Structural analysis of the inhibitory effects of polyphenols, (+)-hopeaphenol and (-)-isohopeaphenol, on human SIRT1.

Human sirtuin 1 (hSIRT1) is a NAD -dependent deacetylase that regulates several cellular processes. Unlike resveratrol, natural polymeric phenolic compounds isolated from Vitaceae are mostly hSIRT1 inhibitors. The resveratrol tetramer, (+)-hopeaphenol ((+)-HP), and its geometric isomer, (-)-isohopeaphenol ((-)-iHP), were tested for inhibitory effects on purified hSIRT1 using a fluorescent derivative of peptide substrate p53-AMC (Fluor de Lys) and a cofactor NAD .

Alkylbenzoquinone involved in development of cellular slime molds.

The structure of the prespore-cell-promoting factor from Dictyostelium discoideum was determined to be 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-6-pentylbenzoquinone. The synthetic compound has prespore-cell-promoting activity similar to the natural one, with half-maximal induction at a concentration as low as 40 pM. It was also found that the factor induces aggregation in an aggregation-deficient mutant of a related species, Polysphodilium violaceum.

A new pentacyclic triterpenoid from the leaves of Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq.

A new pentacyclic triterpenoid, 3β,25-epoxy-3α,22β,23α-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), together with seven known compounds, including five triterpenoids, β-amyrin (2), lantadene B (3), lantanilic acid (4), lantanolic acid (5) and ursolic acid (6) in addition to β-sitosterol (7) and benzoic acid (8) has been isolated from the leaves of Lantana montevidensis. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with the literature data and/or authentic samples. Compound 1 showed moderate to weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Suppressive effect of the hot-water extract of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco leaves on the postprandial increase in blood glucose level in mice.

The use of medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties continues because of the high cost of diabetes mellitus treatment. In the Bicol region of the Philippines, one local source is the leaves of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco (Philippine fig), which is utilized as an ingredient of their cuisine, and the decoction of its leaves is believed to have a blood-glucose lowering effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood-glucose lowering effect of F.

Cyclic dipeptides exhibit potency for scavenging radicals.

Twenty kinds of cyclic dipeptides containing l-leucine were synthesized, and their antioxidant activity against ·OH and O(2)(·-) was investigated. Compounds possessing polar amino acid residues, such as Asp, Cys, Glu, Lys, Pro, Ser, and Trp, exhibited higher antioxidant activity against ·OH than vitamin E. However, only cyclo(l-Cys-l-Leu) scavenged O(2)(·-).

Biological and pathological studies of rosmarinic acid as an inhibitor of hemorrhagic Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu) venom.

In our previous report, rosmarinic acid (RA) was revealed to be an antidote active compound in Argusia argentea (family: Boraginaceae). The plant is locally used in Okinawa in Japan as an antidote for poisoning from snake venom, Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu). This article presents mechanistic evidence of RA's neutralization of the hemorrhagic effects of snake venom.

Benzenepolycarboxylic acids with potential anti-hemorrhagic properties and structure-activity relationships.

Previously, we reported the structural requirements of the cinnamic acid relatives for inhibition of snake venom hemorrhagic action. In the present study, we examined the effect of benzenepolycarboxylic acids and substituted benzoic acids against Protobothropsflavoviridis venom-induced hemorrhage. Pyromellitic acid (1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid) was found to be a potent inhibitor of hemorrhage, with an IC(50) value of 0.

Contribution of cinnamic acid analogues in rosmarinic acid to inhibition of snake venom induced hemorrhage.

In our previous paper, we reported that rosmarinic acid (1) of Argusia argentea could neutralize snake venom induced hemorrhagic action. Rosmarinic acid (1) consists of two phenylpropanoids: caffeic acid (2) and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid (3). In this study, we investigated the structural requirements necessary for inhibition of snake venom activity through the use of compounds, which are structurally related to rosmarinic acid (1).

Protective effects of cyclo(L-Leu-L-Tyr) against postischemic myocardial dysfunction in guinea-pig hearts.

The protective effects of cyclic dipeptides in alcoholic beverages were investigated in the perfused guinea-pig hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Subsequently, in order to determine the importance of cyclic dipeptide structure, the effects of cyclo(L-Leu-L-Tyr) (cLY) were compared with those of the newly synthesized non-cyclic dipeptides, L-Leu-L-Tyr (LY) and L-Tyr-L-Leu (YL). After reperfusion, pressure recovery (%) in the left ventricle reached a peak of over 90% in the presence of cLY (10(-6) M and 10(-5) M) (control: 22.

Rosmarinic acid in Argusia argentea inhibits snake venom-induced hemorrhage.

A methanolic extract of Argusia (or Messerschmidia or Tournefortia) argentea (Boraginaceae) significantly inhibited hemorrhage induced by crude venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis. The extract was then separated according to antivenom activity by using silica gel column chromatography and HPLC equipped with an octadecylsilanized silica gel (ODS) column to afford rosmarinic acid (RA) (1) as an active principle. RA (1) significantly inhibited the hemorrhagic effect of crude venoms of T.

Differentiation inducing factors in Dictyostelium discoideum: a novel low molecular factor functions at an early stage(s) of differentiation.

There are reports that secreted factor(s) are involved in prespore cell differentiation in Dictyostelium discoideum, but the structures and functions of the various factors have not been elucidated. Previously, we described two prespore cell-inducing factors in conditioned medium; one was a glycoprotein named prespore cell-inducing factor (psi factor, or PSI-1), and the other, a heat stable dialyzable factor(s). In the present paper, we purified and characterized the most potent prespore cell-inducing activity in dialysates.

Three new pentasaccharide resin glycosides from the roots of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).

Three new pentasaccharide resin glycosides, batatosides III-V (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Saponification of the crude resin glycoside mixture yielded substituents and simonic acid B. The structures of the isolated compounds (1-3) were established through spectroscopic analyses, including high field NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS, and chemical correlation.

Opposite effects of two resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) tetramers, vitisin A and hopeaphenol, on apoptosis of myocytes isolated from adult rat heart.

It has been reported that resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) from Vitis plants has various cardioprotective effects. Vitis plants also include various resveratrol tetramers. The aim of our study is to clarify the pharmacological properties of resveratrol tetramers.

Diterpenes from Coleus forskohlii (WILLD.) BRIQ. (Labiatae).

Three new minor labdane diterpene glycosides, forskoditerpenoside C, D, and E (1-3), and a novel labdane diterpene forskoditerpene A (4) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Coleus forskohlii. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HR-ESI-MS experiments. Compounds 1-3 showed an unusual 8,13-epoxy-labd-14-en-11-one glycoside pattern.

Two minor diterpene glycosides and an eudesman sesquiterpene from Coleus forskohlii.

Two new labdane diterpene glycosides, forskoditerpenosides A, B (1, 2) and a new eudesmane sesquiterpene, 4beta,7beta,11-enantioeudesmantriol (3), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Coleus forskohlii. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. The structure of compound 3 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction.

Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins from Gypsophila oldhamiana.

Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data to be quillaic acid, alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (1), and vaccaric acid, beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (2). Compound 1 showed a significant enhancement of granulocyte phagocytosis in vitro.

Constituents of leaves of Phellodendron japonicum MAXIM. and their antioxidant activity.

Three new flavonoid derivatives, 6'''-O-acetyl amurensin (1), 6'''-O-acetyl phellamurin (3) and (2R)-phellodensin-F (5), together with thirty known compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Phellodendron japonicum MAXIM. Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic analysis, including extensive 2D NMR and Mass spectra. The known compounds were identified by comparison with published physical and spectral data.

Biotransformation of ferulic acid into two new dihydrotrimers by Momordica charantia peroxidase.

As a result of a continuing investigation of the biotransformation of ferulic acid with H2O2/Momordica charantia peroxidase at pH 5.0 in the presence of acetone, triFA1 (1) and triFA2 (2), two new FA dehydrotrimers, have been isolated. The structures were elucidated from the spectroscopic data including 2D-NMR such as HSQC, HMBC and NOESY data.

Novel flavonol glycoside, 7-O-methyl mearnsitrin, from Sageretia theezans and its antioxidant effect.

A novel flavonol glycoside, 7-O-methylmearnsitrin (7,4'-O-dimethylmyricetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside), and myricetrin, kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, europetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside, and 7-O-methyl quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside were isolated from the leaves of Sageretia theezans, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses including two-dimensional NMR (HSQC, HMBC). Whereas myricetrin, europetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside, and 7-O-methylquercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside showed stronger activities than ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, 7-O-methylmearnsitrin showed very weak antioxidant activities by ESR and LDL oxidation inhibition tests.

Antioxidant constituents of radish sprout (Kaiware-daikon), Raphanus sativus L.

Methanol extracts of 11 kinds of commonly available vegetables were examined for hydroxyl radical scavenging potency using the bleomycin-Fe method. In this method, the iron ion and bleomycin in water form hydroxyl radicals, and the scavenging activity is monitored by the modified thiobarbituric acid method. All extracts showed scavenging capacity, even though the activity of some of them was lower than that of l-ascorbic acid.

Oxidation of ferulic acid by Momordica charantia peroxidase and related anti-inflammation activity changes.

Plant peroxidases were found to play an important role in plant physiology such as the metabolism and transformation of small complexes. In the present research, a novel Momordica charantia peroxidase (MCP) from fruits was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by combining consecutive treatment of ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose FF, affinity chromatography on concanavalin A (Con A) Sepharose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. The physical and chemical characters of MCP were also investigated.

Antibacterial polyphenol from Erodium glaucophyllum.

Geraniin and gallic acid were isolated from the alcohol extract of the aerial parts of Erodium glaucophyllum (Geraniaceae). The identity of the compounds was verified through different physical and spectrometric methods. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of geraniin is presented.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilatory effect of vitisin C, a novel plant oligostilbene from Vitis plants (Vitaceae), in rabbit aorta.

We investigated the pharmacological properties of vitisin C, a novel plant oligostilbene from Vitis plants. Vitisin C (1-10 microM) dose-dependently inhibited the contractile responses of endothelium-intact rabbit thoracic aorta induced by phenylephrine (1 microM). These inhibitory effects were abolished in the presence of N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 300 microM), a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, but not atropine (1 microM), a non-selective muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonist.

New cytotoxic bis-labdanic diterpenoids from Alpinia calcarata.

Two novel bis-labdanic diterpenoids named calcaratarin D and calcaratarin E were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia calcarata. Their structures were elucidated as a pair of stereoisomers on the basis of the spectral evidence. 2D NMR techniques including (1)H- (1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY spectra and HRFABMS were extensively applied to establish the structures.