Apoptosis induced by DICO, a novel non-aromatic B-ring flavonoid a ROS-dependent mechanism in human colon cancer cells.

5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(1,2-isopropyldioxy-4-oxo-cyclohex-5-enyl)-chromen-4-one (DICO) is a novel non-aromatic B-ring flavonoid, isolated mainly from and has anti-tumour properties. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity and underlying biochemical pathways leading to cell death, in response to DICO treatment of a human colon cancer cell line HT-29. Our results indicated that DICO induced apoptosis by elevating the generation of reactive oxygen species, which could be quenched by the antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine.

Inhibitory effect of diosgenin on experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

This study investigated the effect of diosgenin, a natural sapogenin possessing various pharmacological activities, on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats and the possible mechanisms. BPH was established in the castrated rats by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate. Animals were randomly divided into four groups (n=10 each): model group (0.

Protective potential of the methanol extract of Macrothelypteris oligophlebia rhizomes for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis in rats.

The protective potential of the methanol extract of Macrothelypteris oligophlebia rhizomes (MMO) for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) in rats was investigated in the present study. Carrageenan-induced CNP in rats was established. Fifty rats were randomly divided into sham-operated (sham-ope) group, model group, positive control group (Cernilton at a dose of 148mg/kg body weight) and two MMO-treated groups (MMO at doses of 600mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weight).

Preparation of magnetic ODS-PAN thin-films for microextraction of quetiapine and clozapine in plasma and urine samples followed by HPLC-UV detection.

In this study, conventional thin-film microextraction (TFME) was endowed with magnetic by introducing superparamagnetic SiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles in thin-films. Novel magnetic octadecylsilane (ODS)-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) thin-films were prepared by spraying, and used for the microextraction of quetiapine and clozapine in plasma and urine samples, followed by the detection of HPLC-UV. The influencing factors on the extraction efficiency of magnetic ODS-PAN TFME, including pH, extraction time, desorption solvent, desorption time, and ion strength were investigated systematically.

Neuroprotective effect of peptides extracted from walnut (Juglans Sigilata Dode) proteins on Aβ25-35-induced memory impairment in mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly, which is characterized by the accumulation and deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in human brains. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation induced by Aβ in brain are increasingly considered to be responsible for the pathogenesis of AD. The present study aimed to determine the protective effects of walnut peptides against the neurotoxicity induced by Aβ25-35 in vivo.

Preparation of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective isolation and determination of kaempferol and protoapigenone in Macrothelypteris torresiana.

Novel uniform-sized magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were synthesized for selective recognition of active antitumor ingredients of kaempferol (KMF) and protoapigenone (PA) in Macrothelypteris torresiana (M. torresiana) by surface molecular imprinting technique in this study. Super paramagnetic core-shell nanoparticles (γ-MPS-SiO2@Fe3O4) were used as seeds, KMF as template molecule, acrylamide (AM) as functional monomer, and N, N'-methylene bisacrylamide (BisAM) as cross-linker.

Comparison of two thin-film microextractions for the analysis of estrogens in aqueous tea extract and environmental water samples by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection.

Two thin-film microextractions (TFME), octadecylsilane (ODS)-polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-TFME and polar enhanced phase (PEP)-PAN-TFME have been proposed for the analysis of bisphenol-A, diethylstilbestrol and 17β-estradiol in aqueous tea extract and environmental water samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. Both thin-films were prepared by spraying. The influencing factors including pH, extraction time, desorption solvent, desorption volume, desorption time, ion strength and reusability were investigated.

Pallidifloside D, a saponin glycoside constituent from Smilax riparia, resist to hyperuricemia based on URAT1 and GLUT9 in hyperuricemic mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The roots and rhizomes of Smilax riparia (SR), called "Niu-Wei-Cai" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are believed to be effective in treating hyperuricemia and gout symptoms. This study was designed to isolate a saponin glycoside named pallidifloside D from the total saponins of Smilax riparia and to examine its effect in reducing serum uric acid levels in a hyperuricemic mouse model induced by potassium oxonate.

Materials And Methods: We examined the effects of pallidifloside D treated with 5, 10 and 20mg/kg on serum uric acid levels (SUA), Serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in a hyperuricemic mouse.

Dioscin-induced apoptosis of human LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells through activation of caspase-3 and modulation of Bcl-2 protein family.

Dioscin is a natural steroid saponin derived from several plants, showing potent anti-cancer effect against a variety of tumor cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of dioscin against human LNCaP cells, and evaluated the possible mechanism involved in its antineoplastic action. It was found that dioscin (1, 2 and 4 μmol/L) could significantly inhibit the viability of LNCaP cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

Neuroprotective effect of a caffeic acid derivative from Abacopteris penangiana.

Context: A new caffeic acid derivative, named (7'Z)-3-O-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethenyl)-caffeic acid (CADP), extracted from Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching.

Objective: To elucidate the neuroprotective effect of CADP against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and D-galactose (D-gal)-induced neurotoxicity in mice brain.

Fraction of macroporous resin from Smilax china L. inhibits testosterone propionate-induced prostatic hyperplasia in castrated rats.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a fraction of macroporous resin (FMR), a bioactive component of Smilax china L., on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in castrated rats induced by testosterone propionate. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: the negative control group (sham-operated), the model group, two FMR-treated groups (at doses of 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of body weight), and the positive control group (treated with finasteride at the dose of 3 mg/kg).

Hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of Abacopterin A from Abacopteris penangiana in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia mice.

This study was to investigate the hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of Abacopterin A (APA), a flavonoid compound isolated from Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly and equally into five groups: the normal control group (N), the model group (M), the positive control group (P), the high and low doses of APA treated groups (H and L).

Characterisation of phenols and antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities of Lethariella cladonioides.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic activities of an ethanol extract of Lethariella cladonioides (Nyl.) Krog (EE) and to characterise its chemical constituents.

Results: Nine phenols were identified as canarione, thamnolic acid, squamatic acid, vermicularin, norstictic acid, baeomycesis acid, lecanoric acid, barbatinic acid and usnic acid from analysis of EE by using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector-mass spectrometry.

Neuropective constituents from the rhizomes of Abacopteris penangiana.

Two neuropective compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of Abacopteris penangiana, one was a new flavone and the other was a flavanone. Both compounds were firstly separated from natural plant. The isolation work was guided by the antioxidant activity.

Acetylated anthraquinone glycosides from Cassia obtusifolia.

Three new acetylated anthraquinone glycosides (1-3) were isolated from the seed of Cassia obtusifolia, together with one parent anthraquinone glycoside (1a). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods and physicochemical properties as obtusifoline-2-O-β-d-2, 6-di-O-acetylglucopyranoside (1), obtusifoline-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), obtusifoline-2-O-β-d-3, 6-di-O-acetylglucopyranoside (2), and obtusifoline-2-O-β-d-4, 6-di-O-acetylglucopyranoside (3).

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the wound healing properties of Siegesbeckia pubescens.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Siegesbeckia pubescens (SP) has been traditionally used as a wound healing agent.

Aim Of The Study: Investigate in vitro and in vivo healing properties of SP extract.

Materials And Methods: The methanolic extract of SP was tested for the ability to stimulate the growth of mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 in vitro.

Two new acetylated flavan glycosides from rhizomes of the fern Abacopteris penangiana.

Two new acetylated flavan glycosides (2S,4R)-4,5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavan-5-O-β-D-6-acetylglucopyranoside-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (2S,4R)-5,7-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy-6,8-dimethylflavan-5-O-β-D-6-acetylglucopyranoside-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Abacopteris penangiana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and chemical evidences.

[Studies on the chemical constituents from Radix Ranunculi Ternate].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from Radix Ranunculi Ternate.

Methods: The compounds were isolated by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analysis.

Results: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as phillygenin (I), bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, II), henicosanoic acid methyl ester (III), 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural (IV), mixture of stigmasterol and sitosterol (V and VI), daucosterol (VII).

Parathelypteriside attenuates cognition deficits in d-galactose treated mice by increasing antioxidant capacity and improving long-term potentiation.

Parathelypteriside (PG), a stilbenoid compound, was extracted from Parathelypteris glanduligera (kze.) ching that exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of PG against the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced neurotoxicity in mice.

Two new 4-arylcoumarins from the seeds of Calophyllum polyanthum.

Two new 4-arylcoumarins, 7,4'-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin (1) and 7-hydroxy-6,8,4'-trimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin (2), together with four known compounds were isolated from the seeds of Calophyllum polyanthum. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the structure of compound 2 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography analysis. Both new compounds exhibited significant cell protective activities against H(2)O(2)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell damage.

Benzyl-beta-resorcylates from Cassia obtusifolia.

The seed of Cassia obtusifolia Linn have yielded three new compounds, 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid (1), 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including (1)D- and (2)D NMR spectroscopy, HR-ESI-MS, as well as by comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds.

Design, synthesis, and cytoprotective effect of 2-aminothiazole analogues as potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitors.

A series of novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors were designed within 2-aminothiazole analogues (4-10) based on a constructed three-dimensional pharmacophore model. After synthesis, the inhibitory effect on PARP-1 activity and the cytoprotective action of these compounds were tested and evaluated. Among them, compounds 4-6 and 10 appeared to be potent PARP-1 inhibitors with IC(50) values less than 1 microM, which had been perfectly predicted by pharmacophore model.

[Two new flavan glycosides from Abacopteris penangiana].

To study the chemical constituents of Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching, various chromatographic techniques were used to isolate and purify the constituents. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data and physical-chemical properties.

[Phenols from the rhizomes of Arachniodes exilis].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Arachniodes exilis.

Methods: The methanolic extract was isolated and purified by silica gel, C18 reverse phase silica gel and Sepadex LH-20 gel column chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of the physicochemical properties and spectral data.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Arachniodes rhomboidea].

Objective: To study chemical constituents of Arachniodes rhomboidea.

Method: Silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH -20 gel column chromatography were employed for the isolation and purification. The structures were identified on the basis of spectral data and chemical methods.