Co., Ltd, Dalian, China) using an Eclipse XDB-C18 (5μm, 9.4 × 250 mm) column. Column chromatography was performed with silica gel (100–200 and 200–300 mesh, Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co., Qingdao, China) and Sephadex LH-20 (Pharmacia). Precoated silica gel plates (GF-254, Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co., Qingdao, China) were used for preparative TLC purification. All solvents were of analytical grade.

3.2. Plant Material

Helianthus tuberosus Linn was grown by Qin-Tai Zhao in Laizhou salinized land of coastal zone of Bohai Sea, China, which was collected in December, 2008. A voucher specimen (SP0812) has been deposited at the Bio-Resource Laboratory of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

Extraction and isolation of the leaves: the dried and powdered sample (1.1 kg) was extracted exhaustively with 95% aqueous EtOH (5 L, 24 h, 25 °C). The concentrated extract was partitioned between H2O and EtOAc. The EtOAc-soluble fraction (19.1 g) was subjected to silica gel column chromatography [CC, gradient of EtOAc in petroleum ether (PE) (0–100%)] to give nine fractions (Frs. I–IX), monitored by TLC. Fr. III eluted with PE/EtOAc (20:1) and was further purified by CC on silica gel (PE/EtOAc, 20:1) and Sephadex LH-20 (CHCl3/MeOH, 1:1) and preparative TLC (PE/CHCl3, 3:1) to yield 4 (16.6 mg) and 5 (3.1 mg). Fr. V eluted with PE/EtOAc (10:1) too and was further purified by CC on silica gel (PE/EtOAc, 9:1) and Sephadex LH-20 (CHCl3/MeOH, 1:1) to afford 6 (13.5 mg), 12 (24.6 mg). Fr. VIII eluted with EtOAc and was further purified by CC on silica gel (PE/EtOAc, 1:1) and Sephadex LH-20 (CHCl3/MeOH, 1:1) to give 8 (4.5 mg) and a subfraction, which was further purified by preparative HPLC (MeOH/H2O, 4:1) to yield 11 (3.7 mg).

Extraction and isolation of the tubers: the dried and powdered sample (16.0 kg) was extracted with 95% aqueous EtOH (50 L, 3 d, 25 °C), then partitioned between H2O and EtOAc. The EtOAc-soluble fraction (53.0 g) was chromatographed over silica gel column using stepwise gradient of PE/EtOAc to yield twenty-six fractions (Frs. 1–26), based on TLC analysis. Fr. 6 eluted with PE/EtOAc (50:1) and was further purified by CC on Sephadex LH-20 (CHCl3/MeOH, 1:1) and preparative TLC (PE/EtOAc, 40:1) to give 7 (11.2 mg). Fr. 12 eluted with PE/EtOAc (5:1) and was further purified by CC on silica gel (PE/EtOAc, 5:1) and preparative HPLC (MeOH/H2O, 17:3) to afford 6 (1.8 mg), 8 (2.7 mg), 9 (1.5 mg), 12 (7.5 mg), and a subfraction, which was further purified by preparative TLC (CHCl3/EtOAc, 3:1) to give 10 (10.2 mg). Fr. 17 eluted with PE/EtOAc (2:1) and was purified by CC on silica gel (PE/EtOAc, 3:1) and Sephadex LH-20 (CHCl3/MeOH, 1:1) and preparative HPLC (MeOH/H2O, 3:1) to yield 1 (3.2 mg, tR 37 min), 2 (3.3 mg, tR 41 min), and 3 (2.7 mg, tR 55 min).

5α,8α-Epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1): White solid; [α]16D –18.7 (c 0.088, MeOH); IR (KBr) vmax 3410, 2954, 2881, 1600, 1462, 1381, 1041 cm−1; 1H- and 13C-NMR data, see Table 1; EIMS m/z (%) 444 (8), 426 (9), 412 (100), 379 (17), 152 (50); HREIMS: m/z 444.3238 [M]+ (calcd. for C28H44O4, 444.3240).

5α,8α-Epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2): White solid; [α]16D –58.7 (c 0.050, MeOH); IR (KBr) vmax 3402, 2954, 2881, 1624, 1458, 1381, 1030 cm−1; 1H- and 13C-NMR data, see Table 1; EIMS m/z (%) 444 (20), 426 (22), 412 (100), 379 (33), 268 (36), 152 (51); HREIMS: m/z 444.3238 [M]+ (calcd. for C28H44O4, 444.3240).

3.4. Bioassays

Antibacterial and antifungal activities were assayed using chloramphenicol as positive control with inhibition diameters of 28 and 30 mm for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, as described previously [17]. Toxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) was also tested as described previously [18].

4. Conclusions

Enriched steroids with ergosterol (1–5), sitosterol (6–10), and stigmasterol (11, 12) skeletons were isolated and identified from H. tuberosus planted in coastal salinized land, and ergosterol derivatives were reported from this species for the first time. The isolation of two new epoxy sterols (1, 2) was a new addition to the molecular diversity of H. tuberosus, which exhibited weak antibacterial activity and toxicity against brine shrimp.