BACKGROUND Several plant diterpenes have important biological properties. Among them, forskolin is a complex labdane-type diterpene whose biological activity stems from its ability to activate adenylyl cyclase and to elevate intracellular cAMP levels. As such, it is used in the control of blood pressure, in the protection from congestive heart failure, and in weight-loss supplements. Chemical s...

One new cassane diterpene possessing an unusual N bridge between C-19 and C-20 named caesalsappanin R (1), as well as another new diterpene caesalsappanin S (2), were isolated from the seeds of Caesalpinia sappanwith methanol extract. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and examined alongside existing data from prior studies. Their biological activities were profiled by t...

The Rv3378c gene product from Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes a diterpene synthase to produce tuberculosinol (3), 13R-isotuberculosinol (4a), and 13S-isotuberculosinol (4b) from tuberculosinyl diphosphate (2). The product distribution ratios are 1 : 1 for 3 to 4 and 1 : 3 for 4a to 4b. The substrate specificity of the Rv3378c-encoded enzyme was examined. The 3 labdadienyl diphosphates, copal...

Isocupressic acid (ICA) [15-hydroxylabda-8 (17), 13E-dien-19-oic acid], a labdane diterpene acid, isolated from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), common juniper (Juniperus communis) and Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), induces abortion in pregnant cows when ingested primarily during the last trimester. The objective of this study was to investigate the e...

Forskolin is a unique structurally complex labdane-type diterpenoid used in the treatment of glaucoma and heart failure based on its activity as a cyclic AMP booster. Commercial production of forskolin relies exclusively on extraction from its only known natural source, the plant Coleus forskohlii, in which forskolin accumulates in the root cork. Here, we report the discovery of five cytochrome...

A new labdane-type diterpenoid, echinolabdane A (1), and a new sterol, 6-epi-yonarasterol B (2), were isolated from a gorgonian coral identified as Echinomuricea sp. The structures of metabolites 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Echinolabdane A (1) possesses a novel tetracyclic skeleton with an oxepane ring jointed to an α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone ring by a hemiketal moiety, and...

The pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), a major pest of conifer forests throughout Europe, feeds on the bark and cambium, tissues rich in terpenoid resins that are toxic to many insect herbivores. Here, we report the ability of the pine weevil gut microbiota to degrade the diterpene acids of Norway spruce. The diterpene acid levels present in ingested bark were substantially reduced on passage thro...

The chloroform extract of the air-dried leaves of Coleus blumei afforded a mixture of diastereomers of a new abietane type diterpene whose structures were elucidated by extensive one and two dimensional (ID, 2D) NMR and mass spectrometry. Acetylation of the mixture afforded a single compound. Antimicrobial tests on the diterpene indicate that it is active against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas ...