Two new sphingolipids from the leaves of Piper betle L.

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules180911241

Two new sphingolipids, pipercerebrosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the leaves of Piper betle L. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradation. These two compounds did not show significant cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60 in a MTT assay.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules180911241

Molecules 2013, 18, 11241-11249; doi:10.3390/molecules180911241
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molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Two New Sphingolipids from the Leaves of Piper betle L.
Duo-Zhi Chen, Hua-Bin Xiong, Kai Tian, Jun-Ming Guo, Xiang-Zhong Huang *
and Zhi-Yong Jiang *
Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission &
Ministry of Education, Yunnan University of Nationalities, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed;
E-Mails: huangxiangzhong@ynni.edu.cn (X.-Z.H.); jiangzy2010@163.com (Z.-Y.J.);
Tel.: +86-871-6591-3013 (X.-Z.H.); Fax: +86-871-6591-0017 (X.-Z.H.).
Received: 14 July 2013; in revised form: 4 September 2013 / Accepted: 5 September 2013 /
Published: 12 September 2013
Abstract: Two new sphingolipids, pipercerebrosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the
leaves of Piper betle L. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined
by spectroscopic analysis and chemical degradation. These two compounds did not show
significant cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60 in a MTT assay.
Keywords: Piper betle L.; Piperaceae; sphingolipids; spectroscopic analysis; cytotoxic
1. Introduction
The stems and/or leaves of Piper betle L., an evergreen perennial creeper plant widely distributed in the
south of China, are used as Chinese Traditional Medicines to cure stomachache, wind-cold cough, sore and
furuncle, and eczema [1]. This plant has been known to contain chemical compounds, such as alkaloids,
steroids, phenols, and terpenes, with a wide range of bioactivities, like antioxidant, antifungal,
antiulcerogenic, antiplatelet, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antifilarial, and antimicrobial activity [2–4].
In a previous study, we extracted P. betle stems collected from western China with acetone.
This extract, from which eight piper amides and two lignans were isolated, showed antioxidant activity
in a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), scavenging assay and antibacterial activity in a disc
diffusion test [5]. Our continuing studies on the leaves of the plant has now led to the isolation of two new
sphingolipids, pipercerebrosides A (1) and B (2) and other five known sphingolipids, 3-octadecenamide,
3-eicosenamide, agelasphin-11, agelasphin-7a and agelasphin-13. Sphingolipids have been found to have

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anti-tumor, immunostimulatory, neuritogenic, antiviral, antifungal, and nematicidal activities [6–8].
In this paper we present the isolation and structural elucidation of the new compounds.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Structure Analysis of Pipercerebroside A
Compound 1 was isolated as a white amorphous powder. Its molecular formula was determined to be
C35H67NO10 by HRESIMS (m/z 662.4797 [M + H]+, calcd. for 662.4799). The IR spectrum of 1 showed
absorption bands for hydroxyl groups at 3,385 cm−1 and for a secondary amide at 1,653 cm−1. The 1H- and
13C-NMR (Table 1) spectra of 1 indicated the presence of a β-D-glucopyranosyl moiety (δH 4.14, 1H,
d, J = 7.6 Hz, anomeric proton; δC 103.9, 73.9, 77.3, 70.4, 76.9, and 61.5), an amide linkage (δH 7.55,
1H, d, J = 8.6 Hz; δC 174.3), two olefinic methines [δH 5.28 (1H, dt, J = 10.0, 5.0 Hz) and 5.35 (1H, dt,
J = 10.0, 5.0 Hz); δC 129.5 and 130.3], an amidomethine (δH 3.97, δC 50.4), an oxygenated methylene
(δH 3.96 and 3.66; δC 69.5), three oxygenated methines (δH 3.46, 3.53 and 3.81; δC 71.1, 74.3 and 71.5),
two terminal methyls (δH 0.83, 6H, t, J = 6.5 Hz) and two long-chain aliphatic moieties appearing as a
multiplets (δH 1.20-1.30). All of the above spectral data revealed that 1 was a glycosphingolipid [9,10].
Table 1. 1H (500 MHz) and 13C-NMR (125 MHz) data for 1 (in DMSO) and 2 (in pyridine-d5) a.
1
2
No.
No.
δH
δC
δH
δC
1a
1b
2
3.66 (dd, 1H, 10.5, 4.0 Hz) 69.5 t
3.96 (dd, 1H, 10.5, 4.0 Hz)
1a
1b
2
4.42 (dd, 1H, 10.0, 4.5 Hz) 62.9 t
4.50 (dd, 1H, 10.0, 4.5 Hz)
3.97 (m, 1H)
50.4 d
74.3 d
71.1 d
32.1 t
5.16 (m, 1H)
54.0 d
77.1 d
73.9 d
34.2 t
3
3.53 (m, 1H)
3
4.35 (m, 1H)
4
3.46 (m, 1H)
4
4.30 (m, 1H)
5a
5b
6
1.48 (m, 1H)
5a
5b
6
2.02 (m, 1H)
1.90 (m, 1H)
2.19 (m, 1H)
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
1.97 (m, 2H)
26.1 t
1.96 (m, 2H)
27.5 t
7
27.4 t
7–9
10a
10b
11
12
13a
13b
1.26–1.32 (m, 6H)
2.05 (m, 1H)
30.5–30.9 t
34.2 t
8
5.35 (dt, 1H, 10.0,5.0 Hz)
5.28 (dt, 1H, 10.0,5.0 Hz)
1.97 (m, 2H)
130.3 d
129.5 d
27.2 t
9
2.29 (m, 1H)
10
5.52 (dt, 1H, 15.0, 6.0 Hz)
5.52 (dt, 1H, 15.0, 6.0 Hz)
2.03 (m, 1H)
131.7
131.6
33.8 t
11–14 1.20–1.30 (m, 8H)
29.0–29.6t
31.8 t
15
16
17
NH
1′
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
0.83 (t, 3H, 6.5 Hz)
7.55 (d, 1H, 8.6 Hz)
22.6 t
2.17 (m, 1H)
14.2 q
14–20 1.26–1.32 (m, 14H)
30.5–30.9 t
33.0 t
21
22
23
NH
1′
1.26–1.32 (m, 2H)
1.26–1.32 (m, 2H)
0.87 (t, 3H, 6.5 Hz)
8.58 (d, 1H, 9.0 Hz)
174.3 s
71.5 d
34.8 t
23.8 t
2′
3.81 (dd, 1H, 7.5, 4.0 Hz)
1.48 (m, 1H)
15.1 q
3′a
3′b
2.00 (m, 1H)
174.9 s

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Table 1. Cont.
1
2
No.
No.
δH
δC
δH
δC
4′
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
24.9 t
2′
4.56 (dd, 1H, 7.5, 4.0 Hz)
2.05 (m, 1H)
73.7 d
34.8 t
5′–9′
10′
11′
12′
1′′
1.20–1.30 (m, 10H)
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
1.20–1.30 (m, 2H)
0.83 (t, 3H, 6.5 Hz)
29.0–29.6t
31.8 t
22.6 t
14.2 q
103.9
73.9
3′a
3′b
4′a
4′b
2.21 (m, 1H)
1.65 (m, 1H)
1.96 (m, 1H)
27.4 t
4.14 (d, 1H, 7.6 Hz),
2.95 (t, 1H, 8.0 Hz)
3.13 (m, 1H)
5′–21′ 1.26–1.32 (m, 32H)
30.5–30.9 t
33.0 t
2′′
22′
23′
24′
1.26–1.32 (m, 2H)
1.26–1.32 (m, 2H)
0.87 (t, 3H, 6.5 Hz)
3′′
77.3
23.8 t
4′′
3.02 (m, 1H)
70.4
15.1 q
5′′
3.10 (m, 1H)
76.9
6′′a
6′′b
3.56 (dd, 1H, 12.0,5.0Hz)
61.5
3.70 (m, 1H)
a Signals were assigned by means of 1H-1H COSY, HSQC and HMBC.
1
Analysis of the H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC spectra led to the assignment of proton and
carbon signals for 1. Methanolysis of 1 yielded a fatty acid methyl ester 1a and a long-chain base 1b
(Scheme 1). Compound 1a was identified as 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid methyl ester [α]2D3 −1.2 (c 0.07,
CHCl3) by means of GC/MS analysis, and the absolute configuration of C-2′ was determined to be R
from the specific rotation [11]. The phytosphingosine part is thus a C17 aliphatic amino alcohol unit with
three hydroxyls, an amino group, and an olefinic bond. The 2S, 3S, and 4R configurations of the
ceramide moieties were assigned by comparing the specific rotation [α]2D3 +9.6 (c 0.11, pyridine)],
1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR data of compound 1 with those of the known synthetic ceramide
(2S,3S,4R)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-1,3,4-hexadecanetriol [12] and the natural ceramide
1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8E)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxybehenoylamino]-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol [13].
To determine the position of the olefinic bond in the dihydrosphingosine moiety, KMnO4 oxidation [14]
was performed on compound 1b to yield nonanoic acid (1a) (Scheme 1), which was methylated and
detected by GC/MS. This indicated the location of the olefinic bond between C-8 and C-9. The ∆ [8,9]
olefinic bond was confirmed to have a (Z)-configuration as evidenced by the vicinal coupling constants
(J = 10.0 Hz), together with the chemical shifts of C-7 (δ 27.4) and C-10 (δ 27.2). Analysis of the
1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC spectra led to the assignment of proton and carbon signals for 1.
Methanolysis of 1 yielded a fatty acid methyl ester 1a and a long-chain base 1b (Scheme 1). Compound 1a
was identified as 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid methyl ester [α]2D3 −1.2 (c 0.07, CHCl3) by means of
GC/MS analysis, and the absolute configuration of C-2′ was determined to be R from the specific
rotation [11]. The phytosphingosine part is thus a C17 aliphatic amino alcohol unit with
three hydroxyls, an amino group, and an olefinic bond. The 2S, 3S, and 4R configurations of the
ceramide moieties were assigned by comparing the specific rotation [α]2D3 +9.6 (c 0.11, pyridine)],
1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR data of compound 1 with those of the known synthetic ceramide
(2S,3S,4R)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-1,3,4-hexadecanetriol [12] and the natural ceramide

Molecules 2013, 18
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1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8E)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxybehenoylamino]-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol [13].
To determine the position of the olefinic bond in the dihydrosphingosine moiety, KMnO4 oxidation [14]
was performed on compound 1b to yield nonanoic acid (1a) (Scheme 1), which was methylated and
detected by GC/MS. This indicated the location of the olefinic bond between C-8 and C-9. The ∆ [8,9]
olefinic bond was confirmed to have a (Z)-configuration as evidenced by the vicinal coupling constants
(J = 10.0 Hz), together with the chemical shifts of C-7 (δ 27.4) and C-10 (δ 27.2).
Scheme 1. Methanolysis, oxidation and methylation of pipercerebroside A.
Due to the fact that signals of the carbons adjacent to a (Z)-configuration olefinic bond usually
appear at δ 27.0–28.0 [15], whereas those of a (E)-configuration olefinic bond normally appear at
δ 32.0–34.0 [9,16]. Consequently, the structure of 1 was determined to be 1-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-
(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-{[(2R)-2-hydroxyldodecanoyl] amino}heptadec-8-ene-1,3,4-triol (Figure 1), named
pipercerebroside A.
Figure 1. Structures of two new sfingolipids (pipercerebrosides) from the leaves of Piper betle L.
2.2. Structure Analysis of Pipercerebroside B
Pipercerebroside B was isolated as a white amorphous powder. Its molecular formula was
determined to be C46H91NO5 by HRESIMS (m/z 738.6966 [M + H]+, calcd. for 738.6975). The IR
spectrum of 2 showed absorption bands for hydroxyl groups at 3,480 cm−1 and for a secondary amide
at 1,640 cm−1. The 1H- and 13C-NMR (Table 1) spectra of 2 indicated the presence of an amide linkage
(δH 8.58, 1H, d, J = 9.0 Hz; δC 174.9), two olefinic methines [δH 5.52 (2H, dt, J = 15.0, 6.0 Hz);
δC 131.6 and 131.7], an amidomethine (δH 5.16, δC 54.0), an oxygenated methylene (δH 4.50 and 4.42;
δC 62.9), three oxygenated methines (δH 4.30, 4.35 and 4.56; δC 73.9, 77.1 and 73.7), and Two terminal

Molecules 2013, 18
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methyls (δH 0.87, 6H, t, J = 6.5 Hz) and two long-chain aliphatic moieties appearing as a multiplets
(δH 1.26–1.32). All of the above spectral data revealed that 2 was also a sphingolipid [17,18].
1
Analysis of the H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC spectra assigned the proton and carbon signals
for 2. Methanolysis of 2 yielded a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and a long chain base (LCB).
The FAME compound was identified as 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid methyl ester by means of GC/MS
analysis {EI: m/z 398, [[α]2D3 −1.4 (c 0.09, CHCl3)]} and the absolute configuration of C-2′ was determined
to be R as in compound 1. Thus, the LCB part is a C23 aliphatic amino alcohol unit containing three
hydroxyls, an amino group and a double bond. The dihydrosphingosine (LCB) moiety was oxidized to
yield undecanoic acid, which was methylated and detected by GC/MS. This indicated that the double
bond was located at C-11. The 11,12 alkene bond was shown to be trans by the large vicinal coupling
constants (J = 15.0). The trans geometry of this double bond was also supported by the chemical shift
of C-10 (δ 34.2) and C-13 (δ 33.8).
Usually, the signals of the carbons adjacent to a trans double bond appear at δ 32-34, while those of
a cis double bond appear at δ 27–28 [9,16]. Therefore, the structure of 2 was determined to be
(2S,3S,4R,11E)-2-{[(2R)-2-hydroxytetracosanoyl] amino}tricos-11-ene-1,3,4-triol (Figure 1), named
pipercerebroside B.
2.3. Cytotoxic Activity of Compounds
The two compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity. None of them showed considerable
inhibitory cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60 at the concentration of 10 μM in
a MTT assay.
3. Experimental
3.1. General
All reagents were analytical grade and water was distilled twice. TLC was preformed with silica gel
GF254 (Marine Chemical Industry Factory, Qingdao, China), and the spots were visualized by spraying
with 10% H2SO4/EtOH reagent. Column chromatography was performed using silica gel (Marine
Chemical Industry Factory, Qingdao, China), reverse-phase C18 silica gel (Merck, Darmstadt,
Germany) and Sephadex LH-20 (Sigma). Melting points were measured with an X-4 melting point
apparatus and are uncorrected. Optical rotations were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 241 polarimeter. UV
spectra were obtained on a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 900 UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometer. IR spectra
were obtained on a Perkin-Elmer 577 spectrometer with KBr pellets.-NMR Spectra were recorded on a
Bruker AV 500 spectrometer (1H, 500 MHz; 13C, 125 MHz), and chemical shifts are presented as values
relative to tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. Low-resolution electrospray-ionization mass
spectrometry (ESI-MS) and HR-ESI-MS were recorded on a Finnigan LCQ-Advantage mass
spectrometer and a VG Auto-Spec-3000 mass spectrometer. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer
(GC-MS) experiments were performed on a Shimadzu GC-17A gas chromatograph apparatus
(DB-5 capillary column: 30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm, helium flow rate: 0.8 ml/min) attached to a
Shimadzu GCMS-QP5050A mass spectrometry equipped with an electron impact (EI) ion source

Molecules 2013, 18
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(70 eV). The column was maintained at 100 °C for 1 min and then ramped from 100 to 260 °C at a rate
of 4 °C/min with a final hold at 260 °C for 15 min.
3.2. Plant Resource
The leaves of Piper betle were collected from Baoshan city of Yunnan Province in China, in
October 2010. It was identified by Prof. Shaobin Ma (Department of Biology, Yunnan University).
The stems were harvested and air-dried at room temperature in shade. A voucher specimen
(No. 20101020) was deposited in School of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Yunnan University of
Nationalities, China.
3.3. Extraction and Isolation of New Compounds
The dried leaves (6.8 kg) of P. betle were extracted with 70% acetone (40 L × 3) under reflux (4 h).
The acetone extract was evaporated to almost dryness in vacuo, and the resulting mixture (760 g) was
suspended in water before being successively partitioned with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and
n-butanol (2 L × 7). The ethyl acetate phase was concentrated to produce a black mass (177 g),
which was separated into 11 fractions on a silica gel column using step gradient elution with
CHCl3-MeOH (1:0–0:1). Fraction 3 (5.2 g) was applied to a Sephadex LH-20 column using
MeOH-CHCl3 (1:2) as a solvent to afford seven subfractions. Subfraction 3–5 (2.7 g) was similarly
chromatographed on a Sephadex LH-20 column eluted from 50% MeOH in CHCl3 to obtain eight
fractions, of which the second fraction (230 mg) was purified by an RP-18 silica gel column eluted
with MeOH-H2O (70:30–85:15) to provide compound 1 (28 mg). Subfraction 3–2 (640 mg) was
subjected to a silica gel column using CHCl3-MeOH (20:1) as the eluent, yielding compound 2 (13 mg).
3.4. Methanolysis, Oxidation and Methylation of Pipercerebroside A
Pipercerebroside A (3 mg) was refluxed with 0.9 mol L−1 HCl in 82% aqueous MeOH (5 mL) for
18 h [19]. The resulting solution was extracted three times with n-hexane. The n-hexane solution was
washed with water (5 mL) and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 then concentrated to yield compound
1a (1.1 mg). Compound 1a was identified by analysis of GC-MS. After evaporation of MeOH, the
H2O layer was neutralized with ammonia liquid and extracted with Et2O. The Et2O layer was then dried
over anhydrous Na2SO4 and concentrated to obtain compound 1b (0.8 mg). 2-Hydroxy-dodecanoic
acid methyl ester (1a): colorless oil, [α]2D3 −1.2 (c 0.07, CHCl3); GC-MS: GC, tR 39.41 min, EI-MS
m/z: 171 [M − CH3OCO]+ (39), 127 [C9H19]+ (6), 111 (17), 97 (74), 90 [CH3OC(OH)=CH OH]+ (45),
83 (72), 69 (89), 55 (91), 43 (100).
Compound 1b (0.8 mg) was dissolved in 10% H2SO4 and acetone (2.0 mL each). KMnO4 (50 mg)
was then added to the solution and stirred overnight at room temperature [16,20]. The reaction was
then quenched with aqueous Na2S2O3 (5%). After removal of acetone, the reaction mixture was
extracted with Et2O. The Et2O layer was dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated to yield the residue,
which was methylated using CH2N2 in Et2O at 0 °C [20]. The reaction mixture was kept in ice for 30 min
before being allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. This procedure resulted in compound

Molecules 2013, 18
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1c (0.4 mg), which was identified as methyl nonanoate by GC-MS. GC, tR 21.30 min, EI-MS m/z: 172
[M]+ (5), 141 [M − OCH3]+ (11), 129 (9), 87 (46), 74 (100), 69 (7), 55 (19), 43 (23).
3.5. Methanolysis, Oxidation and Methylation of Pipercerebroside B
Pipercerebroside B (3 mg) was treated under the same conditions mentioned above to afford
2-hydroxytetracosanoic acid methyl ester (0.9 mg) and methyl undecanoate (0.3 mg).
2-Hydroxytetracosanoic acid methyl ester: colorless oil, [α]2D3 −1.4 (c 0.09, CHCl3); GC-MS: GC,
tR 54.38 min, EI-MS m/z: 398 [M]+ (11), 339 [M − CH3OCO]+ (9), 281 (5), 207 (10), 145 (4), 127 (6),
111 (12), 97 (27), 90 [CH3OC(OH)=CHOH]+ (28), 83 (27), 57 (58), 44 (100). Methyl undecanoate:
GC-MS: GC, tR 24.36 min, EI-MS m/z: 200 [M]+ (4), 169 [M − OCH3]+ (5), 157 (4), 143 (7), 101 (6),
87 (47), 74 (100), 69 (8), 55 (16), 43 (22).
3.6. Spectral data of New Compounds
Pipercerebroside A: white amorphous powder; mp 191–192 °C; [α]2D3 + 9.6 (c 0.11, pyridine); IR (KBr)
ν
max: 3385, 3178, 2922, 2853, 1653, 1543, 1463, 1402, 1083, 932 cm−1; ESI(+)-MS m/z: 662 [M + H]+,
684 [M + Na]+, 500 [M + H − glu]+; HRESI(+)-MS m/z: 662.4797 [M + H]+ (calcd. for C35H68O10N,
662.4799).
Pipercerebroside B: white amorphous powder; mp 191–192 °C; [α]2D3 + 3.7 (c 0.19, pyridine); IR
(CH3OH) νmax: 3480, 2940, 2860, 1640, 1506, and 1297 cm−1; ESI(+)-MS m/z: 738 [M + H]+;
HRESI(+)-MS m/z: 738.6966 [M + H]+ (calcd. for C46H92NO5, 738.6975).
3.7. Bioassay
Inhibition of cell-growth activity was determined by a MTT assay using human chronic myelogenous
leukemia cells (K562) and human promyelocytic leukemia cells [21]. cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum
(DDP) was used as a positive control. None of the compounds showed any obvious cytotoxic effect
against the cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60.
4. Conclusions
Two new sphingolipids, pipercerebrosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the leaves of
Piper betle. L. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic
analysis 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and MS experiment and chemical degradation. None of the compounds
showed any significant cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines K562 and HL-60 at a concentration
of 10 μM in the MTT assay.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC
No. 21262047), the Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (No. S2012FZ0227) and the Innovation
Team Project of Dai Medicine Research of Yunnan University of Nationalities. We are grateful to

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School of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Yunnan University of Nationalities for measuring-NMR and
MS spectra.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds 1 and 2 are available from the authors.
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