Combination Treatment of Deep Sea Water and Fucoidan Attenuates High Glucose-Induced Insulin-Resistance in HepG2 Hepatocytes.

Insulin resistance (IR) plays a central role in the development of several metabolic diseases, which leads to increased morbidity and mortality rates, in addition to soaring health-care costs. Deep sea water (DSW) and fucoidans (FPS) have drawn much attention in recent years because of their potential medical and pharmaceutical applications. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of combination treatment of DSW and FPS in improving IR in HepG2 hepatocytes induced by a high glucose concentration.

Chemical constituents from Euphorbia wallichii and their biological activities.

One rare diterpenoid which was an unusual phorbol derivative possessing a 5-ene-7-oxo functional group, wallichiioid A (1), and 17 known compounds (2-18) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia wallichii. The structures and relative configuration of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation. All the known compounds were isolated from E.

Cytotoxic prenylated flavonoids from Macaranga indica.

Three new prenylated flavonoids, macarindicins A-C (1-3), as well as seven known compounds (4-10) were isolated from the twigs of Macaranga indica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation. Compounds 2 and 3 enriched the diversity of prenyl moiety in genus Macaranga especially in the aspect of various lengths of prenyl chain.

Three new prenylated flavonoids from Macaranga denticulata and their anticancer effects.

One rare flavonoid-diterpene heterodimer, denticulatain C (1), one modified geranyl-type side chain substituted flavonoid, denticulatain D (2) and one geranylated flavonoid, denticulatain E (3), as well as 11 known compounds (4-14) were isolated from the fronds of Macaranga denticulata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation. Compounds 4 and 8 inhibited the proliferation of A-549 cell line with IC50 values of 48.

Cytotoxic prenylated bibenzyls and flavonoids from Macaranga kurzii.

One unique prenylated bibenzyl, kurzphenol A (1), two new prenylated flavonoids, kurzphenols B and C (2 and 3), as well as fourteen known compounds (4-17) were isolated from the twigs of Macaranga kurzii. Compound 1 was the first example of prenylated bibenzyl which possesses a benzofuran ring. All the known compounds were isolated from M.

The effects of henna (hair dye) on the embryonic development of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The powder of henna is extensively used as decorative skin paint for nail coloring and as a popular hair dye in Asian countries. Its human health risk is extensive, and it is frequently released as waste into the aquatic environment raising the concerns. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were employed to study the developmental effects of henna.

Jatropholane-type diterpenes from Euphorbia sikkimensis.

Four new jatropholane-type diterpenes (1-4), named sikkimenoids A-D, were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia sikkimensis. The structural elucidations of 1-4 were accomplished by extensive NMR analyses, and their absolute configurations were established by ECD calculations. Compound 2 exhibited weak antiangiogenic activity with an IC(50) value of 43.

New norditerpenoid alkaloids from Scutellaria barbata with cytotoxic activities.

Two new norditerpenoid alkaloids, named scutebarbatines M-N (1 and 2), were isolated from the whole plant of Scutellaria barbata D. Don. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectral analyses.

In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics of two novel 1,3-cyclic propanyl phosphate ester prodrugs of 18β-glycyrrhetic acid in rats.

The in vitro metabolism of two novel phosphate prodrugs of glycyrrhetic acid (GA) was studied by the method of incubation in the rat liver microsome and the in vivo plasma pharmacokinetics after injecting intravenously (i.v.) into six rats was investigated, respectively.

Octa-kis(2-chloro-benz-yl)di-μ(2)-hydroxido-di-μ(3)-oxido-bis-(2-phenyl-acetato)tetra-tin(IV).

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Sn(4)(C(7)H(6)Cl)(8)(C(8)H(7)O(2))(2)O(2)(OH)(2)], comprises one-half of the centrosymmetric tin(IV) complex. μ(3)-Oxide and μ(2)-hydroxide bridges link the four five-coordinate Sn(IV) atoms to generate three fused four-membered Sn-O-Sn-O rings in a ladder-like structure. The two endocyclic Sn atoms each bind to two μ(3)-oxide anions and a μ(2)-hydroxide ligand, together with two 2-chloro-benzyl groups.

A novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine in various age groups.

Background: There is an urgent need for a vaccine that is effective against the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Methods: A split-virus, inactivated candidate vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 virus was manufactured, and we evaluated its safety and immunogenicity in a randomized clinical trial. Subjects were between 3 and 77 years of age, stratified into four age groups.

Cytotoxic neo-clerodane diterpenoid alkaloids from Scutellaria barbata.

Six new neo-clerodane diterpenoid alkaloids, named scutehenanines A-D (1, 4, 5, 6), 6-O-acetylscutehenanine A (2), and 6-O-(2-carbonyl-3-methylbutanoyl)scutehenanine A (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Scutellaria barbata. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed physical data analyses. In vitro, the six new isolated compounds showed cytotoxic activities against three human cancer lines (HONE-1 nasopharyngeal, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells) and gave IC50 values in the range 2.

Two new neo-clerodane diterpenoid alkaloids from Scutellaria barbata with cytotoxic activities.

Two new neo-clerodane diterpenoid alkaloids, scutebarbatine O (1) and 6-O-nicotinoylscutebarbatine G (2), were isolated from the whole plant of Scutellaria barbata. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses. In vitro, compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cell lines, namely, HONE-1 nasopharyngeal, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells, and with IC(50) values in the range of 2.

Uptake of oleoyl-chitosan nanoparticles by A549 cells.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate cellular uptake of oleoyl-chitosan (OCH) nanoparticles by using A549 cells, a human lung carcinoma cell line, for drug and gene delivery applications. In this study, self-assembled OCH nanoparticles encapsulating a fluorescent marker molecule, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), were prepared and characterized. The effects of particle size, concentration, and incubation time on the cellular uptake of the nanoparticles (FITC-OCH nanoparticles) were quantified by spectrofluorometric measurement and confirmed using fluorescence microscopy studies.