Using pure phytoecdysteroids isolated from Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) and Silene nutans L. (Caryophyllales: Caryophyllaceae), plants known for their high ecdysteroid content, a study was carried out on the effects of ingestion of four different phytoecdysteroids (20-hydroxyecdysone, polypodine B, ponasterone A and makisterone A) on the growth and development of the Indian mea...

In addition to three known phytoecdysteroids, a new phenolic glycoside (named, chenoalbuside) was isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Chenopodium album. While the structures of all phytoecdysteroids were elucidated by direct comparison of their spectroscopic data with published data, the structure of chenoalbuside was determined unequivocally by a combination of UV, MS and 1D and...

Two new phytoecdysteroids, (25S)-20,22-O-(R-ethylidene)inokosterone and 20,22-O-(R-3-methoxycarbonyl)propylidene-20-hydroxyecdysone, together with six known phytoecdysteroids 3-8 were isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata Blume. The new structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies and chemical evidences. The absolute configuration at C-25 in the structure of know...

BACKGROUND Ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that control moulting and govern several changes during metamorphoses in arthropods. The discovery of the same molecules (phytoecdysteroids) in several plant species displayed a wide array of rather beneficial agricultural impact. Many representatives of the genus Ajuga plants contain phytoecdysteroids with a 5β-7-ene-6-one system exhibiting physiolo...

Phytoecdysteroids are structural analogs of the insect molting hormone ecdysone. Plants comprise rich sources of ecdysteroids in high concentration and with broad structural diversity. Ecdysteroids have a number of proven beneficial effects on mammals but the hormonal effects of ecdysteroids have been proven only in arthropods. Their structures are somewhat similar to those of the vertebrate st...

Four phytoecdysteroids: (20-hydroxyecdysone-20, 22-monacetonide (1), 20-hydroxyecdysone (2), stigmasterol (3), gamma-sitosterol (4), were investigated for toxic effect against 3 rd /4 th instar larvae of Anopheles gambiae under laboratory conditions as individual compounds and in blends. The test larvae were treated with solutions containing the phytoecdysteroids of concentrations 1, 5 and 10pp...

BACKGROUND Ajuga bracteosa has been extensively used traditionally for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The aim of the study was to scientifically validate the wide-scale exploitation of A. bracteosa in folk medicine various in vitro and in vivo assays. Moreover, these activities were related to the intrinsic biologically active phytoecdysteroids of A. bracteosa. METHODS Aerial and roo...

Introduction The effectiveness of natural health preparations is based on the amount/ratio of their active ingredients. This can differ in plants depending on the species variant, the part of the plant used, the season or the micro-climate. Moreover, the method of harvest, the drying and extraction techniques used, and any further processing also influence the final composition of medicinal hea...

Phytoecdysteroids from aerial parts of Silene guntensis B. Fedtsch were investigated and three phytoecdysteroids were isolated: 2,3-diacetate-22-benzoate-20-hydroxyecdysone (1), 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (2), and 20-hydroxyecdysone (3). Their chemical structures were elucidated by DEPT, COSY, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The isolated compounds 1-3 and crude extracts were evaluated for their an...