[Effect of transforming growth factor β1 on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and nuclear factor kappa B signalling pathway in the human amniotic cells WISH].

Objective: To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the possible signalling pathways in human amniotic cells WISH.

Methods: The WISH cell line was cultured. WISH cells were added with TGF-β1 of different concentrations (0, 2, 10 and 20 ng/ml, respectively) for 24 hours.

[Effect of epidermal growth factor on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the signalling pathways involved in the trophoblast cell line JEG-3].

Objective: To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the signalling pathways involved in the trophoblast cell line JEG-3.

Methods: The JEG-3 trophoblast cell line was used in this study. (1) JEG-3 cells were cultured with various concentrations of EGF (0, 1, 10, 20 ng/ml) for 24 hours and the expression of MMP-9 was tested by western blotting and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

Anti-diabetic effects of TongGuanWan, a Chinese traditional herbal formula, in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice.

In the present study, the anti-diabetic effects of a traditional Chinese medicinal formula extract, TongGuanWan, were investigated in type 2 diabetic animals. It was orally administered to C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice once a day for 4 weeks at the doses of 62, 125, and 250 mg/kg body weight. TongGuanWan significantly lowered the blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels as well as improved the glucose tolerance in db/db mice.

Complete NMR spectral assignments of two new iridoid diastereoisomers from the flowers of Plumeria rubra L. cv. acutifolia.

Two new iridoid diastereoisomers (1, 2), together with five known compounds, were isolated from the flowers of Plumerian rubra L. cv. acutifolia.

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from Vaccaria segetalis.

By the guidance of bioassay, one new cytotoxic triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] quillaic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-fucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside (1), and five known cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins, vaccaroside E (2), vaccaroside G (3), vaccaroside B (4), segetoside H (5) and segetoside I (6), were isolated from Vaccaria segetalis. Their structures were established on the basis of ESI-MS, IR, extensive NMR ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, TOCSY, (1)H-(1)H COSY, DEPT, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY) analyses, chemical degradation, and by comparing with previously reported data. Compounds 1-6 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against LNcap, P-388 and A-549 cell lines with IC(50) values in the range 0.

Identification and determination of four metabolites of mangiferin in rat urine.

Four metabolites of mangiferin were firstly isolated and identified from rat urine. The structures of the four metabolites were determined to be 1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone (M-1), 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (M-2), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone (M-3) and 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (M-4), respectively. A simple and specific analytical method for determination of the four metabolites in rat urine was developed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

LC-MS characterization of efficacy substances in serum of experimental animals treated with Sophora flavescens extracts.

Anti-DHBV (duck hepatitis B virus) activity was found in the aqueous extracts of Sophora flavescens Ait. in vivo. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry was applied to characterize the components in duck serum after oral administration of S.

Structure elucidation and complete NMR spectral assignments of a novel sesquiterpene glycoside from Ixeris sonchifolia.

A novel sesquiterpene glycoside was isolated from the whole plant of Ixeris sonchifolia. The structure was established as 1(10)E-4Z-3alpha-hydroxy-germacra-1(10),4,11(13)-trien-6, 12-olide-14-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical analysis.