Conventional extraction of oil and azadirachtin, a botanical insecticide, from Azadirachta indica involves defatting the seeds and leaves using hexane followed by azadirachtin extraction with a polar solvent. In order to simplify the process while maintaining the yield we explored a binary extraction approach using Soxhlet extraction device and hexane and ethanol as non-polar and polar solvents at various ratios and extraction times. The highest oil and azadirachtin yields were obtained at 6 h extraction time using a 50:50 solvent mixture for both neem leaves (44.7 wt%, 720 mg(Aza)/kg(leaves)) and seeds (53.5 wt%, 1045 mg(Aza)/kg(seeds)), respectively.
Azadirachta ; Ethanol ; Limonins ; Solvents

Azadirachtin, as a botanical insecticide, is a highly oxidized limonoid triterpenoid existing in the seeds of Azadirachta indica. However, due to the low content in the seeds, the production of azadirachtin by seed extraction has low yield. Chemical synthesis of azadirachtin is characterized by complex process and low yield. Synthetic biology provides an alternative for the supply of azadirach-tin. In this study, two oxidosqualene cyclases AiOSC1 and MaOSC1 respectively derived from A. indica and Melia azedarach were identified in yeast. A yeast strain producing tirucalla-7,24-dien-3β-ol was constructed by integration of AiOSC1, Arabidopsis thaliana-derived squalene synthase gene(AtAQS2), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived truncated 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase gene(PgtHMGR) into the delta site of yeast. Then, the function of MaCYP71BQ5 was successfully verified in yeast after this gene was introduced into the constructed yeast strain. This study not only laid a foundation for the biosynthesis of tirucalla-7,24-dien-3β-ol, but also provided a chassis cell for the functional identification of cytochrome oxidases(CYP450 s) in azadirachtin biosynthesis pathway.
Azadirachta ; Limonins ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics* ; Triterpenes

To study the chemical constituents of the fruits of Melia toosendan, three limonoids were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC from the EtOAc extract of M. toosendan. Their structures were determined by their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data (1D-NMR, 2D-NMR) as: 24, 25, 26, 27-tetranorapotirucalla-(apoeupha)-1alpha-tigloyloxy-3alpha, 7alpha-dihydroxyl-12alpha-acetoxyl-14, 20, 22-trien-21, 23-epoxy-6, 28-epoxy (1), nimbolinin B (2), and trichilinin D (3), separately. Compound 1 is a new compound, and compound 2 is obtained from this plant for the first time.
Fruit ; chemistry ; Limonins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Melia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

In this study, the critical quality attributes of Wuzhuyu Decoction reference sample were explored by using characteristic chromatogram, index component content and dry extract rate as indexes.The dissemination relationship of quantity value between medicinal materials-decoction pieces-reference sample was investigated to preliminarily formulate the quality standard of the reference sample.The characteristic chromatogram of 15 batches of Wuzhuyu Decoction was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and the similarity analysis was conducted.Common peaks were demarcated and assigned to medicinal materials.Moreover, quantitative determination of limonin, evodiamine, rutaecarpine and ginsenoside Rb_1 of Wuzhuyu Decoction were performed.The dissemination of quantity value was explored combined with dry extract rate, similarity of characteristic chromatogram and transfer rate of index component content.A total of 18 common peaks were identified in the corresponding materials of Wuzhuyu Decoction reference sample, with the similarity of characteristic chromatogram greater than 0.9, and Fructus Evodiae, Radix Ginseng, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens and Fructus Jujubae contributed 9, 5, 8 and 2 chromatographic peaks, respectively.The index component content of corresponding materials and the transfer rates of medicinal materials-decoction pieces and decoction pieces-reference sample of different batches of Wuzhuyu Decoction reference sample were as follows: the content of limonin was 0.16%-0.51%, and the transfer rates were 83.66%-115.60% and 38.54%-54.58%, respectively; the content of evodiamine was 0.01%-0.11%, the transfer rated were 80.80%-116.15% and 3.23%-12.93%, respectively; the content of rutaecarpine was 0.01%-0.05%, the transfer rates were 84.33%-134.53% and 5.72%-21.24%, respectively; the content of ginsenoside Rb_1 was 0.06%-0.11%, and the transfer rates were 90.00%-96.92% and 32.45%-67.24%, respectively.The dry extract rate of the whole prescription was 22.58%-29.89%.In this experiment, the dissemination of quantity value of Wuzhuyu Decoction reference sample was analyzed by the combination of characteristic chromatogram, index component content and dry extract rate.A scientific and stable quality evaluation method of the reference sample was preliminarily established, which provided basis for the subsequent development of Wuzhuyu Decoction and the quality control of related preparations.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Ginsenosides/analysis* ; Limonins/analysis* ; Quality Control

In order to establish the standardized processing technology of the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus, this study, based on the traditional processing method of hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus recorded in ancient works and modern processing specifications of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, took the yield of decoction pieces and the content of main components as the indicators and optimized the processing conditions by orthogonal test based on the results of single factor investigation. At the same time, electronic tongue technology was used to analyze the change law of the taste index of Euodiae Fructus during the hot water washing. The results of the single factor investigation showed that the content of the main components in Euodiae Fructus showed some regular changes during the processing. Specifically, the content of chlorogenic acid, hyperin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, and dehydroevodiamine decreased significantly, with average decreases of-23.75%,-27.80%,-14.04%,-14.03%, and-13.11%, respectively. The content of limonin increased significantly with an average increase of 19.83%. The content of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, evocarpine, and dihydroevocarpine showed fluctuating changes and generally increased, with average variation amplitudes of 0.54%,-3.78%, 2.69%, and 5.13%, respectively. The orthogonal test results showed that the optimum processing parameters for the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus were as follows: washing time of 2 min, the solid-to-liquid ratio of 1∶10 g·mL~(-1), washing temperature of 80 ℃, washing once, and drying at 50 ℃. After the hot water washing processing, the average yield of Euodiae Fructus pieces was 94.80%. The content of limonin, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine was higher than those of raw pro-ducts, and the average transfer rates were 102.56%, 103.15%, and 105.16%, respectively. The content of dehydroevodiamine was lower than that of the raw products, and the average transfer rate was 83.04%. The results of taste analysis showed that the hot water washing could significantly reduce the salty, astringent, and bitter tastes of Euodiae Fructus. This study revealed the influence of the hot water washing on the content of main components and taste of Euodiae Fructus, and the processing technology of the hot water was-hing of Euodiae Fructus established in this study was stable, feasible, and suitable for industrial production, which laid a foundation for clarifying its processing principle and improving the quality standard and clinical application value of decoction pieces.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Taste ; Limonins ; Technology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*

Fifteen limonoids were isolated from 95% ethanol extracts of the dry seeds of neem( Azadirachta indica) by various column chromatography techniques including silica gel,Pharmadex LH-20 gel and ODS resin. Based on spectroscopic analysis,their structures were determined as nimbocinol( 1),17β-hydroxynimbocinol( 2),1α,3α,7α-triacetylvilasinin( 3),7α-benzoyltrichilinin( 4),1,3-diacetyl-7-tigloyl-12-hydroxyvilasinin( 5),3-deacetylsalannin( 6),1-O-acetyl-1-detigloylsalannin( 7),2'( R),3'-dihydrosalannin( 8),2'( S),3'-dihydrosalannin( 9),2,3-dihydronimbolide( 10),6-homodesacetylnimbin( 11),gedunin( 12),7-deacetyl-7-epi-dihydrogedunin( 13),7-deacetoxy-7α-hydroxygedunin( 14) and nimbinene( 15). Compound 7 is a new natural product. 4,8,9,13 and 14 are isolated from the genus Azadirachta for the first time. Compound 2 showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis,with MIC values of 32 and 128 mg·L~(-1),respectively. Compound 10 showed moderate inhibitory activity against S. epidermidis with a MIC value of 64 mg·L~(-1). Compound 11 inhibited the growth of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,both with MIC values of 128 mg·L~(-1). Compound 15 exhibited inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa,with a MIC value of128 mg·L~(-1).
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Azadirachta ; Escherichia coli ; Limonins ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Seeds

A HPLC method for determination of limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine in Evodia rutaecarpa was optimized. The mobile phase was [acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (25: 15)] -0.02% H3 PO4 (35:65). The detection wavelength was 220 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). Limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine were all well separated from other substances and their UV spectrums were essentially the same to the standards . The liner ranges of limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine were 0.196 8-3.936, 0.153 6-3.072, 0.097 4-1.948 microg. The average recoveries were 97.8%, 100.7% and 98.4%. RSD were 1.7%, 1.3% and 1.1% (n = 6). The method of this article is accurate, reproducible and can be used to enhance the quality control of E. rutaecarpa.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Indole Alkaloids ; analysis ; Limonins ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Quinazolines ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo reveal the pharmacological activities of the components for their further utilization and development by studying the chemical constituents of Citrus changshan-huyou.

METHODThe structures were determined by repeated silica gel chromatographic separation and spectral analysis.

RESULTFive compounds were obtained, and identified as 3-oxo friedelin (I), limonin (II), beta-sitosterol (III), 8-(2',3'-dihydroxy-4'-methylbutane)-7-methoxycoumarin (IV), sucrose (V).

CONCLUSIONThe five compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Citrus ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Limonins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sucrose ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Deoxygedunin on Aβ deposition, learning memory, and oxidative stress induced by D-galactose combined with AlCl in model rats with Alzheimer's disease and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (=12):control group, model group (AD) and intervention group (AD+Deo). Morris water maze test was used to detect learning/memory and cognitive function in rats.Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in homogenate of hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Tau protein expression in rat cerebral cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1(ERK1), protein kinase B (PKB) and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) on TrkB signaling pathway. RESULTS: The results of water maze test showed that D-galactose combined with AlCl induced a significant increase in the escape latency compared with the control group (<0.05).Deoxygedunin could reverse the increase of the escape latency of the model group (<0.05).On the 7th day after removal of the platform, the model group showed an increase in escape latency compared with the control group and the intervention group (<0.01), and the number of crossing platforms was declined (<0.05); The results of immunohistochemistry and ELISA showed that the expressions of Aβ and tau protein in the model group were increased significantly compared with those of the control group (<0.01).The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased significantly and the content of MDA was increased significantly.Compared with the model group, Deoxygedunin could reverse the increase of the expressions of Aβ and tau protein (<0.01), the decrease of SOD and GSH-Px activities (<0.05) and the increase of the MDA content (<0.05).Western blot results showed that Deoxygedunin treatment reversed the decreased phosphorylation levels of TrkB, AKT and ERK1 in hippocampus of the model group. CONCLUSIONS Supplement of Deoxygedunin can significantly reverse Aβ deposition, oxidative stress and cognitive deficits by activating the TrkB signal transduction pathway, which suggest that Deoxygedunin may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for attenuating AD-like pathological dysfunction induced by D-galactose combined with AlCl.
Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Galactose ; Hippocampus ; Limonins ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

As a part of our ongoing research program to isolate novel phragmalin limonoids from the stem bark of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina, two new phragmalin limonoids orthesters, tabularin Q (1) and tabulalide O (4), along with two known compounds tabularin C (2) and tabularin H (3) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by means of extensive 1D and 2D spectroscopic analyses which included HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY experiments and HR-ESI-MS.
Limonins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Meliaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization