Forum for Science, Industry and Business

Compound from Myrtles Synthesized

Myrtle has been considered to be a medicinal plant since ancient times. In addition to a number of essential oils, myrtle contains myrtucommulone A, a pharmacologically interesting compound that has antibacterial, analgesic, and strong anti-inflammatory effects, among others. Recent tests also indicate a highly selective cytostatic effect on tumors. A team led by Johann Jauch has now successfully synthesized myrtucommulone A in the laboratory.

As the scientists report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the synthetic compound has the same anti-inflammatory and cytostatic activity as the natural version.

The myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region that has small, aromatically scented, leathery leaves, small white flowers, and blue-black berries. The leaves and berries are occasionally used in Mediterranean cooking. Since ancient times, the myrtle, rich in essential oils, has been known as a medicinal plant. Pharmacological researchers are particularly interested in a group of substances, called the myrtucommulones, from the myrtle plant. However, their extraction from the leaves of the myrtle is very difficult and delivers small yields.

“The synthetic preparation of myrtucommulones would make these substances available in quantities sufficient to better examine their pharmacological properties,” says Jauch. “Also, we could develop analogues that may be more effective than the original substances. The strength of the natural substance could thus be augmented.”

The researchers have now succeeded in such a total synthesis. Starting with commercially available starting materials or substances known from the literature, the team from Saarland University in Saarbrücken and the University of Tübingen has now synthesized myrtucommulone A, its natural variants C and F, and an analogue in a one-step reaction. Their structures could be confirmed by means of spectroscopic techniques and a crystal structure analysis.

“Laboratory tests demonstrated that the synthetic myrtucommulone A has just as strong an anti-inflammatory effect as the natural compound,” says Jauch. “Just like the agent derived from the plant extract, it triggers programmed cell death (apoptosis) in tumor cells.” The scientists next plan to determine the absolute spatial configuration of the compound and to produce and test more analogues.

Author: Johann Jauch, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken (Germany), http://www.uni-saarland.de/campus/fakultaeten/professuren/naturwissenschaftlich-technische-fakultaet-iii/chemie/professuren-fr-81-chemie/prof-dr-johann-jauch/mitarbeiter/prof-dr-j-jauch.html

Title: Total Synthesis of Myrtucommulone A

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Permalink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200903906

Johann Jauch | Angewandte Chemie
Further information:
http://pressroom.angewandte.org
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200903906

Im Focus: Climate satellite: Tracking methane with robust laser technology

Heatwaves in the Arctic, longer periods of vegetation in Europe, severe floods in West Africa – starting in 2021, scientists want to explore the emissions of the greenhouse gas methane with the German-French satellite MERLIN. This is made possible by a new robust laser system of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, which achieves unprecedented measurement accuracy.

Methane is primarily the result of the decomposition of organic matter. The gas has a 25 times greater warming potential than carbon dioxide, but is not as...

Im Focus: How protons move through a fuel cell

Hydrogen is regarded as the energy source of the future: It is produced with solar power and can be used to generate heat and electricity in fuel cells. Empa researchers have now succeeded in decoding the movement of hydrogen ions in crystals – a key step towards more efficient energy conversion in the hydrogen industry of tomorrow.

As charge carriers, electrons and ions play the leading role in electrochemical energy storage devices and converters such as batteries and fuel cells. Proton...

Im Focus: A unique data centre for cosmological simulations

Scientists from the Excellence Cluster Universe at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich have establised "Cosmowebportal", a unique data centre for cosmological simulations located at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. The complete results of a series of large hydrodynamical cosmological simulations are available, with data volumes typically exceeding several hundred terabytes. Scientists worldwide can interactively explore these complex simulations via a web interface and directly access the results.

With current telescopes, scientists can observe our Universe’s galaxies and galaxy clusters and their distribution along an invisible cosmic web. From the...

Im Focus: Scientists develop molecular thermometer for contactless measurement using infrared light

Temperature measurements possible even on the smallest scale / Molecular ruby for use in material sciences, biology, and medicine

Chemists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in cooperation with researchers of the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)...

Im Focus: Optoelectronic Inline Measurement – Accurate to the Nanometer

Germany counts high-precision manufacturing processes among its advantages as a location. It’s not just the aerospace and automotive industries that require almost waste-free, high-precision manufacturing to provide an efficient way of testing the shape and orientation tolerances of products. Since current inline measurement technology not yet provides the required accuracy, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is collaborating with four renowned industry partners in the INSPIRE project to develop inline sensors with a new accuracy class. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the project is scheduled to run until the end of 2019.

New Manufacturing Technologies for New Products