Fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida induces apoptosis in A549 human lung carcinoma cells.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, has various biological activities, such as anticancer, antiangiogenic and antiinflammatory effects; however, the mechanisms of action of fucoidan on anticancer activity have not been fully elucidated. The anticancer effects of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida on A549 human lung carcinoma cells were examined. Treatment of A549 cells with fucoidan resulted in potent antiproliferative activity.

6-Hydroxydopamine-induced PC12 cell death is mediated by MEF2D down-regulation.

Recently, it was reported that in a 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model, neuronal cell death is associated with the cdk5-mediated hyperphosphorylation of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), a transcription factor that is critically required for neuronal survival. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of cdk5-mediated MEF2D down-regulation on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PC12 cell death. 6-OHDA was found to significantly increase nitric oxide (NO) production and to induce apoptosis in a time-dependent manner in PC12 cells.

Chemical components from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum sp.

Chromatographic separation resulted in the identification of one new squalene derivative, named lobophytene (1), three cembranoid diterpenes (2-4), and two sterols (5 and 6) from the Vietnamese marine soft coral Lobophytum sp. Their structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and comparison of those with reported data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxic activities against lung (A549) and colon (HT-29) cell lines with IC(50) values of 8.

Dammarane-type saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum.

Dammarane-type saponins, gypenosides VN1-VN7 (1-7), were isolated from the total saponin extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum aerial parts, with their structures elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. These compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HT-29 (colon), MCF-7 (breast), and SK-OV-3 (ovary), with IC(50) values ranging from 19.6+/-1.

Inhibitory effects of indirubin derivatives on the growth of HL-60 leukemia cells.

Six indirubin derivatives have been synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the growth of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells investigated. Cell viability was determined using the trypan blue exclusion method. Indirubin-3'-oxime (I-1) inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells with a GI50 value of 36.

A new C29-sterol with a cyclopropane ring at C-25 and 26 from the Vietnamese marine sponge lanthella sp.

One new C(29) sterol with a cyclopropane ring at C-25 and C-26, aragusteroketal B (1), and aragusterol B (2) were isolated from the Vietnamese marine sponge Ianthella sp. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Both 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, SK-Hep-1, and HeLa cell lines with IC(50) in the range of 12.

Triterpene compounds isolated from Acer mandshuricum and their anti-inflammatory activity.

In our preliminary screening study on the anti-inflammatory activity, a new triterpene compound, aceranol acetate (1), was isolated along with five known compounds: beta-amyrin acetate (2); glutinol acetate (3); friedelin (4); glutinol (5); (3beta)-d-glucopyranoside-stigmast-5-en-3-yl (6), from the stems and leaves of Acer mandshuricum. The structure of the new triterpene was determined to be 5alpha,6alpha-epidioxy-5beta,6beta-epoxy-9,13-dimethyl-25,26-dinoroleanan-3beta-ol acetate by spectroscopic studies. Compounds 2-6 were isolated from this plant for the first.

Dammarane-type saponins from the flower buds of Panax ginseng and their effects on human leukemia cells.

Six dammarane-type saponins, including three new compounds, floralginsenosides Ta-Tc (1-3), and three known, floralginsenoside Td (4), ginsenoside F(1) (5), and ginsenoside F(5) (6), were isolated from the flower buds of Panax ginseng. Floralginsenoside Td (4) was first isolated from natural plant sources. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive chemical and spectroscopic methods.

Promotion effect of norgalanthamine, a component of Crinum asiaticum, on hair growth.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Crinum asiaticum, a plant native to Jeju Island, Korea, on the promotion of hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with a 95% ethanol (EtOH) extract of C. asiaticum, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles increased significantly.

Apoptosis inducing activity of fucoidan in HCT-15 colon carcinoma cells.

The antitumor activity of fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus was investigated in human colon carcinoma cells. The crude fucoidan, a polysaccharide composed predominantly of sulfated fucose, markedly inhibited the growth of HCT-15 cells (human colon carcinoma cells). After HCT-15 cells were treated with fucoidan, several apoptotic events such as DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and increase of the population of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells were observed.

Lupane triterpene glycosides from leave of Acanthopanax koreanum and their cytotoxic activity.

One new lupane-triterpene glycoside, acankoreoside I (1), and four known compounds, acankoreoside A (2), acankoreoside D (3), acankoreoside F (4), and acantrifoside A (5), were isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum (Araliaceae). Their chemical structures were elucidated by mass, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. The structure of new compound 1 was determined to be 3alpha,11alpha,30-trihydroxylup-23-al-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] ester.

Lupane-type triterpene glycosides from the leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum and their in vitro cytotoxicity.

Three new lupane triterpene glycosides, acankoreosides J-L ( 1- 3), were isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum. Based on the spectroscopic data, the chemical structures were determined as 3 alpha-hydroxy-20-oxo-30-norlupane-23,28-dioic 28- O- alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl ester ( 1); 3 alpha,20,29-trihydroxylupane-23,28-dioic 28- O- alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl ester ( 2); and (20S)-3 alpha-hydroxy-29,29-dimethoxylupane-23,28-dioic 28- O- alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl ester ( 3). Compounds 1- 3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and showed moderate activity against four cell lines, A549 (lung), HL-60 (leukemia), MCF-7 (breast), and U937 (leukemia), with IC (50) values of 23.

C29 sterols with a cyclopropane ring at C-25 and 26 from the Vietnamese marine sponge Ianthella sp. and their anticancer properties.

Two new C(29) sterols with a cyclopropane ring at C-25 and C-26, petrosterol-3,6-dione (1) and 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-petrosterol (2), along with petrosterol (3), were isolated from the Vietnamese marine sponge Ianthella sp. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1-3 showed cytotoxic activities on A549, HL-60, MCF-7, SK-OV-3, and U937 cancer cell lines with IC(50) in the range of 8.

Promotion effect of Schisandra nigra on the growth of hair.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Schisandra nigra, a plant native to Jeju Island, South Korea, on the promotion of hair growth. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with 85% ethanol (EtOH) extract of S. nigra, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles increased significantly.

New triterpenoid saponins from Glochidion eriocarpum and their cytotoxic activity.

Combined chromatographic methods led to the isolation of two new triterpenoid saponins, glochieriosides A and B (1, 2), from the aerial parts of Glochidion eriocarpum, along with three known triterpenes, glochidone (3), lup-20(29)-en-3beta,23-diol (4), and lup-20(29)-en-1beta,3beta-diol (5). The structures of the new saponins were determined to be 22beta-benzoyloxy-3beta,16beta,28-trihydroxyolean-12-ene 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside] (1) and 22beta-benzoyloxy-3beta,16beta,28-trihydroxyolean-12-ene 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranoside] (2). The structural elucidation was accomplished by using a combination of the 1D-NMR (1H-, 13C-NMR, distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) 90 degrees , and DEPT 135 degrees ), 2D-NMR (1H-1H correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, and rotating frame Overhouser effect spectroscopy), ESI-MS, and HR-FAB-MS experiments.

The Effects of on the Apoptosis Induction and the Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in HL-60/MX2.

The present study investigated the anti-proliferative and chemosensitizing effects of var. against multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer cells. The 80% methanol extract, chloroform (CHCI) fraction and butanol (BuOH) fraction of inhibited the growth of mitoxantrone (MX) resistant HL-60 (HL-60/MX2) cells.