scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers on "Flavanone published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The bioactive flavonoids are considered as the most important phytochemicals in food, which exert a wide range of biological benefits for human being and the existing knowledge on the production and biotransformation of flavonoid by various microbes is summarized.

170 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of orange juice or a dose-matched hesperidin supplement on plasma concentrations of established and novel flavanone metabolites and their effects on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in men at moderate CVD risk were examined.

64 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new isoprenylated flavonoid, 2S-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-3′,5′-di-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)flavanone, sanggenol Q (1), along with seven known isoprene-like flavonoids, singinggenol A (2), sunggenol L (3), kuwanon T (4), cyclomorusin (5
Abstract: A new isoprenylated flavonoid, 2S-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-3′,5′-di-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)flavanone, sanggenol Q (1), along with seven known isoprenylated flavonoids, sanggenol A (2), sanggenol L (3), kuwanon T (4), cyclomorusin (5), sanggenon F (6), sanggenol O (7), and sanggenon N (8), three known Diels–Alder type adducts, sanggenon G (9), mulberrofuran G (10), and mulberrofuran C (11), and a known benzofuran, moracin E (12), were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba using silica gel, ODS, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Chemical structures were determined based on spectroscopic data analyses including NMR, MS, CD, and IR. For the first time, compounds 1 and 7 were isolated from the root bark of M. alba. All compounds were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells and neuroprotective activity on glutamate-induced cell death in HT22 cells. Compounds 1, 4, 8, 10, and 11 showed protective effects on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress with EC50 values of 6.94 ± 0.38, 30.32 ± 6.82, 23.45 ± 4.72, 15.31 ± 2.21, and 0.41 ± 0.48 μM, respectively, and compounds 1, 2, 10, 11, and 12 showed protective effects on glutamate-induced cell death with EC50 values of 5.54 ± 0.86, 34.03 ± 7.71, 19.71 ± 0.71, 16.50 ± 7.82, and 1.02 ± 0.13 μM, respectively.

49 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results suggested that SlF3HL stimulated flavonoid biosynthesis in response to chilling stress, which showed not only faster seed germination, better survival and growth, but also lower malondialdehyde accumulation, relative electrical conductivity and H2O2 and O2(·-) levels compared with WT plants.

49 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Positive interactions among sorghum flavonoids may enhance their ability to contribute to colon cancer prevention beyond what can be modeled using target compounds in isolation.
Abstract: Activation of estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) is an important mechanism for colon cancer prevention. Specific sorghum varieties that contain flavones were shown to activate ER in non-malignant colonocytes at low concentrations. This study aimed to determine positive interactions among estrogenic flavonoids most relevant in sorghum. Apigenin and naringenin were tested separately and in combination for their ability to influence ER-mediated cell growth in non-malignant young adult mouse colonocytes (YAMC). Sorghum extracts high in specific flavanones and flavones were also tested. Apigenin reduced ER-mediated YAMC cell growth comparable to physiological levels of estradiol (E2, 1 nM) at 1 μM; naringenin had similar effect at 10 μM. However, when combined, 0.1 μM apigenin plus 0.05 μM naringenin produced similar effect as 1 nM E2; these concentrations represented 1/10th and 1/200th, respectively, of the active concentrations of apigenin and naringenin, demonstrating a strong enhanced action. A sorghum extract higher in flavones (apigenin and luteolin) (4.8 mg g−1) was more effective (5 μg mL−1) at activating ER in YAMC than a higher flavanone (naringenin and eriodictyol) (28.1 mg g−1) sorghum extract (10 μg mL−1). Enhanced actions observed for apigenin and naringenin were adequate to explain the level of effects produced by the high flavone and flavanone sorghum extracts. Strong positive interactions among sorghum flavonoids may enhance their ability to contribute to colon cancer prevention beyond what can be modeled using target compounds in isolation.

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that bioconversion of Citrus unshiu peel extracts with cytolase enhances aglycoside flavonoids and improves the anti-adipogenic metabolism via both inhibition of key adipogenic transcription factors and induction of adipolytic activity.
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Citrus flavonoids have a variety of physiological properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity. We investigated whether bioconversion of Citrus unshiu with cytolase (CU-C) ameliorates the anti-adipogenic effects by modulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Glycoside forms of Citrus unshiu (CU) were converted into aglycoside forms with cytolase treatment. Cell viability of CU and CU-C was measured at various concentrations in 3T3L-1 cells. The anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects were examined using Oil red O staining and free glycerol assay, respectively. We performed real time-polymerase chain reaction and western immunoblotting assay to detect mRNA and protein expression of adipogenic transcription factors, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with cytolase decreased flavanone rutinoside forms (narirutin and hesperidin) and instead, increased flavanone aglycoside forms (naringenin and hesperetin). During adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with CU or CU-C at a dose of 0.5 mg/ml. Adipocyte differentiation was inhibited in CU-C group, but not in CU group. CU-C markedly suppressed the insulin-induced protein expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) as well as the mRNA levels of CEBPα, PPARγ, and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c). Both CU and CU-C groups significantly increased the adipolytic activity with the higher release of free glycerol than those of control group in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CU-C is particularly superior in suppression of adipogenesis, whereas CU-C has similar effect to CU on stimulation of lipolysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that bioconversion of Citrus unshiu peel extracts with cytolase enhances aglycoside flavonoids and improves the anti-adipogenic metabolism via both inhibition of key adipogenic transcription factors and induction of adipolytic activity.

38 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: The biosynthetic pathways of main grape flavonoids: anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols, hold in common the early step enzymes of biosynthetical pathway: chalcone synthase (CHS), ChI, and Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), the genes of which are multi-copied in the grape genome.
Abstract: The biosynthetic pathways of main grape flavonoids: anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols, hold in common the early step enzymes of biosynthetic pathway: chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), the genes of which are multi-copied in the grape genome. The ratios of mRNA levels of the three Chss ( Chs1, Chs2 , and Chs3 ), as well as those of the two Chis ( Chi1 and Chi2 ) and those of the two F3hs ( F3h1 and F3h2 ), were different among organs, even though no organ-specificity was observed in the strictest sense. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the transcription of particular genes significantly coincided with the biosynthesis of a particular flavonoid: the transcription of Chi2 coincided with flavan-3-ol; Chs1, Chs2, F3h1, and F3h2 with flavonol; and Chs2, Chs3, and F3h2 with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Thus, the transcription of these multi-copy genes is likely induced differently for the biosyntheses of anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols.

33 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present findings suggest that these constituents, including shisoflavanone A, may be involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of green perilla leaves.
Abstract: A new flavanone, shisoflavanone A (1), and several flavonoids were purified from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of green perilla leaves (Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa form viridis), and their structures were identified. Shisoflavanone A was elucidated as 8-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone based on its spectral data. Other constituents of the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction, i.e. 5,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (2), negletein (5,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone) (3), luteolin (4), apigenin (5), esculetin (6), and protocatechuic acid (7), were identified. This is the first time that constituents 2, 3, and 6 have been found in green perilla. Shisoflavanone A and the other constituents (except 7) significantly inhibited nitric oxide production in interleukin 1β-stimulated rat hepatocytes, which have been used to monitor the anti-inflammatory effects of herbal constituents. The present findings suggest that these constituents, including shisoflavanone A, may be involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of green perilla leaves.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
13 May 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that optimal PCB degradation during the rhizoremediation process will require the adjustment of several parameters, including the presence of the appropriate flavonoids at the proper concentrations and the existence of proper growth substrates that positively influence the ability of flavonoid to induce the pathway.
Abstract: There is evidence that many plant secondary metabolites may act as signal molecules to trigger the bacterial ability to metabolize polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during the rhizoremediation process. However, the bases for the PCB rhizoremediation process are still largely unknown. The rhizobacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis U23A is unable to use flavanone as a growth substrate. However, on the basis of an assay that monitors the amount of 4-chlorobenzoate produced from 4-chlorobiphenyl by cells grown co-metabolically on flavanone plus sodium acetate, this flavonoid was previously found to be a potential inducer of the U23A biphenyl catabolic pathway. In this work, and using the same assay, we identified ten other flavonoids that did not support growth, but that acted as inducers of the U23A biphenyl pathway, and we confirmed flavonoid induction of the biphenyl catabolic pathway using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on the bphA gene. We also examined the effect of the growth co-substrate on flavonoid induction. Sodium acetate was replaced by glucose, mannose, sucrose, or mannitol, which are sugars found in plant root exudates. The data showed that the level of induction of strain U23A biphenyl-degrading enzymes was significantly influenced by the nature and concentration of the flavonoid in the growth medium, as well as by the substrate used for growth. Sucrose allowed for an optimal induction response for most flavonoids. Some flavonoids, such as flavone and isoflavone, were better inducers of the biphenyl catabolic enzymes than biphenyl itself. We also found that all flavonoids tested in this work were metabolized by strain U23A during co-metabolic growth, but that the metabolite profiles, as well as the level of efficiency of degradation, differed for each flavonoid. To obtain insight into how flavonoids interact with strain U23A to promote polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradation, we determined the concentration of flavanone at which optimal PCB-degrading performance of strain U23A was achieved. We showed that it corresponded to the concentration required to fully induce the biphenyl catabolic pathway of the strain. Together, our data demonstrate that optimal PCB degradation during the rhizoremediation process will require the adjustment of several parameters, including the presence of the appropriate flavonoids at the proper concentrations and the presence of proper growth substrates that positively influence the ability of flavonoids to induce the pathway.

28 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The cell morphology results indicated that SGC-7901 cells treated with farrerol showed several features of apoptotic cell death, which indicated thatfarrerol can induce apoptosis through a mitochondrial-mediated pathway.
Abstract: Farrerol, a typical flavanone isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Rhododendron dauricum L., has been found to show various biological activities. However, to the best of our knowledge, its inhibitory actions against cancer cells have not been reported as yet. Therefore, the present study aimed

28 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation on mechanism underlying α-glucosidase inhibition indicated that maingayone D (2) could retard the enzyme function by both competitive and noncompetitive manners.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, two routes for the synthesis of the flavanone naringenin are described, in the first, 3,5-dimethoxyphenol is converted to 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylacetophenone and then by condensation with anisaldeh.
Abstract: Two routes for the synthesis of the flavanone naringenin are described. In the first, 3,5-dimethoxyphenol is converted to 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenone and then by condensation with anisaldeh...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new monoterpene-flavonoid, saturejin showed a significant β-glucosidase inhibitory activity at concentration of 10 μg as well as positive antioxidant activity at the amount of 1 μg which could be correlated with the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic properties reported from this medicinal plant.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: New polyphenols in grape were identified by overlapping various analytical methods according to recommendations in the MS-based metabolomics literature and these findings suggest addressing research of acylated polyphenol glycosides to other grape varieties.
Abstract: RATIONALE Grape polyphenols are antioxidant compounds, markers in vine chemotaxonomy, and involved in color stabilization of red wines. Sugar acylation usually confers higher stability on glycoside derivatives and this effect is enhanced by an aromatic substituent such as p-coumaric acid. Until now, only p-coumaroyl anthocyanins have been found in grape. METHODS A method of 'suspect screening analysis' by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOFMS) has recently been developed to study grape metabolomics. In the present study, this approach was used to identify new polyphenols in grape by accurate mass measurement, MS/MS fragmentation, and study of correlations between fragments observed and putative structures. RESULTS Three putative p-coumaroyl flavonoids were identified in Raboso Piave grape extract: a dihydrokaempferide-3-O-p-coumaroylhexoside-like flavanone, isorhamnetin-3-O-p-coumaroylglucoside, and a chrysoeriol-p-coumaroylhexoside-like flavone. Accurate MS provided structural characterization of functional groups, and literature data indicates their probable position in the molecule. A fragmentation scheme is proposed for each compound. CONCLUSIONS Compounds were identified by overlapping various analytical methods according to recommendations in the MS-based metabolomics literature. Stereochemistry and the definitive position of substituents in the molecule can only be confirmed by isolation and characterization or synthesis of each compound. These findings suggest addressing research of acylated polyphenol glycosides to other grape varieties. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The prenylated flavanones addisoniaflavanones I and II may be of interest for pharmacological purposes due to their high cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic potential against hepatoma cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This is the first study on isolation, characterization, X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds (1 and 2) and simultaneous RP-HPLC determination of five major compounds from different age of S. campanulatum plants of five different age.
Abstract: Two flavanones named (2S)-7-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethyl flavanone (1), (S)-5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-flavanone (2), along with known chalcone, namely, (E)-2',4'- dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (3) and two triterpenoids, namely, betulinic and ursolic acids (4 and 5), were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium campanulatum Korth (Myrtaceae). The structures of compounds (1 and 2) were determined on the basis of UV-visible, FTIR, NMR spectroscopies and LC-EIMS analytical techniques. Furthermore, new, simple, precise, selective, accurate, highly sensitive, efficient and reproducible RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of the compounds (1-5) from S. campanulatum plants of five different age. RP-HPLC method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity (r2 ≤ 0.999), precision (2.0% RSD), and recoveries (94.4%-105%). The LOD and LOQ of these compounds ranged from 0.13-0.38 and 0.10-2.23 μg·mL-1, OPEN ACCESS respectively. Anti-proliferative activity of isolated flavanones (1 and 2) and standardized extract of S. campanulatum was evaluated on human colon cancer (HCT 116) cell line. Compounds (1 and 2) and extract revealed potent and dose-dependent activity with IC50 67.6, 132.9 and 93.4 μg·mL-1, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on isolation, characterization, X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds (1 and 2) and simultaneous RP-HPLC determination of five major compounds (1-5) from different age of S. campanulatum plants.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: One new β-hydroxychalcone, 4-acetoxy-5,2′,4′,6′, β-pentahydroxy-3-methoxychalcone (1), one new flavanone, 7,3′-dihydroxyno-dimethoxyflavanone (2) and seven known compounds, 2R, 3R-trans-aromadendrin (3), naringenin-7-Omethylether (4), myricetin (5), quercet

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Dec 2015-Synlett
TL;DR: A review of recent approaches for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral flavanones can be found in this paper, where the synthetic methods involve reduction, intramolecular addition, and intermolecular operation.
Abstract: Flavanone and its derivatives are privileged natural products that show a wide range of biological activities. The importance of these compounds has driven research developments toward the preparation of flavanones, especially enantioenriched examples. This account reviews recent approaches for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral flavanones. The synthetic methods involve reduction, intramolecular addition, and intermolecular addition. 1 Introduction 2 Asymmetric Reduction 3 C–C Bond Formation (Intermolecular Conjugate Additions to 4-Chromanones) 4 C–O Bond Formation 4.1 Intramolecular Oxa-Michael Additions 4.2 Tandem Reactions of Chromones 4.3 Intramolecular Mitsunobu Cyclization 5 Conclusion

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Three new geranylated flavanones, named as paucatalinone A, B and B, were isolated from the fruits of Paulownia catalpifolia Gong Tong (Scrophulariaceae) and displayed good antiproliferative effects on human lung cancer cells A549.

Journal ArticleDOI
Haizhen Li1, Zhun Hou1, Chao Li1, Yao Zhang1, Tao Shen1, Qingwen Hu1, Dong-Mei Ren1 
TL;DR: Phytochemical examination of the leaves and stems of Viscum articulatum resulted in the isolation of three pairs of new flavanone glycosides, 2R/2S-viscarticulide A-C (1a/1b-3a/3b), together with eight known compounds.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Hetero-dimeric flavan structures have been described for the first time in lemongrass consisting of apigen iflavan or luteoliflavan units linked to a flavanone, either naringenin or eriodictyol, which may occur as aglycone or glycosylated forms.
Abstract: Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) leaf infusion, a commonly used ingredient in Asian, African and Latin American cuisines, is also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several pathological conditions; however, little is known about their bioactive compounds. Recent studies revealed the crucial role of the phenolic compounds namely flavonoids and tannins on the infusion bioactivity. Flavonoids have already been characterized; however the tannin fraction of lemongrass infusion is still uncharted. The aim of the present work is to characterize this fraction, and to evaluate its contribution to the antioxidant potential of this plant. Chemical characterization was achieved by HPLC-DAD-ESI/tandem MS and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. Hetero-dimeric flavan structures have been described for the first time in lemongrass consisting of apigeniflavan or luteoliflavan units linked to a flavanone, either naringenin or eriodictyol, which may occur as aglycone or glycosylated forms. The antioxidant capacity of the fraction containing these compounds was significantly higher than the infusion, indicating its potential as a source of natural antioxidants.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present study identified two new C-methyl flavanones, 5, 7, 3', 5'-tetrahydroxy-6, 8-di-C- methyl flavanone and 5, 4'-dihydroxyl-8- C-methylflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and one new flavonoid glycoside.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study highlights the plant as a rich source of the flavanone pinocembrin and the volatile aroma compound piperitenone.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Dorsmain F and poinsettifolin B are potential cytotoxic natural products that deserve more investigations to develop novel antineoplastic drugs against multifactorial drug-resistant cancers.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: 16 bioactive MRAs from Millettia pulchra Kurz var-laxior (Dunn) Z.Wei, also called Yulangsan as a famous Zhuang medicine showed to have NQO1 inducing activity, and compounds 4 and 14 interact with N QO1 at Gly 149, Gly 150, Phe 106, Typ 105 and His 161, revealed by molecular docking studies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Four derivatives of 2'-hydroxy flavanone showed profound inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators as compared to the lead molecule and demonstrated comparable anti-inflammatory activity with ibuprofen in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema assay and appreciable inhibition of lipopolysaccharide induced pro- inflammatory mediators in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In vitro liver metabolism of 11 prenylated flavonoids and isoflavonoids was investigated by determining their phase I glucuronyl and sulfate metabolites using pork liver preparations and a mass spectrometry-based data interpretation guideline was proposed for the tentative annotation of the position of hydroxyl groups, considering its relevance for estrogenic activity.
Abstract: In vitro liver metabolism of 11 prenylated flavonoids and isoflavonoids was investigated by determining their phase I glucuronyl and sulfate metabolites using pork liver preparations. One hundred metabolites were annotated using RP-UHPLC-ESI-MS(n). A mass spectrometry-based data interpretation guideline was proposed for the tentative annotation of the position of hydroxyl groups, considering its relevance for estrogenic activity. To relate structure to metabolism, compounds were classified on the basis of three criteria: backbone structure (isoflavene, isoflavan, or flavanone), number of prenyl groups (0, 1, or 2), and prenyl configuration (chain or pyran). Glucuronidation was most extensive for isoflavenes and for unprenylated compounds (yield of 90-100%). Pyran and chain prenylation gave more complex hydroxylation patterns with 4 or more than 6 hydroxyl isomers, respectively, as compared to unprenylated compounds (only 1 hydroxyl isomer). Moreover, the number of hydroxyl isomers also increased with the number of prenyl groups.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that pinocembrin and flavanone deterred feeding relative to the basal diet, but that chrysin and naringenin did not at equivalent concentrations, demonstrating that metabolomics can be a valuable tool for ecologists seeking to understand herbivore feeding preferences.
Abstract: Identifying specific plant secondary metabolites that influence feeding behavior can be challenging, but a solid understanding of animal preferences can guide efforts. Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) predominantly eat Eucalyptus species belonging to the subgenus Symphyomyrtus, and avoid eating those belonging to the Monocalyptus subgenus (also called subgenus Eucalyptus). Using an unbiased (1)H NMR metabolomics approach, a previous study identified unsubstituted B ring flavanones in most species of monocalypts examined, whereas these compounds were absent from symphyomyrtles. We hypothesised that unsubstituted B ring flavanones act as feeding deterrents for common brushtail possums. In the current study, we tested this hypothesis by comparing how much possums ate of a basal diet, with diets containing one of four structurally related compounds; pinocembrin, flavanone (unsubstituted B ring flavanones), chrysin (the flavone analogue of pinocembrin), and naringenin (a flavanone with B ring substitution). We found that pinocembrin and flavanone deterred feeding relative to the basal diet, but that chrysin and naringenin did not at equivalent concentrations. Thus, unsubstituted B-ring flavanones may explain why brushtail possums avoid eating monocalypt species. Furthermore, small differences in the structure of secondary compounds can have a large impact on antifeedant properties. These results demonstrate that metabolomics can be a valuable tool for ecologists seeking to understand herbivore feeding preferences.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the catalytic activity of aqueous NaOH-quaternary ammonium surfactant (NaOH-QAS) solutions was studied for efficient and selective synthesis of flavanone by cross aldol reaction of benzaldehyde and o- hydroxy acetophenone under ambient condition (at 30°C).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Flavanone 3-hydroxylase gene from P. emblica was isolated and investigated, expressed functional recombinant proteins in microbial expression system and studied gene expression in different developmental stages and was found to be highest in flowers as compared to leaves and fruits.
Abstract: Phyllanthus emblica (L.) is one of the important medicinal plants possessing antioxidant, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective and immune-modulatory properties imparted by presence of high amount of flavonoid and vitamin C contents. Despite the medicinal value of P. emblica, molecular characterization of genes such as those involved in biosynthesis of flavonoids is lacking. Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) [EC 1.14.11.9] is an important regulatory enzyme of the flavonoid pathway which catalyzes the stereospecific hydroxylation of (2S)-naringenin to form (2R,3R)-dihydroflavonol. Herein, we isolated and investigated F3H gene from P. emblica, expressed functional recombinant proteins in microbial expression system and studied gene expression in different developmental stages. A full length PeF3H cDNA consisting of 1,469 bp (GenBank ID KF020698) has an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,095 bp, encoding a protein of 364 amino acids. Deduced amino acid analysis confirmed the presence of conserved amino acid residues which ligate ferrous iron and participates in 2-oxoglutarate binding (R-X-S). Three-dimensional protein structure modeling predicted that F3H had a jelly roll in the enzyme core, a typical structure shared by all 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases including F3Hs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PeF3H was evolutionary closer F3H sequences of Triticum aestivum and Zea mays. Expression of PeF3H in an expression vector yielded a functional protein as HPLC analysis indicated conversion of naringenin to dihydrokaempferol after incubation with purified protein. Gene expression was analyzed in different developmental stages using q RT-PCR and was found to be highest in flowers as compared to leaves and fruits. In fruits, expression of PeF3H was increasing with the growth of the fruit.