10.1016/0031-9422(95)00117-P
The study focused on the phytochemical composition of the tubers of Dichelostemma multiflorum, a plant of the lily family native to the Pacific coast of the United States. The aim of the study was to isolate and identify steroidal saponins from the methanol extract of the tubers and evaluate their inhibitory activity against cAMP phosphodiesterase, which is essential for identifying compounds with medicinal potential. The researchers successfully isolated three new steroidal saponins along with two known saponins and evaluated their inhibitory activity. The chemicals used in the process included various solvents such as methanol, chloroform, and dioxane for extraction and chromatography, and reagents for acid and alkaline hydrolysis and derivatization for sugar analysis. The results showed that the isolated saponins, especially those with specific glycosylation patterns and acetyl groups, showed significant inhibitory activity against cAMP phosphodiesterase, indicating their potential use in the pharmaceutical field.
10.1021/ja00177a002
The research aims to investigate the nonchair conformations of phosphorus-containing rings in models designed to mimic P(V) H2O-cAMP or enzyme-cAMP adducts. The study employs 'H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to determine the configuration and conformation of a series of pentacovalent phosphorus-containing molecules (3-6). Their conclusions suggest that the 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ring in these models adopts a nonchair (likely twist) conformation both in the crystal state and in solution, with the ring being apical/equatorial to phosphorus. The study postulates that this nonchair conformation could play a crucial role in the catalyzed hydrolysis of cAMP by phosphodiesterase, potentially assisting in the formation and scission of the P(V) adduct.