Methoxyflavones from Black Ginger ( Wall. ex Baker) and their Inhibitory Effect on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells.

Wall. ex Baker (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as Thai ginseng or black ginger, is a tropical medicinal plant in many regions. It has been traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers, dysentery, gout, allergies, abscesses, and osteoarthritis.

Development of a screening platform to discover natural products active against SARS-CoV-2 infection using lung organoid models.

Background: Natural products can serve as one of the alternatives, exhibiting high potential for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we report a screening platform to test the antiviral efficacy of a natural product library against SARS-CoV-2 and verify their activity using lung organoids.

Methods: Since SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a risk group 3 pathogen, the drug screening assay must be performed in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory.

Identification of anti-adipogenic withanolides from the roots of Indian ginseng ().

Background: (Solanaceae), generally known as Indian ginseng, is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to identify the bioactive metabolites from Indian ginseng and elucidate their structures.

Methods: Withanolides were purified by chromatographic techniques, including HPLC coupled with LC/MS.

Withasomniferol D, a New Anti-Adipogenic Withanolide from the Roots of Ashwagandha ().

(Solanaceae), well-known as 'Indian ginseng' or 'Ashwagandha', is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice to promote good health and longevity. As part of an ongoing investigation for bioactive natural products with novel structures, we performed a phytochemical examination of the roots of employed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based analysis. The chemical analysis of the methanol extract of roots using repeated column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography under the guidance of an LC/MS-based analysis resulted in a new withanolide, withasomniferol D ().

Ergopyrone, a Styrylpyrone-Fused Steroid with a Hexacyclic 6/5/6/6/6/5 Skeleton from a Mushroom .

A styrylpyrone-fused ergosterol derivative, ergopyrone (), was isolated and structurally characterized from a mushroom, , along with five biosynthetically related metabolites (-). Compound features an unprecedented hexacyclic 6/5/6/6/6/5 skeleton that would be formed from ergosterol and styrylpyrone precursors via [3 + 2] cycloaddition. The chemical structure of was elucidated by conventional spectroscopic and spectrometric data analysis coupled with computational methods including DP4+ probability and ECD simulation and an NOE/ROE-based interproton distance measurement technique via peak amplitude normalization for the improved cross-relaxation (PANIC) method.

Detection of proximal caries using quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital and laser fluorescence: a comparative study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D) and laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) for assessing proximal caries in extracted premolars, using digital radiography as reference method.

Materials And Methods: A total of 102 extracted premolars with similar lengths and shapes were used. A single operator conducted all the examinations using three different detection methods (bitewing radiography, QLF-D, and DIAGNOdent).

Comparative analysis of serum proteomes to discover biomarkers for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Study Design: Serum proteomes from normal subjects and the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) were analyzed by using proteomics.

Objectives: To identify novel serologic biomarkers for diagnosing OPLL.

Summary Of Background Data: OPLL can compress the spinal cord, and special planning is required for surgeries that are done from the front of the cervical spine.

The comparative analysis of serum proteomes for the discovery of biomarkers for acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develops as the consequence of a series of genetic changes in a hematopoietic precursor cell. However, the definitive diagnostic protein biomarkers for AML are still unclear. In our study to identify the biomarkers for an initial diagnosis, detection of relapse, and monitoring the minimal residual disease in AML by a less invasive method, serum proteins reflecting alterations in their proteomes were analyzed.