Effects of Constituent Compounds of Smilax china on Nicotine-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

This study investigated the effects of compounds isolated from 70% ethanol (EtOH) extraction of Smilax china L. (SCE), a plant belonging to the family Smilacaceae on nicotine-induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We isolated 10 compounds from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of 70% EtOH extract of SCE and investigated their inhibitory effect on nicotine-induced ED in endothelial cells.

Structural insight for substrate tolerance to 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase from the pathogen Streptococcus suis.

2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) is a class I aldolase that catalyzes aldol condensation of two aldehydes in the active site, which is particularly germane in drug manufacture. Structural and biochemical studies have shown that the active site of DERA is typically loosely packed and displays broader substrate specificity despite sharing conserved folding architecture with other aldolases. The most distinctive structural feature of DERA compared to other aldolases is short and flexible C-terminal region.

Simultaneous analysis of seven marker compounds from Saposhnikoviae Radix, Glehniae Radix and Peucedani Japonici Radix by HPLC/PDA.

A new combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with photodiode array (PDA) analysis has been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of seven major components in Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR), Glehniae Radix (GR) and Peucedani Japonici Radix (PR), namely peucedanol 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (2), cimifugin (3), 4'-O-β-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (4), bergapten (5), sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (6), and imperatorin (7). Clear separation of these seven components were achieved on a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column by gradient elution of water (A) and methanol (B) as mobile phase.

DNA Topoisomerase Inhibitory Activity of Constituents from the Flowers of Inula japonica.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the flowers of Inula japonica THUNB. (Asteraceae), including two new compounds, (1S,2S,4S,5S,8S,10R)-2-acetoxy-4,3-dihydroxy-pseudoguai-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (1) and (1S,2S,4S,5S,8S,10R)-2,4,13-trihydroxy-pseudoguai-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (2), and twelve known compounds, budlein B (3), 6β-hydroxytomentosin (4), 6-deacetoxybritanin (5), 4-epipulchellin (6), britanin (7), tomentosin (8), (+)-dihydroquercetin (9), (-)-syringaresinol (10), quercetagetin 3,4'-dimethyl ether (11), luteolin (12), britanin G (13) and inuchinenolide C (14). Structures of 1 and 2 were determined based on one and two dimensional (1D)- and (2D)-NMR data and Mosher's esterification method.

Chemical Constituents of Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb. and Their PTP1B and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities.

Phytochemical study on the corks of Euonymus alatus resulted in the isolation of a novel 3-hydroxycoumarinflavanol (23), along with ten triterpenoids (1-10), ten phenolic derivatives (11-20), and two flavonoid glycosides (21 and 22). Their structures were determined by extensive 1D and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data analysis. Furthermore, their inhibitory effects against the protein tyrosine phosphatases 1B (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase enzyme activity were evaluated.

Isolation of cholinesterase and β-secretase 1 inhibiting compounds from Lycopodiella cernua.

Three new serratene-type triterpenoids (1-3) and a new hydroxy unsaturated fatty acid (13) together with nine known compounds (4-12) were isolated from Lycopodiella cernua. The chemical structures were established using NMR, MS, and Mosher's method. Compound 13 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with an IC50 value of 0.

Selaginellin and biflavonoids as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors from Selaginella tamariscina and their glucose uptake stimulatory effects.

As part of an ongoing search for new antidiabetic agents from medicinal plants, the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Selaginella tamariscina was found to possess stimulatory effect on glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. Thus, bioassay-guided isolation of this active extract yielded two new compounds (1 and 2) along with five known biflavonoids (3-7). Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic and physicochemical data.

Insulin-mimetic selaginellins from Selaginella tamariscina with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity.

As part of an ongoing search for new antidiabetic agents from medicinal plants, three new (2, 4, and 5) and two known selaginellin derivatives (1 and 3) were isolated from a methanol extract of Selaginella tamariscina. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic data analysis. All isolates showed strong glucose uptake stimulatory effects in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells at a concentration of 5 μM.

Quality evaluation of Carthami Flos by HPLC-UV.

A HPLC-DAD method was developed for simultaneous determination of four marker compounds, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, safflomin A, safflomin B and bidenoside C, in the extract of the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius Linne. Natural samples were extracted in 50% aqueous methanol by ultra-sonication for 60 min. Marker compounds were separated on a C18 column by two-step gradient elution of mobile phase (acetonitrile/water) at a flow rate of 0.

First thermostable endo-β-1,4-glucanase from newly isolated Xanthomonas sp. EC102.

A novel gene encoding thermostable endoglucanase was identified in Xanthomonas sp. EC102 from soil. The gene had 1,458 base pairs of open reading frame, which encode a 52-kDa protein of 486 amino acid residues.

(--)-Catechin glycosides from Ulmus davidiana.

Extensive chromatographic separation of the n-BuOH soluble fraction obtained from the stem and root barks of U. davidiana resulted in five hitherto unknown compounds together with a known one (-)-catechin 1. Structures of the five compounds were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analyses, to be (-)-catechin-7-O-gallate-5-O-(5″″-trans-caffeoyl)-β-D-apiofuranoside-3-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside 2, (-)-catechin-7-O-gallate-5-O-(5″″-trans-caffeoyl)-β-D-apiofuranoside-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside 3, (-)-catechin-7-O-gallate-5-O-β-D-apiofuranoside-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside 4, (-)-catechin-7-O-gallate-5-O-(5″″-trans-caffeoyl)-β-D-apiofuranoside 5, and (-)-catechin-7-O-gallate-5-O-(5″″-trans-feruloyl)-β-D-apiofuranoside 6.

Tetrahydrofurofuran-type lignans inhibit breast cancer-mediated bone destruction by blocking the vicious cycle between cancer cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Breast cancer frequently spreads to bone. The interaction between bone metastases and microenvironment, referred as the "vicious cycle", increases both tumor burden and bone destruction. Therefore, inhibition at any point in this "vicious cycle" can reduce malignant osteolytic lesions in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Quality assessment and discrimination of the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum and Cynanchum wilfordii by HPLC-UV analysis.

Cynanchum auriculatum and Cynanchum wilfordii are widely used as folk medicine in Eastern Asia. However, the indeterminacy in the authentic original plant material has resulted in the same appellative name being given to the two plants, and they are commonly misused. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an analytical method for discrimination as well as quality control of the two species.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for quantitation of marker compounds of Artemisia capillaris Thunb.

Two stable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were developed that could quantitatively analyze 10 major marker compounds of Artemisia capillaris Thunb and could also distinguish among 'Injinho' and 'Myeon-injin' and 'Haninjin'--A. capillaris collected in autumn, A. capillaris collected in spring and A.

Inhibition of DNA topoisomerases I and II of compounds from Reynoutria japonica.

Three anthraquinones (1, 2 and 4), three stilbenes (5, 6 and 7) and 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (3) were isolated from Reynoutria japonica. Their structures were identified as emodin (1), emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (2), 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (3), citreorosein (4), cis-resveratrol (5), trans-resveratrol (6) and trans-resveratrol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) by comparing their physicochemical and spectral data with published data. Compound 3 was isolated for the first time from the Polygonaceae family.

Extract of Magnoliae Flos inhibits ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by blocking osteoclastogenesis and reducing osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Osteoporosis occurs when osteoclast activity surpasses osteoblast activity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate osteoclast differentiation and activity by increasing production of macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL).

Enzymatic glycosylation of nonbenzoquinone geldanamycin analogs via Bacillus UDP-glycosyltransferase.

Geldanamycin (GM) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent isolated from several strains of Streptomyces hygroscopicus. However, its potential clinical utility is compromised by its severe toxicity and poor water solubility. For this reason, considerable efforts are under way to make new derivatives that have both good clinical efficacy and high water solubility.

Cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga heracleifolia and their anticomplementary activity.

Seven known triterpene glycosides, 23-O-acetylshengmanol 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1), 23-O-acetylshengmanol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (2), 24-epi-24-O-acetylhydroshengmanol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (3), cimiaceroside B (4), (23R,24S)-cimigenol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (5), (23R,24R)-25-O-acetylcimigenol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (6) and (23R,24S)-25-O-anhydrocimigenol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (7) were isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga heracleifolia. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 2D NMR. All isolates were investigated for their inhibitory effects on the classical pathway of the complement system.

Induction of microtubule-damage, mitotic arrest, Bcl-2 phosphorylation, Bak activation, and mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade is involved in human Jurkat T-cell apoptosis by aruncin B from Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus.

Exposure of human Jurkat T cells to aruncin B, purified from Aruncus dioicus, caused apoptosis along with microtubule damage, G(2)/M-arrest, Bcl-2 phosphorylation, Bak activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) loss, cytochrome c release, activation of multiple caspases, and PARP degradation. Analyses by employing Bcl-2 overexpression and selective caspase inhibitors revealed that G(2)/M-arrest and Bcl-2 phosphorylation occurred prior to mitochondria-dependent activation of caspase-9, -3, and -8. The IC(50) values for human resting T cells, activated T cells, and Jurkat T cells were >60μg/ml, 49μg/ml, and 22μg/ml, respectively.

Constituents with DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity from the roots of Rubia cordifolia.

Activity-directed isolation of the ethyl acetate fraction from the roots of Rubia cordifolia resulted in the identification of a new anthraquinone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone-3- O- α- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- β-D-(6'-O-acetyl)-glucopyranoside (1), two new dihydronaphtoquinones, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-carbomethoxy-3-prenylnaphthalene-1-O- β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and mollugin-1-O- β- D-glucopyranoside (3), and a new monoterpenoid, 3 R,3a S,4 R,6a R-3,4,6-tris(hydroxymethyl)-3,3a,4,6a-tetrahydro-2 H-cyclopenta[ B]furan-2-one (4), together with nine known compounds (5-13). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, their DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity were measured.

Two new benzofurans from Gastrodia elata and their DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activities.

Two new benzofurans, 1-furan-2-yl-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanone (1) and 5-(4-hydroxybenzyloxymethyl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde (2), together with five known compounds, 4-hydroxybenzyl methyl ether (3), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural (4), gastrodin (5), beta-sitosterol (6) and beta-sitosterol glucoside (7) were isolated from the rhizome of Gastrodia elata Blume. In DNA topoisomerase I and II inhibition assays in vitro at a concentration of 20 microM, 1 showed potent inhibitory activity, 66% and 71% inhibition, respectively, compared to the positive control compounds, camptothecin and etoposide, 71% and 22% inhibition, respectively. All of these compounds exhibited weak or no cytotoxicities against human colon carcinoma cell line (HT-29), human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG-2).

Antioxidant and antithrombus activities of enzyme-treated Salicornia herbacea extracts.

This study was attempted to investigate antioxidant and antithrombus activities of water and methanol extracts of enzyme-treated Salicornia herbacea (SH)by in vitro assays observing the inhibitory activity of a rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation, DPPH radical scavenging activity, activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT) and thromboplastin times (TT). The water and methanol extracts from enzyme-treated SH inhibited the lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner over a concentration range of 0.1-1.

Cytotoxic constituents isolated from the fruit bodies of Hypsizigus marmoreus.

The bioactivity-guided fractionation of chloroform extracts of the fruit bodies of Hypsizigus marmoreus led to our isolation of (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol (1), ergosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (3), hypsiziprenol A9 (4), hypsiziprenol AA8 (5), hypsiziprenol AA9 (6) and hypsiziprenol BA10 (7). Among these seven isolates, compound 2 was identified for the first time from this plant. All compounds (1-7) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity towards cultured human colon carcinoma (HT-29), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and human hepatoblastoma (HepG-2) cell lines.

A new stilbene glucoside from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.

One new stilbene glucoside (6), along with five known compounds (1-5), were isolated from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thumb., and their chemical structures established based on physicochemical and spectroscopic data. Of the compounds, compound 3 showed DNA topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activities.