Bruceine E

Arch Pharm Res. 2011 Aug;34(8):1297-300.

One new pregnane glycoside from the seeds of cultivated Brucea javanica.[Pubmed: 21910051]

A new pregnane glycoside, named (20R)-O-(3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-pregn-5-en-3β,20-diol (1), and seven known compounds, brusatol (2), bruceine B (3), bruceine D (4), yadanziolide A (5), Bruceine E (6), yadanzioside G (7), and yadanzioside B (8), were isolated from the cultivated dry seeds of Brucea javanica.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses. Their inhibitory effects on tumor cells were also tested. Compound 1 was slightly active against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, and MCF-7 tumor cells. Compounds 2 and 3 demonstrated significant inhibitory activities against all tested cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that cultivated B. javanica could replace the wild plant as an antitumor plant resource.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jul 30;124(3):586-91.

Hypoglycemic effect of quassinoids from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr (Simaroubaceae) seeds.[Pubmed: 19439174 ]

The seeds of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr (Simaroubaceae) are recommended by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. To identify the compounds responsible for blood glucose lowering effect and evaluate the acute toxicity of the compounds.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Extracts, fractions and subfractions were administered to normoglycemic mice and the blood glucose concentration was monitored for 8 h. Bioactive compounds isolated through column chromatography were administered to normoglycemic mice and streptozotocin (STZ) rats with monitoring of blood glucose concentration at 0-8h. The acute toxicity was evaluated in mice. Bioactivity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of Bruceine E (1) and bruceine D (2). Normoglycemic mice administered with 1 mg/kg of 1 and 2 exhibited significant blood glucose concentration reduction of 40.07+/-11.45% and 48.82+/-13.34%, respectively. STZ induced diabetic rats administered with 1 and 2 exhibited significant blood glucose concentration reduction of 73.57+/-13.64% and 87.99+/-2.91%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
The reduction of blood glucose concentration by both bruceines was comparable to glibenclamide and they might act as an insulin secretagogue. The presence of a hydroxyl moiety at C(2) in 1 reduced the toxic effect by 9-fold compared to 2.