SIRT1 Signaling Is Involved in the Vascular Improvement Induced by Moringa Oleifera Seeds during Aging.

Vascular aging is linked to reduce NO bioavailability, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We previously showed that a 4-week treatment of middle-aged Wistar rats (MAWRs, 46 weeks old) with seed powder (MOI, 750 mg/kg/day) improved vascular function. Here, we investigated the involvement of SIRT1 in MOI-induced vascular improvement.

In-vitro and in-vivo antimalarial activity of caffeic acid and some of its derivatives.

Objectives: To explore the in-vitro and in-vivo antimalarial potential of caffeic acid and derivatives.

Methods: Two common phenolic acids (caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid) were evaluated for in-vitro and in-vivo antiplasmodial activity in comparison with some semi-synthetic derivatives that were synthesized. An in-vitro assay based on plasmodial lactate dehydrogenase activity, and the classical in-vivo 5-day suppressive test from Peters on an artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium berghei strain was used.

Use of plants in oral health care by the population of Mahajanga, Madagascar.

Background: The use of medicinal plants to address oral health problems is not well documented in Madagascar, yet the country is full of endemic flora. The aim of this study was to collect information on the use of plants in the region of Mahajanga, Madagascar, for the treatments of oral diseases mainly tooth decay.

Methods: The ethnobotanical survey with respect to the use of plants for curing dental problems was carried out in 2012.

Alkaloids of Hernandia voyronii: chloroquine-potentiating activity and structure elucidation of herveline D.

Further investigation of Hernandia voyronii led to the isolation of a new pavine-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (pavine-BTIQ) dimer, herveline D, together with herveline A, five aporphine alkaloids, two morphinane alkaloids, and their bio-synthetic precursor, i.e., the BTIQ ( S)-reticuline.

Screening extracts of Madagascan plants in search of antiplasmodial compounds.

One hundred and ninety plants, of which 51 are used to treat malaria in traditional medicine, were collected in five different ecosystems of Madagascar for a screening programme devoted to the search of naturally-occurring antimalarial compounds. Thirty-nine plants, of which 12 are used as herbal antimalarials, were found to display in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) lower than 5 microg/ml while 9 had an IC50 ranging from 5 to 7.5 microg/ml.

Isolation from rat urine and human liver microsomes and identification by electrospray and nanospray tandem mass spectrometry of new malagashanine metabolites.

Malagashanine has been isolated from indigenous madagascan Strychnos myrtoides alkaloids used traditionally to treat malaria. This alkaloid was found to enhance the action of chloroquine against chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum when combined with classical antimalarial drugs (chloroquine, quinine). The present study was carried out in order to investigate by electrospray mass and tandem mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy the structure of two new metabolites isolated from rat urine and human liver microsomes.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of malagashanine in rat plasma and urine and its pharmacokinetic application.

A reversed-phase HPLC method was developed for quantitative analysis of malagashanine in rat plasma and urine. Malagashanine and internal standard were extracted from alkalinized rat plasma. Urine analysis was performed by direct injection onto the HPLC system.

Reversal activity of the naturally occurring chemosensitizer malagashanine in Plasmodium malaria.

Malagashanine (MG) is the parent compound of a new type of indole alkaloids, the N(b)C(21)-secocuran, isolated so far from the Malagasy Strychnos species traditionally used as chloroquine adjuvants in the treatment of chronic malaria. Previously, it was shown to have weak in vitro intrinsic antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) = 146.5 +/- 0.

In vitro antiplasmodial activity and chloroquine-potentiating action of three new isoquinoline alkaloid dimers isolated from Hernandia voyronii Jumelle.

Three new isoquinoline alkaloid dimers with pavine and benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline moieties have been isolated, by bioassay-guided fractionation, from an alkaloid extract of Hernandia (= Hazomalania) voyronii Jumelle. All had inherent antiplasmodial activity in vitro and two enhanced chloroquine effectiveness in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Some structure requirements for the chloroquine-potentiating action were identified in the isoquinoline series.

In vitro and in vivo chloroquine-potentiating action of Strychnos myrtoides alkaloids against chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium malaria.

Crude alkaloids of Strychnos myrtoides Gilg & Busse, empirically used as an adjuvant to chloroquine (CQ) in Malagasy herbal remedies, were practically devoid of intrinsic in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity. However, when combined with CQ at a dose level much lower than their IC50 value, they markedly enhanced in vitro the effectiveness of the synthetic drug against a CQ-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. They also enhanced in vivo CQ activity against a resistant strain of Plasmodium yoelii.

In vitro antimalarial activity and chloroquine potentiating action of two bisbenzylisoquinoline enantiomer alkaloids isolated from Strychnopsis thouarsii and Spirospermum penduliflorum.

The bisbenzylisoquinolines 7-O-demethyltetrandrine and limacine, respectively, isolated from Strychnopsis thouarsii Baill. and Spirospermum penduliflorum Thou. were evaluated for their intrinsic antimalarial activity in vitro and chloroquine potentiating action against the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum FCM 29 originating from Cameroon.