1. Introduction
The Meliaceae family has attracted such a great interest among phytochemists interested in bioproduction because of its very complex and diverse chemical structures and its biological activity, mainly against insects [
1,
2,
3,
4]. The
Trichilia genus (Meliaceae) consists of about 230 species distributed throughout tropical America, which are recognized for their significant economic importance and high commercial value. Phytochemical studies have revealed that this genus is rich in terpenoids, including triterpenes, limonoids, steroids and other terpene derivatives [
3,
4,
5,
6]. Species of this genus have been also studied for their insecticidal activities and their isolated compounds revealed complex and interesting structures, including various limonoids [
5,
7,
8]. The isolation and structural elucidation of the two novel limonoids from the fruits of
T. hirta collected in Espírito Santo State, Brazil, was reported by Cortez
et al. in 1992 [
9].
In the present paper, we report an investigation of a hexane extract of fruits of a
T. hirta specimen, which allowed us to characterize nine terpenoids, including a novel cycloartane-type triterpene named hirtinone (
1), five protolimonoids: nilocitin (
2) [
10,
11], dihydronilocitin B [
10,
11] (
3), melianone epimers (
4) and (
5) [
11,
12], piscidinol A (
6) [
10,
11,
13] and melianone lactone (
7) [
11,
12], the tertranortriterpenoid hirtin (
8) [
14] and the sequiterpene spathulenol (
9) [
15]. The structures were established by spectrometric techniques, mainly HRESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR, and comparative analysis with literature values. The structures of all the isolated compounds are shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structure of the compounds isolated from the fruits of T. hirta.
Figure 1.
Chemical structure of the compounds isolated from the fruits of T. hirta.
2. Results and Discussion
The crude hexane extract of
T. hirta fruits was submitted to chromatography and furnished nine terpenoids
1–
9. The known terpenoids,
i.e., the six protolimonoids nilocitin (
2), dihydronilocitin B (
3), melianone epimers (
4) and (
5), piscidinol A (
6) and melianone lactone (
7), the tertranortriterpenoid, hirtin (
8) and the sequiterpene spathulenol (
9) were identified on the basis of
1H-and
13C-NMR spectral data, including
1H-
1H-COSY,
1H-
1H-NOESY, HSQC and HMBC NMR experiments, which were also used to complete and unambiguous
1H and
13C chemical shift assignments [
16,
17].
Hirtinone (1), m.p. 160–162 °C, was isolated in an amorphous form. The IR spectrum showed bands at νmax 1,713, characteristic of C=O stretching of a ketone carbonyl group, as well as absorptions at νmax 3,354, 2,925-2,852 and 1,089 cm−1, characteristics of OH , C-H and C-O stretching, respectively.
The HR-ESI-MS spectrum of
1 utilizing the ESI
+ ionization mode showed a cationic base peak at
m/z 479.3485 [M+Na]
+, compatible with the molecular formula C
30H
48O
3Na (calc.
m/z 479.3501, Δ
m/z = 0.0016). These data and the comparative analysis of the {
1H}- and DEPTQ-
13C NMR spectra, that allowed us to identify signals (
Table 1) corresponding to seven non-hydrogenated [including one sp
2 of carbonyl group at
δC 216.6 (C-3) and one sp
3 oxygenated at
δC 71.6 (C-25)], five methine [all sp
3 including one oxygenated at
δC 84.1 (CH-24)], twelve methylene [all sp
3 including one oxygenated at
δC 72.8 (CH
2-21)] and six methyl carbon atoms, were used to propose the molecular formula C
30H
48O
3 = (C=O)(C-O)(C)
5(O-CH)(CH)
4(O-CH
2)(CH
2)
11(CH
3)
6, seven unsaturation degrees (one carbonyl group in a triterpenoid with a cycloartane skeleton). The fragments postulated (
Scheme 1) to justify the principal peaks observed in the HR-ESI-MS are compatible with a carbon skeleton of the cycloartane-triterpene type, including the presence of the cationized adduct as a complex involving two molecules of
1.
Scheme 1.
Proposed fragmentation mechanisms of 1 (only peaks classified as principal ones, with intensity of the peaks (%) in parentheses).
Scheme 1.
Proposed fragmentation mechanisms of 1 (only peaks classified as principal ones, with intensity of the peaks (%) in parentheses).
The
1H-NMR spectra (1D and
1H-
1H-COSY,
Table 1) of
1, exhibiting a cycloartane triterpene profile, showed two doublets at
δH 0.82 (
J = 4.1 Hz) and
δH 0.62 (
J = 4.1 Hz), which were characteristic for a C-9/C-10 cyclopropyl methylene and singlet signals at
δH 0.98, 1.19, 1.16, 1.12, 1.08, 1.07 corresponding to six methyl groups. The presence of the signals at
δH (2.72 dt, 6.4 and
J = 13.9 Hz) and 2.34 (ddd, 1.7, 6.4 and
J = 13.9 Hz), correlated with the
13C signal of a methylene carbon at
δC 37.5 (CH
2-2) in the HSQC spectrum indicated the presence of carbonyl group at carbon C-3, characteristic of a cycloartan-3-one triterpenoid [
18,
19], which was confirmed by the HMBC spectrum (
Table 1) with interactions between C-3 and the 3H-28, 3H-29 and H-5 (
3JCH) as well as H-2 (
2JH→C).
Table 1.
1H- (500 MHz) and 13C- (125 MHz) NMR of hirtinone (1), including results obtained by heteronuclear 2D shift-correlated HSQC and HMBC, in CDCl3 as solvent and TMS used as internal reference. Chemical shifts (δ, ppm) and coupling constants (J, Hz, in parenthesis) *.
Table 1.
1H- (500 MHz) and 13C- (125 MHz) NMR of hirtinone (1), including results obtained by heteronuclear 2D shift-correlated HSQC and HMBC, in CDCl3 as solvent and TMS used as internal reference. Chemical shifts (δ, ppm) and coupling constants (J, Hz, in parenthesis) *.
| | HSQC | HMBC |
---|
Atom | Type | δC | δH | 2JH→C | 3JH→C |
---|
1 | CH2 | 33.4 | 1.87 (m), 1.58 (m) | | 2H-19 |
2 | CH2 | 37.5 | 2.72 (dt, 6.4; 13.9) | | |
2.34 (ddd; 1.7, 6.4, 13.9) |
3 | C | 216.6 | - | H-2a | 3H-28; 3H-29; H-5 |
4 | C | 50.7 | - | 3H-28; 3H-29 | |
5 | CH | 48.6 | 1.73 (m) | | 2H-19; 3H-28; 3H-29 |
6 | CH2 | 26.4 | 2.06 (m), 1.15 (m) | | |
7 | CH2 | 21.5 | 1.60 (m), 1.05 (m) | | |
8 | CH | 49.4 | 1.54 (m) | | 3H-19; 3H-30 |
9 | C | 21.5 | - | 2H-19 | |
10 | C | 26.1 | - | 2H-19 | |
11 | CH2 | 26.1 | 1.80 (m), 1.35 (m) | | 2H-19 |
12 | CH2 | 35.5 | 1.45 (m), 1.30 (m) | | 3H-18 |
13 | C | 45.2 | - | 3H-18 | 3H-30 |
14 | C | 48.6 | - | 3H-30 | 3H-18 |
15 | CH2 | 32.2 | 1.60 (m) | | 3H-30 |
16 | CH2 | 26.6 | 1.40 (m), 1.15 (m) | | |
17 | CH | 47.9 | 1.62 (m) | | 3H-18 |
18 | CH3 | 18.5 | 0.98 (s) | | |
19 | CH2 | 29.6 | 0.82 (dl, 4.1), 0.62 (d, 4.1) | | |
20 | CH | 39.2 | 1.55 (m) | | |
21 | CH2 | 72.8 | 4.21 (dl, 11.6), 3.06 (t, 11.6) | | |
22 | CH2 | 30.1 | 1.95 (m), 1.10 (m) | | |
23 | CH2 | 25.9 | 1.55 (m), 1.38 (m) | | |
24 | CH | 84.1 | 3.03 (dd, 11.4, 2.0) | | 3H-26; 3H-27 |
25 | C | 71.6 | - | 3H-26; 3H-27 | |
26 | CH3 | 26.1 | 1.19 (s) | | 3H-22 |
27 | CH3 | 24.0 | 1.16 (s) | | 3H-26 |
28 | CH3 | 20.8 | 1.12 (s) | | 3H-24 |
29 | CH3 | 19.2 | 1.07 (s) | | 3H-28 |
30 | CH3 | 22.2 | 1.08 (s) | | |
The signals at
δH 4.21 (dl, 11.6 Hz, H-21eq), 3.06 (t, 11.6 Hz, H-21ax) and 3.03 (dd, 11.4 and 2.0 Hz, H-24) were attributed to hydrogen atoms of oxymethylene (CH
2-21) and oxymethine (CH-24), respectively, characteristic of the tetrahydropyran ring present in protolimonoid triterpenes isolated from
Trichilia species [
8,
20]. The absorptions at 1713 cm
−1 (carbonyl group), 1089 cm
−1 (carbon-oxygen bond) and 3354 cm
−1 (OH) observed in the IR spectrum corroborate the NMR data. The coupling constant values
J = 11.6 Hz and
J = 11.4 Hz observed in the signals of hydrogens H-21ax (triplet at
δH 3.06) and H-24 (dd at
δH 3.03) indicated an axial-axial interaction and, consequently, were used to define the axial positions of these H-20 and H-24 [
20]. The analysis of the HSQC (
1JH→C) experiment support the
1H- and
13C-NMR data and led to assignment of six methyl signals at
δC/
δH 18.5/1.07(s), 26.1/1.19(s), 24.0/1.16(s), 20.8/1.12(s), 19.2/0.98(s) and 22.2/1.08(s)] as well as signals of methylene OCH
2-21 [
δC/
δH 72.8/4.21 and 3.06), methine OCH-24 (
δC/
δH 84.1/3.03) and methylene CH
2-19 (
δC/
δH 29.6/0.82 and 0.62), which are compatible with the presence of tetrahydropyran ring [
20] and cyclopropane ring in the compound
1 [
18,
19]. The presence of the cyclopropane ring was confirmed by HMBC spectrum analyses which showed cross-peaks 2H-19/C-9, 2H-19/C-10. The cross-peak at
2JH→C 3H-26/C-25 and 3H-27/C-25 supporting the proposal of hydroxyl group observed in the IR spectrum (
Table 1).
The relative stereochemistry of
1 was determined from the coupling constants of relevant hydrogens, from the observed
1H-
1H-NOESY and from the comparison with data of analogous compounds with configuration described in the literature [
20]. The relative stereochemistry of carbon atoms CH-20 and CH-24 (
vide supra) was defined by coupling constants
J = 11.6 Hz and
J = 11.4 Hz observed in the signals of H-21ax (a triplet by coupling
geminal with H-21eq–
2JHH and
vicinal with H-20–
3JHH) by and H-24
2JHH with H-23ax) and comparison with the literature
13C-NMR values of bourjotinolone A, a triterpene isolated from
T. hispida [
20], with both
a-orientations being consistent with the relative configuration shown in
1. Consistent with these observations, the
1H-
1H-NOESY spectrum of
1 showed cross-peaks assigned to dipolar interaction (spatial proximity). Thus, the structure of the new triterpene cycloartane-type, isolated from
Trichilia hirta was established as 19-methylene-25-hydroxy-20,24-oxidecycloartan-3-one named hirtinone (
1).
3. Experimental
3.1. General Procedures
Melting points were obtained on a Microquímica MQRPF and were uncorrected. FTIR spectra were recorded on a FTIR-8300 Shimadzu spectrometer using KBr disk. ESI-MS (high resolution) mass spectra were obtained by using a micrOTOF-QII (Bruker) mass spectrometer, using the positive ion mode of analysis. Chromatographic purifications were carried out by using silica gel 60 (0.063–0.200 mm).
1H and 13C-NMR spectra were measured on a Bruker Utrashield 500 Plus spectrometer, operating at 500 (1H) and 125 (13C) MHz. CDCl3 was used as solvent with TMS as internal reference. Chemical shifts are given in the δ scale (ppm) and coupling constants (J) in Hz. One dimensional (1D) 1H and 13C-NMR spectra were acquired under standard conditions by using a direct detection 5 mm 1H/13C dual probe. Standard pulse sequences were used for two dimensional spectra by using a multinuclear inverse detection 5 mm probe with field gradient.
3.2. Plant Material
Fruits of Trichilia hirta were collected in May 2011, at Vale do Rio Doce Company, Linhares City, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. After botanical identification by botanist Domingos Folly. The voucher specimen of T. hirta was deposited at Vale do Rio Doce herbarium, under the code CRVD-6784.
3.3. Extraction and Isolation
Fruits of T. hirta were dried at room temperature until a constant weight was achieved (about one week). The dried and powdered fruits (438.0 g) were extracted with hexane (volume, time) at room temperature, furnishing, after solvent evaporation, 23.0 g of crude hexane extract. The hexane extract was chromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/ethyl acetate to afford nine fractions. Fraction 8 (1.36 g) was rechromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/acetone furnishing eighth fractions and 6 (52.5 mg). Fractions 8.2 (23.8 mg) and 8.3 (524.2 mg) were rechromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/acetone yielding compounds 1 (3.1 mg) and 9 (22.5 mg), respectively. Fraction 8.5 (49.5 mg) was rechromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/acetone (8:2) v/v furnishing compound 2 (4.5 mg). Fraction 8.7 (99.3 mg) was rechromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/acetone furnishing compound 3 (18.5 mg). Fraction 9 (4.03 g) was rechromatographed over a silica gel column with a gradient of hexane/acetone to provide compounds 7 (67.0 mg), 4 + 5 (176.0 mg) and 8 (65.7 mg).
Nilocitin (2): 13C δ (ppm): 38.56 (CH2-1); 34.93 (CH2-2); 216.96 (C-3); 47.84 (C-4); 52.34 (CH-5); 24.36 (CH2-6); 118.04 (CH-7); 145.72 (C-8); 48.47 (CH-9); 36.05 (C-10); 18.86 (CH2-11); 33.52 (CH2-12); 43.35 (C-13); 51.23 (C-14); 34.06 (CH2-15); 29.77 (CH2-16); 53.28 (CH-17); 21.78 (CH3-18); 12.80 (CH3-19); 33.69 (CH-20); 19.89 (CH3-21); 40.47 (CH2-22); 69.25 (CH-23); 68.46 (CH-24); 60.32 (C-25); 24.88 (CH3-26); 19.82 (CH3-27); 24.53 (CH3-28); 21.61 (CH3-29); 27.40 (CH3-30). 1H δ (ppm): (2.02; 1.50; 2H-1); (2.78 dt 14.6, 5.6; 1H-2); (2.26 dt 14.6, 3.8; 1H-2) (1.70; 1H-5); (2.10; 2H-6); (5.33 m; 1H-7); (2.31; 1H-9); (1.60; 2H-11); (1.65; 1.40; 2H-12); (1.85; 1.55; 2H- 15); (2.08; 1.18; 2H-16); ( 1.50; 1H-17); (0.83 s; 3H-18); (1.03 s; 3H-19); (1.30; 1H-20); (0.98 s, 6.1; 3H-21); (1.70; 1.40; 2H-22); (3.61 m; 1H-23); (2.68 d,8.3; 1H-24); (1.35 s; 3H-26); (1.34 s; 3H-27); (1.07 s; 3H-28); (1.14 s; 3H-29); (1.04 s; 3H-30).
Dihydroniloctin (3): 13C δ (ppm): 37.19 (CH2-1); 27.66 (CH2-2); 79.25 (CH-3); 38.96 (C-4); 50.61 (CH-5); 23.94 (CH2-6); 118.05 (CH-7); 145.57 (C-8); 48.91 (CH-9); 34.93 (C-10); 18.09 (CH2-11); 33.97 (CH2-12); 43.58 (C-13); 51.79 (C-14); 33.78 (CH2-15); 28.79 (CH2-16); 53.25 (CH-17); 13.11 (CH3-18); 21.71 (CH3-19); 33.59 (CH-20); 19.84 (CH3-21); 40.69 (CH2-22); 69.30 (CH-23); 68.51 (CH-24); 60.34 (C-25); 19.13 (CH3-26); 24.88 (CH3-27); 27.62 (CH3-28); 14.71 (CH3-29); 27.24 (CH3-30). 1H δ (ppm): (3.24 dd 11.1, 4.1; 1H-3); (5.26 sl; 1H-7); (0.75 s; 3H-18); (0.82 s; 3H-19); (0.96 d, 6.4; 3H-21); (3.57 m; 1H-23); (2.66 d, 8.2; 1H-24); (1.32 s; 3H-26); (1.33 s; 3H-27); (0.96 s, 3H-28); (0.86 s; 3H-29); (0.97 s; 3H-30).
Melianone (4): 13C δ (ppm): 38.49 (CH2-1); 34.91 (CH2-2); 216.96 (C-3); 47.88 (C-4); 52.35 (CH-5); 24.38 (CH2-6); 118.35 (CH-7); 145.58 (C-8); 48.37 (CH-9); 35.10 (C-10); 17.72 (CH2-11); 31.60 (CH2-12); 43.76 (C-13); 51.03 (C-14); 33.93 (CH2-15); 27.64 (CH2-16); 49.37 (CH-17); 22.62 (CH3-18); 12.75 (CH3-19); 47.04 (CH-20); 101.19 (CH-21) e 97.74 (CH-21); 34.83 (CH2-22); 77.50 (CH-23); 65.37 (CH-24); 57.30 (C-25); 24.92 (CH3-26); 19.43 (CH3-27); 24.44 (CH3-28); 21.59 (CH3-29); 27.28 (CH3-30). 1H δ (ppm): (1.98; 1.45; 2H-1); (2.77 dt 14.5, 5.4; H-2); (2.25 dt 14.5, 4.0; H-2) ; (1.73; H-5); (2.15; 2H-6); (5.34; H-7); ( 2.30 H-9); (1.62; 2H-11); (2.05; 1.75; 2H-12); (1.55; 2H-15); (1.95; 1.86; 2H-16); (1.82; H-17); (0.91 s; 3H-18); (1.02 s; 3H-19); (2.25; H-20); (5.38 dl 3.0; H-21); (2.15; 1.40; 2H-22); (3.95 m; H-23); (2.72 d 7.6; H-24); (1.34 s, 3H-26); (1.32 s; 3H-27); (1.06 s; 3H-28); (1.13 s; 3H-29); (1.05 s; 3H-30).
Piscidinol A (6): 13C δ (ppm): 38.25 (CH2-1); 34.98 (CH2-2); 47 (C-4); 52.31 (CH-5); 24.37 (CH2-6); 117.95 (CH -7); 145 (C-8); 48.46 (CH-9); 35 (C-10); 18.31 (CH2-11); 33.99 (C-12); 43 (C-13); 51 (C-14); 33.77 (CH2-15); 28.48 (CH2-16); 53.60 (CH -17); 22.06 (CH3-18); 12.80 (CH3-19); 33.69 (CH-20); 18.92 (CH3-21); 40.40 (CH2-22); 69.71 (CH-23); 74.81 (CH-24); 72 (C-25); 26.23 (CH3-26); 27.50 (CH3-27); 24.39 (CH3-28); 21.61 (CH3-29); 27.41 (CH3-30). 1H δ (ppm): (2.05; 1.52; 2H-1); (2.78 dt 14.7, 5.7; H-2); (2.27 dt 14.7, 3.8; H-2); (1.75 t 8.9; H-5); (2.15 m; 2H-6); (5.34 tl 3.1; H-7); (2.40 m; H-9); (1.60; 2H-11); (1.85; 1.52; 2H-12); (1.70; 1.45; 2H-15); (1.90; 1.25; 2H-16); (1.71; H-17); (0.85 s; 3H-18); (1.03 s; 3H-19); (1.48; H-20); (0.96 d 6.4; 3H-21); (1.90; 1.25; 2H-22); (4.15 dd 9.7, 5.0; H-23); (3.10 sl; H-24); (1.36 s; 3H-26); (1.39 s; 3H-27); (1.07 s; 3H-28); (1.19 s; 3H-29); (1.04 s; 3H-30).
Melianone lactone (7): 13C δ (ppm): 38.51 (CH2-1); 34.90 (CH2-2); 216.76 (C-3); 47.88 (C-4); 52.57 (CH-5); 24.39 (CH2-6); 118.33 (CH-7); 145.87 (C-8); 47.37 (CH-9); 35.12 (C-10); 17.64 (CH2-11); 31.02 (CH2-12); 43.91 (C-13); 50.53 (C-14); 33.89 (CH2-15); 24.22 (CH2-16); 48.49 (CH-17); 23.44 (CH3-18); 12.73 (CH3-19); 40.85 (CH-20); 178.04 (C-21); 30.21 (CH2-22); 77.96 (CH-23); 64.48 (CH-24); 57.54 (C-25); 24.82 (CH3-26); 19.47 (CH3-27); 24.52 (CH3-28); 21.55 (CH3-29); 27.59 (CH3-30) 1H δ (ppm): (2.10; 1.48; 2H-1); (2.60; 2.30; 2H-2); (1.51; H-3); (2.15; 1.95; 2H-6); (5.35 sl; H-7); (2.40; H-9); (1.60; 2H-11); (1.85; 1.75; 2H-12); (1.60; 2H-15); (1.90; 1.45; 2H-16); (2.17; H-17); (0.86 s; 2H-18); (1.05 s; 2H-19); (2.72; H-20); (2.35; 1.85; 2H-22); (4.18; H-23); (2.84; H-24); (1.40 s; 2H-26); (1.37 s; 3H-27); 1.07 s; 3H-28); (1.14 s; 3H-29); (1.09 s; 3H-30).
Hirtin (8): 13C δ (ppm): 150.52 (CH-1); 125.84 (CH-2); 195.66 (C-3); 60.43 (C-4); 129.1 (C-5); 141.90 (C-6); 196.19 (C-7); 46.15 (C-8); 42.01 (CH-9); 39.85 (C-10); 72.41 (CH-11); 77.76 (CH-12); 45.32 (C-13); 67.59 (C-14); 55.15 (CH-15); 32.15 (CH2-16); 41.37 (CH-17); 15.80 (CH3-18); 25.97 (CH3-19); 121.48 (C-20); 140.48 (CH-21); 111.22 (CH-22); 142.69 (CH-23); 22.85 (CH3-28); 170.06 (C-29); 22.52 (CH3-30); 174.49 (C-1′); 34.10 (CH-2′); 18.70 (MeO-3′); 18.68 (MeO-4′); 169.39 (C-1′′); 21.20 (MeO-2′′). 1H δ (ppm): (7.0 d 10.1; H-1); (6.19 d 10.1; H-2); (2.99 s; H-9); (5.37 s; H-11); (5.23 s; H-12); (2.93 s; H-15); (2.33 dd 13.8, 6.7; 2H-16); (2.02 dd 13.8, 11.0; 2H-16); (2.96 dd 11.0, 6.7; H-17); (0.84 s; 3H-18); (1.45 s; 3H-19); (7.15 sl; H-21); (6.2 sl; H-22); (7.32 t 1.6; H-23); (1.85 s; 3H-28); (2.47 sept 7.0; H-2′); (2.31 s; H2′′-MeO); (1.10 d 7.0; H3′-MeO); 0.98 d 7.0; H4′-MeO); (1.43 s; 3H-30); (6.47 s; H-HO).
Spathulenol (9): 13C δ (ppm): 53.42 (CH-1); 26,73 (CH2-2); 41.74 (CH2-3); 80 (CH-4); 54.33 (CH-5); 29.91 (CH-6); 27.48 (CH-7); 24.77 (CH2-8); 38.86 (CH2-9); 153,40 (C-10); 20 (C-11); 16.15 (CH3-12); 28.69 (CH3-13); 108.28 (CH2-14); 26.10 (CH3-15). 1H δ (ppm): (2.22 m; H-1); (2.08 m; 1.90 m; 2H-2); (1.80 m; 1.60 m;2H-3); (1.30 t3.5; H-5); (0.49 dd, J = 11.3, 9.5 Hz; H-6); (0.74 m; H-7); (1.70 m; 2H-8); (2.4 dd, J = 12.3, 5.3 Hz, 2H-9); (1.06 s, 3H-12); (1.08 s, 3H-13); (4.71 s; 4.69 s; 2H-14); (1.32 s; 3H-15).