Subchronic and Genetic Safety Assessment of a New Medicinal Species: Taiseed Tosnobile in Rats.

Taiseed Tosnobile is a new species of herba dendrobii (Shi-Hu) that was developed by crossbreeding and . Its pharmacological activity and active component have been reported, but its subchronic toxicity and genetic safety have not yet been investigated. This study assessed the 90-day oral toxicity and genetic safety of the aqueous extracts of Taiseed Tosnobile (DTTE) in male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Antcin-H Isolated from Inhibits Renal Cancer Cell Invasion Partly through Inactivation of FAK-ERK-C/EBP-/c-Fos-MMP-7 Pathways.

Antcin-H, a natural triterpene, is purified from a famous anticancer medicinal mushroom, in Taiwan. This study showed that antcin-H inhibited the growth of human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells; the IC value (for 48 h) was 170 M. Besides, the migration and invasion of 786-0 cells were suppressed by antcin-H under noncytotoxic concentrations (<100 M); these events were accompanied by inhibition of FAK and Src kinase activities, decrease of paxillin phosphorylation, impairment of lamellipodium formation, and upregulation of TIMPs and downregulation of MMPs, especially MMP-7 expression.

Structural characterization of an immunostimulating polysaccharide from the stems of a new medicinal Dendrobium species: Dendrobium Taiseed Tosnobile.

Dendrobium Taiseed Tosnobile, a new Dendrobium species developed by crossbreeding Dendrobium tosaense and Dendrobium nobile, exhibits the characteristics of high mass production and high polysaccharide content. This study investigated the structural characterization and immunostimulating effects of a polysaccharide isolated from D. Taiseed Tosnobile (DTTPS).

Hot-Water Extracts from Roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana and Identified ε-Viniferin Improve Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice.

In this study, hot-water extracts (HW) from roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT-R) were shown to lower levels of lipid accumulation significantly (P < 0.01 or 0.

Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana Extracts and Purified Compounds Ameliorate Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

The increasing prevalence of obesity continues to gain more attention worldwide. In this study, diet-induced obese mice were used to evaluate the antiobesity effects of extracts, fractions, and purified compounds from Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT).

The Topoisomerase 1 Inhibitor Austrobailignan-1 Isolated from Koelreuteria henryi Induces a G2/M-Phase Arrest and Cell Death Independently of p53 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Koelreuteria henryi Dummer, an endemic plant of Taiwan, has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of hepatitis, enteritis, cough, pharyngitis, allergy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cancer. Austrobailignan-1, a natural lignan derivative isolated from Koelreuteria henryi Dummer, has anti-oxidative and anti-cancer properties. However, the effects of austrobailignan-1 on human cancer cells have not been studied yet.

Anti-α-glucosidase and Anti-dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Activities of Extracts and Purified Compounds from Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana.

Ethanol extracts (Et) from the stem (S) and leaf (L) of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT) were used to investigate yeast α-glucosidase and porcine kidney dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities. Both VTT-Et showed complete α-glucosidase inhibition at 0.

Chemical and pharmacological investigation of micropropagated Hygrophila pogonocalyx produced from leaf explants.

Background: An optimized method for indirect shoot organogenesis from the leaf explants of Hygrophila pogonocalyx, a rare and endemic species in Taiwan, was developed to supply enough quantity of plant materials for the first chemical and pharmacological investigation.

Results: Incubation of the young leaves on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg/l) and indole-3-acetic acid (0.

Anti-inflammatory components from the root of Solanum erianthum.

Two new norsesquiterpenoids, solanerianones A and B (1-2), together with nine known compounds, including four sesquiterpenoids, (-)-solavetivone (3), (+)-anhydro-β-rotunol (4), solafuranone (5), lycifuranone A (6); one alkaloid, N-trans-feruloyltyramine (7); one fatty acid, palmitic acid (8); one phenylalkanoid, acetovanillone (9), and two steroids, β-sitosterol (10) and stigmasterol (11) were isolated from the n-hexane-soluble part of the roots of Solanum erianthum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical and spectroscopic data analyses. The anti-inflammatory activity of these isolates was monitored by nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophage RAW264.

Ethanolic extracts and isolated compounds from small-leaf grape (Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana) with antihypertensive activities.

This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of ethanolic extracts (EE) and compounds isolated from the small-leaf grape (Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana, VTT). The highest antiangiotensin-converting enzyme (anti-ACE) was found in stem-EE (IC50 was 69.

Hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract of Vitis thunbergii on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats through anti-oxidative activities.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana are traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, fracture and injury, jaundice, and hepatitis in Taiwan.

Aim Of The Study: The hepatoprotective activity of its plant extracts seems to be been associated with its antioxidant activity.

Methanol extract of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia induces phenotypic and functional differentiation of HL60 into monocyte-like cells via an ERK/CEBP-β signaling pathway.

Antrodia cinnamomea (named as Niu-chang-chih), a well-known Taiwanese folk medicinal mushroom, has a spectrum of biological activities, especially with anti-tumor property. This study was carried out for the first time to examine the potential role and the underlying mechanisms of A. cinnamomea in the differentiation of human leukemia HL60 cells.

Anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extract of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia both in vitro and in vivo.

Aims Of The Study: Antrodia cinnamomea is a folk medicinal mushroom commonly used in Taiwan for the treatment of several types of cancers and inflammatory disorders. This study aimed to explore the folk use of Antrodia cinnamomea on pharmacological grounds to characterize the scientific basis of anti-inflammatory activity.

Materials And Methods: The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of liquid cultured mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea (MEMAC) was judged by the measurement of the produced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.

Identification of dendrobium species used for herbal medicines based on ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequence.

Stems of genus Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) have been traditionally used as an herbal medicine (Dendrobii Herba) in Eastern Asia. Although demand for Dendrobium is increasing rapidly, wild resources are decreasing due to over-collection. This study aimed to identify plant sources of Dendrobii Herba on the market based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory property of the methanol extract from Ligustrum morrisonense leaves in rodents.

Ligustrum morrisonense Kaneh and Sasaki (abbreviated as LM), an endemic Ligustrum plant in Taiwan, is similar to Ligustrum lucidum, which is usually used for curing hepatic and inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of LM by chemical-induced algesia and carrageenan-induced inflammation in rodents. Its triterpenoid contents were measured by using high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector.

Role of JNK and c-Jun signaling pathway in regulation of human serum paraoxonase 1 gene transcription by berberine in human HepG2 cells.

Human serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an arylesterase, is associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and can inhibit the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), implying that PON1 may prevent atherosclerosis. Berberine, a botanical alkaloid, lowers the cholesterol level in serum and is thought to display cardioprotective properties. However, the effect of berberine on PON1 gene expression remains unclear.

Neuroprotective activity of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana extracts in vitro and in vivo.

Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT) is a wild grape native to Taiwan, where it has been used as a folk medicine. In this study, we found that the branch and leaf ethanol extracts of VTT significantly inhibited the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase protein expression and NO production in BV2 microglia.

Emodin induces a reactive oxygen species-dependent and ATM-p53-Bax mediated cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone), a natural anthraquinone compound isolated from the rhizome of rhubarb, has been reported to suppress tumor growth in many clinical situations. Here, we demonstrate that emodin induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by activating a reactive oxygen species-elicited ATM-p53-Bax signaling pathway. In response to emodin treatment, p53 protein increases in A549 cells, which in turn up-regulates Bax expression.

Polysaccharides from Dioscorea batatas induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion via Toll-like receptor 4-mediated protein kinase signaling pathways.

The bioactive polysaccharides (named ZPF1) from yam ( Dioscorea batatas) were chemically determined, suggesting repeating beta-1,4-mannan as mainly having a feature of acetylation on C2-OH and C3-OH, around 28%. The ZPF1 participated in the stimulation of murine wild-type macrophages predominantly in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Toll-like receptor 4 is proved to be one of the cellular receptors in ZPF1-mediated TNFalpha secretion.

Phenolic constituents of Malus doumeri var. formosana in the field of skin care.

Plant phenolic compounds isolated from a 70% aqueous acetone extract of the leaves of Malus doumeri A. CHEV. var.