A novel sterol sulfate and new oligosaccharide polyester from the aerial parts of Polygala sibirica.

Polygalasterol A (1), a new sterol sulfate, and a new oligosaccharide ester, polygalasibiricose I (2), have been isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of the aerial parts of Polygala sibirica L. Their structures were determined to be (24R)-24-sulfo-5a-cholestane-3a,7a,12a,24-tetrol (1) and 3-O-benzoyl-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2-->1 )-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-( 1 --2)]-4-0- {4-0-[3-O-[3-O-benzoyl-(2-O-acetyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3 )]-2-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-(Z)-p-coumaroyl}-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (2), respectively, by HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies.

Effects of echinacoside on histio-central levels of active mass in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of echinacoside on the extracellular striatal levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethanoid acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO rats.

Methods: The middle cerebral artery was occluded in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Three days later microdialysis probes were placed into the right striatum of MCAO rat brains and the brains were perfused with Ringer's solution at a rate of 1.

Application of molecular markers in predicting production quality of cultivated Cistanche deserticola.

We developed a set of molecular markers in Cistanche deserticola Y. C. MA to evaluate the production quality of cultivated C.

Identification of Cistanche species by chemical and inter-simple sequence repeat fingerprinting.

Herba Cistanches is a common traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to reinforce the vital function of kidney and induce laxation for more than two thousands years. Four Cistanche species were found as Herba Cistanches in China herbal markets, including C. deserticola, C.

Itosides J-N from Itoa orientalis and structure - anti-COX-2 activity relationship of phenolic glycosides.

Two new phenolic glycosides, itosides J (1) and K (2), two new cylcohexenoyl glycosides, itosides L (3) and M (4), a new flavone glycoside, itoside N (5), and echitin (6) were isolated from the extract of the bark, twigs, and leaves of Itoa orientalis, together with 22 known compounds. The structures were elucidated by means of UV, IR, MS, and NMR techniques, and the relative configuration of compound 3 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. NMR data for 6 are reported for the first time.

Echinacoside prevents the striatal extracellular levels of monoamine neurotransmitters from diminution in 6-hydroxydopamine lesion rats.

We investigated the effects of echinacoside, a phenylethanoid glycoside isolated and purified from the stems of Cistanche salsa, a Chinese herbal medicine, on the striatal extracellular levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion rats. Seven days after 6-OHDA was injected into the right striatum of rats, the striatal extracellular levels of DA, DOPAC and HVA fell significantly (P<0.01 vs.

Triterpenoid saponins from the fruits of Akebiae quinata.

Three new triterpenoid saponins together with eight known compounds have been isolated from the fruits of Akebiae quinata. On the basis of the spectroscopic and physiochemical evidence, the new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl gypsogenin, 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl gypsogenin and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl gypsogenin.

An arabinogalactan isolated from the stems of Cistanche deserticola induces the proliferation of cultured lymphocytes.

A purified polysaccharide ACDP-2 was isolated from water extract of the stems of Cistanche deserticola. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicated that ACDP-2 is a highly branched arabinogalactan polymer that composes of linked d-galactopyranose and d-glucopyranose, which contains predominantly a branching point at the 6-carbon. The branched side-chains compose of terminal-, 1,5-, and 1,3,5-linked arabinofuranosyl residues.

Echinacoside rescues the SHSY5Y neuronal cells from TNFalpha-induced apoptosis.

We investigated the neuroprotective effect of echinacoside, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of Cistanches salsa, a Chinese herbal medicine, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells. Treatment of cultured SHSY5Y cells with TNFalpha 100 ng ml(-1) for 36 h stimulated apoptosis, as demonstrated by typical morphological changes, cell viability, DNA laddering, annexin-V binding, intracellular reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activity. However, simultaneous treatment with echinacoside (1, 10 or 100 microg ml(-1)) attenuated the TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis.

Molecular genetic and chemical assessment of radix Angelica (Danggui) in China.

The roots of Angelica sinensis (Danggui), a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used for invigorating blood circulation for over 2000 years in China. Three common species of Angelica roots are found in Asia: A. sinensis from China, A.