Josphat Matasyoh

Egerton University · Department of Chemistry

Four previously undescribed drimane sesquiterpenoids were isolated from submerged cultures of the wood-inhabiting basidiomycete Dentipellis fragilis along with two compounds that were previously reported as synthetic or biotransformation compounds but not as natural products. The constitution and relative configuration of these compounds was determ...

With heimionones A-E (1-5), five new terpenoids were isolated from submerged cultures of Heimiomyces sp. in addition to the previously described compounds hispidin, hypholomin B, and heimiomycins A and B. Planar structures of the metabolites were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR in addition to HRESIMS data. While With heimionones A–E (1–5), five new ter...

New meroterpenoids bis-heimiomycins A-D (1-4) and heimiomycins D and E (5 and 6) were isolated from solid rice cultures of Heimiomyces sp., while new calamene-type sesquiterpenoids heimiocalamene A (7) and B (8) were isolated from shake cultures, respectively. Structures of the metabolites were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR in addition to HRESIMS dat...

Neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (ngf) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) play important roles in the central nervous system. They are potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic properties of tr...

Neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (ngf) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) play important roles in the central nervous system. They are potential therapeutic drugs for treatment of neurodegerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic properties of triterpen...

Five new drimane-type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from cultures of the tropical basidiomycetes, Perenniporia centrali-africana (originating from Kenya) and Cerrena sp. nov. (originating from Thailand). A new pereniporin A derivative (1), a new drimane-type sesquiterpene lactam (2), and the new 6,7-Dehydro-isodrimenediol (3) were isolated from P....

In our continued search for biologically active metabolites from cultures of rare Basidiomycota species, we found eight previously undescribed cyathane-xylosides from submerged cultures of Dentipellis fragilis, which were named dentifragilins A–H. In addition, the known cyathane deriv-atives striatal D and laxitextine A were isolated. All compounds...

A mycelial culture of the African basidiomycete Echinochaete cf. brachypora was studied for biologically active secondary metabolites, and four compounds were isolated from its crude extract derived from shake flask fermentations, using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pure metabolites were identified using extensive n...

A mycelial culture of the African basidiomycete Echinochaete cf. brachypora was studied for biologically active secondary metabolites, and four compounds were isolated from its crude extract derived from shake flask fermentations, using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pure metabolites were identified using extensive n...

The study was designed to chemically characterize essential oils from Kenyan Cupressus lusitanica, Ocimum americanum and Lippia javanica and bio-prospect for new compounds as possible biocontrol agents of insect pests. Leaf essential oils of the three test plants were obtained by hydro-distillation. GC-MS analysis of leaf oils revealed that monoter...

Three new bufadienolides, namely, paulliniogenin A (1), paulliniogenin B (2), and 16β-formyloxybersamagenin 1,3,5-orthoacetate (3), together with two known bufadienolides and six known phenolic substances, were isolated from the stem bark of Bersama abyssinica subsp. abyssinica and B. abyssinica subsp. paullinioides. The structures of the compounds...

Three previously undescribed compounds named heimiomycin A−C (1−3), featuring a unique scaffold with calamenene connected to a hydroxystyryl-pyranone moiety, along with the new calamenene derivatives 4 and 5 and phenanthridine derivative (6) were obtained from a culture of a Heimiomyces sp. This is the first report of the occurrence of calamenene-t...

During the course of screening for new metabolites from basidiomycetes, we isolated and characterized five previously unde-scribed secondary metabolites, skeletocutins M-Q (1-5), along with the known metabolite tyromycin A (6) from the fruiting bodies of the polypore Skeletocutis sp. The new compounds did not exhibit any antimicrobial, cytotoxic, o...

During the course of screening for new metabolites from basidiomycetes, we isolated and characterized five previously undescribed secondary metabolites skeletocutins M-Q ( 1 - 5 ) along with the known metabolite tyromycin A ( 6 ) from the fruiting bodies of the polypore Skeletocutis sp. The new compounds did not exhibit any antimicrobial, cytotoxic...

Fermentation of the fungal strain Skeletocutis sp. originating from Mount Elgon Natural Reserve in Kenya, followed by bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of twelve previously undescribed metabolites named skeletocutins A-L (1-5, 7-13) together with the known tyromycin A (6). Their structures were assigned by NMR spectroscopy compleme...

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also commonly known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people in poorly developed regions in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no satisfactory treatment for this infection. The investment necessary to bring new drugs to the market is a big deterrent to drug development, consid...

Three complementary quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methodologies, namely, regression modeling based on (i) "classical" molecular descriptors, (ii) 3D pharmacophore features, and (iii) 2D molecular holograms (HQSAR) were employed on the antitrypanosomal activity of sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) toward Trypanosoma brucei rhodesie...

In continuation of a previous quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study on the antitrypanosomal activity of 69 sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) towards Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) [1], the causative agent of East African form of human African trypanosomiasis, a QSAR model for a much larger and more diverse set of almost twice...

The need for effective compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance and biofilms which play important roles in human infections continues to pose a major health challenge. Seven previously undescribed acyclic diterpenes linked to isocitric acid by an ether linkage, microporenic acids A–G (1–7), were isolated from the cultures of a hitherto undescri...

In the endeavor to obtain new antitrypanosomal agents, particularly sesquiterpene lactones, from Kenyan plants of the family Asteraceae, Vernonia cinerascens Sch. Bip. was investigated. Bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation in conjunction with LC/MS-based dereplication has led to the identification of vernodalol (1) and isolation of vernod...

Eight previously undescribed compounds were isolated and characterised from the supernatant and mycelium of a culture of the basidiomycete Favolaschia calocera originating from Kakamega equatorial rainforest in Kenya. These were: 9- oxostrobilurins A, G, K and I and the four monochlorinated calocerins A, B, C and D. The calocerins extend our knowle...

Phytopathogens are known to be the leading cause of important plant diseases which result in significant losses in agricultural crops. The need to maintain the level of yield both quantitatively and qualitatively is vital in order to curb the losses. So far there has been a positive advance recognized in research to the use of tropical fungi as bio...

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the mycelial extract of a basidiomycete culture collected in Kenya led to the isolation of two new cyathane diterpenoids named laxitextines A (1) and B (2). The producer strain was characterized by detailed taxonomic studies based on rDNA using the 5.8S gene region, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), and part...

This study evaluated the larvicidal activity of essential oil of Lippia kituiensis leaves against larvae of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The oil was obtained by hydro-distillation of fresh leaves and analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Analysis showed that sesquiterpenes were dominant (56.57%), followed by monoterpenes (36...

Benzoic acid derivatives Myrsinoic acids B 1 and C 2 were isolated from the plant Rapanea melanophloeos (Myrsinaceae) and evaluated for miracidicidal activity against Schistosoma mansoni miracidia. Rapanea melanophloeos has been used ethnomedicinally for the control of helminthes. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 from...

An endophyte is a fungus or bacterium that lives within a plant in a symbiotic relationship. Extensive colonization of the plant tissue by endophytes creates a barrier effect, where they outcompete and prevent pathogenic organisms from taking hold. This happens by producing secondary metabolites that inhibit the growth of the competitors or pathoge...

Malaria is a serious health problem in many African countries. The Anopheles gambiae mosquito which is the major vector for this disease has developed resistance against synthetic pyrethroids which are the main stay of insecticide treated bed nets. The development of insecticide resistance and side effects associated with synthetic pesticides has t...

Moulds damage foods, feeds and other agricultural commodities in the field and storage, leading to postharvest losses. In addition, moulds produce mycotoxins that cause illness or even death to consumers. This study evaluated maize and groundnuts from selected districts in Kenya for mycotoxigenic moulds. Both good and mouldy maize and groundnuts we...

Hydro-distilled essential oil from Piper capense (L. f.) growing in Kenya was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluated for antifungal activity. The oil was dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (43.9%) with δ-cadinene (16.82%), b-bisabolene (5.65%) and bicyclogermacrene (3.30%). There was appreciable quantity of mono...

Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected diseases affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. In this research, we isolated and evaluated the antimiracidial activity of secondary metabolites from Teclea nobilis (Rutaceae) which has been used ethnomedicinally against helminthes. Ethyl acetate extract was fractionated over silica gel column...

Helminthosis, a neglected tropical disease, is a serious health problem. In sub-Saharan Africa, schistosomiasis has very high morbidity thus being a major contributor to helminthosis. Praziquantel being the only drug of choice and the recent development of resistance reports has triggered intense research efforts towards natural products such as es...

Background information: Plants produce hosts of secondary metabolites that help them to fight off infections. However these phytochemicals have also been found to inadvertently protect humans against infections and are therefore a current subject in bio-prospecting for new therapeutic leads. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the...

Indigofera lupatana Baker F. (locally known as Mugiti) has been used by Mbeere community of Kenya to treat cough, diarrhea, pleurisy and gonorrhea. These infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Neisseria gonorrhea, among others. Infectious diseases are a cau...

Four alkaloids, 10-O-demethyl-17-O-methylisoarnottianamide 1, 6-acetonyl-N-methyl-dihydrodecarine 2, nitidine 3, and chelerythrine 4 were isolated from the plant Zanthoxylum lemairei (Rutaceae) and evaluated for mosquito larvicidal activity against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. The mortalities of the larvae were determined after 24 h. The r...

Two new N-methylated cyclopeptides, persipeptide A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from Streptomyces sp. UTMC1154. Their structures were established using 1D and 2D NMR experiments. 2D TOCSY experiments were applied to identify the amino acid residues, while HMBC correlations were used to determine their sequence. According to Marfey's method, al...

SUMMARY Indigenous plants are promising as a cheap and alternative complimentary medicine (CAM). Although the use of phytomedicine has been in practice for long, little has been done to evaluate their effectiveness, safety, target organisms and also their chemical characterization. Indigofera lupatana Baker F. (locally known as Mugiti) has been use...

Hydro-distilled essential oil from Kenyan Piper capense (Piperaceae) was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and evaluated for larvicidal activity against the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. The oil consisted mainly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons which accounted for 43.9% of the oil. The major sesquiterpenes were δ-cadinene (...

In a screening for natural products with mosquito larvicidal activities, the endophytic fungus Podospora sp. isolated from the plant Laggera alata (Asteraceae) was conspicuous. Two xanthones, sterigmatocystin (1) and secosterigmatocystin (2), and an anthraquinone derivative (3) 13-hydroxyversicolorin B were isolated after fermentation on M(2) mediu...

The larvicidal activity of extracts from Aloe turkanensis , Aloe ngongensis and Aloe fibrosa against the common malaria vector, Anopheles gambie , was determined. Ground Aloe leaves from the three plants were sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone and methanol. Only the ethyl acetate extract of A. turkanensis, hexane...

This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and methanol leave extracts of Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus spinosus and Amaranthus caudatus. The microorganisms assayed for antimicrobial activity were: the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp, the gram-ne...

The essential oil from leaves of Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae), obtained by hydro-distillation was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Out of 27 peaks, 24 components, which constitute 92.7%, were identified in the oil. The oil was dominated by aldehydes and alcohols whi...

The fumigant and repellent effects of Ocimum gratissimum L. oil and its constituents, β-(Z)-ocimene and eugenol, were evaluated against adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.). The fumigant toxicities of the oil and two of its constit...

Hydro-distilled volatile oils from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) of 13 populations of different silvicultural zones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aereus, Bacillus spp.) and gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Samonella typhi, Klebisiella pneumoniae, Proteus mir...

The essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Asteraceae), obtained by hydro-distillation, was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Out of 45 peaks representing 99.8% of the oil, 38 components which constitute 95.8% of the total oil were identified. The oil was dominated by monote...

Hydro-distilled essential oil from Satureja biflora (Lamiaceae) growing in Kenya was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Twenty two compounds which constitute 99.29 % of the total oil were identified. The oil was dominated by monoterpenes, which accounted for 62.02 % of the oil. Th...

Chiral GC–MS analyses of natural and synthetic trans- and cis-piperitone oxide were performed on an Rt-βDEX-sm capillary column in order to clarify the stereochemistry of their enantiomeric forms. Only enantiomerically pure laevo-rotatory piperitone oxides, (1S,2S,4S)-trans-piperitone oxide and (1S,2S,4R)-cis-piperitone oxide, were detected by chir...

Hydro-distilled volatile oils from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) from Meru district in Eastern Kenya were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The oil was dominated by monoterpens which accounted for 92.48%. This monoterpene fraction was characterized by a high per...

A farm survey was conducted in subsistence farming communities to document the major grain crops, insect pests, indigenous pest control methods (PCM) and farmer perceptions of grain losses associated with identifiable pest species and perceived efficacies of the PCMs. Maize, beans and sorghum were identified as the major staple food crops, with the...

Steam distilled volatile oils from the leaves of Ocimum americanum L. growing in Western Kenya were analysed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 36 compounds, representing a total of 88.51% of the total oil, were identified. The oil was classified as terpinen-4-ol-type according to the terpinen-4-ol content (43.21%). To the best of our knowledge this chemo...

A chiral spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-3-phenylpyrroline-1-oxide (5), and several hydroxylamines were synthesized. The structures and conformations of these compounds were investigated mainly by 1H NMR spectroscopy. This spin trap was used to trap carbon- and oxygen-centered radicals. The corresponding hydrogen spin adduct was prepared by oxidizing the h...

The synthesized spin trap 3,5-diphenyl-5-methylpyrroline-1-oxide (3), its derivatives and spin adducts were studied using NMR, ESR and ENDOR spectroscopic methods. The structure of 3 was determined using x-ray analysis. The nitrone 3 was found to have a rigid structure. Two species were observed in the EPR and ENDOR spectra of the spin adducts of 3...