Film seeds coating with hexane extracts from Illicium verum Hook.f. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill & Perry for controlling Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis L.

Background: The application of film seed coating with some plant extracts against stored insect pests was an alternative approach for insect protection instead of using chemical insecticides. The overuse of insecticides has contributed to both human health and environmental problems. The hexane extracts of Illicium verum (HS) and Syzygium aromaticum (HC) were evaluated against bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis).

A new dihydrophenanthrene from and structure revision of cymbinodin-A.

1-(4-Hydroxybenzyl)-4,6-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diol (), a new dihydrophenanthrene, was isolated along with ferulic acid esters (), eight phenanthrene derivatives (, , -) and three bibenzyls (, , ) from an epiphytic orchid, . The molecular structure of cymbinodin-A () was revised based on spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. Compounds , and - were evaluated and shown to be cytotoxic against human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187) cell line.

Anti-adipogenic effect of flavonoids from Chromolaena odorata leaves in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Objective: The leaves of Chromolaena odorata, a highly invasive shrub found growing wild worldwide, are traditionally used for wound healing. Due to its high flavonoid contents, we aimed to find a new application for this plant. Preliminary tests using its ethanolic leaf extract showed that it could suppress the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes.

Benzophenones and xanthone derivatives from Garcinia schomburgkiana-induced P-glycoprotein overexpression in human colorectal Caco-2 cells via oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms.

Background: Up-regulation of P-gp is an adaptive survival mechanism of cancer cells from chemotherapy. Three new phytochemicals including two benzophenones, guttiferone K (GK) and oblongifolin C (OC), and a xanthone, isojacaruebin (ISO), are potential anti-cancer agents. However, the capability of these compounds to increase multidrug-resistance (MDR) through P-gp up-regulation in cancer cells has not been reported.

Cytotoxic stilbenes from the roots of Paphiopedilum godefroyae.

Two new stilbenes, 2-(3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzofuran (1) and 3'-hydroxy-2,5'-dimethoxystilbene (2), together with seven known stilbenes (3, 5-10) and one flavanone (4), were isolated from the roots of Paphiopedilum godefroyae. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data. These isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187) cell lines and an arylbenzofuran derivative, 5,6-dimethoxy-2-(3-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)benzofuran (6), was shown to be strongly cytotoxic with an IC value of 5.