Robustanic acid as a glutaminase and Na, K-ATPase inhibitor from leaves of .

This study was to compare glutaminase and Na, K-ATPase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three triterpenes from the selected extract of Labill. Three triterpenes, ursolic acid (), robustanic acid () and ursolic acid lactone (), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC values of - and the control compound against glutaminase, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), were 443 μM, 334 μM, 963 μM and 134 μM, respectively.

GABase and glutaminase inhibitory activities of herbal extracts and acylated flavonol monoglycosides isolated from the leaves of L.

This study was to compare GABase [a mixture of -aminobutyric acid (GABA) aminotransferase and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase] and glutaminase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three acylated flavonol monoglycosides from the selected extract of L. (laurel). On the basis of the NMR spectroscopic data and the ESI MS spectra together with the comparison with the literature values, three compounds were identified as kaempferol-3--(4″---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside (), kaempferol-3--(3″,4″-di---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside () and kaempferol-3--(2″,4″-di---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside (), respectively.

Pentacyclic triterpene acids, rotungenic acid and barbinervic acid, from fresh leaves of Thunberg and their glutaminase inhibitory activities.

Glutaminase is an important target that is often over-expressed in neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases but few effective inhibitors of this enzyme have yet reached clinical trials. Three compounds isolated from fresh leaves of Thunberg, ursolic acid (), rotungenic acid () and barbinervic acid (), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC values of - and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) as control were 775, 13, 14, and 434 μM, respectively.

Glutaminase inhibitory activities of pentacyclic triterpenes isolated from L.

Glutaminase is an important target that is often over expressed in neurodegenerative and　lifestyle related diseases but few effective inhibitors of this enzyme have yet reached clinical trials. Ursolic acid (), betulinic acid () and oleanolic acid (), three pentacyclic triterpene acids, have been isolated from the leaves of L. Enzyme inhibition experiments demonstrated their inhibitory effects against glutaminase activity.

Alpha-pinene and dizocilpine (MK-801) attenuate kindling development and astrocytosis in an experimental mouse model of epilepsy.

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved during the onset of epilepsy is crucial for elucidating the overall mechanism of epileptogenesis and therapeutic strategies. Previous studies, using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling mouse model, showed that astrocyte activation and an increase in perineuronal nets (PNNs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules occurred within the hippocampus. However, the mechanisms of initiation and suppression of these changes, remain unclear.

Glutaminase inhibitory activity of umbelliferone isolated from kabosu ( Hort. ex Tanaka).

Kabosu ( Hort. ex Tanaka) fruits have pleasant and fresh odors and have been used as raw materials for vinegar, seasonings, jams, marmalades and juices in Japan. The -butanol extracts from kabosu fruits were prepared and a component in the extract was purified by column chromatography and HPLC to afford compounds -.

Hexanal inhalation affects cognition and anxiety-like behavior in mice.

Hexanal is a 6-carbon aldehyde that smells like green leaves and urine to mammals. However, its physiological effects remain unclear. In particular, the effects of hexanal inhalation on the central nervous system have not been clarified.

Increased anxiety-related behavior in mice following β-citronellol inhalation.

β-Citronellol is a monoterpene alcohol found in essential oils of various aromatic plant species. The physiological effects of β-citronellol inhalation on the central nervous system remain unclear. We investigated the effects of β-citronellol inhalation on mouse behavior.

Comparative studies of the biological activities of selected herbal extracts and phenolic compounds isolated from Rosa gallica.

This study aimed to compare the biological activities of 35 herbal hydroethanolic extracts and select high potential extract, which showed antioxidative activity and inhibitory activities of α-glucosidase, lipase, and hyaluronidase, and to investigate the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological activities of five phenolic compounds from the selected extracts of Rosa gallica. On the basis of one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance together with the comparison with the literature values, the phenolic compounds were identified as methyl gallate (1), kaempferol-3-O-arabinofuranoside (2), multinoside A acetate (3), kaempferol (4), and quercetin (5), respectively. The results suggest that the extracts from R.

Attenuation Effects of Alpha-Pinene Inhalation on Mice with Dizocilpine-Induced Psychiatric-Like Behaviour.

-Pinene, an organic terpene compound found in coniferous trees, is used as a safe food additive and is contained in many essential oils. Moreover, some studies have shown that -pinene suppresses neuronal activity. In this study, we investigated whether inhalation of -pinene suppresses dizocilpine (MK-801-) induced schizophrenia-like behavioural abnormalities in mice.

Comprehensive behavioral study of the effects of vanillin inhalation in mice.

Vanillin is widely used in food and cosmetics, among other substances, for its sweet smell. However, the neuropsychological effects of vanillin inhalation have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of vanillin inhalation on mouse behavior.

Anti-depressive-like effect of 2-phenylethanol inhalation in mice.

Rose oil has traditionally been used to treat psychiatric disorders, but the scientific basis of this treatment remains poorly understood. The main odor component of rose oil is 2-phenylethanol (2-PE), but the neuropsychological effects of 2-PE have not been investigated in detail. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of 2-PE on mouse behavior.

Caffeic Acid Derivatives from Bacopa monniera Plants as Inhibitors of Pancreatic Lipase Activity and their Structural Requirements.

The methanol extract of whole Bacopa monniera plants inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. From this extract we have reported the isolation of 11 triterpene glycosides and 5 phenylethanoid- and/or phenylpropanoid- glycosides. In this paper, we describe the effects of the methanol extract and/or its constituents on pancreatic lipase activity and the isolation of an active constituent, desrhamnosyl isoacteoside.

Plant growth activities of aspyran, asperentin, and its analogues produced by the fungus Aspergillus sp.

Aspyran (1), a novel compound, and the known isocoumarin asperentin (2), also known as cladosporin, together with its analogues 3-6 were isolated from Aspergillus sp. and their structures established by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR spectroscopy. The effects of 1-6 on plant growth were examined by bioassays using lettuce and rice seedlings.

Nematicidal activities of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and oidiolactone D produced by the fungus Oidiodendron sp.

Two nematicides, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPA) (1) and oidiolactone D (2), were isolated from cultures of the fungus Oidiodendron sp., and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 showed nematicidal activities against the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, and the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Nematicidal activity of beauvericin produced by the fungus Fusarium bulbicola.

A nematicide, beauvericin (1), was isolated from cultures of the fungus Fusarium bulbicola, and its structure was identified by spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 showed nematicidal activities against the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Nematicidal activities of acetylene compounds from Coreopsis lanceolata L.

1-Phenylhepta-1,3,5-triyne (1), 5-phenyl-2-(1'-propynyl)-thiophene (2), and 2-(3'-acetoxy-1'-propynyl)-5-phenylthiophene (3) were isolated from Coreopsis lanceolata L., and their structures identified by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 showed effective nematicidal activities against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Caenorhabditis elegans, but had hardly any effect against Pratylenchus penetrans.

The role of aspterric acid in auxin-regulated reproductive growth of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Application of 100 microM aspterric acid (AA), a pollen growth inhibitor, with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) results in the recovery of normal pollen development of Arabidopsis thaliana. Treatment with 100 microM AA plus 5 mM IAA significantly induced the normal seed production. Treatment with 100 microM N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), a polar auxin transport inhibitor, did not reduce the pollen growth but inhibited seed production.

Nitrogen metabolism and flower symmetry of petunia corollas treated with glyphosate.

A change of flower shape was observed in petunia corollas treated with 0.5 mM glyphosate. Glyphosate changed the flower symmetry from the actinomorphic type to the zygomorphic type.

Rubralactone, rubralides A, B and C, and rubramin produced by Penicillium rubrum.

Rubralactone (1), rubralides A, B and C (2-4), rubramin (5), and 2-formyl-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzoic acid (6), were isolated from Penicillium rubrum, and their structures established by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR. The effects on plant growth of 1-6 were examined using the lettuce seedling bioassay. Compound 1 promoted root growth.

Fumiquinones A and B, nematicidal quinones produced by Aspergillus fumigatus.

New nematicides named fumiquinones A (1) and B (2), together with spinulosin (3), LL-S490beta (4), and pseurotin A (5), were isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus and their structures were established by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR. Compound 1 showed effective nematicidal activities against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Pratylenchus penetrans without inhibiting plant growth except for lettuce seedlings. Compound 2 showed effective nematicidal activity against B.

Nematicidal activity of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid against plant-parasitic nematodes.

A nematicide, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (1), was isolated from cultures of the fungus Aspergillus sp. and its structure was identified by spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 showed effective nematicidal activities against the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans without inhibitory activity against plant growth, but 1 did not show any effective nematicidal activity against Pratylenchus penetrans.

Citrinolactones A, B and C, and Sclerotinin C, plant growth regulators from Penicillium citrinum.

New plant growth regulators, named citrinolactones A (1), B (2) and C (3) and sclerotinin C (4), were isolated from Penicillium citrinum and their structures established by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR. Compounds 1 and 4 increased root growth in proportion to their concentration from 3 to 300 mg/l. In contrast, 2 completely inhibited root growth at a concentration of 300 mg/l and 3 did not show any effect on root growth in a concentration range of 3-300 mg/l.

Influence of glyphosate on flower morphogenesis and pigmentation in Petunia hybrida.

Glyphosate showed a remarkable effect inducing the change of flower symmetry from the actinomorphic to the zygomorphic type in Petunia hybrida. Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] reduced the anthocyanin content and showed a weak inhibitory effect against phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity. L-2-Aminooxy-3-phenylpropionic acid (APA), an inhibitor of PAL activity, reduced the anthocyanin content but had no effect on flower shape.