Oligolignans in the wood of Picea obovata Ledeb.
We studied the chemical composition of the phenolic complex and the structure of oligomeric lignans in Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.). We used the wood of Siberian spruce collected near the city of Irkutsk. The extractives were isolated from ground wood (particle size: 10–15 mm; humidity: 5.9%) by three-stage acetone extraction. The extract was separated by consecutive treatment with the solvents with increasing polarity: hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The main amount of phenolic compounds (lignans) was concentrated in the ethyl acetate fraction and it was 0.7% in absolutely dry wood (adw).The ethyl acetate fraction of spruce wood extract was separated by silica gel column; a chloroform-acetone mixture was used as the eluent (the concentration of acetone in the mixture was increased from 0 to 100%). Monomeric lignans (~60–65% of the ethyl acetate fraction of spruce wood extract), oligomeric lignans (~20–25%), and polymer lignans (~12–15%) were isolated.We also obtained 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for the main monomeric, oligomeric and polymeric lignan compounds of phenolic complexes. It was found that oligomeric and polymeric fractions contain monomeric lignan units with the butyrolactone cycle, primarily, the fragments with hydroxymatairesinol structure. Oligomeric lignans contain the fragments with a pinoresinol and lariciresinol structure. All the monomeric structural units are characterized by the guaiacyl substitution type of the aromatic cycles.A preliminary study has been performed on the antiviral and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of acetone extract of Siberian spruce wood. It was found that the lignan complex is active against Coxsackie B4 virus in cell culture and in the pancreatitis model in white mice, reducing the activity of enteroviruses in the cell culture approximately 100 times. The antioxidant activity rate of polyphenol complex of Siberian spruce wood is comparable to that of a known antioxidant dihydroquercetin.
ЭКСТРАКТИВНЫЕ ВЕЩЕСТВА КОРНЕЙ PICEA OBOVATA LEDEB.
The group and chemical composition of compounds extracted by solvents of various polarity from roots of Siberian Spruce ( Picea obovata Ledeb . ) have been investigated. The Siberian Spruce roots were selected close toIrkutskcity in September 2015. The extractives were isolated from grinded roots (particle sizes are of 10–15 mm, humidity is 6,1%) by extraction with ethyl acetate at boiling temperature of solvent for an 4 hours, the hydromodule 1 : 10. Resinous substances  were extracted by hexane from the ethyl acetate extracts a method of infusion for an 3 day, the hydromodule 1 : 100. The samples of roots after extraction by ethyl acetate dried at105 °Cuntil mass stabilization, then were obtained water-soluble matters extraction by distilled water at90 °Cwithin 4 h at the hydromodule 1 : 10. The yields of the compounds extracted by ethyl acetate and water from roots and wood were close and were 1,9–2,1% (ethyl acetate) and 2,0–2,5% (water) of absolutely dry weight (in a.d.w.). The content of phenolic substances in ethyl acetate extract of roots was considerably more (more than in 2 times) than in an extract of wood. The ethyl acetate extract of spruce root preliminarily treated with hexane, was separated by silica gel column using chloroform-acetone mixture as the eluent (with the increase of the latter content in mixture from 0 to 100%). The contents monomeric (0–50% (CH 3 ) 2 СO inCHCl 3 ), oligomeric (50% (CH 3 ) 2 СO inCHCl 3 ) and polymeric lignans (100% (CH 3 ) 2 СO and MeOH) in an extract have been evaluated. The comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of roots and wood of Spruce was carried out. Researches have shown, that composition of phenolic extractives of roots and wood is very close. Differences are observed only on the relative content of compounds presented in extracts. The amount of dominant lignan – oxymatairesinol considerably above in wood of Spruce (in 1,7 times). The part of monomeric lignans in non-resinous ethyl acetate extracts of roots and wood was about 50% rel. and the part of the sum oligomeric and polymeric lignans was 35–40% rel.
Steroid excretion during the reporductive cycle and in pregnanacy of the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiopus pygerythrus).
Abstract The qualitative analysis of the major steroids excreted in the urine of the vervet monkey ( Cercopithtcua aethiopus pygerythrus ) is described using gas chromatography with wall coated open-tubular glass capillary columns and mass spectrometry. The excretion of the principal metabolites of progesterone and oestrogens were quantified by GC and radioimmunoassay over 40 consecutive days. The reproductive cycle of the vervet monkey, which was found to be 30 days, exhibited a close similarity to the human with respect to progesterone and oestrogen metabolism and excretion. Oestrone-3-glucuronide was the major oestrogen excreted and pregnanediol pregnenediol and 16-hydroxypregnanolone were the principal metabolites of progesterone. 6α-Hydroxylated corticosteroid metabolites were identified in significant amounts. Two interesting phenolic compounds, designated as Compound 180 410 and Compound 180 442 have been shown to exhibit significant quantitative changes during the menstrual cycle. The Chromatographie behaviour of these compounds resemble oestrogen steroids but preliminary studies suggest their structures may be non-steroidal. Maximum excretion occurs one day prior to the maximum excretion of pregnanediol in the luteal phase. In early pregnancy the quantitative excretion is high but as pregnancy proceeds their excretion decreases markedly. Both compounds have been detected in human urine and therefore work is ongoing to elucidate the structure and determine their physiological role.